Richard Carnegie, director, 2009 - present

Richard Carnegie has been principal double bass of the Saskatoon Symphony and Chamber Players since 2006 and was appointed music director of the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra in July 2009. His creative activities blur the line of a traditional classical musician and include a professional acting debut with Persephone Theatre, frequent performances with the Mark DeJong Trio, collaborations with singer-songwriters and rock bands and his one-man show “Conversations with My Double Bass”.

Richard served as instructor of the youth orchestra’s Double Bass Program from 2006-2008 and continues to work as a sessional lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of Saskatchewan. He enjoys a busy private teaching studio and is a frequent clinician in Saskatoon-area schools. Receiving a Bachelor of Music in 2003 from the Manhattan School of Music, Richard pursued additional studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Glenn Gould School and the National Arts Centre Summer Music Institute. His principal teachers were Joel Quarrington and Timothy Cobb. While these teachers along with experiences in youth orchestras were the shaping musical forces in Richard’s youth, it is his parents whom he credits for the great fortune to have a professional life filled with music. While neither are musicians, neither flinched at the idea of the first person in the family to obtain a degree doing so in music. Both were committed to supporting anything that was done with drive, hard work and passion; values they themselves instilled.

In his spare time Richard is an avid cook, reader and board game enthusiast. He has served as chair of the Saskatoon Symphony Players’ Committee and on the executive board of the Saskatoon Musicians’ Association. He plays on a double bass made by Saskatoon luthier Darren Molnar.

Wayne Toews, director, 1983 - 2009

As a high school music director for 32 years until superannuation in 2001, Wayne Toews created numerous award-winning bands and choirs. He studied conducting at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo. He completed a Masters in Music degree at Northwestern University in 1993.

He has conducted the premieres of contemporary works by ten Canadian composers. Among his published works are an elementary music theory booklet, a clarinet resource book, a bass guitar resource book and several curriculum guides. He is editor of the English edition of the Saito Conducting Method and author of several computer programs.

He was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Saskatchewan Music Educators’ Association in 1987, the Golden Wheel Award for Arts and Education from the Rotary Clubs of Saskatoon in 1990, and the Orchestral Development award from the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association in 2001.

Toews recently served as an instructional designer for the University of Saskatchewan. He is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor, composer and conducting teacher. He is the founder of Conductor School, a resource for conductors all over the world.

George Charpentier, associate director, 1983 - 2009

George Charpentier has studied the Kodaly Concept, the Orff Method, and the Saito Method of Conducting in addition to pursuing instrumental studies on piano, clarinet and voice. He taught instrumental music in schools, as well as privately. Some of his additional experiences include teaching classroom music from kindergarten through Grade 12 and lecturing at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta.

Mr. Charpentier is the Coordinator of Instructional Services for Arts Education and Social Studies for the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. He is also the conductor of the Saskatoon Concert Band and Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra. He received the 2007 Distinguished Band Director award from the Saskatchewan Band Association.

David Kaplan, director, 1961 - 1969

David Kaplan came to the University of Saskatchewan in 1960 to establish a program in music education. Soon after he arrived, he began conducting the Saskatoon Junior Symphony.

Kaplan served as the Head of the Department of Music from 1964 to 1980, and as the Music Director of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra from 1963 to 1969 and 1970 to 1971. During the summer of 1982, he served as woodwind coach for the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra in Spain. His education includes a B. Mus. from Roosevelt University in Chicago, an M. M. from Oberlin College in Ohio, and a Ph. D. in Music from Indiana University. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002 for his contributions to music.

Kaplan has travelled much in his continuing study of world music, and has collected many instruments. He formally retired in 1990, but continued to teach as a sessional lecturer until 2005. Kaplan currently lives in Saskatoon, where he is an active Rotarian. He is also involved with the Saskatoon Folkfest, Saskatoon Multi-Faith, and the Saskatoon Klezmer Band. An active composer, he has written many compositions for solo winds, chorus, orchestra, and ensemble.