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Westwinds People

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Executive Board

Brendan Jewitt

President

Brendan joined the Gold Jazz South band as their drummer in 2012 and has played percussion in the Wind Orchestra. He also frequently plays as an accompanist for several of the concert bands and choirs. Brendan has always loved and played a variety of music, including performing in rock, metal and jazz bands, and graduated from the Jazz Performance program at Mount Royal University.

Sean Emery

Vice President

Sean is a Red Seal Electrician, third year business student, and chronically busy individual who started volunteering with Westwinds in 2022 as volunteer coordinator, served as secretary in 2023 and was elected VP in 2024. He has participated in Silver band, Mixed Choir, YA choir, and Symphonic band, though not in the same year. He hopes you enjoy your time in Westwinds, and that you to would consider volunteering.

Christopher Kozbial

Treasurer

Chris joined the Symphonic Band in 2019 after graduating high school, and now also sings with the Young Adult Choir. Originally a flutist, he now plays the Tuba. Chris is also the coordinator for the Calgary Air Cadet Mass band, and spends much of his time volunteering within the community. He is excited to work with Westwinds to pursue adult music making, and looks forward to all the challenges, concerts, and music we'll face.

Tik Tycholaz

Secretary

Tik has been a Westwinds member since 2001 and is currently tasked with coordinating and maintaining Westwinds' online presence. Currently a member of the Mixed Choir (Tenor), Tik has served as the Treasurer and Secretary for the Executive, been a member of the 20th Anniversary Committee, was Co-Chair of the 25th Anniversary Committee, a member of the 30th Anniversary Committee, and has volunteered at numerous events. Most recently Tik implemented both an Administrative and Accounting Modernization Project at Westwinds. Tik participated in 2013's China Tour and performed in both the China Concert Band and China Choir. Tik participated in both the Band and Choir again for the Eastern Europe 2015 Tour.

Jane McLauchlin

Artistic Director

Jane McLauchlin knew at a young age she wanted to be a teacher. Along with growing up in a house full of music, the decision to pursue a career as a music teacher became clear during a Grade 7 band class. Since then, she has had a successful career teaching Junior High School Concert and Jazz Band, Elementary and General Music and African Drumming in Calgary for 30 years.

Although now retired from full time teaching, her school bands regularly received ‘Superior’ rankings, won numerous awards, and travelled extensively throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. She has been guest conductor at the Calgary Summer Band Workshop, for Chinook Winds Junior and Senior Honour Bands and the Northern Alberta Junior High Honour Band as well as adjudicator for the ABA Festival of Bands and the Southern Alberta International Band Festival. She also now serves as Artistic Director for the Vic Lewis Band Festival in Canmore as well as for Westwinds and is a regular clinician and guest conductor for the MRU school music program.

She became involved in the Westwinds Music Society by joining several of the bands to try out life on the ‘other side of the baton’ and plans to continue to participate as a player. She has toured and performed in China and Eastern Europe with Westwinds and has been directing the dedicated and very fun group of adults in the Blue Concert Band since 2018. Jane is honoured to be able to step back into the position of Artistic Director following a one-year hiatus.

Tiro Clarke

Past President

Tiro has played tenor saxophone in the Gold Jazz North band since 2016, marking the end of a 27-year hiatus from playing music which in retrospect was far, far too long. He looks forward to working with everyone in the Westwinds organization in the upcoming year, and building on the prior efforts and accomplishments of others in making Westwinds the remarkable organization that it is.

Executive Assistant

Lisa Turner

Executive Assistant

Lisa joined Westwinds in 2003 as a percussionist in Gold Band. As a lifelong recreational musician (piano, percussion) and new(ish) Calgarian, Westwinds was the perfect fit to keep up that love of music. It didn't take long for Lisa to join Green Band to learn to play the French Horn. Through the years, she played in almost every Westwinds concert band, largely focusing on French Horn as her family started to grow. Through the first 14 years, Lisa also served as group manager, on several anniversary committees, and on the Westwinds executive. Now in 2022, Lisa has returned to Westwinds as a member of Bronze Jazz (piano), and most recently as the Executive Assistant.

Executive Committee

Jennifer diMarzo

Artistic Director Assistant

Lorie Francescut

Digital Librarian

Lisa Gudnason

Social Media Coordinator

Lisa Gudnason is a stay-at-home mom and volunteer with a lifelong passion for music. She played the trumpet throughout junior high and high school, and in 2018, she joined the Westwinds Green Concert Band. After a brief break due to COVID-19, she returned in 2024 to play with the Blue Concert Band.

Alongside her musical pursuits, Lisa has been dedicated to raising her three children and supporting various community causes. Her journey with music and volunteering reflects her commitment to family and community. She hopes to inspire those around her, proving that it's never too late to return to a passion and make an impact.

Jennifer diMarzo

Volunteer Coordinator

Tik Tycholaz

Web Coordinator, Digital Archivist

Tik has been a Westwinds member since 2001 and is currently tasked with coordinating and maintaining Westwinds' online presence. Currently a member of the Mixed Choir (Tenor), Tik has served as the Treasurer and Secretary for the Executive, been a member of the 20th Anniversary Committee, was Co-Chair of the 25th Anniversary Committee, a member of the 30th Anniversary Committee, and has volunteered at numerous events. Most recently Tik implemented both an Administrative and Accounting Modernization Project at Westwinds. Tik participated in 2013's China Tour and performed in both the China Concert Band and China Choir. Tik participated in both the Band and Choir again for the Eastern Europe 2015 Tour.

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