Meet The CMS Family
Rita Burns
Conductor: Wednesday Band
A graduate of the music education program at the University of Alberta, Rita Burns is retired from thirty-seven years of teaching junior high band musicians and conducting church choir musicians in Edmonton. Rita’s first professional music experiences were in solo singing and in choral music with many fine choirs in the province including Edmonton’s professional choir, Pro Coro Canada.
Throughout her music education career, Rita has been active in the music community serving provincial arts organizations that create opportunities for amateur and professional musicians. She is a past-president of the Alberta Band Association, Music Alberta, Sing for Life Society of Alberta, Choir Alberta, and Pro Coro Canada Society. She is currently on the boards of the Alberta Summer Music Workshop Association and Sing for Life Society of Alberta.
In 1984, Rita became the first Albertan woman invited to join the international fraternity of band directors, Phi Beta Mu. She has received several honours during her career: the David Peterkin Award for excellence in band music from the Mu Alpha Chapter of the band directors’ fraternity, Phi Beta Mu; the Elkhorn Award for band director of the year from the Alberta Band Association; a provincial Excellence in Teaching Award; a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence; the Vondis Miller Legacy Award from the Alberta Band Association for long service to the band world in Alberta. Rita was named an Honorary Life Member of the Alberta Band Association in 2020.
In addition to conducting the dedicated and talented members of the Cosmopolitan Music Society Wednesday Band, Rita enjoys serving as an occasional band clinician, adjudicator, conference presenter, and guest conductor. She is grateful to be back to music-making on the best night of the week and to be performing together again after the recent hiatus.
Jared Samborski
CMS Accompanist
Jared Samborski brings to the Cosmopolitan Music Society twenty-nine 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, and 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.
Joel Gray
Conductor: Cosmopolitones Jazz Band
Joel Gray is an Edmonton-based freelance trumpeter and music educator with over three decades of experience. He has shared the stage with esteemed artists such as Tommy Banks, PJ Perry, Slide Hampton, Diana Krall, and the Temptations, showcasing his versatility in both jazz and classical genres.
Joel is a regular performer with various musical ensembles, including the Canadian All-Star JazzPops Orchestra, which gained recognition with a Juno award nomination for their album "Then Is Now 'Rhapsody in Blue'." Joel recently recorded with Maria Dunn on her Juno award winning album "A Joyful Banner Blazing". He is also a frequent collaborator with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, having played as assistant principal trumpet in Carnegie Hall and featured as a soloist in their "Tribute to Louis Armstrong."
In addition to his performance career, Joel has contributed his talents to professional musical theatre productions, including the National Broadway Tours of popular shows like "Book of Mormon," "Wicked," and "Beauty and the Beast." He is eagerly anticipating his involvement in the upcoming production of "Ain't To Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations" in Edmonton.
As a dedicated music educator since 1995, Joel has taught at respected institutions such as MacEwan University, Augustana University, and Keyano College. He currently serves as the Director at MusiCamp Alberta and has adjudicated at various music festivals, including the Cantando Music Festival and the Kiwanis Music Festival. Notably, he has been the director of the acclaimed “Littlebirds” jazz bands since 2004, fostering young talent in the realm of jazz education.
Tammy-Jo Mortensen
Conductor: Reverberations Handbells
Tammy-Jo Mortensen has been involved with handbell ringing for over 25 years as a ringer, conductor, soloist and adjudicator of handbell festivals and compositions, and as a workshop clinician. She was the Music Director at Robertson-Wesley United Church in Edmonton for 16 years, where she worked with two five octave handbell groups – the Robertson-Wesley Ringers and Nova Bells as well as the choir, and she also volunteered with several elementary school handbell groups during that time. She has performed, conducted and given workshops internationally at handbell and choral events in Korea, Australia, England, and Denmark as well as all over Canada.
Throughout her career, Tammy-Jo has sought out education and experiences which have advanced her skills to a higher level. She has a Bachelor of Music in Organ from the University of Alberta, a Master of Music in Organ from McGill University (Montreal) and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting also from the U of A.
Currently, Tammy-Jo is the Choir Administrator for the Da Camera Singers, the Music Director at the Anglican Parish of Christ Church, the Music Editor of the United Church of Canada’s “Gathering Magazine”, and the harpsichordist for the Alberta Baroque Ensemble. She also has a radio show on bigeradio.com.
Staff
Executive/Music Director: Dr. Taina Lorenz (Director@Cosmopolitanmusic.org)
Manager: Dr. Jan OlsOn (manager@Cosmopolitanmusic.org)
Administration: Lynn Turnbull (info@Cosmopolitanmusic.org)
Dr. Taina Lorenz
Executive Director
Music Director
Conductor: Monday & Tuesday Bands
Jamie Burns
Conductor: Chorus
The 2021-2022 season marks Jamie Burns’s eighteenth as conductor of the Cosmopolitan Chorus. He is also a past conductor of the CMS Beginner Band. Jamie currently teaches music and photography at W. P. Wagner High School. He holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta, where he also earned bachelor degrees with distinction in music and education. He has enjoyed an active performance career as a conductor, singer, trumpeter, pianist, percussionist, and jazz musician.
In addition to his work with CMS, Jamie played trumpet in the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia for over 10 seasons, the Mill Creek Colliery Band, and JUBILOSO! Bells of Concordia, as well as a former Assistant Conductor with the U of A Mixed Chorus and the Festival City Winds. Jamie has had the pleasure to guest conduct such diverse ensembles as the U of A Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Mission Hill Brass Band, the Festival Singers, the Concordia Community Chorus, the Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers, and CMS’s own Monday and Tuesday Bands, and has served as clinician on many occasions to local and touring school bands, choirs, and jazz bands.
Craig Goueffic
Conductor: Beginner Band
Craig Goueffic is a trombonist who plays in the Cosmopolitan Music Society Monday Band. Craig is also employed by the Edmonton Catholic School District and is currently serving as the music director at Cardinal Leger Junior High School.
Craig graduated high school in 2005 and pursued a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Alberta from 2005 until 2012. During his time as a student, Craig has performed in the University of Alberta Jazz Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra. During that time, Craig has worked under the direction of Dr. Angela Schroeder, Dr. Tom Dust, Fordyce (Duke) Pier, Malcolm Forsyth, John McPherson, Chris Taylor, Wendy Grasdahl, and Tanya Prochazka. Craig has also performed with world renowned euphonium performer Brian Bowman as well as trumpet player Jens Lindemann.
Craig joined the Cosmopolitan Music Society conducting team in 2016 and is extremely proud and excited to conduct the Year II Beginner Band. Craig is also in demand as a trombone clinician within the city of Edmonton.
Dale Chapman
Conductor: Jazz Big Band
Dale is pleased to conduct the Cosmopolitan Swing Big Band. Although his background in music was founded with classical piano he soon found jazz in the halls of his high schools. Bitten by the (jitter?) bug, he moved to Edmonton to study at what was then known as Grant MacEwan Community College – now MacEwan University – to further his skills in popular and jazz styles on the keyboard.
Through his musical adventures he lived and moved through genres: pop, rock, folk, Celtic, reggae, Senegalese; not always playing keyboards, but always making music. Dale now teaches music at Archbishop MacDonald High School, directs the Edmonton Catholic School Division Senior All City Band, and feeds his jazz demons here at the Cosmopolitan Music Society.
Carol Bergum
Conductor: Overtones Handbells
Carol has been playing and directing handbells for over 40 years. She is the Handbell Director at Highlands United Church where she has directed beginner to advanced choirs and handbell ensembles of varying sizes for 30 years. Over 150 ringers of all ages have participated in the program using five octaves of bells and four octaves of hand chimes. These groups have participated in local, provincial and national handbell events, produced a number of recordings, and performed a wide variety of concerts while continuing to provide regular musical leadership in worship services.
A founding member of the Alberta Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Carol has conducted workshops over the years on a wide variety of topics. She began ringing under her father’s direction and continued ringing with church and community choirs in university, before moving around the tables to direct. Carol is an accomplished solo and duet ringer.
She also maintains a full-time career as an urban planner with the City of Spruce Grove.
Board of Directors
President: Francis Engli
Vice President: Dwigth Sarabin
Treasurer: Beni Tiedemann
Secretary: Aidan McBride
Director at Large: Danielle Burns
Director at Large: Norm Johnson
Director at Large: Tom Love
Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, this self-proclaimed “band geek” earned her PhD in Music Education and Cognition, and Wind Conducting from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her research focuses on how our brains interpret and navigate the multi-sensory environment of instrumental ensembles, interpersonal and social dynamics within large ensembles, and the relationship between the two. Taina’s research is published in the journals, Psychology of Music, and Canadian Winds, and has been presented at conferences in Europe and North America. Taina also holds a Bachelor of Education in Music Education, and Master of Music in Wind Conducting and Music History from the University of Alberta.
As Director of the Cosmopolitan Music Society, Taina oversees all aspects of music performance and programming. She has introduced unique and innovative adult music education programs that include a 2-year Beginner band program, modern and classic jazz ensembles, handbells, and multi-disciplinary collaborations. Taina conducts the Monday (Advanced) and Tuesday (Intermediate) Bands, as well as special event performances including the annual memorial tribute event Lest We Forget, and CMS Tour Band performances. Over the past decade, she and the CMS ensembles have worked closely with composers around the world to premiere new works for wind band in Canada and Europe.
With her personable manner, strong communication skills, and over 25 years of experience teaching music from kindergarten to adult levels, Taina is a consummate educator. She consistently applies her skills and experience as a conductor and brass player, and is a frequent clinician and guest conductor in Canada and the United States.
Taina is a founding and active member of the Strathcona Performing Arts Association (spaa.ca), and serves as a member of the Alberta chapter of Women Band Directors International, international bandmasters fraternity, Phi Beta Mu, and Rotary Canada (Edmonton). She has been honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her exceptional service to the community through her work as an educator and community leader.
When not engaged in music, Taina enjoys good food, good wine, and a good story, especially when shared with her friends, family, and cats.