Betty Ann Arscott, administrative assistant

Betty Ann Arscott grew up in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, and has always loved school and music. She studied piano, first with Anne Gamble (a Lyle Gustin student), and later with Lyle Gustin in summer schools and during university. She holds two piano degrees – Associate from the Royal Conservatory (Toronto), and Licentiate from Trinity College (London). She began playing clarinet under the tutelage of Monte Anderson and continued studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Betty Ann completed a Bachelor of Education with a music major, Bachelor of Arts with a history major, and Masters Level in Music Education from the University of Northern Arizona, with Orff, Kodaly, and Laban.

Betty Ann has taught general classroom music (choir, Orff, handbells), band (mostly in elementary schools), and music methods classes (at the University of Saskatchewan). She was an arts education and music consultant for the Saskatoon Public School Board, which included the job of coordinating and developing all aspects of fine arts, Kindergarten to Grade 12, and maintaining an extensive library of materials. Betty Ann was a director on the board of the Saskatchewan Junior Concert Society for over 20 years, and worked as its touring secretary for five years. The SJCS later amalgamated with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils.

Betty Ann has played clarinet in the Saskatoon Concert Band since 1975, and teaches a few private piano students. She is married to Will Arscott, a financial planner (Arscott and Associates), who also plays in the Saskatoon Concert Band and Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra. Betty Ann and Will have two sons, John and Geordie, two fine young men, learning to make their own way in life.

Betty Ann looks forward to her involvement in the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra and to keeping in touch with interested young and talented players in our community.

Bernadette Wilson, cello instructor

Bernadette Wilson has been coaching and conducting young string players in the Saskatoon community for many years. She teaches cello privately, and also teaches and conducts in the Saskatoon Suzuki String Program. She has been a cellist in the Saskatoon Symphony for 27 years, and continues to work as a piano accompanist for many young musicians.

Darrell Bueckert, percussion instructor

Darrell is a graduate of the University of Manitoba (B.A.) and the University of Saskatchewan (B.Mus. Mus.Ed. and M.Ed. in instrumental music). He has performed with many professional organizations including both the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra where he is now Principal Timpanist. Darrell has also been a founding member of several percussion ensembles which have performed throughout Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories for schools and communities. Darrell was an itinerant band teacher in the Saskatchewan Valley School Division and is now on faculty with the Department of Music at the University of Saskatchewan as Applied Percussion Instructor and Sessional Lecturer in Music Education. From 2006-2009 Darrell was also Adjunct Professor to the College of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Regina.

Kim de Laforest, violin/viola instructor

Kim de Laforest is a violin, viola and fiddle performer and teacher. In her classical world, Kim spent 10 years playing violin or viola with the Regina Symphony before moving to Saskatoon in 2000. As a member of the Saskatoon Symphony, Kim served as the assistant concertmaster, principal second violin, principal viola, and section viola player. She has been soloist, concertmaster, and section player of the University of Regina’s Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva, and the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra. Kim has also been very involved in chamber music groups across the province. Some highlights include Prairie Virtuosi, Musica Viva, Musici Amati, and the house band for CBC Christmas concerts.

As well as being a busy performer, Kim currently teaches a large studio of students in Saskatoon. Kim joins a roster of international instructors to teach at camps in Prince Albert, Tuffnel, Moose Jaw, Tisdale, at the Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party, and at the annual SCES fiddle camp (formerly held at Emma Lake). Kim has also worked with students at orchestral workshops in Regina and Saskatoon. She is instructor of the Saskatoon Fiddle Orchestra and the first violins of the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra to her full schedule.

Kim is interested in many styles of music, though one of her favorites is celtic music. She plays with local celtic band Siamsa as well as doing a lot of solo fiddle work. In her work with Regina’s Off Kilter, Kim was heard on CBC Radio One’s Afternoon Edition, the Regina Folk Festival, Saskatoon’s Folkfest, and Tom Jackson’s Huron Carol.

Kim recently released her first solo CD Kindred Spirits and was featured on CBC’s Disk Drive during its Saskatchewan tour. In the spring of 2007, CBC recorded one of Kim’s shows for broadcast on Canada Live. She enjoys combining many different styles of folk (Celtic, Spanish, East Indian, African) and classical music to create a unique sound. Kim lives in Saskatoon with her husband Terry Heckman (principal trumpet with the Saskatoon Symphony) and their son Hunter.

Arlene Shiplett, brass instructor

Arlene Shiplett was born and raised in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. She became involved in music at an early age with piano lessons, choir and both school and private band programs. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a B. Mus. Mus. Ed. in 1986. Arlene became a member of the Saskatoon Symphony in 1992. For several years Arlene taught band in rural Saskatchewan and played in the Symphony. Since 2000, she has narrowed her focus to teaching horn at the University of Saskatchewan as well as private teaching and coaching. Her recent accomplishments include winning the Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award, conducting the mass horn choir at the Call of the Wild horn conference, and performing with the International Brass Quintet at the International Peace Gardens. Arlene may be seen every summer performing on the Western Development Museum’s Steam Calliope – one of a few in playing condition in North America. She is married to Lee Springett. They have no children and seven horns.