Performer, teacher, composer, conductor, Blaine Dunaway, has a B.A. in music, (jazz), from Western Washington University.

He has studied at UBC, U of A in Edmonton, Brandon University, the Banff School of Fine Arts, and Bullfrog recording school.

Blaine has taught music in public school throughout BC and Manitoba and has taught at the college level in BC and Alberta.

As a composer, his compositions range from String Quartets to 15 piece bands to meditation tracks.

Blaine has worked as a studio recording artist in many studios across the country, and has played in most of the finest Big Bands in Western Canada.

As an improvising violinist and trumpet player, there are dozens of albums with his touch adding to the magic, in many different genres, from jazz to classical to folk to world music to blues to popular.

Career Highlights

• Founder and conductor of the Brandon Community Symphony Orchestra and the Sunshine Coast Community Concert Band
• Recipient of a Canada Council Grant for composition for string quartets
• Shared Canadian Music Council Award for Best Jazz Radio Show (CBC Edmonton) featuring double string quartet, rhythm section and soloist P.J. Perry
• Studied conducting under Mr. Bill Cole at Western Washington University

Relevant Experience

CONDUCTING

• Past conductor of the Brandon Community Symphony, the Blake Emmons Road Show North Shore Light Opera, Sunshine Coast Community Band, Sunshine Coast Community Orchestra
• Recent conductor of the Creek Big Band .(Robert’s Creek)

TEACHING

• Student Conductor, University of British Columbia Jazz lab, and a Jazz lab band at WWU(Bellingham)Teaching
• Individual and class instruction in theory, class strings, violin and trumpet at Grant MacEwan Community College, Vancouver Community College and Capilano College
• Class instruction Grades 4 – 12 in musical theatre, band, jazz band, choral, orchestra and conducting
• Private instruction in violin, viola, trumpet, theory and composition for adults and children

PERFORMING

• Professional performances with jazz orchestras including Hugh Fraser’s Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation(VEJI), Tommy Banks’ Orchestra ( a 26 week television season), Gary Guthman Orchestra, Professional musician in the Royal Canadian Engineers Band
• Past member of the Pro Musica Orchestra, New West Symphony, Okanagan Symphony, Sooke Philharmonic and the Victoria Civic Orchestra
• Concert Master with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra for one term.
• Occasional member of the West Coast Symphony
• Past member of the little Mountain Brass Band
• A lifetime of professional jazz and studio music

Education and Professional Development

• Western Washington University, 1978, Bachelor of Arts in Music
• Western Washington University, 1978 Graduate Course in Conducting
• University of British Columbia, 1980 Professional Teaching Certificate
• Banff Centre for the Arts, 1981, 1984
• Advanced Music Program Douglas College, 1974 Composition and Arranging
• University of Alberta, 1973 Composition and Theory

Music

Blaine Dunaway Links