DR. KOFI GBOLONYO JOINS FACULTY

We are very pleased to announce that Dr. J.S. Kofi Gbolonyo has joined the faculty of the Jazz Studies Dept. After working with us as artist in residence for several years, we are thrilled to make Kofi a permanent member of our faculty team. Kofi will direct large ensembles and teach courses in ethnomusicology, cross cultural pedagogy, and music of the African diaspora.

Kofi Gbolonyo is a scholar, educator, and performer whose primary research, expertise, and educational interests are in West African traditional music and dance, Ewe indigenous knowledge, language and culture, Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy, multicultural music education, Ghanaian brass band and choral music. His scholarship focuses on indigenous knowledge and cultural values in the musical practices of the Ewe and Fon of West Africa.

Outside of Capilano and scholarship, Gbolonyo enjoys teaching children and is the founder/director of the Nunya Music Academy and the Ghana School Project. He also co-founded and directs Adanu Habobo and the Orff-Afrique Summer Programs in Ghana.

 Gbolonyo is an internationally recognized Orff-Schulwerk music educator and a seasoned clinician who conducts workshops and gives presentations all over the world. He is an advocate of multicultural music education and has taught at different levels of education in Ghana, other countries in West Africa, Europe, South America, East and Southeast Asia, the United States and Canada. He performs regularly and presents workshops and scholarly papers at annual meetings of many professional associations.

Gbolonyo holds a Ph.D. (2009) and an MA (2005) in Ethnomusicology and a Graduate Certificate in African Studies (2009) at the doctoral level from the University of Pittsburgh; an Orff-Schulwerk Certificate Level III (2008) from San Francisco International Orff Course; a BA (Hons. 2002) in Linguistics and Music from the University of Ghana, Legon; a Professional Dip.Ed (1997) in Ewe Language and Music Education from the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana; and a Professional Teacher’s Certificate A (1990) from E.P. College of Education, Amedzofe, Ghana.

ALUMNI NEWS

Cap alumnus, Jonny Tobin (BMus 2016) performed and co-produced on D Smoke's ”Black Habits". This album has been nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Rap Album" 2021.

Cap alumna, Meghan Gilhespy, (BMus 2015) is a visiting professor at St. Fransic Xavier University and is working on a doctoral degree at University of Toronto. Here is a link to a recent interview with JazzFM. https://jazz.fm/meghan-gilhespy-empowering-women-and-girls-to-study-jazz/

Cap alumnus, Dr. Neelamjit Dhillon, plays tabla, saxophone, flute and many other instruments with a wide variety of ensembles based in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Most recently, he has been touring the world with vocalist, Snatam Kaur. Their new album, Beloved, has just been nominated for a Grammy award in the Best New Age Album category. Congratulations to Neel and everyone involved!

Cap alumnus, Curt Henderson was recently featured in an interview/performance video by Fender guitars. Curt is working as a session player in Nashville.

ARTIST in RESIDENCE 2019-2021

Dr. Kofi Gbolonyo is our artist in residence for the 2019/20 academic year. Kofi is a renowned educator and musician from Dzodze, Ghana. He will be teaching and sharing music and dance from the Ewe people and collaborating with students and faculty on new music. This residency continues an ongoing relationship with Kofi and the Nunya Music Academy which has seen Cap students raising funds and equipment to send to Ghana.

BRIA SKONBERG PERFORMS with NITECAP and A-BAND

Cap Jazz alumna, Bria Skonberg, is making waves on the New York music scene. She recently performed with Nitecap and A Band at the Blueshore Theatre on October 26, 2018. Article in the North Shore News. Photos by Tae Hoon Kim. See more at Cap U Flickr.

INEKE VAN DOORN and MARC VAN VUGT GUEST ARTISTS MARCH 26-29, 2018

Dutch musicians, Ineke Van Doorn (voice) and Marc Van Vugt (guitar), were artists in residence from March 26-29, 2018. Marc and Ineke worked with combos, coached duos, presented masterclasses in composition, and collaborated in a wonderful concert with Nitecap and A Band at the Blueshore Centre for Performing Arts. Ineke and Marc are not only great musicians, but expert teachers that had a major positive impact on our students.

MARIA SCHNEIDER GUEST ARTIST OCTOBER 25-27, 2017

Maria Schneider is renowned as one of the finest composers in jazz. We were privileged to have her as a guest artist for three wonderful days. Maria worked on some of her classic charts with A Band. Rejean made a very special vocal arrangement of Maria’s “Winter Morning Walks” for Nitecap that thrilled both Maria and the audience. The performance at the Blueshore Centre for Performing Arts was stunning. Maria gave special Q&A session and also a seminar on performer and composer rights in the digital age. She also worked with some (very nervous) student composers in a big band composing and arranging masterclass. An unforgettable week!

MASSIVE CAP JAZZ PRESENCE AT 2017 VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

The good people at Coastal Jazz and Blues Society put on one of the most important and largest jazz festivals in the world.  Cap students, faculty and alumni always play a big role, but this year we are especially well represented. Lots of Cap Jazz students were making the scene at the after-hours jam too.

Cap students and alumni in the 2017 Vancouver Jazz Festival

Allan Johnston, Ben Frost, Bernie Arai, Brent Gubbels, Bruno Hubert, Cary Campbell, Carman J. Price, Cat Toren, Chris Fraser, Colin Maskell, Cory Weeds, Dan Gaucher, Dave David Sikula, David Blake, Dean Edward Thiessen, Eli Davidovici, Elliot Fanglord, Emma Postl, Gavin Youngash, Geoff Claridge, Gordon Grdina, Jack Duncan, Jen Hodge, Jesse Zubot, Jesus Adrian Caballero, Jon Bentley, Jonny Tobin, Josh Roberts, Kelly Brown, Kristian Naso, Leo Bae, Lou Mastroianni, Lyle Hopkins, Lyle Marc Isbister, Marcus Abramzik, Marc Rogers, Matthew Smith, Mike WT Allen, Miles Wong, Mili Hong, Natasha D'Agostino, Nikko Whitworth, Paul Rushka, Ridley Bishop, Sara Kim, Saul Alviar, Sharon Minemoto, Thad Bailey-Mai, Thomas Hoeller, Thomas Houlden, Trevor Whitridge

Cap Faculty Members in the 2017 Vancouver Jazz Festival

André Lachance, Bill Coon, Kate Hammett-Vaughn, Brad Turner, Chad Makela, Darren Radtke, Dave Robbins, Dennis Esson, Dylan van der Schyff, Jared Burrows, Laurence Mollerup, Mike Allen, Ron Samworth, Craig Scott, Steve Kaldestad

(photos by Vincent Lim)

CAP JAZZ CONCERT RAISES $1100 FOR NUNYA ACADEMY

The benefit concert on April 21 for Nunya Academy was a great success! Wonderful music and great support from our audience.  We were able to raise $1100 which will go directly to helping build the school in Dzodze, Ghana.  Thanks to Adanu Habobo dancing and drumming ensemble and all of the Cap U students that performed. Tae Hoon, a photographer for Capilano U, has posted some great pictures on his flicker site here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskVNAUVL

AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE GUEST ARTIST MARCH 30-31, 2017

Brilliant young trumpet player, Ambrose Akinmusire, joined Nitecap and A Band for a special concert of his mausic. Arrangements were written by students and faculty to feature Ambrose’s virtuosic and unique trumpet playing. In addition to rehearsals and performances, Ambrose also gave a masterclass on practicing and shared some great stories about his recent projects.