The NEWS has dedicated itself to promoting wind literature to audiences of all ages by sharing many of its concerts with local school bands and other community ensembles. These concerts have provided many people with exposure to the very best in wind and percussion repertoire and to some of Alberta’s finest musicians. The ensemble has been featured in Edmonton at a number of music conferences, festivals and conferences.

   The New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia has been fortunate enough to share the stage with many internationally known soloists. This list of artists include: James Walker, former principal flautist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and an active member of the jazz group Free Flight; Fred Hemke, internationally known saxophone soloist; Harvey Phillips, tuba virtuoso; Alain Trudel, Canadian master of the trombone; and saxophonist Jean-Michelle Goury. The ensemble has also performed many fine Canadian compositions including the works of well-known Alberta composer Malcolm Forsyth, who was for many years, a performing member of the group.

   In 1996 the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia was invited, as guest artists, to perform at the “Festival des Anches d’Or” in Cogolin, France and returned to France for the music festival in La Croix Valmer in the summer of 2000. In the summer of 2004 NEWS toured Italy as part of the Accademia San Felice’s summer festival season. The ensemble has been featured at the Cantando Festival in Edmonton since it began in 1999, as well as at the International Society of Music Educators conference held in Edmonton in July of 2000. NEWS has also performed several times as guests of the Alberta Band Association at their annual convention.

Raymond Baril - Conductor

   Raymond Baril has been the principal conductor and music director of the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia since 1999. He currently holds the position as Head of the Wind Department at Grant MacEwan College, and is the director of the University of Alberta/Grant MacEwan jazz ensemble, a position that he has held since 1986. He has taught music for Edmonton Public Schools at Ross Sheppard and W.P. Wagner High Schools, and he was Executive Director of the Alberta Band Association from 1992 to 1997. In 1981 he began teaching woodwinds, music history and jazz studies at Grant MacEwan College. For 15 seasons, he was a conductor for the Cosmopolitan Music Society. Mr. Baril continues to work as a saxophonist and woodwind doubler in the Edmonton area. In that capacity he has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, in productions at the Citadel Theatre and for Live Entertainment Corporation, with such artists as Tommy Banks, Manhattan Transfer and Dionne Warwick, and has directed orchestras for shows such as Sweet Charity, On the Town, and Candide.

   Mr. Baril attended Northwestern University in Chicago where he received a Master of Music degree in conducting. He holds Bachelors degrees in both music and education from the University of Alberta. In 2001 he was awarded the “Elkhorn Award” for director of the year by the Alberta Band Association and in 2004 Mr. Baril was awarded the Tommy Banks Award for contribution to music and music education. He was also a recipient of the “Best Teaching Practices Award”, a “District Service Award” and an “Excellence In Teaching Award” from Edmonton Public Schools and Alberta Learning.