Band Leaders
Adrian Cosstick studied music education at McGill University in Montreal and completed his teacher training in Christchurch and Auckland, New Zealand. One of Adrian’s first experiences conducting a large ensemble was with the McGill Symphonic Band Club, which he established to provide students in all faculties the opportunity to keep up their music. The ensemble continues to this day.
Along with directing an ONHB band, Adrian plays E-flat clarinet with the Ottawa Community Concert Band and trombone with Ottawa-Carleton District School Board school bands, where he teaches geography, French and music. He is also Artistic Director and founder of the Ottawa Woodwind Project, an ever-evolving group which brings together flutes and single- and double-reed instruments. He loves working with the Ottawa New Horizons family! When we are performing for seniors, hospitals and cultural festivals, or as the band musicians watch attentively as he conducts (because they are watching the beat, of course), he feels very fortunate to be part of the tradition of community music-making.
Cathy Wilcox has guided the Ottawa New Horizons Band program as founding band leader since 2008 at Dominion Chalmers United Church and continues to serve on the volunteer board of directors for the ONHB. She is thankful for the many talented people who support the ONHB as volunteers, clinicians and band leaders.
Cathy studied piano in Bobcaygeon and with a dear friend and mentor Edythe A. Holmes Meekin in Lindsay. She completed an Honours Bachelor of Music, as well as a Bachelor of Education at Western University, mentored by Marian MacLennan, Deral Johnson and others. Soon after graduating, she joined the vocal Renaissance octet Vox Humana, where a passion for music of the Renaissance was ignited. In her career as a teacher, Cathy directed musicals, choral ensembles, concert and jazz bands, and her school music program was selected for special projects, such as the pilot of Blues in the Schools and Listen Up! In retirement, Cathy has taken up primitive rug hooking, tutoring newcomers to Canada, and French horn.
Colin Williamson has been performing, teaching, coaching and leading ensembles in Ottawa and Indiana for almost four decades. He recently retired from the OCDSB after 30 years of experience as a band director/music teacher.
As a bass trombonist, he has performed with most of Ottawa’s finest orchestras, ensembles and military bands. He is a former member of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Terre Haute Symphony. As a member of the Canadian Forces (Regimental Band of the Governor General’s Foot Guards) he performed with all the Canadian Regular Force bands. In addition, Colin was a member of the prestigious Ceremonial Guard band for 5 years. He is currently a member of the Ottawa Wind Ensemble and the O.W.E Brass Ensemble.
Colin studied at the University of Ottawa, Indiana University and Queens University. In 1999 Colin was awarded a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence by the Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada.
In Colin’s teaching career, he has helped countless thousands of young students learn to play musical instruments.
Lisa is an accomplished teacher, band director and clarinetist with over 30 years of leadership experience within Ottawa schools and the community. She acquired her Music Education and Teaching degrees from Western University. Her first teaching job brought her to the Ottawa area in 1988. She joined the Gloucester Community Concert band as a clarinetist. In 1992, Nelson McClinton stepped down from the podium and offered the baton to her, a position she has treasured for 32 years.
Lisa spent most of her career at St Peter HS. She led the senior and jazz bands while also leading an adult orchestra to support the school’s yearly musical theatre productions. She has also been involved in select community theater organizations (Orpheus, RAPA, Kanata Theater and Suzart) both as music director and reed player.
In the summer of 2023 she reached out to the Ottawa New Horizons looking for teaching opportunities. The ONHB is such a welcoming organization, all involved having the common goal of providing quality band direction to keen adults and having fun doing it. She has once again found her people.
Lisa’s family keeps her grounded. She loves spending time with her three adult children and traveling with her husband. Her other interests include playing clarinet in the Concert Band of Kanata, swinging kettlebells or a golf club, running/cycling to keep fit, and spending time outdoors gardening with her two labs.
Malcolm Horava has studied trumpet and piano in Ottawa and Toronto, earning a Bachelor’s in Trumpet Performance from the University of Ottawa in 2019 and a Master’s in Trumpet Performance from the University of Toronto in 2021. Throughout his education, he has studied trumpet with members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra such as Karen Donnelly, Eric Rupp, and Steven Van Gulik, as well as with Anita McAlister, a prominent trumpet educator and member of the Hannaford Street Silver Band in Toronto. He also studied piano with Frederic Lacroix during his Bachelor’s degree at uOttawa.
Malcolm started his military music career playing trumpet for the Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill from 2017-2019. While in Toronto, Malcolm continued his military band employment with the Queen’s Own Rifles Regimental Band/Pop Band, and played on the civilian side with the Weston Silver Band as their Soprano Cornet. He has also been the collaborative pianist for juries, recitals, classes, and competitions at uOttawa and U of T throughout his degrees. Malcolm was honoured to be accepted into the National Youth Orchestra’s virtual program from 2019-2020.
Since moving back to Ottawa in Summer of 2022, he has won an audition for a Regular Force Trumpet Position in the Canadian Armed Forces, and started working full-time with the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces in May of 2023. Last year, Malcolm took on the role of Trumpet Teaching Artist at the Centretown OrKidstra Hub, and teaches a small studio of trumpet students as well. He is proud to have been involved with Ottawa New Horizons Band for many years, first as a volunteer during high school in 2011, then as a brass clinician in 2015 during his undergrad. He has been teaching with ONHB continuously since then, except during his time in Toronto. Malcolm was fortunate to study conducting electives with David Currie in Ottawa, and Dr. Gillian MacKay in Toronto.
Malcolm is thrilled for the opportunity to share his love of band music with ONHB!
Rocco Romeo has been on the Ottawa music scene for the past 45 years performing in a wide variety of ensembles as a composer, arranger, conductor, vocalist, trumpeter and on electric bass. He was an original member of the legendary rock and roll band Bruce and the Burgers for 25 years and organized several Latin dance bands over the years. Rocco is currently the Music Director of the National Capital Concert Band and has formed a new rock band that performs music from the 70’s and 80’s.
Rocco is a retired music teacher and taught at Nepean High School with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. His high school concert and stage bands consistently performed challenging repertoire and were the recipients of numerous awards for their technical accuracy and blend. His commitment to live performance also led him to collaborate and produce several high school Broadway musicals and offered musicians insight into alternative styles of ensemble opportunities.
Rocco’s recipe for musical success is simple; mix in a melody, stir it with rhythm, pour it into your community, and have fun!
Sheila is delighted to be involved with Ottawa New Horizons. Since 2013 she has directed a number of different bands and flute clinics, and has led chamber music workshops for ONHB intercity gatherings.
With over 35 years experience as a performer, educator, and coach, Sheila has played flute in various ensembles, including the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Ottawa Flute & Harp duo, HMCS Stadacona Band — and the duo of sheila&lucile, with whom she co-produced several albums and videos. She has also played Irish flute in different celtic bands including the Ottawa Ceili Band and Paddies on the Tundra.
Having taught music programs for the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), Sheila maintains an active teaching studio, where she enjoys teaching musicians of all ages. Her students include pre-schoolers through to university students and lifelong learners.
A strong advocate for equal access to musical engagement in our schools and communities, she served as Chair of the OCDSB’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
Sheila loves sharing the joys of music-making with New Horizons band members in an environment that is supportive, respectful, and fun!