Con Brio seeks to provide an extremely positive educational experience. Only those who can deliver this experience are selected as adjudicators and workshop leaders.
Please check back as we continue to update for 2027.
DR. MEIJUN CHEN – BAND
is the Director of Concert Winds at the University of British Columbia An active conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Meijun has worked with collegiate and school bands across Canada, held conducting roles with Edmonton Opera and the Edmonton Youth Orchestra, and guest-conducted the United States “Pershing’s Own” Army Band in 2023. She has received numerous awards and scholarships to further her conducting studies in Austria and the U.S., including winning the Absolute First Prize in Conducting at the 2023 UK International Music Competition. Selected as a Conducting Fellow at prestigious masterclasses including Domaine Forget and the Universis the Director of Concert Winds at the University of British Columbia An active conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Meijun has worked with collegiate and school bands across Canada, held conducting roles with Edmonton Opera and the Edmonton Youth Orchestra, and guest-conducted the United States “Pershing’s Own” Army Band in 2023. She has received numerous awards and scholarships to further her conducting studies in Austria and the U.S., including winning the Absolute First Prize in Conducting at the 2023 UK International Music Competition. Selected as a Conducting Fellow at prestigious masterclasses including Domaine Forget and the University of Cincinnati CCM International Wind Festival, in conjunction with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Meijun’s conducting mentors include Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Travis Cross, Jerry Junkin, Emily Threinen, Bruce Pulver, Kevin Holzman, and Jason Fettig. Meijun holds dual Master of Music degrees in Wind Band Conducting and Clarinet Performance from the University of Alberta and is the guest clarinetist with the Royal Canadian Artillery Band.ity of Cincinnati CCM International Wind Festival, in conjunction with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Meijun’s conducting mentors include Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Travis Cross, Jerry Junkin, Emily Threinen, Bruce Pulver, Kevin Holzman, and Jason Fettig. Meijun holds dual Master of Music degrees in Wind Band Conducting and Clarinet Performance from the University of Alberta and is the guest clarinetist with the Royal Canadian Artillery Band.
LIEUTENANT (NAVY) BEN VAN SLYKE, CD – BAND
is Commanding Officer and Director of Music with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a reservist with the 15th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery as a musician in 1995. In 2005 he transferred to the regular force after being offered a position with the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax, NS. In 2009 he was posted to La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment at BFC Valcartier, QC and in 2012 was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and posted back to the Stadacona Band. After completing a Unique Skill Qualification for conducting brass and reed ensembles he was posted to the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) band in Edmonton, AB, taking on the newly created role of Standards and Training manager for the unit. Posted to the Naden Band of the RCN in 2018 he finally returned to the best coast although that was short lived as he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class and posted to Music Division, Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre at CFB Borden in 2019. Lt(N) Van Slyke received his commission in July 2021 and was promoted to his current rank.
DOUGLAS MACAULAY – INSTRUMENT INTENSIVES
works as a Conductor, Composer, Arranger, Educator, and Producer. He is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician at music festivals throughout Canada and the U.S., from the North Vancouver schools’ band and strings festival to the Southern Alberta Band Festival and the Pearl City Band Festival in Hawaii. As a guest conductor, he has directed Vancouver’s Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the UBC Summer Music Institute Senior Band, the Southeastern United States (SEUS) High School and Middle School Honor Bands, the Troy University (Alabama) Symphonic Band and many schools and community bands throughout BC and Alberta. He has also been a guest lecturer in Music Education at UBC and several music educational conferences. He has composed for a wide variety of genre including band, orchestra, film, and dozens of theatrical scores (a recipient of the Jesse Richardson award for outstanding Theatrical Composition). He is an independent record producer, music consultant for the film and television industry and has worked as Music Director for CBC Television and Radio, the Pacific Music Industry Association, The Cambie Street Brass Band, the Vancouver Community College Wind Ensemble, Theatre Under the Stars, and the Vancouver Firefighters Band. He is the co-founder, Artistic and Managing Director of Con Brio Festivals where, since 2000, he has produced the respected Whistler and Sun Peaks Music Festivals. As a volunteer, Doug has taught instrumental music and band to visually impaired youth in a program he founded for the CNIB and volunteers as a board member and consultant with a variety of music and arts organizations. Doug continues to support local artists serving as Executive Producer for Malcolm Aiken’s debut CD Paper Star, as Associate Producer for Robert Buckley’s album of Wind Band works and is a co-founder and producer for the Marcus Mosely Chorale. In his community, Doug was instrumental in the creation of the unique and visionary “Community Music Hall” – a dedicated large ensemble rehearsal space within the new West Vancouver Community Centre. The facility provides space to many community music ensembles and is home to the West Vancouver Youth Band, for which Doug has been Principal Conductor and Program Director since 1993. During that time, the WVYB has grown from 39 musicians in three ensembles to nearly 200 in five ensembles.
DANIEL PENNELL – PERCUSSION INTENSIVES
is a University of North Texas-trained percussionist with a B.Mus in Jazz Studies (Drum Set), and a minor in Music Theory, He is an active educator, performer, and arranger, with a passion for music in our communities, especially among our youth. His experience in education and performance spans most genres and band-sizes. As a performer, he has shared the stage with musicians including Duduka Da Fonseca, Zachary Stevenson and Renee Rosnes and is a DownBeat Student Music Awards recipient. Based in Parksville on Vancouver Island, Daniel is deeply involved with the Oceanside Music Association—celebrating its 60th year in 2026—as a performer with the Oceanside Big Band and as a private lessons teacher, groups coach, clinician, and Director of the newly-formed Parksville-Oceanside Youth Band and Oceanside Music Percussion Ensemble. As an educator, he writes drum set and orchestral percussion curriculum for teachers and students, inspired by the Royal Conservatory of Music and drawing on guidance from notable mentors, educators, and clinicians including Don Reed, Ed Soph, Billy Cobham, Paul Leim, Lyle Mays, Antonio Sanchez, Nasheet Waits, Eric Harland, Rufus Reid, Eddie Gomez, and Stefan Karlsson.
