Whitehead, Russell

Conductor and trumpeter who attended the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Michigan, from whence he obtained his Master’s in performance.

In 1986, he became Principal Trumpet for the Saskatoon Symphony, a seat he would occupy for the next five years.

On 19^th September 1991, he helped premiere “Wanuskewin: A Documentary Film Score for Chamber Orchestra” at the University of Saskatchewan’s Convocation Hall.

He was also a member of the Now Age Orchestra, and they premiered “Anole Allemande (Lizard Dance) on 28^th February 1993 at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music’s Muttart Hall in Edmonton.

In 1996, he served as assistant music director for The Nature of Water, a new opera by Georges Aperghis, at The Banff Centre.

He appeared on the Edmonton Wind Ensemble’s album, Snake Fence Country, in 1997.

In 2004, he joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as Acting Principal Trumpet.

He has also been involved with a small jazz group known as Flux, and they premiered Bill Richards’ “Strange Attractors” on 13^th March 2005, at the University of Alberta.

From 2005 to 2006, he sat on the Canadian Music Centre’s Prairie Regional Council.

Prairie Scenes, his debut album, hit the shelves in June 2006, and featured Sylvia Shadick-Taylor at the keys.

On 23^rd June 2006, he performed at the Yardbird Jazz Festival as a member of the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra. He rang out the year by leading the brass section in the Richard Eaton Singers’ Christmas Concert.

In the spring of 2009, he played trumpet for The Citadel Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz at the Shoctor Theatre as part of the Classic Landmarks Master Builder Mainstage Series. He did the same for their rendering of Sweeney Todd at the Maclab Theatre in February 2010.

In addition to his many performing credits, he also adjudicates at various music festivals and is a sessional teacher at The King’s University College.

Edmonton Wind Ensemble recordings
Snake Fence Country (Howard Cable)
CBC Records SMCD 5165 (Snake Fence Country)
Conductor – Harry Pinchin

He performs here…

Sources:

Whitehead, Russell

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