Women-Led Jazz Symposium 2026 - Biographies of Keynote, Presenters and Moderators
Rachel Therrien
Keynote Speaker: Rachel Therrien
Rachel Therrrien is a Canadian jazz bassist, composer, educator and producer. In 2019, she was named Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and has been nominated for two Juno Awards. She was also a recipient of the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor's Arts a
Presenters and Moderators
Alyssa Alambra is a high school music teacher in Neepawa, MB. where she teaches concert band, jazz band, choir, and general music. She pursued her studies at the Brandon University School of Music where she studied both classical and jazz trumpet in addition to music and physical education. Alyssa is also an active performer in and around Winnipeg as a trumpeter and vocalist in her band NYOH (Not Your Ordinary Hooligans), and has also performed with the WJO.
Heitha Forsyth (she/her
Monica Jones is a Métis Artist and Musician. She works within the music industry as a musician, composer and educator. She studied at Brandon University under the tutelage of Greg Gatien, Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone. Since moving back to Winnipeg she can be heard playing with many high calibre bands including the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, The Ron Paley Big Band, The Dirty Catfish Brass Band, The Winnipeg Jazz Collective, Sir Luke and the Dukes and the Big City All Star Band. While her main instruments are Tenor and Alto saxophone, she also doubles on soprano saxophone, bari sax, flute, clarinet and vocals. Under her own name in small ensemble settings, she performs on saxophone and as a vocalist in genres of R&B/Soul and Jazz. Monica Jones is an in-demand music educator and has been teaching saxophone since 2005 and coaches in schools in and around Winnipeg on saxophone and woodwinds. She is on faculty at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music (2015) and the Winnipeg Conservatory of Music (2020). She provides jazz and classical instruction as well as aural skills, theory, music history and improvisation.
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Jeni Taylor is a trumpet player and teacher, currently living in Winnipeg, MB. She is a Performing Arts EA in the Pembina Trails School Division, as well as a private trumpet teacher. In addition to teaching, she performs regularly with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble, and as a soloist at various churches in Manitoba. She is also the lead trumpet player in the Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra. Jeni has had the immense privilege of performing with many trumpet greats, including Mike Vax, Byron Stripling, Terence Blanchard, and Ingrid Jensen. As well, she has shared the stage with drummer Louie Bellson, rapper Kanye West, and violist Charles Pickler, to name a few. Taylor earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Manitoba, and her Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a graduate teaching assistantship directing Jazz Big Band II and teaching trumpet lessons to undergraduate music minors. Her principal trumpet teachers are Richard “Chief” Gillis, Lisa Burn, Darryl White, and Laurie Frink. She has done additional study with Greg Gisbert, John McNeill, Gillian MacKay, and Byron Stripling.
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Alexis Silver teaches Bands at École Secondaire Sisler High School in Winnipeg; served as Visual & Performing Arts Department Head, and is an Associate Director with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. Alexis has played, guest conducted, presented, and/or adjudicated with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra; Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra; Winnipeg Wind Ensemble; East Side Jazz Band; Manitoba Band Association; Ontario Band Association; International Music Camp; Montreal Junior Honour Band; Comox Valley Music Festival; Vic Lewis Music Festival (Canmore); Women of Note Choirs; University of Manitoba; Brandon University, and school divisions and regions across Manitoba. She has enjoyed acting and directing with the Little Opera Company; Wahanowin Theatre; Leithelle Productions; Winnipeg Fringe Festival; Murder on the Menu, and Manitoba Theatre for Young People. Alexis has served as a Regional Representative, Advocacy Chair, and Vice-President of the Manitoba Band Association, Performance Chair for the Canadian Music Educators Association Conference, and Parliamentarian of the Manitoba Drama Educators Association. She has been a mentor teacher with Winnipeg School Division, and served on the WSD Arts Leaders Committee. Her articles ‘Self-Care for Instrumental Music Teachers 1 & 2’ were published in the Canadian Winds Journal in 2015 and 2018, respectively. The Sisler Band Program was awarded the Don Green Award at the International Optimist Band Festival in 2015 under her direction. Alexis believes in the healing power of the Arts and is an advocate for Arts Education.
Rachel Therrrien is a Canadian jazz bassist, composer, educator and producer. In 2019, she was named Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and has been nominated for two Juno Awards. She was also a recipient of the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor's Arts a
Presenters and Moderators
Alyssa Alambra is a high school music teacher in Neepawa, MB. where she teaches concert band, jazz band, choir, and general music. She pursued her studies at the Brandon University School of Music where she studied both classical and jazz trumpet in addition to music and physical education. Alyssa is also an active performer in and around Winnipeg as a trumpeter and vocalist in her band NYOH (Not Your Ordinary Hooligans), and has also performed with the WJO.
Heitha Forsyth (she/her
Monica Jones is a Métis Artist and Musician. She works within the music industry as a musician, composer and educator. She studied at Brandon University under the tutelage of Greg Gatien, Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone. Since moving back to Winnipeg she can be heard playing with many high calibre bands including the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, The Ron Paley Big Band, The Dirty Catfish Brass Band, The Winnipeg Jazz Collective, Sir Luke and the Dukes and the Big City All Star Band. While her main instruments are Tenor and Alto saxophone, she also doubles on soprano saxophone, bari sax, flute, clarinet and vocals. Under her own name in small ensemble settings, she performs on saxophone and as a vocalist in genres of R&B/Soul and Jazz. Monica Jones is an in-demand music educator and has been teaching saxophone since 2005 and coaches in schools in and around Winnipeg on saxophone and woodwinds. She is on faculty at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music (2015) and the Winnipeg Conservatory of Music (2020). She provides jazz and classical instruction as well as aural skills, theory, music history and improvisation.
Joanna Miller huk is
Jeni Taylor is a trumpet player and teacher, currently living in Winnipeg, MB. She is a Performing Arts EA in the Pembina Trails School Division, as well as a private trumpet teacher. In addition to teaching, she performs regularly with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble, and as a soloist at various churches in Manitoba. She is also the lead trumpet player in the Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra. Jeni has had the immense privilege of performing with many trumpet greats, including Mike Vax, Byron Stripling, Terence Blanchard, and Ingrid Jensen. As well, she has shared the stage with drummer Louie Bellson, rapper Kanye West, and violist Charles Pickler, to name a few. Taylor earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Manitoba, and her Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned a graduate teaching assistantship directing Jazz Big Band II and teaching trumpet lessons to undergraduate music minors. Her principal trumpet teachers are Richard “Chief” Gillis, Lisa Burn, Darryl White, and Laurie Frink. She has done additional study with Greg Gisbert, John McNeill, Gillian MacKay, and Byron Stripling.
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Alexis Silver teaches Bands at École Secondaire Sisler High School in Winnipeg; served as Visual & Performing Arts Department Head, and is an Associate Director with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. Alexis has played, guest conducted, presented, and/or adjudicated with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra; Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra; Winnipeg Wind Ensemble; East Side Jazz Band; Manitoba Band Association; Ontario Band Association; International Music Camp; Montreal Junior Honour Band; Comox Valley Music Festival; Vic Lewis Music Festival (Canmore); Women of Note Choirs; University of Manitoba; Brandon University, and school divisions and regions across Manitoba. She has enjoyed acting and directing with the Little Opera Company; Wahanowin Theatre; Leithelle Productions; Winnipeg Fringe Festival; Murder on the Menu, and Manitoba Theatre for Young People. Alexis has served as a Regional Representative, Advocacy Chair, and Vice-President of the Manitoba Band Association, Performance Chair for the Canadian Music Educators Association Conference, and Parliamentarian of the Manitoba Drama Educators Association. She has been a mentor teacher with Winnipeg School Division, and served on the WSD Arts Leaders Committee. Her articles ‘Self-Care for Instrumental Music Teachers 1 & 2’ were published in the Canadian Winds Journal in 2015 and 2018, respectively. The Sisler Band Program was awarded the Don Green Award at the International Optimist Band Festival in 2015 under her direction. Alexis believes in the healing power of the Arts and is an advocate for Arts Education.
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