The Littlebirds started in 1990 as part of an education program run by the Yardbird Suite. Gordon Towell was the director of the youth band that met every Saturday morning from 9am to 12 pm. Gordon's tenure was short lived as he returned to school to start a doctoral degree. Dean McNeill was the next director of the Littlebirds and perhaps best known for establishing the band as one of western Canada's finest groups. Dean also heard the call of school and left the band to Jerrold Dubyk who directed the band for 2 years. In the fall of 1998 Craig Brenan took over the band and made a few changes related to rehearsal times. Joel Gray took over as director in 2004, and the Littlebirds continue to flourish and develop, sustaining their high level of musicianship.

The Littlebirds Big Band experience has a profound and lasting impact on the lives of Littlebirds members. Some become music teachers or professional musicians. All are motivated students sharing a love of music. The Littlebirds season includes regular weekly rehearsals from September through May, participation in local Jazz festivals, and occasional participation in the International Jazz Music Festival.

ABOUT OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR

Joel Gray has spent 15 years as a freelance trumpet player and educator in Edmonton and its surrounding areas. Joel attended the music programs at MacEwan College and the University of Alberta, studying trumpet with William Dimmer of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Dr. Fordyce Pier.

Joel is a regular performer with many local artists and ensembles, including the the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, The Edmonton Jazz Orchestra, Edmonton Opera, Pro Coro Canada, the Tommy Banks Big Band, the Don Berner Sextet, the Retrofitz, the Polyjesters, and Capital Brass, to name only a few. He is a veteran in the orchestra pit, having performed many professional musical theatre productions at the Citadel Theatre, as well as in other venues. He has graced the stage alongside such greats as Tommy Banks, Arnie Chycowski, Guido Basso, Kent Sangster, Andrew Glover, and P. J. Perry. He has recorded on over 20 CDs and performed numerous times for CBC radio.

As a music educator, he teaches trumpet and brass at MacEwan College, Keyano College, the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta. He has been an adjudicator for the Rocky Mountain Music Festival, the Foothills Jazz Festival, and the Red Deer Kiwanis Music Festival.

Since 2004, he has been the director of the Littlebirds Big Band. Under his direction, the Littlebirds have played concerts with P.J. Perry, Allen Jacobson, recorded for CBC radio, and performed concerts throughout Alberta.