Instructors
Vanessa Wilson 
Owner of Azure Music Studio
Piano, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Djembe
Vanessa Wilson, born in Edmonton, Alberta , began playing the piano at the age of 4, studying through the Royal Conservatory of Music. At age 12 Vanessa joined the band program in school taking up the clarinet and the saxophone. Through junior high and high school Vanessa had several opportunities to play in Big Band and Concert Bands. In 2000 she was accepted into the Edmonton Little Birds where she continued to work on swing and jazz techniques. After attending the University of Alberta in General Science Vanessa chose to switch her focus fully on music. While attending Grant MacEwan University (2004-2006) she played with the University of Alberta Big Band and the Grant MacEwan Jazz Combo. In addition to jazz studies Vanessa has played in groups such as Radiovacana, an Edmonton based latin/funk band and with several rock bands. Currently Vanessa records, gigs and tours with rock band Random Falter.
While in Brazil in 2007 Vanessa took a strong interest in hand drumming. This moment in her life was the starting point of the pursuit of drum circle facilitation and instruction. Vanessa has completed facilitation training with Circles of Rhythm founder Judy Atkinson and has taken djembe lessons from several master drummers. Together the facilitation training and lessons have given Vanessa the tools to create and pioneer drumming programs at Azure Music Studio and in the community.
Upon completing the program at Grant MacEwan University Vanessa casually took on a few music students to gain supplementary income. In fall 2009, filled with a passion for sharing music and innovation, the budding entrepreneur opened the doors of Azure Music Studio in Sherwood Park, Alberta. She continues to pursue the studio’s unique musical vision of a jazz and contemporary music studio along with providing an artistic and cultural experience.
Doug Berner
Leader of the Adult Jazz Ensemble 
Trumpet, double and electric bass
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Doug has been an active part of the musical community since his mid-teens. He began studying trumpet at age 12 with his father. This lasted for four days, after which he began studies with Bill Dimmer (assistant principal trumpet, ESO), a relationship that has lasted from then to the present day. He studied trumpet and jazz performance at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton and Moorehead State University in Kentucky. Doug has been privileged to perform with many great musicians, including Peabo Bryson, Aaron Nevile, and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and has traveled widely working as a Bandmaster for Princess Cruises and as Musical Director aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. Currently Doug resides in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, and can be found performing and teaching throughout Alberta.
Thea Neumann 
Vocals and Piano
Thea Neumann is a diverse and unique talent. Her experience has been in a great many genres. Recently Thea has been focused on completing her first full-length jazz CD which encompasses her scatting abilities and versatile voice.
Thea Neumann’s career as a sought-after songstress, began in the jazz world after the release of “First Time Out” while attending Grant MacEwan University with the Grant MacEwan/University of Alberta Jazz Band in 2004. This soon landed her a scholarship just outside of Detroit, Michigan at MSU where she studied under the mentorship of Ms. Sunny Wilkinson.
Thea’s exciting career has taken her to venues and festivals across North America. Performing with Rodney Whitaker and again with Herbie Hancock at the Detroit Jazz Festival. Performing at Canadian Folk Festivals as well as the highly acclaimed SXSW Festival. Recently Thea has joined forces with guitar prodigy Clint Pelletier. Whether they perform as a duo, solo, or together with Hot Club Edmonton, their performance enthralls and delights audiences around the globe. Their 2010 release of Hot Club Edmonton garnered rave reviews and won a WCMA for Instrumental Album of the Year.
Mike Muscat 
Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Guitar, Vocals, Drum Kit, Piano
Mike Muscat has been studying music since he was twelve years old, when he began playing the saxophone. He graduated from Humber College in Toronto, ON with a Jazz Performance Certification where he received honours in two of three years. After graduation, he continued diversifying his musical repertoire to include rock, funk and reggae, as well as learning guitar, vocals, piano and drums. He has toured across Canada and Chile with numerous bands such as Juno Nominee, reggae band Friendlyness and The Human Rights as well as his own project Mikey and the Muscrats. Mike has had the fortune of playing saxophone, flute and clarinet on a world class celebrity cruise ship. Along with his many musical tours and recordings Mike has pioneered two community-run samba drum bands in Toronto and Edmonton.
Tiffany Hall
Piano and Voice
Armed with classical piano lessons combined with a penchant for pop music from when she was a child, Tiff Hall studied composition and jazz piano at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. If you were to meet Tiff Hall today, you might not believe it to hear that only a few short years ago, she was terrified to perform live. The sassy and smoky-voiced Edmontonian certainly came out of her shell, and is currently a mainstay on the dueling piano circuit. She brings considerable talent to Edmonton’s contemporary urban music scene with her own original music, and is currently working on her second album, which will be released fall 2011.
Brett Miles
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Djembe, Ukulele, Guitar
Brett Miles is not only a saxophonist but is also a multi-instrumentalist who has been teaching since 1981 after graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Bringing enthusiasm, creativity and knowledge to each lesson, Brett enjoys sharing his passion for music of all varieties. While living in New York Brett had the opportunity to hone his jazz skills amongst several great musicians. To date he has performed and recorded with sensations James Brown, Sam&Dave, and Mick Jagger. Brett has also been a part of countless international and local acts. Currently he leads Magilla Funk Conduit and is a fixture in the Edmonton jazz scene. Watch for his new group Seraphic Sitter, Edmonton’s only ukulele and drum ensemble!
Sophie Heppell
Violin/Fiddle and saxophone
Sophie Heppell began playing the violin at age 7. Her family emigrated from Scotland to Gibsons, B.C. in 1998 and from then on she has been involved in the musical community. She joined the community fiddle group, the Coast String Fiddlers, and performed in the communities up and down the Coast as well as B.C.’s lower mainland and interior, and has travelled to the U.S., Scotland, and Belgium. In 2005, Sophie was invited to participate in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival Traditional Big Band Project (since renamed Ceol Mor) and until 2008, she traveled there each summer to play with the band throughout Scotland. Sophie was also taught by the late Canadian fiddler Oliver Schroer, performing with him at the Vancouver, Harrison Hot Springs and North Island Folk Festivals. Sophie has also studied violin using the Susuki Method.
Sophie began playing saxophone at 16m and later decided to attend Grant MacEwan University’s jazz program. After receiving her diploma in Jazz Saxophone Performance in 2009, she took an additional year, getting a second diploma in Composition. During her time at MacEwan she collaborated with five other performance majors to form the alternative rock-jazz group, The Consonance. The band has been together for three years with two independent releases and a North American tour under their belt.
