About Beth
Beth's projects do not end only at the genre of jazz. Beth's talent for woodwind doubling has also landed her professional as well as semi-professional contracts playing numerous professional-level musical theatre productions in Montreal. These include among many—Segal Centre’s promotional presentations of “Les Belles Soeurs”, "Curtains", two collaborative Montreal concert performances with Lisa Forget and Frayne McCarthy (Canadian Tour of Les Mis), "Cabaret", "South Park: Smaller, Shorter and Definitely Cut","Anything Goes", "Kiss of the Spiderwoman", “HAIR”, CETM’s “Spotlight Musical Theatre Challenge”, professional-level operetta contracts, performing for Royal West Academy’s yearly productions as part of their hired pit orchestra among many others that she has performed throughout her career. Beth is also a regular accompanist for the renowned Lyric Theatre Singers, on woodwinds under the musical direction of Bob Bachelor and Chris Barillaro for June Broadway productions. As a doubler, Beth has also performed principal clarinet with the Montreal orchestra of freelancers for Video Games Live 2011 at Salle Wilfred Pelletier, performing for a sold-out house of 3000 spectators.
Beth’s fourth year McGill Jazz Combo “The Urban Quintet” represented McGill University at the 2012 Montreal International Jazz Festival. During that time, her sound could be heard on CBC/Radio-Canada in the days leading up to her performance on Scene CBC/Radio-Canada. She has since performed every year at the Montreal Jazz Festival, with Big Band Intersection, Certified Organic Jazz Quartet, Sub-Beer Big Band and Static Gold, as well as with John Roney Trio at the Hyatt Jazz Festival Jam Sessions.
Beth has also been a part of several other professional-level Montreal-based groups, including collaborations with the renowned Montreal improvisation collective "Kalmunity", work with improvisation together as a partnership between musicians and contemporary dance and movement artists, work with burlesque performers, circus artists and also frequent guest co-host spots on Guillaume Martineau’s radio show “La schubertiade des temps modernes” on CIBL 101.5 FM (In French)--100% improvisation for 60 minutes of live radio time, and has subbed in many of the top professional ensembles throughout the city, including frequently subbing in regularly for Dave Turner as the Lead Alto saxophonist for the renowned and legendary Vic Vogel Big Band alongside many of her mentors and professors from her studies at McGill University. Beth has also collaborated with Montreal improvisation collective, Kalmunity.
Beth also freelances as a frequent invited guest host horn player with the Alex Bellegarde Trio at Diese Onze Jazz Club for the regular Tuesday night jam sessions, with the professional Bossa Nova group La cancao, for various Montreal (and area) big bands and corporate groups in the Montreal and surrounding suburban areas, and as a clinician/private teacher for woodwind students of all ages across the island of Montreal.
Beth has recently completed her first three commissions for Jazz Orchestra. She has been commissioned (non-remunerated) for two semi-professional level bands. She wrote the piece “Cajun Chicken”, a second-line New Orleans groove extended Blues form with a catchy bebop head that moves through the sections of the band, building to a drums + 2 soloists trading section before the very end of the piece. Beth was commissioned (non-remunerated) for Big Band Intersection’s 15th anniversary studio album, which focused on featuring works by exceptionally talented emerging professional Canadian jazz composers. Beth wrote the tune “Frodo After 8”, a blazing fast swing with syncopations galore and demanding parts across the entire band, for this group. Beth also wrote a commission for Lindsay Place High School’s Junior Etude Wind Ensemble, re-arranging her reharmonization/rock version of Cape Breton Lullaby, for one-on-a-part ensemble. The arrangement was performed with great reception at the year-end concert in June 2013, under Beth’s direction.
Beth also works as a substitute teacher for the Lester B. Pearson School Board, English Montreal School Board also as an independent Jazz composer/arranger/bandleader/clinician.
Beth can be reached at bethany.mckenna@mail.mcgill.ca for collaboration or performance inquiries.
www.soundcloud.com/bethmckennajazz
Born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in late 1989 --- Beth McKenna has been an active musician since the young age of 9 years old, since she joined the school band in elementary, as a young grade four clarinetist. She quickly switched over as of grade five onwards onto the tenor saxophone. Since completing her high school education in Nova Scotia, Beth now calls Montreal, Quebec her home, where she has successfully completed a Concurrent Bachelor of Music (Major Music Education - Jazz Saxophone - Additional Concentrational Studies in Jazz Performance) and a Bachelor of Education (Music: Elementary and Secondary) from McGill University's Schulich School of Music as well as a minor in Political Science: International Relations. All this while also pursuing the foundations for a professional performance career in Music outside of the university. Beth performs professionally on flute, clarinet and saxophones (tenor, alto and soprano), and also doubles on piccolo and piano as secondary instruments, with basic profiency on trumpet, trombone, french horn, voice and percussion. Beth also gigs professionally on her AKAI 4000S EWI (Electric Wind Instrument) in Montreal's Funk/R&B and Electro-contemporary music/experimental music scene.
Beth has studied with some of the top jazz musicians in Canada's music industry while living in Montreal, including saxophonists Chet Doxas, Remi Bolduc, Christine Jensen, Donny Kennedy and guitarist Kenny Bibace. She has also had opportunities to work with Toronto-based saxophonists Kelly Jefferson and Mike Murley. Beth has also participated in the jazz orchestras at McGill, having rehearsed and performed in ensembles under the direction of Ron di Lauro, Gordon Foote and the late Jan Jarczyk.
Beth continued her composition studies independently into the 2013-14 year, studying with two mentors: with jazz pianist/bandleader John Roney and two-time JUNO award winning composer, saxophonist and renowned bandleader Christine Jensen. Beth has also studied jazz composition in New York City with renowned composers Darcy James Argue (Darcy James Argue's Secret Society) and Jim McNeely (Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Thad Jones, BMI Jazz Composers Workshop)--as part of a grant for up-and-coming artists from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Quebec (CALQ).
McKenna is now a 2-time recipient of the "Up-and-coming Artists Grant" from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Quebec - 2014-15, receiving a large grant for a second time from the organization, to continue development of the ensemble, and to continue composition study with Christine Jensen (Montreal) and Darcy James Argue (NYC)
Beth McKenna Jazz Orchestra’s first public performance will take place in January 2015 independently with an evening of premieres of eight of her original works with her full 18 piece jazz ensemble. She is currently working towards a professional career as a jazz composer and band leader through development and study with her mentors and directing her jazz orchestra, consisting of eighteen of Montreal’s top upcoming talented musicians, selected by her on an artistic/performance-level basis, attitude in prior collaborations, open-mindedness, as well as their work-ethic and dedication to projects and their own artistic growth.
She combined professional artists from both the francophone and Anglophone populations in Montreal, which created many new friendships between band members and connections for all musicians involved, and tied the Montreal music scene closer and with stronger connections from many of the upcoming next-generation of musicians in the scene. Many of the musicians involved in the project are collaborating with each other in additional gigs and projects now since meeting, enriching Montreal’s music scene and culture while creating a new ensemble, a new jazz orchestra sound with outreach to the mainstream listeners, attracting larger audience to the jazz community, creating more demand for jazz music and live musicians.
Beth’s inspirations for writing and composing come from personal life experiences, places, events which have taken place and certain people who have played a role in shaping her life. She strives to retell stories from her life through music, allowing the music to inspire the listener to visualize situations she is retelling or places she is describing, while still writing in a mixed genre and style that appeals to a wide range of critics and listeners.
Throughout her years at McGill, she maintained consistent involvement in building her networks to launch her career upon graduation from her undergraduate degrees. She was a frequent regular in the Montreal jazz scene at the jam sessions, developing a name for herself as musical theatre woodwind doubler as well as a pop/R&B saxophonist through her contacts at McGill. Upon graduation, she quickly became a name on the professional music scene in Montreal. Her quartet, with Guillaume Martineau on piano, Olivier Babaz on electric bass and Peter Colantonio on drums, have performed at many of the main jazz venues in Montreal. Her composition style for quartet can be described as a blend of rock, jazz-fusion, modern/contemporary jazz and groove music. She writes music so that it is accessible for all, appealing to a wide range of musical tastes by pulling popular musical idiomatic trends from the mainstream into her writing.
Artistic CV
Bachelor of Music - Jazz Saxophone - Music Education - Minor - Political Science: International Relations - McGill University - Class of 2013
Bachelor of Education - Music (Elementary and Secondary) - McGill University - Class of 2013
Recent Awards:
Recipient of Walter A and K. Mary Marsh Scholarship (Academic Achievement/Demonstrated Leadership) - 2011-12
Recipient of Annette K. Hill Scholarship (Academic Achievement/Community Involvement) - 2012-13
Conseil des arts et lettres du Quebec - Up-and-coming-artists Grant - Music - Creation/Exploration/Research - 2013-14 large-grant recipient - Jazz ensemble composition
Conseil des arts et lettres du Quebec - Up-and-coming-artists Grant - Music - Creation/Exploration/Research - 2014-15 large-grant recipient - Jazz ensemble composition
Jazz Composition - Large Ensemble Writing/Contemporary Jazz
- Christine Jensen (Montreal - Independent Study)
- John Roney (Montreal - Independent Study)
- Darcy James Argue (NYC)* - Independent Study)
- Jim McNeely (NYC)* - Independent Study)
Jazz Saxophone
- Remi Bolduc (McGill)
- Chet Doxas (McGill)
- Donny Kennedy (McGill)
- Jeff Goodspeed (Halifax, NS/NSCC)
- Greg Carter (St. Francis Xavier University)
McGill Ensembles
- McGill Jazz Orchestra I - Substitute Tenor Saxophone (2nd - Filled most of a semester for a MMus saxophonist on tour) - Director - Gordon Foote
- McGill Jazz Orchestra II - Second Tenor Sax/Flute/Bass Clarinet/Featured Soloist - Director - Ron di Lauro
- McGill Jazz Orchestra III - First Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet/Featured Soloist - Director - Paul Rushka, James Danderfer
- McGill Chamber Jazz Ensemble - Tenor Saxophone - Director - Jan Jarczyk
- McGill Jazz Ensemble - Reading Big Band - Director/Founder - Beth McKenna
- McGill Jazz Combos - Coached by Remi Bolduc, Kenny Bibace and Christine Jensen
- "The Urban Quintet" - Selected for performance at Montreal International Jazz Festival 2012, Scene CBC/Radio-Canada and Upstairs Jazz Bar and Grill
Montreal Ensembles (Jazz)
- Beth McKenna Jazz Orchestra - Director/Composer/Arranger - (Solo) Tenor Sax - CD launching January 2015!
- La Cancao - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet
- "Whose F*** is it Anyways?!" - Improv Troupe - Improvising Pianist (Montreal Tribute to TV show "Whose Line is it Anyways?!")
- World Improv Federation - Piano/Tenor Sax/Clarinet/Flute
- Vic Vogel Big Band - Frequent Lead Alto Sub for Dave Turner
- Daphne Cattelat Quartet - Saxophonist
- Sub-Beer Big Band - 1st Tenor Sax/Composer-in-residence - Performed at Montreal Jazz Festival 2014
- Big Band Intersection - 2nd Tenor Sax (2013)/Commissioned Composer in Residence (2014) - Performed at Montreal Jazz Festival 2013.
- Beth McKenna Quartet - Bandleader/Tenor Sax/Compositions (2012-present)
- Third Stream Ensemble - 1st Tenor Sax - Tribute ensemble to Third Stream composers.
- ACME Jazz Combo - Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute
- Beth McKenna Trio - Performing at various functions for McGill staff and clients of McGill Gig Office
- Diese Onze Jam Sessions - Occasional Invitee with Alex Bellegarde Trio
- Sub-Beer Big Band - 1st Tenor Sax/Ensemble Rehearsal Manager
- Guillaume Martineau Trio - Invited Guest (Tenor Sax)
- Montreal All City Big Band - Substitute 1st Tenor Sax
- Ballroom Blitz Big Band - Baritone Sax/2nd Tenor Sax/Clarinet
Montreal Productions:
- Le Cineclub - Silent Film + Musicians - "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" 1923 version - Flute/Clarinet - In trio with Piano-Organ/Percussion -
100% Improvised musical score in performance (October 2014)
- Beyond the Mountain Productions - "Bard Fiction" - Solo Flute/Assistant Musical Director (September 2014)
- Segal Centre for the Performing Arts: "Les Belles Soeurs" - Promotional Performances (March 2014) - Flute/Clarinet
- Lyric Theatre Singers: "Forever Broadway"! Production - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet/Recorder - D.B. Clarke Theatre, Montreal
- Kaleidoscope Theatre: "To Be" - Original Musical Theatre production - Clarinet/Tenor Sax
- Lyric Theatre Singers: "Hallelujah Broadway"! Production - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet - Oscar Peterson Hall, Montreal
- Lyric Theatre Singers: "Curtains" Production - Reed 1 - Alto Sax/Flute/Clarinet/Piccolo - D.B. Clarke Theatre, Montreal
- Lisa Forget: In Concert - Reed - Alto Sax/Flute/Clarinet - Lion d'Or, Montreal and St. Gabriel's Parish Hall, Montreal (Performed with Lisa Forget + Frayne McCarthy of the Canadian Tour of "Les Miserables")
- Royal West Academy - "Oh Boy, it's You, Girl!" - Lead Reed - Alto Sax/Clarinet/Flute, Royal West Academy, Montreal
- Royal West Academy - "Anything Goes" - Tenor Sax/Clarinet, Royal West Academy, Montreal
- Royal West Academy - "Lucinda at the Rook and Roll" - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet, Royal West Academy, Montreal
- Music Theatre Montreal - "Cabaret" - Tenor Sax/Flute, D.B. Clarke Theatre, Montreal
- Productions Coracole - "Le pays du sourire" - Flute, Theatre Beaubois, Pierrefonds
- Centre for Education and Theatre in Montreal (CETM) - South Park: Shorter, Smaller and Definitely Cut - Production Assistant, Maison de la Culture Frontenac - Montreal
- Centre for Education and Theatre in Montreal (CETM) - The Spotlight: Musical Theatre Challenge 2011 - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet - Salle de Gesu
- Centre for Education and Theatre in Montreal (CETM) - The Spotlight: Musical Theatre Challenge 2010 - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet - Centaur Theatre
- McGill Arts Undergrad Theatre Society - Kiss of the Spiderwoman - Tenor Sax/Clarinet - Moyse Hall, Montreal
- McGill Arts Undergrad Theatre Society - Cabaret - Tenor Sax/Clarinet - Moyse Hall, Montreal
- McGill Arts Undergrad Theatre Society - HAIR - Baritone Sax/Flute - Moyse Hall, Montreal
- Bialik High School - "Beauty and the Beast" - Flute (Hired professional musician)
Nova Scotia Productions:
Copacabana (Tenor Sax/Clarinet),
West Side Story (Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Tenor Sax -- Reed 3, shared book w/Bari Sax-Bs. Clarinetist),
Once Upon a Mattress (Clarinet),
Fiddler on the Roof (Clarinet 1),
Oliver! (Clarinet)
Mame (Tenor Sax/Clarinet),
The Pajama Game (Tenor Sax/Clarinet).
McGill Ensembles
- McGill Wind Symphony - Tenor Saxophone - Directed by Prof. Alain Cazes
- McGill Wind Symphony - Student Conductor - Second Suite in F (Holst) - 4th Movement, and Symphonic Overture (Carter) - Prof. Alain Cazes
- McGill Clarinet Choir - Contrabass Clarinet - Directed by Simon Aldrich (Performed New York Counterpoint - Steve Reich)
- McGill University Chorus - Mezzo-soprano - Directed by Patricia Abbott
- McGill Lab Ensemble - Bassoon/French Horn
Montreal Ensembles
- Video Games Live 2011 Tour - Salle Wilfred Pelletier - 1st Clarinet with I Medici di McGill Orchestra - Director - Emmanuel Fratelli, Montreal
- Orchestre de Vents Non-Identifiees - Supplementary Tenor Saxophone - Director - Jonathan Dagenais, Montreal
- Orchestre de Jeux Videos - Supplementary Clarinet/Tenor Sax - Director - Jocelyn Leblanc, Montreal
- Orchestre de Jeux Videos Chamber Group - Alto Sax - Director - Sebastien Wall-Lacelle
- Tenor Saxophone on "Incident sur la ligne Orange" Animated Short Film (Valerie Gadbois) - Music by Dominique Lafortune - Premiered at Fantasia Film Festival 2013 and YoungCuts Film Festival 2013. Recorded at McGill University Schulich School of Music.
- Static Gold - Funk/Rock/R&B/Funkadelic Swing - Tenor Sax/Clarinet/Flute/Backup Vocals - Brass section leader/Horn parts arranger
- Garbec - Prog/Rock/Funk - Tenor Sax (departed group in 2012)
- The Outfit - Motown/Soul - Tenor Sax (departed group in 2010)
- Lakes of Canada - Indie/Folk/Pop - Album Credit - Guest artist: Flute - 2012 ("Toll the Bell")
- Outrageous Pop Orchestra - Pop Band - Tenor Sax (Group disbanded in 2010)
- "La schubertiade des temps modernes" - CIBL 101.5 Radio Musical Improv w/Guillaume Martineau - Three times guest - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet
- Leonarqui y su Latin Band - Tenor Sax/Alto Sax
- Teaches private studio for Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute, Rudimentary Music Theory, Jazz Improvisation
- Currently a Substitute Teacher in the Lester B. Pearson School Board, teaching as of April 17th, 2013
- Currently a Substitute Teacher in the English Montreal School Board, teaching as of May 9th, 2014
- Completed teaching contracts (short-term leave - Music) at Lakeside Academy, Wilder Penfield Elementary, Thorndale Elementary, Rosemount High
- Has completed Music teaching stages at: Verdun Elementary, FACE School, Nesbitt Elementary (French), Lindsay Place High School
- Starting independent Jazz Composition studies with John Roney and Christine Jensen in August 2013. Studied Jazz Composition in NYC
with Darcy James Argue and Jim McNeely.
- Composed 15 pieces for Jazz Quintet based off of places, people and experiences in Montreal, coined "The 514 Project". Performed in April and May.
- Reharmonized "Cape Breton Lullaby" to fit for Jazz Quintet.
- Arranged the quintet reharmonization into a 15-part Wind Ensemble arrangement for Jr. Etude Ensemble at Lindsay Place High School, 1 on a part.
- Arranging/Re-orchestrating 8-10 works from the "514 Project" for large Jazz Ensemble.
- Composed "Challenge Suite" for Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble Reading Session - 2008
- Composed Grad Song for 2008 North Nova Education Centre Graduation - Modified Rock Band + Vocals
- Accepted into post-B.Mus/B.Ed studies (3-year M.Mus program) at McGill University's Schulich School of Music, Jazz Performance with concentration Jazz Composition/Arranging.
- Quartet Recordings used in various Montreal-area short films by upcoming filmmakers at Concordia University Film Studies Department
- Commissioned to arrange own work (A selection from the 514 Project) for future Big Band album by Montreal-area jazz ensemble (Big Band Intersection - Director: Louis Lemay), for album to be recorded in studio in 2014.
2012 - Lakes of Canada's Debut Album "Toll the Bell" - Flute
2013 - Static Gold's Debut Album "Speaking Easy' - Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Flute, 4-horn Arrangements/Brass Section Leader
2014 - Beth McKenna Jazz Orchestra "Start" Demo CD recording - Director/Composer/Solo Tenor Sax
2014 - La Cancao EP - Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet