Ginny Scarfino, Clarinet
Ginny Scarfino is a native of Kitchener-Waterloo and began playing clarinet in high school. While working toward a Computer Science degree at University of Waterloo, she began private lessons with former K-W Symphony principal Victor Sawa and studied with him for 18 years. A fellow musician in a chamber music quartet she played in had an extra bassoon, so she borrowed it to give it a whirl. She loved it! After Victor Sawa left K-W, she started bassoon lessons with former K-W Symphony principal, Cedric Coleman. It’s been well over 20 years, and bassoon lessons are still happening! After a 33-year career in IT with Mutual Life/Sun Life/IBM, she retired in 2013, decided to add in piano lessons as well, and studied with long-time Laurier Academy of Music and Arts (LAMA) teacher Terry
Kroetsch for 10 years until his passing. Still at LAMA, she now studies piano with Rebekah Jordan-Miller. Ginny is very active in the music community. She plays Principal Bassoon in the Wellington Wind Symphony and the Waterloo Chamber Players, bassoon in the Spindrift Wind Quartet and Venturi Winds Wind Quintet, and Principal Clarinet in the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra. She performs annually on both clarinet and bassoon in the Noon Hour Concert series put on by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kitchener. For hobbies, she loves to knit, especially socks, and loves to put together jigsaw puzzles, the bigger the better!
Trombonists
John Monkhouse
Since graduating from the University of Western Ontario’s music program, John has continued to perform with a wide variety of ensembles throughout the region. His repertoire spans classical, chamber, musical theatre, and even Oktoberfest polkas. He is principal trombone with Brassroots and the Wellington Winds, and was a founding member of the trombone quartet Slide by Slide. Known for his versatility and beautiful sound, John is also in demand as a freelance musician. When not performing, John also operates his wire spring manufacturing business in Guelph, Ontario.
Susan Follows
Susan Follows is a versatile tenor and bass trombonist, performing with ensembles such as Brassroots, Wellington Wind Symphony, Waterloo Chamber Players, Full House Brass Quintet, and as principal trombone in the Stratford Symphony Orchestra and Windjammers. She has also directed the Ebytown Brass since 1989. After earning her music degree from the University of Western Ontario, she played with the Stratford Shakespearean Festival Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, then moved to Germany to perform, teach, and develop three brass choirs. Returning to Canada, Susan Follows taught in the Waterloo Regional District School Board and currently teaches brass at the Laurier Academy of Music and Arts (LAMA). She was a founding member of the Slide by Slide trombone quartet that performed for many years and she is very happy to play quartets again.
Joseph Castello
Jay Castello holds degrees from the Hartt School of Music and Northwestern University School of Music. He began his career as a member of the West Point Band before coming to Canada in 1975. He held positions as principal trombonist with Orchestra London for 8 years and with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony for 36 years before retiring in 2019. Over these years he also taught at Western University, Wilfrid Laurier University and worked as a freelance trombonist throughout southern Ontario. Currently, he plays second trombone in the Stratford Symphony.
Jim Edwards
Jim Edwards is a Guelph-area trombonist, arranger, and bandleader. Formerly a full-time musician in the Canadian Forces and principal trombonist with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, he brings diverse experience across commercial, orchestral and jazz settings. Currently, he directs Big Band Theory and leads the Jim Edwards Group, a contemporary jazz-funk project. Jim enjoys the creativity found at the intersection of music, technology and education, and has applied this approach to senior leadership roles at the Banff Centre of the Arts and BlackBerry, as well as his present role as Dean of the Schools of Creative Industries, Trades and Apprenticeship at Conestoga College, where he oversees the delivery of over 90 programs. He is also an active board member with several local arts and community organizations.
Events
