Music Director

JohnPalmer

John has been the conductor/music director of Orchestra Kingston since its inception in 2008. He is a founding member and conductor BrassWerks and played in the brass section of the Kingston Symphony and trombone in the Kingston Jazz Ensemble. His original compositions include works for Flute
Choir, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Brass Bands, Brass Ensembles, and solo instruments.

John adjudicates at music festivals and has taught low brass, and theory/harmony at home, at St. Lawrence College, Kingston, and at the National Music Camp of Canada.

His arrangements for brass instruments and compositions are published by Solid Brass Music Inc., and flute choir works by Alry. His major flute ensemble works have been performed at the National Flute Association annual conventions and suite of Latin Dances – Flautista won the NFA newly published music award for 2012. He was commissioned by the National Flute Association to compose the opening ‘Fanfare 42’ for the annual NFA convention in Chicago in August 2014.

John is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and has been commissioned by the CMC to write music for strings and by Making Music: Composing with Young Musicians to write for band and young choir.

His original compositions and arrangements have won various awards and have been performed by Orchestras, Wind Ensembles, Brass Bands, Flute Choirs and Chamber Ensembles across North America. Many of his orchestral works have been composed specifically for ‘Community Orchestras’ and have been premiered by Orchestra Kingston.