Alumni
Jon Bentley
Saxophonist Jon Bentley is a versatile player in the Vancouver jazz community. Upon completion of the Capilano University Jazz Studies program, Jon has studied in New York and Vancouver with Seamus Blake.Bentley returned to Vancouver after a two-year stint studying in London, England with Stan Robinson and Kenny Wheeler. He recently participated in the 2003 Vancouver International Jazz Festival in groups as diverse as Chris Gestrin's Stillpoint, Ross Taggart Quartet, UGETSU, To Be Ornette To Be, Sharon Minemoto Quintet and Bernie Arai Trio. As well, the Jon Bentley Quintet performed a sold out show at the Vancouver East Cultural Center that featured legendary trumpeter/ composer Kenny Wheeler. As a member of the electronic trio Diversions, Jon is currently working on producing a follow-up recording to their debut album "American Prophecy".
Evan Arntzen
Evan was a student in the Capilano University Jazz Studies program from the fall of 2002 to the summer of 2007. He played lead tenor in the A-Band under the direction of Rejean Marois for all of his five years at the school. In this band, he was fortunate enough to be able to perform with such notable and legendary musicians as Cedar Walton, Neena Freelon, Seamus Blake, Regina Carter, John Faddis, and Jimmy Heath. Evan was the recipient of the CBC JAM award (Jazz
Award of Merit) in 2005 and the Fraser MacPherson Scholarship in 2006. Evan now performs regularly with the October trio (2006 Galaxie Rising Star Award Winners), the Amanda Tosoff Quartet, Bria¹s Hot Five led by Bria Skonberg, The Morgan Childs Quintet, and Sean Band led by Sean Cronin, featuring Brad Turner.
My time at Cap was very valuable. The performance opportunities I received in the “A” band and being able to work with Rejean taught me a lot. I also met most of the musicians I play with now while at Cap. -Evan Arntzen
Aaron Hardie
After graduating from Capilano University, Aaron went on to receive his B.Ed degree from UBC and currently works as a band instructor in the Burnaby School District. In addition, he continues to work as a saxophonist both as a freelance player and as leader of the Aaron Hardie Quartet. Visit Aaronhardie.com
Jennifer Hodge
Jennifer Hodge is a talented, versatile young bass player with an intense passion for all things musical. Since moving to Vancouver from rural BC, she has had a steadily rising reputation within the city´s music scene, regularly gigging in the jazz, folk, classical, world, rock, pop, and theatre genres. She has shared the stage with jazz greats such as Cedar Walton, Ed Thigpen and Jon Faddis, and can be heard around Vancouver with the likes of Lloyd Arntzen, Alan Matheson and Simon Stribling. She completed her B.Mus. degree in Jazz Studies at Capilano University in 2007.
Capilano was the best place I could have chosen as a springboard into my music career. The program was intense, jam-packed with information and playing experiences. The connections I made at Cap - with instructors, with guest artists, and with my fellow students and musicians - are numerous and probably the most useful thing that a young musician can develop. - Jenn Hodge
Kristi King
After graduating with a Jazz Studies Diploma in 2004, I decided to be a full-time missionary for my church in Guatemala for a year and a half. Music was utilized in many ways from teaching to playing piano for church and singing at different functions. I got home and shortly thereafter got a job at a prestigious music and entertainment retail store, where I help
customers with all types of music genres.
Capilano helped me to get a jump start on finding myself and my own musical interests. With the theory and opportunities to be a band leader, those experiences will take me to where I want to be while raising a family. At work I can feel that expansion in my musical tastes given to me by my private teachers. - Kristi King
Sharon Minemoto
"The instructors at Capilano in the Jazz department include some of the finest jazz musicians in the country. The knowledge and experience that they share with the students is invaluable to anyone who wants to become a professional musician."
Pianist Sharon Minemoto is now a working musician who recently featured in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
Karin Plato
Acclaimed as one of Canada¹s finest jazz vocalists, Karin moved to Vancouver from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where she received her Bachelor Of Music Degree in Piano and Voice. She studied in Capilano University's Music program in 1985. Karin Plato has been nominated for the Juno Award (2000) and is a three-time nominee in the National Jazz Awards (2003, 2004, 2006.) Visit www.karinplato.com
Lane Price
Lane has been singing with the 12-voice classical ensemble musica intima since 2003. In 2005 he founded Soli Vocal Quintet. As an emerging composer and arranger, Lane¹s works have been performed by various choirs and jazz ensembles across North America and Europe, and have been broadcast on CBC Radio Canada. Lane currently lives in Vancouver with his wife Reanne and daughter Aleena.
Rich Rabnett
Rich Rabnett is presently living with Jenna Quirk in Nelson BC, where they run a bed and breakfast called the Sunflower. Rich plays every Sunday night at the Redfish Grill, and every Monday night at the Hume Hotel with vocalist Sarah McGlynn. They also have an original electronic music project "Drive if You Must". Rabnett 5 continues to tour, and will be recording their 4th cd of original music this fall with Ian Cox on B3 Organ.
Cap was the first place I heard Dan Gaucher play drums. Back then, he only played in 3 bands. Cap introduced me to many of my favorite musicians in Vancouver.
Paul Rushka
Paul Rushka has been playing bass professionally in Vancouver since 1997. During his education at Capilano University, he studied Jazz Bass with André Lachance and Chris Nelson, and Classical Bass with David G. Brown. In 1998, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the International Jazz Workshop at the Banff Centre for the Arts, where he worked closely with bassists Don Thompson and Ray Drummond, as well as trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, clarinetist Phil Nimmons, pianist Kenny Werner, and trombonist Hugh Fraser, among others. Recently, Paul entered a new phase in his career when he began studies with Larry Grenadier, bassist with Brad Mehldau and Pat Metheny, among others.
Paul has toured extensively in Canada with Mike Allen, Denzal Sinclaire and Karin Plato, and toured China with James Danderfer's Accelerated Development project. He is featured on the recordings of Chad Makela, Laura Crema, Mike Allen, Jillian Lebeck, Sharon Minemoto, and James Danderfer. In 2003, Paul won a Western Canadian Music Award for Best Jazz Album for his work on the Mike Allen Trio's "Dialectic". In addition to the above ensembles, Paul is also a member
of the Bill Weeds Quintet, Brad Turner Quintet and ESQ (Kevin Elaschuk/Dave Say Quintet). Paul leads his own trio with Dave Sikula on guitar and Bernie Arai on drums, and performs regularly as a bassist with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, based in Kelowna.
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Shannon Scott
Shannon Scott hails originally from Red Deer, Alberta, but loves calling the coast home. Now with a Bachelor's degree in jazz, she's active in the Vancouver live music scene as a jazz vocalist, and also as the bandleader of Rune, a project of her original music. Her unique style of writing draws influence from an eclectic variety of artists, blending her jazz roots with pop and R&B. Also a lyricist, Shannon has been making her mark arranging and singing traditionally instrumental jazz tunes.
Bria Skonberg
Since graduating from Cap's Jazz Program, trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg has been touring jazz festivals throughout the United States and Europe as a bandleader and featured soloist. In Vancouver she has the opportunity to perform with Dal Richards and his Orchestra regularly, and is well known in the Lindy Hop and Swing Dance Community. She is a strong advocate for youth in jazz, and has given clinics at the high school and University level pertaining to improvising and her experiences. www.briaskonberg.com
The Cap Jazz Program gives a lot of one on one time with true professionals in the city which makes it possible to gain insight into the culture of the jazz community here in Vancouver, as well as the musical chops and connections to launch your career. - Bria Skonberg
Shannon Thue
Pianist Shannon Thue teaches private piano lessons in North Vancouver and plays professionally throughout the lower mainland and across North America. She plays in various groups, including the Shannon Thue Trio, the funk band Deep End and the traditional jazz band Mighty Aphrodite. Her trio has recently recorded their first album comprised of mostly original music, set for release in July 2007.
Amanda Tosoff
Pianist and composer Amanda Tosoff graduated with B.MUS in Jazz performance in 2005. While at the university, Amanda studied with Ross Taggart, Chris Sigarson and Lorne Kellett and many other. She was also a member of the top ensembles "Nitecap" and the "A-Band", with visiting luminaries Seamus Blake, Cedar Walton, Nneena Freelon, Ed Thigpen, Jane Bunnett, Rob McConnell, Phil Nimmons, Regina Carter, and Kristin Korb.
Amanda is quickly emerging as one of Canada's top new talents. Already, she has had the pleasure of performing with internationally acclaimed artists such as Chuck Isreals, Ingrid Jensen, Jon Wikon, Russ Botton, Campbell Ryga, Jodi Proznick and many more. Her current project, the Amanda Tosoff Quartet, features the supportive playing of four fellow award winning musicians: Saxophonist Evan Arntzen, Bassist Sean Cronin, and drummer Morgan Childs. Since meeting at Cap, they have collectively solidified a reputation as one of the most promising young jazz groups in Canada. The group has been featured on CBC Radio programs "Hot Air" and "JazzBeat" and their debut recording "Still Life" continues to be played regularly on CBC and many other stations. Other performance highlights include the 2006 Vancouver International jazz festival, where they opened for jazz legend Bobby Hutcherson and Renee Rosnes at the Centre for Performing Arts.
"They prove that jazz is in very good hands indeed!" - Paul Grant (CBC Radio).
Cory Weeds
Cory Weeds attended Capilano University from 1991 - 1994 before receiving a scholarship to attend the University of North Texas. After one year at UNT Weeds returned to Vancouver to pursue a career as a musician. As a member of various different bands he has toured Italy, Japan, Canada, United States and most recently Japan. He has lent his talents to over 10 CD's including People Playing Music "Sette", Spacious Couch "Spaciuos Couch" and "Tonal Vision" and two with his own band Crash "Crash" and "Candy Shop" which is on the Maximum Jazz Label. In addition to being a musician, Weeds also runs one of Canada's finest jazz club, The Cellar. Weeds also runs CELLAR LIVE, a record label dedicated to recording local talent in a live setting at the club. He has produced 7 records with the label and there are two more coming out. He was nominated for "Producer Of The Year" in 2002 for the National Jazz Award of Canada.
Jeff Younger
Guitarist/composer Jeff Younger is one of the busiest and most interesting professional artists in Vancouver. A prolific bandleader, co-conspirator and hired gun who is known for his quirky creativity and individual artistic voice, Jeff is also a regularly commissioned composer, producer, musical director and teacher. His original projects span a vastly creative musical landscape, from modern jazz and free improvisation, to hilariously tasteless country and contemporary classical music.
I went to Cap to learn about music. I learned A LOT about music while I was there, and that knowledge has been invaluable.
www. jeffyounger.net
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Jesse Zubot
"Capilano was a very supportive environment on my journey from 'amateur/student' to full time professional musician."
Jesse Zubot is a member of the Juno award winning group 'Zubot & Dawson'. In 2002 Jesse picked up Violinist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards and also the Grand Prix de Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival with the group 'The Great Uncles of the Revolution'.
