Please send your biography to the webmaster. An ICQ number follows each name.
Shirantha
Beddage, Baritone Saxiphone
Shirantha Beddage is an emerging talent who is swiftly making his mark as an
accomplished saxophonist, pianist, composer, arranger, instructor and
bandleader. His musicianship and professionalism have earned him the respect of
many of the top jazz musicians across Canada and the United States. Mr. Beddage
has studied saxophone under Canadian notable Pat Labarbera and has performed and
recorded with many jazz and classical groups in Toronto, including the National
Youth Band of Canada, the Toronto Jazz Orchestra, the Toronto Youth Wind
Orchestra and guitarist Ted Quinlan. His compositions have been featured by
college and high school groups across Ontario, as well as the National Band
Festival. While at Humber College, he received a special award from the Canadian
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for outstanding acheievement in musical
arts. Shirantha is currently completing a Master of Music degree from William
Paterson University in New Jersey, studying with New York baritone saxophonist
Gary Smulyan. Theatre has always been a love for Shirantha; he has played in the
pit orchestras of numerous youth and adult productions, including Pippin,
Merrily We Roll Along, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Fiddler on the Roof,
Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Big River, Children of Eden, Cotton Patch
Gospel, Nunsense and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.
For more information, visit Shirantha on the web at
http://www.onlink.net/~sbeddage/
Nicholas Francis, Trombone, 25895591
Trombonist Nicholas Francis was born and raised in Southern Ontario, receiving his early musical training in the Toronto area. He is presently in his third of four years of study at the Faculty of Music of the University of Toronto, pursuing a degree in trombone performance. He maintains a busy schedule not only as a trombonist but also as a composer, arranger, and conductor, and has a special interest in wind band conducting. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Southern Ontario Youth Winds, and recently debuted as a guest conductor with the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra. Not surprisingly, he is no stranger to the world of wind bands, holding the position of Principal Trombone with the National Youth Band of Canada for three years, and currently occupying the Principal chair of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra and the University of Toronto Wind Symphony. His performance credits also include the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hart House Orchestra, The Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Borealis Brass Quintet.
Tracey M.
Frank, Saxophone, 26147119
Tracey Frank was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, and considers music her ultimate, and longest running adventure. She has studied piano, flute, and clarinet, but ultimately chose saxophone as her principal instrument at the age of twelve. She was quite active in her highschool's (Thom Collegiate) music program as a woodwind player and vocalist. Now, her devotions are purely instrumental. She is completing her second year of study at the University of Regina, and is currently studying classical saxophone with Karen Finnsson. This is her second year with the National Youth Band of Canada. At home, Tracey plays alto saxophone in the University of Regina Concert Band, tenor saxophone in two Saxophone Quartets, and baritone saxophone in the University of Regina Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Edward Lewis. Tracey also has a keen interest in Music History, especially the lives and works of Paul Hindemith and Bernhard Heiden. She also freelances as a performer and private teacher. In the future, Tracey hopes to finish undergradute studies in either Music Education or Music History, and pursue graduate studies in either Performance or Music History. When she is not immersed in matters of music, Tracey serves chicken and ribs at Swiss Chalet, writes, goes to raves, plays a bit of waterpolo, and goes on crazy road trips. "There is nothing about music that bores or repulses me (except for screechy opera, and I'm even learning to appreciate that). I would be crazy to do anything else with my life."
Alexander MacCuaig, String Bass and Bagpipes, 23445180
Alex MacCuaig has been playing the bass for 6 years and spent two years with the National Youth Band (1998 & 1999). Alex was born in Vancouver, BC, but considers Victoria his home. He is 19 and in first year at the University of Victoria, studying Political Science, History, Music, and Sociology. Alex spent 1998 at Capilano College, studying Jazz Studies with Torben Oxbal. He has worked with many other talented players such as Brad Turner, Rejean Marois, Bobby Herriott, and Ray Brown. At the present time, Alex is playing principal string bass with the UVic Wind Symphony, under the baton of former NYB conductor Gerald King. He is also a member of the UVic Big Band, under Ian MacDougall, the SFU Pipe Band and is entering the studio with his rock band "Fine Tuned Blue." (album release April 2000 -- order your copy from mustard14@hotmail.com). On top of playing electric and acoustic bass, Alex is a world class bagpiper, attending the 1997 World Pipe Band Championships where he and his band placed second. This summer will see Alex accompanying the SFU Pipe Band feeder band to the North American Championship in Maxville, Ontario. Alex plays exclusively David Naill bagpipes, and whatever basses sound the prettiest.
Matthew
Nichols, Piano and Bass Trombone,
1745379
Matthew Nichols participated in the 1997 and 1998 National Youth Bands as the bass trombonist. Matthew holds a permanent residence in Sarnia, ON where he attended Northern Collegiate; however he currently resides in Waterloo, ON and attends the University of Waterloo working towards a Doctor of Mathematics degree in Computer Science. Matthew currently holds an cumulative average in the high 80s. In the summer of 1998, he had the opportunity to work, as a co-op student, at amazon.com in Seattle, WA and in the Winter and Fall of 1999, he held a programming position at Canada Trust in London, ON. Most recently he worked full time as a computer science tutor in the Math Faculty at the University of Waterloo and hopes to eventually pursue a career as a university professor. Matthew has successfully completed his Grade 10 Piano, Grade 4 Harmony, and Grade 4 History exams with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. He mastered the audio for the 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999 NYB CDs and designed, produced, and mastered the very first NYB CD in 1998. He also created and maintains the current NYB web site. In his free time, Matthew enjoys clubbing, reading, volunteering, squash, working out, composing music, and programming. Matthew enjoys playing on Yamaha grand pianos and bass trombones.
David Popoff has been playing flute for the past nine years and is currently studying flute and piccolo with Jane Schudel at the University of Regina. David is currently in his second year of the Bachelor of Music Education program, with a minor in English. Prior to his post-secondary studies he studied flute at the Regina Conservatory of Music and Dance, and was the recipient of the Riddell Instrumental Scholarship in 1996. He currently performs with the University of Regina Concert Band as Flute / Principal Piccolo, as well as past performances with the University of Regina Wind Ensemble. In addition to his university ensembles he also plays with the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra (SSYO) as Principal Second Flute / Piccolo. The SSYO recently travelled to Banff for the International Festival of Youth Orchestras, along with many other youth orchestras from around the world. While at the festival, he participated in a masterclass with Kathy Ransom, Second Flute with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. David has also been active in the SMEA Provincial Honour bands, the Regina Music Festival, 1998 National Youth Band of Canada, University of Regina Concert Choir and as well as other performances in the community. David has also completed his Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 Examination and is currently completing the theory and piano requirements towards an ARCT Dipoma. He hopes to continue his education, possibly pursuing a master's degree in Music Education or Flute performance.
Geoffrey
Shoesmith, Tuba, 23837479
Geoffrey has been playing the tuba for 9 years and is in his 3rd year with NYB. He resides quietly in Sarnia leading a gypsy lifestyle, and (occasionally) attends OAC at Northern Collegiate. Geoff is currently studying with Claudio Engli at the University of Western Ontario and is also in Western's Tuba Ensemble. Geoffrey is now also the principal tuba in the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and will play for the second time with the band in London U.K this August. Geoffrey does not believe in taking RCM exams for tuba because he finds the repertoire grading system to be "wonky". Next year, Geoff will be studying performance tuba somewhere at some accredited university. Geoff has had a wide range of performance positions in local bands, ensembles and orchestras. During the summer he lifeguards and during the winter, he tends to the curling ice at the local curling barn. Eventually, after receiving his MBA, Geoff would like to take over the National Youth Band and give poor Jim Forde a rest.