Guest Teacher
“Voodoo” Dave McGrath
“Voodoo” Dave McGrath is well known in the drums circles and the performance community. Dave draws from the musical traditions of Africa, Cuba, and Latin America when sharing his passion for percussion. From the laid-back rhythms of Brazilian Samba to syncopated Afro-Cuban grooves or hard-driving West African Drum and Dance, Dave always seeks to find […]
Ken Lister
Ken Lister is a professional jazz bassist and teacher for over 35 years, Ken Lister has played, recorded and toured with some of the top musicians in the jazz world, playing on two Juno Award-winning recordings; one with Hugh Fraser’s Quintet (Best Mainstream Jazz Album – 1997), and another with Phil Dwyer’s Orchestra (Contemporary Jazz […]
Brad Shipley
Brad Shipley makes his home on Gabriola Island when he’s not rehearsing and performing with a diverse makeup of musical projects on Vancouver Island. Sometimes a sideman playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, or lap steel, and sometimes a music director. He enjoys performing jazz, bluegrass, the blues, classical, and musical theatre. Brad is currently the music […]
John Capon
John Capon started his career as a Bass Trombonist in Vancouver, BC in 1960. He played many shows on CBC Radio and TV, most notably Jazz Radio Canada. He also played in the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. In 1967 Capon moved to Toronto and immediately joined the Canadian Opera and the National Ballet Orchestras. He also […]
Gary Paterson
Gary Paterson is a Former Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 2012 to 2015. He was the first openly gay person to take the post since the church was formed in 1925 and the first in the world to lead a major Christian denomination. He earned two degrees in English literature and became […]
Graham Villette
Graham is an active member of the music community as both a freelance musician and bandleader and has performed with some of the best musicians around including Cory Weeds, Joe Magnarelli, Akiko Tsuruga, Tony Genge, Ryan Oliver, John Lee, Rick Kilburn, Ashley Wey, and Kinga Hemming. He has been lucky enough to work in local […]
Nick Peck
Nick is a British/Canadian Jazz pianist, B3 organist, composer, and arranger based in Vancouver, Canada. His output has included orchestral works, music for chamber ensembles, jazz orchestras, solo piano, and electronic media. He is known for his playing that draws from across the history of jazz, colored by experiences in contemporary classical, folk, and freely […]
Kosma Busheikin
Born in the Czech Republic, Kosma has performed at venues around the island such as Hermann's jazz club, Frankie's jazz club, the Port theatre, Tofino Jazz festival, Hornby Island festival and more. He has studied with Ken Lister, Lee Ellefson, Pat Coleman, John Lee, Hans Verhoeven, and Ben Henriques.
Ralph Frank
Ralph is a retired psychotherapist who has been practicing Mindful Meditation for over 20 years. He has studied with renowned Buddhist monks and nuns at monasteries in Northern Thailand, as well as with numerous international teachers in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Ralph has been teaching meditation to seniors since 2018 at the VIU Elder […]
Carol Wilson
Carol first began practicing Vipassana or Insight meditation in 1971, with S.N. Goenka, in Bodh Gaya, India. Since then she has studied and practiced with a number of Theravada teachers, both Asian and Western. She has been particularly influenced by the teachings and practice styles of Sayadaw U Pandita, and in the past ten years, […]