{"id":267,"date":"2018-04-08T14:25:28","date_gmt":"2018-04-08T17:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nsywe.com\/?page_id=267"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:38:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:38:25","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nsywe.com\/?page_id=267","title":{"rendered":"ABOUT US"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble Committee<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n

\"Photo<\/p>\r\n

Dr. Mark Hopkins<\/strong>, Artistic Director<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Dr. Mark Hopkins is a Professor in the School of Music at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. At Acadia University he is founding conductor of the Wind Ensemble, teaches undergraduate and graduate Conducting courses plus other Music Education, SoundPainting, and chamber music courses.<\/p>\r\n

Dr. Hopkins is in-demand as a guest conductor and music education consultant. In 2003 Dr. Hopkins was appointed Associate Conductor of the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra, an honour ensemble that selects some of the best young players in Canada through annual national auditions. He led the 2019 National Youth Band of Canada in seven performances across Manitoba.\u00a0 He is Artistic Director of the Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble (2008-2011, 2013-present), and is Past-President of the Nova Scotia Band Association. Along with composer Derek Charke, Dr. Hopkins organized \u201cShattering the Silence\u201d, an innovative new music festival (visit http:\/\/www.shatteringthesilence.ca<\/a> to learn more.) He can be heard leading the WIRED! Ensemble on the cd\u2019s LIVE WIRED!<\/em>(2015) and In Sonorous Falling Tones <\/em>(2017).<\/p>\r\n

Dr. Hopkins received a 2019 National Band Award from the Canadian Band Association, and an \u201cEstablished Artist Award\u201d from Arts Nova Scotia in 2016 for his work as a professional conductor.\u00a0 In Canada he has guest-conducted bands and orchestras in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. Abroad, he has led collegiate and professional performances in the United States, Bermuda, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, and Romania.<\/p>\r\n

A native of Toronto, Dr. Hopkins earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the New England Conservatory while serving as Assistant to Frank L. Battisti, and was awarded the Gunther Schuller Medal at graduation. From 2002-2005 he led ensembles and taught at the University of Calgary in Alberta. Dr. Hopkins taught music in high schools for twelve years, including seven years\u2019 service as Chair of the Music Department at Upper Canada College in Toronto. His professional work as a Conductor spans the full range of ensembles and genres.<\/p>\r\n

B. Mus. University of Toronto
B. Ed. University of Western Ontario
M. Mus. University of Calgary
D.M.A. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 New England Conservatory
SoundPainting Certification Level 1<\/p>\r\n

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