Jon Stewart (Saxophone)

Jon Stewart is a Kingston-based saxophonist who studied at both Humber College in Toronto and the Schulich School of Music at McGill University. As well, he participated in Hugh Fraser's Jazz Orchestra Workshop and Dave Douglas' International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music at the Banff Centre for the Arts. His studies led him to lessons with Pat LaBarbara, Greg Osby and Donny MacCaslin as well as workshops and masterclasses with Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Ralph Bowen, and many others. At Humber he played in many bands led by Memo Acevedo, Ron Collier, and Paul Read, and was a member of Gordon Foote's world-renowned McGill Jazz Orchestra for three years and was featured on their recording "Ostinatocious".

His performing career has taken him to Canadian jazz festivals from Victoria, BC, right across to St. John's, Newfoundland, and all places in between, and as far away as Catalina Island off the coast of California. He has performed with such names as Chucho Valdez, Joe Morello, Phil Woods, Kenny Wheeler, Don Thompson, John MacLeod, and Mike Murley in the jazz world, and The Temptations, Dan Akroyd, Charlie Musselwhite, Sarah Harmer, and members of the Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo, among others, in the R&B, Blues and Pop World. He has recorded on close to forty albums as a sideman, and can most recently heard on 2007 releases by local acts Filet of Soul and Georgette Fry, as well as Montreal-based pianist and composer Marianne Trudel and Toronto-based electro-jazz/groove outfit four80east.

Chris Reed (Trumpet)

Chris started playing at age thirteen in school and joined a local brass band. Chris then joined the British army at sixteen and studied at the junior musician's wing at the Guards Depot Pirbright. On completion of his training and study Chris went to the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.

After completing his time at Kneller Hall, Chris was posted to the Life Guards Regimental band in Knightsbridge, London. This being one of the mounted bands, he had to learn to ride a horse and play at the same time. In addition to playing in ceremonial duties (Trooping of the colour, Beating the Retreat, Lord Mayor's show, State opening of Parliament), Chris did extensive touring, giving concerts in both England and Europe.

After leaving the army Chris became very involved in the brass band movement in his area and played for a number of bands including the famous G.U.S band and the NSK Ransome Band, competing in both the National Finals and British Open Championships in such venues as the Royal Albert Hall, London and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

After a hiatus from playing and a move to Canada, Chris started playing again in 2005. He became very interested in the mechanics of playing as it relates to training the muscles to coordinate (callisthenics) and range of lip motion exercises. To this end, he is studying Jeff Smiley's "Balanced Embouchure" Method and Carmine Caruso's "Musical Callisthenics for Brass".

Since his move to Canada, Chris has worked in the Limestone District School Board partnership program, teaching Grade 7 and 8 students the trumpet. In addition, Chris has played for the Sounds of Jazz big band.

Laura Richards (Saxophone)

We are happy to have Laura teaching with us at the Renaissance School of Music! Laura has studied saxophone with Peter Freeman at Queen's University.

Originally from Belleville, Ontario, Laura now teaches and works as an active musician in the Kingston area, playing her tenor with several local groups such as the Sounds of Jazz Big Band and the Swingtime Danceband.

Lee-Ann Petersen (Flute)

Bio coming soon!