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Westwinds People

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Executive Board

Tiro Clarke

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.

Brendan Jewitt

Vice 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.

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.

Sean Emery

Secretary

Sean Emery has been a part of various Westwinds ensembles since 2017. He has played clarinet in both the silver and symphonic bands and sang tenor with the mixed choir. He appreciates all of the effort that has gone into making the Westwinds organization possible and is excited to have the chance to contribute and to practice the skills he is learning as a U of C business undergrad.

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.

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

Lorie Francescut

Digital Librarian

Hana Hubley

Social Media Coordinator

Hana recently joined the Westwinds Wind Orchestra as a tuba player in January 2024. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Tuba Performance from the University of Lethbridge in 2023 studying under Dr. Nick Sullivan, and now works as a recruiter for her alma mater. During her time in Lethbridge, Hana was the social media content creator for the ULethbridge Conservatory of Music, and was an active member within numerous local music organizations. As a new Calgarian, Hana is excited to meet and work with musicians throughout the city, and to pursue her music endeavours post-graduation.

Sean Emery

Volunteer Coordinator

Sean Emery has been a part of various Westwinds ensembles since 2017. He has played clarinet in both the silver and symphonic bands and sang tenor with the mixed choir. He appreciates all of the effort that has gone into making the Westwinds organization possible and is excited to have the chance to contribute and to practice the skills he is learning as a U of C business undergrad.

Tik Tycholaz

Website 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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