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George Rose         Trumpet / Leader

George studied trumpet, theory and arranging with many well known teachers and top pro players. He gained a wide variety of experience playing with musical shows, orchestral groups, dance combos and big band. For eight years he played with the house band at Hamilton’s Leander Boat Club. Upon moving to Brantford in 1981, he provided a house band at one of Brantford’s local taverns for a year. Shortly after that engagement terminated, he and the other band members recruited fellow musicians, who shared a passion for big band, and formed The George Rose Big Band. That was twenty-five years and four albums ago.

Jon Berec           Trumpet

Jon studied music and computer science at Waterloo University. Since graduation, Jon has taught high school and played in and conducted many area bands. As well as the trumpet Jon is a talented guitarist. Jon has been a member of the George Rose Big Band for well over ten years.

Sandy Manning       Alto Sax

Sandy recently joined the George Rose Big Band after many years of playing in concert bands and musical shows. As well as alto sax, Sandy plays soprano sax and flute. As though that isn't enough, Sandy can often be seen playing viola with orchestral groups in the area.

Murray Hiliker     Trombone

Murray plays or has played in all of the area’s concert bands.  He is a devoted bandsman as his father was before him. Murray is often seen in the pit orchestra of various musical shows in the area. He has been in the George Rose Big Band for well over ten years.

Bob Phillips       Trombone/Vocal

Starting with a musical family, then school and community bands, Bob furthered his musical training at Western University. Following graduation, he secured a highschool teaching position. He currently leads a highschool stage band, and as a trombonist performs with many bands and orchestral groups in the Toronto area. Bob has been lead trombonist in the George Rose Big Band for close to ten years. Bob is featured as trombone soloist and vocalist on our latest album.

Paul Monne       Guitar

Paul has a varied musical background playing everything from rock, to country, to pop and now big band. Although at one time a trombone player in the Western University marching band, his main instrument these days is guitar. Fellow bandsman Al Newhouse and Paul often work together in a smaller group called Corner Pocket. Paul has the distinction of being the first guitar player to be a member of the George Rose Big Band.

Sean Colwell     Trumpet / Road Manager

Sean studied music at Humber College and then McMaster University, graduating with an Honors B.A. Since graduation he has taught high school music and conducted area bands and orchestras. Most notable of these would be the Brant Youth Symphony, and the Brantford Memorial Concert Band (seventy plus members), which he still conducts. When not teaching or conducting, he has been known to sit in with the Brantford Symphony Orchestra. Sean is one of the founding members of the George Rose Big Band.

Ginger Pullen         Tenor Sax

Ginger majored on saxophone at Ithaca College, and musicology at Univ. of British Columbia. Since then she has taught High School music in Canada and performed with many area bands and orchestral groups, both as a conductor, and a player. In recent years, due to the popularity of the guitar, she has also taught guitar classes. Ginger has been a member of the George Rose Big Band for about five years.

Chris Walton         Alto Sax

Chris started playing saxophone and clarinet in highschool, and upon graduation went on to the Berklee School of Music in Boston, to further his studies. He has since performed with many area orchestras and bands. Many of the reed players in our area are students or former students of Chris. Chris can often be seen performing in a duo with local guitarist Pat Feely. Chris is one of the founding members of the George Rose Big Band.

Tom Harrower   Trombone 

Tom has an extensive musical background in dance bands, concert bands, and military bands. He has spent most of his working life in the educational system from teaching through to administration. Tom is a multi- instrumentalist, capable of playing trumpet, trombone or euphonium. Hailing from Burlington, ON, Tom began his musical education in the Burlington Boys and Girls Band, which since has become known as the Burlington Teen Tour Band.

Steve Urech       Bass

Steve has become known as “the guy with the funny bass”. As different as it may look, it sounds great. Steve played around the Hamilton area with many different bands and orchestral groups, before joining the George Rose Big Band about fifteen years ago. Steve can be heard on the bands last three CDs.

Lowell Soucie        Piano

Lowell is a talented pianist who started out with classical training. His experience ranges from classical recitals to lounge pianist to burlesque shows to cabaret shows. For many years, Lowell led his own band in the Hamilton area. He was a welcome addition to the George Rose Big Band almost fifteen years ago, when our previous pianist left unexpectedly. Lowell performed on the band’s last three CDs.

Dave McCulloch           Trumpet

Dave studied music in the U.K. and performed in many bands in Scotland and England. Upon coming to Canada in the sixties, he found his talents to be in demand by many bands and orchestras in the Hamilton/Burlington area. He has been a regular in the George Rose Big Band for over twenty years, and has performed on all four albums. 

Al Newhouse       Tenor Sax

Al is a man of many talents, as you can see, if you look at the cover and artwork of our latest CD. (Al’s work)   Away from the horn for a few years, Al has come back with a vengeance. Al
subbed for absent members of our sax section for several years, and when a vacancy arose approximately a year ago he was the logical choice. Al is equally at home on alto, tenor or baritone sax.  

Aaron Heydon      Baritone Sax

Aaron is another multi instrumentalist who plays flute, piccolo, clarinet, and all the saxophones. At this point it appears that music will become a lifelong career for Aaron as he plans on enrolling in the McMaster music program in 2010, with designs on eventually teaching high school music. Given his unquestionable ability, there is little doubt that he will achieve his goal.

Ken Harris     Bass Trombone / Vocal

Ken started out as lead trombonist in the band twenty -five years ago, and held that position for many years, until he took a liking to the bass trombone. Also a talented vocalist, Ken has sung on all four of the band’s albums. Ken is a founding member of the George Rose Big Band.

Glen Silverthorn       Drums

Glen is probably the most versatile percussionist that I have ever met. Equally at home with a large symphony orchestra, an intimate jazz combo, concert band, or a hard driving big band like the George Rose Big Band. Glen has been with our band since we started but initially it was part-time, due to the many other musical commitments he had. Glen performed on all four  albums that the band produced, including vocals on the first recording.

Michelle LaPointe         Vocals

Michelle is a talented vocalist with an exceptional voice. She has performed with many choirs and vocal groups, including a vocal trio called “Makin Waves” with whom she recorded. Michelle is in her second year with the George Rose Big Band, and can be heard on the bands’ latest CD “2007 And Still Counting”.