Clarinet Festival 2026

Please join us for the 16th anniversary of the Brandon University Clarinet Festival on February 28^th and March 1^st, 2026. This year we are featuring an incredible line-up of guest artists, including Jonathan Russell, Alex Whitehead, and Colin Mehmel. The festival features BU faculty Leanne Zacharias and Callie Siverson and BU alumni Danielle Guina and Lisa Rumpel. Guest conductor Cheryl Ferguson will lead the festival clarinet choir. The BU Clarinet Choir and festival host Cathy Wood will also be performing.

Great PD opportunity for musicians of all ages! The festival events include:

• Workshops, vendors, and concerts
• Festival Clarinet Choir for all participants (all levels)
• Prize draws!

Registration Link: ($30 for students/seniors; $50 for adults): https://forms.gle/1T9U4pg8m8fiWbnk7

Festival Schedule

Saturday, February 28th

9:15am
Registration Opens, Music Lobby
Vendor Room Opens, Room 143

10:00-10:30am
Welcome; Coffee and Q&A with Jonathan Russell
Room 157

10:40-11:30am
I AM BETTER THAN MOZART (…at playing clarinet): An Empowering Composition Workshop for Clarinetists
Jonathan Russell
Room 157

11:40-12:40pm
Conducting Workshop: Cheryl Ferguson
Room 120

12:40-1:40pm
Lunch Break

1:45-2:15pm
Q&A with Alex Whitehead
Room 157

1:40-2:20pm
Group Lessons for Clarinet Choir Simplified Parts
Rooms 202, 004

2:30-3:20pm
Improving Embouchure Through Movement Feldenkrais Workshop: Colin Mehmel
Room 120 or 157

3:30-4:00pm
Guest Artist Concert: Alex Whitehead and Lisa Rumpel
Lorne Watson Recital Hall

4:30-6:00pm
Mass Festival Choir Rehearsal with Cheryl Ferguson
Room 120

6:00-7:30pm
Dinner Break

7:30pm
Guest Artist Concert: Jonathan Russell and Lisa Rumpel
Lorne Watson Recital Hall

Sunday, March 1st

9:15am
Registration Open, Music Lobby
Vendor Room Opens, Room 143

9:30-10:45am
Masterclass with Alex Whitehead
Lorne Watson Recital Hall or 157

11:00-12:00pm
Guest Artist Concert: Trio Improbable
Colin Mehmel, Callie Siverson, and Danielle Guina
Lorne Watson Recital Hall

12:00-1:00pm
Mass Festival Choir Rehearsal with Cheryl Ferguson
Room 120

1:00-2:00pm
Lunch Break

2:00-3:00pm
Host Concert: Cathy Wood and Leanne Zacharias
Lorne Watson Recital Hall

3:30-5:00pm
Final Concert: BU Clarinet Choir and Festival Clarinet Choir
Group Photo and Prize Draws
Room 120

More information is available in the Google Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nFi7f5GAXDi5x55tjuhYz3ZQBUyWv6PR?usp=share_link