Mentors
An active teacher, adjudicator, lecturer, recorded artist, and published author, Mary C. J. Byrne (Ph.D) is internationally respected for her wide-ranging work as a flute-in-hand musician and teacher. With the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Camosun College, and her own Piccolino Studio, she boasts thriving studios and classrooms of students at all ages and
stages of musical interest. She is a regular performer with the Victoria Symphony.
Without borders or boundaries, she eagerly performs chamber, solo, and small orchestra music for the full flute family. Mary is in demand as lecturer and writer on topics of music and as leader of music-tourism. She earned B.Mus. in Flute Performance and Music Education and M.Mus. in Flute Performance degrees from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Victoria, specializing in pedagogy and
performance practice of the flutists at the Paris Conservatoire during the 19 th and 20 th
centuries.
stages of musical interest. She is a regular performer with the Victoria Symphony.
Without borders or boundaries, she eagerly performs chamber, solo, and small orchestra music for the full flute family. Mary is in demand as lecturer and writer on topics of music and as leader of music-tourism. She earned B.Mus. in Flute Performance and Music Education and M.Mus. in Flute Performance degrees from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Victoria, specializing in pedagogy and
performance practice of the flutists at the Paris Conservatoire during the 19 th and 20 th
centuries.
Melissa Goodchild is an active teacher and freelance clarinetist and bass clarinetist, in Victoria, British Columbia. She performs music for solo clarinet, chamber groups, and music for large ensembles. She has been a clarinet instructor at the University of Victoria for the 2021-2022 term. In 2019 she joined the faculty of the Victoria Conservatory of Music and enjoys teaching students of all ages in private as well as group settings including chamber music, clinics for schools, and adjudicating for music festivals across Canada.
She received her Bachelors of Music from the University of Windsor and also studied at Western University where she earned her Artist Diploma in Clarinet Performance and Master of Music in Performance and Literature. After completing her studies in London, Ontario in 2008 she moved to Edmonton, Alberta where she taught at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music.
In 2012 she moved to Saskatoon Saskatchewan where she held the position of Second Clarinet with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra until May 2018. While in Saskatchewan Melissa collaborated with percussionist Kevin Grady, and together they continue to perform repertoire including contemporary works with a special interest in, but not limited to, Canadian compositions. As a duo Kevin and Melissa were artists-in-residence for the Prairie Wind & Silver Sage museum in Val Marie, Saskatchewan and at the Banff Centre for the Arts winter residency in 2018. In July 2018 the Duo performed at ClarinetFest in Ostend, Belgium. In Saskatoon she performed in the Strata New Music Festival, was a featured soloist with the Saskatoon Serenade, the Saskatoon Concert Band, and the clarinet choir Reedy, Set, Go!
Students in Melissa’s studio enjoy opportunities to perform in festivals, masterclasses, recitals, and ensembles. They are welcomed into a supportive community where learning through curiosity is encouraged.
She received her Bachelors of Music from the University of Windsor and also studied at Western University where she earned her Artist Diploma in Clarinet Performance and Master of Music in Performance and Literature. After completing her studies in London, Ontario in 2008 she moved to Edmonton, Alberta where she taught at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music.
In 2012 she moved to Saskatoon Saskatchewan where she held the position of Second Clarinet with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra until May 2018. While in Saskatchewan Melissa collaborated with percussionist Kevin Grady, and together they continue to perform repertoire including contemporary works with a special interest in, but not limited to, Canadian compositions. As a duo Kevin and Melissa were artists-in-residence for the Prairie Wind & Silver Sage museum in Val Marie, Saskatchewan and at the Banff Centre for the Arts winter residency in 2018. In July 2018 the Duo performed at ClarinetFest in Ostend, Belgium. In Saskatoon she performed in the Strata New Music Festival, was a featured soloist with the Saskatoon Serenade, the Saskatoon Concert Band, and the clarinet choir Reedy, Set, Go!
Students in Melissa’s studio enjoy opportunities to perform in festivals, masterclasses, recitals, and ensembles. They are welcomed into a supportive community where learning through curiosity is encouraged.
Scott Gordon is currently working towards a degree in Music Education at the University of Victoria. In addition to his study of classical/orchestral tuba with Paul Beauchesne, he actively pursues musical opportunities in an array of settings and genres, especially jazz. His teaching philosophy is anchored in his immense passion and love for music, as well as his firm belief that music education should be accessible for all people. As an alumnus of the Youth Mentorship Program, Scott is particularly honored and excited to have the opportunity to mentor an up-and-coming local tuba player this year.
Known for her “expressive technique” and “dramatic presence”, Anne Grimm has performed throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand in concert, opera and recital.
Ms. Grimm has toured extensively with Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ambronay, Salzburg Festival) as well as with the Amsterdamse Bachsolisten under Roy Goodman (Het Concertgebouw) and The Netherlands Bachvereniging. She has also appeared with Christophe Rousset and Massimo Zanetti as well as at the Halle Handel Festspiele and Potsdam Festival Sanssouci.
Other highlights have included touring with Frans Bruggen and the Orchestra of the 18 th Century
in Rameau’s “Les Indes Galante”, performing under Rozhdestvensky with the Rotterdam Philharmonic in Montemezzi’s “L’amore de tre Re” as well as singing with the Netherlands Opera, National Reisopera and at the Holland Festival in productions of Purcell’s “King Arthur” and “Fairy Queen”.
Recognized for her performances of contemporary music, Ms. Grimm has toured with the Aventa Ensemble to Calgary, Montreal and New York City performing works of Saariaho, Gonneville and Steen-Andersen as well as opening the Adelaide Festival in Australia as Marilyn Monroe in Gavin Bryars’ chamber opera, “Marilyn Forever”. Other performances have included Christopher Butterfield’s “Contes pour enfants pas sage” with Continuum in Toronto as well as performing music of Gavin Bryars for the Victoria Symphony.
Most recently she performed the role of Barate in Rudolf Komorous chamber opera “The Mute Canary” with the Truning Point ensemble in Vancouver touring to Prague and Ostrava in Czech Replublic.
Other past performances have included programs with Seattle based Pacific Music Works under Stephen Stubbs, Tanglewood Festival, the National Arts Center Orchestra under Pinchas Zuckerman, Toronto’s Tafelmusik, Toronto Masque Theater, Pacific Opera Victoria and with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra under Marc Destrube. She has also sung with Apollo’s Fire in Cleveland, with The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and at the Ojai Festival in California.
Ms. Grimm has recorded for Erato, NM Classics, Vanguard Classics, Troubadisc, Sony and for Harmonia Mundi France and is on faculty at the University of Victoria’s School of Music.
Ms. Grimm has toured extensively with Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ambronay, Salzburg Festival) as well as with the Amsterdamse Bachsolisten under Roy Goodman (Het Concertgebouw) and The Netherlands Bachvereniging. She has also appeared with Christophe Rousset and Massimo Zanetti as well as at the Halle Handel Festspiele and Potsdam Festival Sanssouci.
Other highlights have included touring with Frans Bruggen and the Orchestra of the 18 th Century
in Rameau’s “Les Indes Galante”, performing under Rozhdestvensky with the Rotterdam Philharmonic in Montemezzi’s “L’amore de tre Re” as well as singing with the Netherlands Opera, National Reisopera and at the Holland Festival in productions of Purcell’s “King Arthur” and “Fairy Queen”.
Recognized for her performances of contemporary music, Ms. Grimm has toured with the Aventa Ensemble to Calgary, Montreal and New York City performing works of Saariaho, Gonneville and Steen-Andersen as well as opening the Adelaide Festival in Australia as Marilyn Monroe in Gavin Bryars’ chamber opera, “Marilyn Forever”. Other performances have included Christopher Butterfield’s “Contes pour enfants pas sage” with Continuum in Toronto as well as performing music of Gavin Bryars for the Victoria Symphony.
Most recently she performed the role of Barate in Rudolf Komorous chamber opera “The Mute Canary” with the Truning Point ensemble in Vancouver touring to Prague and Ostrava in Czech Replublic.
Other past performances have included programs with Seattle based Pacific Music Works under Stephen Stubbs, Tanglewood Festival, the National Arts Center Orchestra under Pinchas Zuckerman, Toronto’s Tafelmusik, Toronto Masque Theater, Pacific Opera Victoria and with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra under Marc Destrube. She has also sung with Apollo’s Fire in Cleveland, with The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and at the Ojai Festival in California.
Ms. Grimm has recorded for Erato, NM Classics, Vanguard Classics, Troubadisc, Sony and for Harmonia Mundi France and is on faculty at the University of Victoria’s School of Music.
Scott MacInnes received his MMus from the University of Victoria (11) and his BMus at the University of Toronto (05). Scott moved to Victoria after winning a one-year position as the bass trombonist with the Victoria Symphony for the 2005-6 season. The following year Scott secured the position of Principal Bass Trombone with the Vancouver Island Symphony. He is extremely active as a chamber musician as a member of both the Pinnacle Brass Quintet and iTromboni.
Demonstrating his great versatility Scott can be heard playing jazz, pop and rock in local and international venues. As an instructor Scott teaches privately as well as at the University of Victoria where he teaches private lessons, chamber music, MUS411 - Business of Music and MUS X89 Vikes Band. Scott also holds the position of Artistic Director for both the Meridiem Wind Orchestra and the BC Brass Collective.
Demonstrating his great versatility Scott can be heard playing jazz, pop and rock in local and international venues. As an instructor Scott teaches privately as well as at the University of Victoria where he teaches private lessons, chamber music, MUS411 - Business of Music and MUS X89 Vikes Band. Scott also holds the position of Artistic Director for both the Meridiem Wind Orchestra and the BC Brass Collective.
Dr. Alexander Richards is an active pedagogue and performing artist, having appeared in concert in Canada, the United States and Europe. As a concert saxophonist, Alexander has been a featured soloist with ensembles at the University of Victoria Wind Symphony (2011), the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble (2013), and at the University of North Texas. In addition, Alexander has presented recitals, in both solo and chamber music capacities, at many prestigious festivals and conferences, including the Darmstadt International Musikinstitut, the Texas Music Educators Association conference, and many North American Saxophone Association conferences.
As both a performer and pedagogue, Alexander devotes himself to the creation and dissemination of contemporary music for saxophone. He has both commissioned and premiered many works for saxophone in all capacities, from a double concerto with flute and orchestra, to chamber music, electroacoustic music, and unaccompanied works. Currently, Alexander’s musical pursuit is the creation of new solo works for the sopranino saxophone, a commission of which was selected to appear on a forthcoming album from Naxos. As a pedagogue, Alexander’s core belief is the incorporation of contemporary music, technique and concepts into the canon. Having studied with many luminaries, including Dr. Eugene Rousseau, Dr. Eric Nestler and Wendell Clanton, Alexander holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria, a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas.
Students of Dr. Richards have achieved such accolades as winning the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial High School Competition, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, the 92Y Concerto Competition, the Juanita Miller Concerto Competition, and the National YoungArts Foundation competition. In addition, students have been selected as finalists in the Coltman Chamber Music Competition, the Houston Underground Saxophone Competition, and the Fischoff National Chamber Music competition, as well as being selected as Texas All-State and All-Region instrumentalists. Currently, Alexander is the classical saxophone instructor at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
As both a performer and pedagogue, Alexander devotes himself to the creation and dissemination of contemporary music for saxophone. He has both commissioned and premiered many works for saxophone in all capacities, from a double concerto with flute and orchestra, to chamber music, electroacoustic music, and unaccompanied works. Currently, Alexander’s musical pursuit is the creation of new solo works for the sopranino saxophone, a commission of which was selected to appear on a forthcoming album from Naxos. As a pedagogue, Alexander’s core belief is the incorporation of contemporary music, technique and concepts into the canon. Having studied with many luminaries, including Dr. Eugene Rousseau, Dr. Eric Nestler and Wendell Clanton, Alexander holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria, a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas.
Students of Dr. Richards have achieved such accolades as winning the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial High School Competition, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, the 92Y Concerto Competition, the Juanita Miller Concerto Competition, and the National YoungArts Foundation competition. In addition, students have been selected as finalists in the Coltman Chamber Music Competition, the Houston Underground Saxophone Competition, and the Fischoff National Chamber Music competition, as well as being selected as Texas All-State and All-Region instrumentalists. Currently, Alexander is the classical saxophone instructor at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.