CMS Family
Garry Silverman
CMS Music Director
Conductor, Monday and Tuesday Bands
Garry Silverman attended the University of Northern Colorado where he received a Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting and Wind Literature and studied conducting with Eugene Corporon and trombone performance with Edwin "Buddy" Baker. He holds an undergraduate degree in music education from Dickinson University, in Dickinson, North Dakota. During his varied music career Mr. Silverman has also had the opportunity to study with other nationally recognized musicians like Fredrick Fennell, Carl Husa, The Netherlands Wind Ensemble, Robert Reynolds, Jamey Abersold, David Whitwell, Charles Vernon, Donald Hunsberger, and Alfred Reed.
As a free lance bass trombonist, Mr. Silverman was a member of the Tommy Banks big band for several years, and has had the opportunity to perform for a number of well known musicians like David Foster and K. D. Lang. Other freelance work has occurred for The Banff International Film Festival, the Moscow circus, several musicals at the Citadel theatre, and performances on CBC radio and television.
As a music educator Mr. Silverman has had many award winning concert bands and jazz ensembles, and has been awarded several honors of recognition for his excellence in music education. Mr. Silverman has received the Performing and Creative Arts Award from the City of Edmonton, the Alberta Achievement Award - Performance Category from the Department of Culture and Multiculturalism and the Tommy Banks Award from the Alberta Foundation of the Performing Arts.
Harry Pinchin
Music Director Emeritus
Harry Pinchin was named Music Director Emeritus on June 2, 2007 on the occasion of his retirement from over 40 years of dedicated service to the Cosmopolitan Music Society and the City of Edmonton arts community. Harry was the founder of the Cosmopolitan Music Society and CMS is indebted to him for his contributions to community music programming.
Born in Toronto, Harry Pinchin began the study of the trumpet at age 10 with his father, an accomplished amateur cornetist. Following high school, he studied with Ellis McLintock Sr., at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and privately with Morris London, a major Toronto studio artist. Advanced trumpet studies were taken with Renold Schilke of Chicago.
Harry joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a musician in 1953. As a member of the “Canadian Guards Band” he toured extensively throughout Canada and the United States. In 1954, the band served a tour of duty in Korea. In 1956, Harry was posted to Calgary as a charter member of the band of “Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians).” Before leaving the service he also served with the “Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry” band.
He performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for six years and began the study of conducting with his former Director of Music, Captain F. M. (Ray) McLeod. Later studies in conducting were taken with Professor Haymo Tauber of the Vienna State Opera.
Harry retired from the Canadian Forces to accept the position of Assistant Supervisor of Music for the Government of Alberta. Also a member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, he performed as both trumpeter and “pops” conductor for many years. Harry was a long time member of the Tommy Banks Orchestra and for over three decades was involved both as a trumpeter and conductor with Tommy’s many radio, television and recording projects.
Despite these major activities involving professional symphony, studio and jazz orchestras, Harry has never lost his love and respect for his musical roots – the concert band. In fact, he is perhaps best known as the founder and music director of the Cosmopolitan Music Society.
In 1978 Harry received the prestigious “Directors Award” and “Honourary Life Membership” from the Canadian Band Association. Also that year, Harry was presented with the Alberta Government “Award of Excellence” by Premier Peter Lougheed in recognition of his work as a performer, conductor and builder of the arts.
He has since been presented with a “Cultural Achievement Award” from the City of Edmonton and in 1993 Harry was inducted into Edmonton’s “Cultural Hall of Fame.” In 1997 he was invited into the membership of the prestigious “American Bandmasters Association.” In 2001 Harry was presented with the distinguished “International Award” by the “Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic” at the Chicago Hilton and Towers and in 2007, he was awarded the"Atco Gas Award for Lifetime Achievement."
Jamie Burns
CMS Choral Conductor
Jamie Burns currently teaches at W. P. Wagner High School. In 2005, he completed a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Alberta, under the supervision of Dr. Robert de Frece. Prior to graduate work, Jamie earned bachelor degrees in music and education, also at the U of A. He continues to maintain an active performance schedule as a conductor, singer, trumpeter, pianist, and jazz musician.
In addition to his work with the CMS, Jamie plays trumpet in the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia. He is a former member of JUBILOSO! Bells of Concordia, the U of A Madrigal Singers, and the Mill Creek Colliery Band, and is a former Assistant Conductor of the U of A Mixed Chorus.
Jamie's teaching credits also include jazz history and improvisation sessions at the U of A Summer Jazz Camp and an undergraduate aural and keyboard skills class in the U of A's Music Department. He is in demand as a high school choral and band clinician, and has received numerous provincial and institutional awards for academics, leadership, and musicianship.
Rita Burns
CMS Wednesday Band Conductor
Rita Burns received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta. She is the music teacher at Avalon Junior High School in Edmonton. Mrs. Burns has been a guest conductor, band clinician, adjudicator and conference speaker in the area of middle school and junior high school band.
Over her career, Rita Burns has received several awards: the David Peterkin Award for dedication to the pursuit of excellence in band music from the band fraternity, Phi Beta Mu; the Elkhorn Award for band director of the year from the Alberta Band Association; a provincial Excellence in Teaching Award in 1995; and a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2002.
Rita Burns has served in the work of the Alberta's provincial arts service organizations. She was the first secretary-treasurer of the Alberta Choral Directors' Association and has been president of the Alberta Band Association twice. She is currently president of the Alberta Summer Workshop Association and is a past-president of Music Alberta. She is committed to helping bring the arts and arts education to people in all walks of life.
Jared Samborski
CMS Choral Accompanist
Jared Samborski is looking forward to working as the accompanist of the Cosmopolitan Music Society Chorus again. He brings with him fifteen years of choral accompanying experience and the Associate of Music Diploma in piano performance (Western Board of Music), completed under the tutelage of Willa Meyers. Also an avid violinist, Jared carries the practical portion of Grade X Violin (Royal Conservatory of Music) from his studies with Ranald Shean.
Over the years, Jared has been a festival adjudicator, an instructor of piano, violin, viola, and theory, a vocal accompanist, a player of the glockenspiel, a marching band member, a composer, an actor, a conductor, and a director. He is currently the Music Director for Ovations Dinner Theatre located in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
Board of Directors:
President: Rhea Shank
Vice-President: Richard Buckley
Treasurer: Bill Lewis
Secretary: Marg Zapf
Directors at large: Curtis Farley, Keith Nunas, Earle Erickson
Administration:
General Manager: Darlene Bryant
Music Director: Garry Silverman
Conductors:
Monday and Tuesday Bands: Garry Silverman
Music Director Emeritus: Harry Pinchin
Wednesday Band: Rita Burns
Cosmopolitan Chorus: Jamie Burns
Choral Accompanist: Jared Samborski
