LORNA MACLACHLAN AND FRIENDS
Lorna MacLachlan (piano/voice) has been writing, arranging, performing and teaching in Calgary and Western Canada for most of her life (and that’s a long time). After completing a graduate degree in Composition and theory she embarked on a career as a composer providing award winning original music for Theatre, Dance and National media companies (CBC, Access Network) and a variety of commercial and artistic enterprises across the spectrum of music genres. She has recorded five full length albums of original music and has had support from FACTOR, the Alberta Foundation for the performing arts as well as the Canada Council. She continues to write and perform for various groups with much of her focus going toward writing for her quintet.
As well, Lorna has always been passionate about music education and believes strongly in helping to develop the talents of the next generation. She has taught privately as well as for the public and private school boards and has been recognized nationally for her dedication to excellence in music education as a director of bands, jazz bands, choirs and jazz choirs. Many of her students have continued on to careers in music as performers and educators with degrees from some of the most prestigious schools in North America.
Stefano Valdo (bass) is an experienced Performer, Studio Musician and Music Educator. Born in Northern Italy, he studied classical guitar and double bass at the local Conservatory. In 1990 he moved to Los Angeles to study jazz arranging and composition at the Grove School of Music. After completion of the two-year program, Stefano immersed himself into the L.A. music scene and as a freelance musician for live performances and studio sessions. It was at this time that he joined the Grove School of Music Faculty, assisting noted music educator Mark Harrison in the General Musicianship and Small Group Arranging classes. In 1999, Stefano earned his Master of Music degree from California State University at Long Beach. While at CSULB, he taught theory and ear training classes for the Undergraduate Program and continued to produce, record and perform for numerous independent projects. Among them he produced and arranged a twelve-piece jazz band album entitled, “L.A. Supper Club”, and two CD’s for noted flamenco group, Sarkis Quatro, for which he also served as Music Director. Among top jazz artists Stefano has performed with are: Ed Shaughnessy, Greg Bissonette, Justo Almario, Bobby Shew, Buddy Collette, and Jimmy Smith. Stefano and his family moved to Calgary in 2006 where he keeps a busy schedule performing and recording for television and radio commercials and various independent artists. He is currently the director of Jazz Studies at Ambrose University and teaches jazz ensembles and jazz theory to the next wave of jazz artists.
Andre Wickenheiser (trumpet) began his musical studies at Mount Royal University where he completed an Artist Diploma in jazz performance. From there, he went on to finish both a Bachelors Degree, and Masters Degree in jazz performance at McGill University in Montreal. During this time, he was fortunate to learn from some of the best musicians in North America including Bob Day, Al Muirhead, Jim Brenan, Ralf Buschmeyer, Kevin Dean, Jan Jarczyk, Joe Sullivan, Andre White, Gordon Foote, Christine Jensen, Chet Doxas, Remi Bolduc, Ron Di Lauro, Chris McCann, and Bill Mahar. André has performed with internationally renowned artists including Pete Christlieb, Joe Labarbera, Brad Turner, Frank Mantooth, PJ Perry, Alain Caron, Tommy Banks, Jens Lindemann, Allen Vizzutti, Eli Bennett, and James Zollar.
