Individuals: Performing Artists: Kenneth Erskine, Musician

Artist's Statement

As a youngster, I started out as a piano player but was drawn to the drum set and other percussion instruments in secondary school. After high school, I attended the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music in their performance degree program. Upon graduation, I continued study at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Orchestra Training Program.

After these five years of study, I accepted a position as a teacher with the Royal Consevatory and explored a freelance career in classical percussion in the greater Toronto area. In 1990, I made a career change from full time musician to full time educator and returned to the University of Toronto to obtain a degree in education.

North Shore

Erskine/Hannon Jazz Quartet

After teaching in Scarborough for ten years, I returned to my home area and now live in Port Hope. Some local ensembles I regularly perform with include The Royals (Cobourg), The Ron Marenger Big Band (Peterborough), The Big Easy 7 (Cobourg), L’ll Big Band (Peterborough), The Bluenote Dixie Band (Cobourg), Blue Mood (Peterborough), Swing Street Big Band (Whitby), Tanya Wills & North Shore (Port Hope), and and the Biff Hannon Trio (Peterborough). "I have also performed with various musical theatre companies at Victoria Hall (Cobourg), the Capital Theatre (Port Hope), Showplace (Peterborough) and the Academy Theatre (Lindsay)."

Bio

Education

• Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, Bachelor of Music in Performance
• Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto, Orchestra Training Program Diploma
• Faculty of Education, University of Toronto, Bachelor of Education

Principal Teachers

• Robert Becker (York U., Nexus)
• Rusell Hartenberger (U. of T., Nexus)
• John Wyre (T.S.O., Nexus)
• Peter Magadini (Drum Set, Jazz Artist & Clinician)

Professional Performance Experiences

• Toronto Percussion Ensemble (Founding Member)
• National Ballet of Canada Orchestra
• Canadian Opera Company Orchestra
• Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra
• Saddler’s Wells Ballet Orchestra, England
• Bolshoi Ballet Orchestra
• Kiev Ballet Orchestra
• Kirov Ballet Orchestra
• Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra
• Toronto Pops Orchestra
• Nexus
• Camerata
• Arraymusic
• Toronto New Music Concerts
• Toronto Mendelssohn Choir & Elmer Isler Singers
• Orpheus Choir
• Hannaford Street Silver Band
• Toronto Festive Brass

Recordings and Radio Broadcasts

• CBC-SM5000, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra
• "Shadowbox", Centrediscs, Toronto, Toronto Percussion Ensemble
• CBC Stereo "Two New Hours"
• CBC Stereo "Music Around Us"
• CBC Stereo "Mostly Music"
• CBC Stereo "Arts National"

Music Teaching

• Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto (1983 -1992)
• University of Guelph (1981-1990)
• National Music Camp of Canada (1987-1995)
• Toronto Board of Education Music Camp (1983-1987)
• Peel Board of Education Music Camp (1984-1988)
• Mount Alison University Summer Music Program, Sackville,N.B. (1985-1987)
• Pascobac Summer Music Program, St. John, N.B. (1986)
• U. of Toronto Percussion Education Classes (Guest Artist)
• Mount Alison University, Sackville, N.B. (Guest Artist)
• St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, N.S. (Guest Artist)
• Ontario Music Educator’s Association (Guest Artist)
• Claude Watson School for the Arts (Guest Artist)
• Etobicoke School for the Arts (Guest Artist)
• Oakwood C.I., Toronto (Guest Artist)
• Unionville Secondary School (Guest Artist)
• Bramalea S.S., Brampton (Guest Artist)
• Mayfield S.S., Brampton (Guest Artist)
• Upper Canada College, Toronto (Guest Artist)
• North York Board of Education P.D. Day (Guest Artist)
• Etobicoke Board of Education P.D. Day (Guest Artist)

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