Women-Led Jazz Symposium 2024 - Biographies of Keynote, Presenters and Moderators
Jodi Proznick
Keynote Speaker: Jodi Proznik
Jodi Proznick 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 and Music Awards in 2022. Jodi Proznick has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s finest jazz artists. She has won numerous National Jazz Awards, including Bassist of the Year in ’08 and ’09. Her group, the Jodi Proznick Quartet, was awarded the Acoustic Group of the Year and Album of the Year in ‘08 and the Galaxie Rising Star at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in ‘04. In addition to leading her own group, Jodi has performed with many of Canada’s top jazz musicians, including PJ Perry, Don Thompson, Kirk MacDonald, Guido Basso, Oliver Gannon, Dee Daniels, Phil Dwyer, and Laila Biali. She is regularly in demand to perform and record with visiting jazz artists including Michael Bublé, Byron Stripling, Michael Feinstein, David “Fathead” Newman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Thigpen, Jeff Hamilton, Peter Bernstein, Charles McPherson, Seamus Blake, George Coleman, Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Jim Rotundi, Eddie Daniels, Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash. In addition to recording her own Juno-nominated CD as a leader, Jodi has been featured on over 40 recordings as a side person. Jodi began playing bass at the age of 13 under the direction of her father David, an award-winning music educator. In ‘93, Jodi received the General Motors Award of Excellence, establishing her as one of the top young musicians at Musicfest Canada, and then went on to receive a scholarship to study bass at McGill University in Montreal. After graduating, Jodi played with many of the top musicians in Montreal, including Juno winners Christine Jensen and Renee Lee as well as Montreal greats Andre White and Greg Clayton. She was awarded the IAJE Sisters in Jazz award in ‘98 as one of the best up-and-coming female jazz musicians. Jodi moved to Vancouver in ‘00, where she now lives with her husband and collaborator, pianist Tilden Webb, and young son Tristan. Her personal highlights include opening for Oscar Peterson in 2004, performing as a featured soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and recording numerous times for CBC Radio. Another highlight in Jodi’s career was when she was asked to be the featured bassist in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games’ closing ceremonies and soundtrack. Jodi’s deep passion for education lead her to pursue a Masters Degree in Education at Simon Fraser University. She was a faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (2012-2020) and Capilano University (2003-2013) where she taught improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, popular music history, rudiments, jazz combo and bass lessons. She is currently the Department Head of the Jazz Program, Artistic Director of the Summer Jazz Workshop and Sister Jazz Day at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music where she teaches jazz bass, combo, jazz history and jazz theory. She has been a guest adjudicator and clinician at many festivals, colleges, universities, and conferences across Canada. Her current project is Co-Artistic Director of The Ostara Project with pianist/composer Amanda Tosoff. As well as an extensive background as a jazz educator, Jodi was involved in teaching early childhood music classes for over 15 years. Her methodology included a combination of Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, Montessori and Suzuki philosophies of music education. Her areas of interest include arts-based research, embodied educational practices, attachment, phenomenology and creativity. She has been described as “… armed with an arsenal of talent sure to develop recognition as one of the finest bassist in the jazz world today” (Ejazznews), “… (playing with) an infectiously in-the-pocket sense of groove” (Cadence Magazine), “… a jazz bassist with great time and a rock-solid sound ” (Katie Malloch, CBC Radio), “ a great player, who plays with intoxicating passion” (RivitingRiff.com), and “a wonderful bassist who really digs in and plays from the heart” (David Fathead Newman – Coda Magazine interview).
Presenters and Moderators
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.
Kathie Van Lare, born and raised in Calgary, has been teaching music in the Calgary area for 35 years. Now retired from full-time teaching, Kathie continues to direct the Foothills Music Society Concert Band, the Westwinds Music Society Gold Jazz South Big Band and the Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra. Co-President of Women Band Directors International – Alberta Chapter, Kathie is active as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout much of Western Canada and has also served on faculty with MusiCamrose and the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop. Bands under Kathie’s direction have been the recipients of several awards and she has been the recipient of various personal awards: Alberta Band Association’s “Elkhorn Award” as the Band Director of the Year; Alberta Band Association’s “Vondis Miller Legacy Award”; Laureate in John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the MidWest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. Women Band Directors International, “Scroll of Excellence”; and an Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Alberta Band Association. Kathie continues to be active as a free-lance musician (trumpet) and has performed with many groups including among others, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Prime Time Big Band, Calgary Jazz Orchestra, Alberta Winds and Altius Brass. Besides music, Kathie enjoys woodworking, horseback riding and is an avid baseball fan. Go Cardinals!
Tetyana Haraschuk is a Ukrainian/Canadian drummer and composer. She holds a Bachelor in Jazz Performance from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Contemporary Performance and Production from the Berklee College of Music. Tetyana has played with JUNO award winning artists in Canada and has performed with her own band in Canada, Spain and Brazil. An accomplished composer and arranger, Tetyana has independently released an album, EP, as well as two singles of her original music. Tetyana crafts a wide variety of sounds that stretch from delicate to frightening while disregarding genre boundaries and conventions. She has written commissions for the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, for Nina Nicolaiewsky's string quartet, and is currently writing a commission for Northern Brassworks. Tetyana has been a guest lecturer at Western University in London, Canada as well as at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. She is the artistic director of “Until The Sun Comes” a musical documentation of Ukrainian war stories, in collaboration with documentary film company “Ice River Films”.
Karly Epp (she/her) is a Canadian-based jazz vocalist with a passion for education. Epp graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Music specializing in Jazz Vocal Performance, as well as a Bachelor of Education. After several years of teaching choir at the high school level, she decided to shift her focus from education to performance. Epp relocated to New York City and later graduated from Manhattan School of Music with a master's degree in jazz studies. During this time, she had the opportunity to study with multiple Grammy-winning/nominated and revered jazz artists and composers, and to perform in clubs and festivals throughout North America. After spending a year as visiting instructor of jazz voice for the University of Manitoba in 2018, Epp ultimately returned to her hometown of Winnipeg, Canada to take the position on full-time. In addition to teaching, she continues to be very busy as a performing and recording artist, as well as a guest lecturer/clinician.
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.
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.
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.
Jodi Proznick 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 and Music Awards in 2022. Jodi Proznick has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s finest jazz artists. She has won numerous National Jazz Awards, including Bassist of the Year in ’08 and ’09. Her group, the Jodi Proznick Quartet, was awarded the Acoustic Group of the Year and Album of the Year in ‘08 and the Galaxie Rising Star at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in ‘04. In addition to leading her own group, Jodi has performed with many of Canada’s top jazz musicians, including PJ Perry, Don Thompson, Kirk MacDonald, Guido Basso, Oliver Gannon, Dee Daniels, Phil Dwyer, and Laila Biali. She is regularly in demand to perform and record with visiting jazz artists including Michael Bublé, Byron Stripling, Michael Feinstein, David “Fathead” Newman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Thigpen, Jeff Hamilton, Peter Bernstein, Charles McPherson, Seamus Blake, George Coleman, Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Jim Rotundi, Eddie Daniels, Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash. In addition to recording her own Juno-nominated CD as a leader, Jodi has been featured on over 40 recordings as a side person. Jodi began playing bass at the age of 13 under the direction of her father David, an award-winning music educator. In ‘93, Jodi received the General Motors Award of Excellence, establishing her as one of the top young musicians at Musicfest Canada, and then went on to receive a scholarship to study bass at McGill University in Montreal. After graduating, Jodi played with many of the top musicians in Montreal, including Juno winners Christine Jensen and Renee Lee as well as Montreal greats Andre White and Greg Clayton. She was awarded the IAJE Sisters in Jazz award in ‘98 as one of the best up-and-coming female jazz musicians. Jodi moved to Vancouver in ‘00, where she now lives with her husband and collaborator, pianist Tilden Webb, and young son Tristan. Her personal highlights include opening for Oscar Peterson in 2004, performing as a featured soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and recording numerous times for CBC Radio. Another highlight in Jodi’s career was when she was asked to be the featured bassist in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games’ closing ceremonies and soundtrack. Jodi’s deep passion for education lead her to pursue a Masters Degree in Education at Simon Fraser University. She was a faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (2012-2020) and Capilano University (2003-2013) where she taught improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, popular music history, rudiments, jazz combo and bass lessons. She is currently the Department Head of the Jazz Program, Artistic Director of the Summer Jazz Workshop and Sister Jazz Day at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music where she teaches jazz bass, combo, jazz history and jazz theory. She has been a guest adjudicator and clinician at many festivals, colleges, universities, and conferences across Canada. Her current project is Co-Artistic Director of The Ostara Project with pianist/composer Amanda Tosoff. As well as an extensive background as a jazz educator, Jodi was involved in teaching early childhood music classes for over 15 years. Her methodology included a combination of Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, Montessori and Suzuki philosophies of music education. Her areas of interest include arts-based research, embodied educational practices, attachment, phenomenology and creativity. She has been described as “… armed with an arsenal of talent sure to develop recognition as one of the finest bassist in the jazz world today” (Ejazznews), “… (playing with) an infectiously in-the-pocket sense of groove” (Cadence Magazine), “… a jazz bassist with great time and a rock-solid sound ” (Katie Malloch, CBC Radio), “ a great player, who plays with intoxicating passion” (RivitingRiff.com), and “a wonderful bassist who really digs in and plays from the heart” (David Fathead Newman – Coda Magazine interview).
Presenters and Moderators
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.
Kathie Van Lare, born and raised in Calgary, has been teaching music in the Calgary area for 35 years. Now retired from full-time teaching, Kathie continues to direct the Foothills Music Society Concert Band, the Westwinds Music Society Gold Jazz South Big Band and the Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra. Co-President of Women Band Directors International – Alberta Chapter, Kathie is active as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout much of Western Canada and has also served on faculty with MusiCamrose and the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop. Bands under Kathie’s direction have been the recipients of several awards and she has been the recipient of various personal awards: Alberta Band Association’s “Elkhorn Award” as the Band Director of the Year; Alberta Band Association’s “Vondis Miller Legacy Award”; Laureate in John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the MidWest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. Women Band Directors International, “Scroll of Excellence”; and an Honorary Lifetime Membership from the Alberta Band Association. Kathie continues to be active as a free-lance musician (trumpet) and has performed with many groups including among others, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Prime Time Big Band, Calgary Jazz Orchestra, Alberta Winds and Altius Brass. Besides music, Kathie enjoys woodworking, horseback riding and is an avid baseball fan. Go Cardinals!
Tetyana Haraschuk is a Ukrainian/Canadian drummer and composer. She holds a Bachelor in Jazz Performance from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Contemporary Performance and Production from the Berklee College of Music. Tetyana has played with JUNO award winning artists in Canada and has performed with her own band in Canada, Spain and Brazil. An accomplished composer and arranger, Tetyana has independently released an album, EP, as well as two singles of her original music. Tetyana crafts a wide variety of sounds that stretch from delicate to frightening while disregarding genre boundaries and conventions. She has written commissions for the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, for Nina Nicolaiewsky's string quartet, and is currently writing a commission for Northern Brassworks. Tetyana has been a guest lecturer at Western University in London, Canada as well as at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. She is the artistic director of “Until The Sun Comes” a musical documentation of Ukrainian war stories, in collaboration with documentary film company “Ice River Films”.
Karly Epp (she/her) is a Canadian-based jazz vocalist with a passion for education. Epp graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Music specializing in Jazz Vocal Performance, as well as a Bachelor of Education. After several years of teaching choir at the high school level, she decided to shift her focus from education to performance. Epp relocated to New York City and later graduated from Manhattan School of Music with a master's degree in jazz studies. During this time, she had the opportunity to study with multiple Grammy-winning/nominated and revered jazz artists and composers, and to perform in clubs and festivals throughout North America. After spending a year as visiting instructor of jazz voice for the University of Manitoba in 2018, Epp ultimately returned to her hometown of Winnipeg, Canada to take the position on full-time. In addition to teaching, she continues to be very busy as a performing and recording artist, as well as a guest lecturer/clinician.
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.
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.
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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