2025 BMBTC Bruce Trail Day Musicians Lineup

Number

Musician Name

Biographies

1

Samantha Jones

Singer, Guitar – Samantha is a singer-songwriter in Collingwood, Ontario. She has been writing songs and performing her original music for over 30 years. She’s running the 3rd season of her Songwriter’s Sessions for original music at The Harbour Street Fish Bar, Wednesday evenings, 6 pm to 8 pm, showcasing herself and other songwriters in the area. She has a video and a number of her songs at – https://youtube.com/@samanthajones3310?si=hu_65qYsLn73jxk5.

2

Lesley Joosten

Flutist – Lesley has over 30 years of experience playing C flute, piccolo, and alto flute. She has taught not only private and group lessons, but has been involved in directing youth bands, flute choirs and workshops, adjudicating, co-chairing music festivals, and developing a music scholarship program. She studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music through the University of Toronto and has had the opportunity to perform in orchestras throughout the Toronto area and the Netherlands, extending into the European Orchestra Festivals. Lesley is the director of the Beaver Valley Concert Band, which rehearses and performs in and around Collingwood and the Bay Area, and she is also the choir conductor at Trinity United Church in Collingwood. Lesley also runs Djembe Drum Circles in Wasaga Beach and Creemore, teaching rhythms and the spirituality of drumming through a program she developed called “ Speak The Beat”.

3

Motes and Oates

Singers – Motes and Oats is a dynamic musical duo known for rich vocal harmonies, heartfelt songwriting, and a signature blend of folk, country, rock, and jazz influences. Co-written and guitar-driven, their songs are brought to life with stories of love, change, and resilience. Whether performing as a duo, a trio, or with a full band, Motes and Oats delivers warm, emotionally resonant performances that connect deeply with audiences. Their debut album Simple Things features the award-winning song “Saskatchewan,” which earned Best Folk Award at the Kootenay Music Awards. The duo has performed across Canada—from British Columbia to Ontario—gaining fans with their feel-good energy and finely crafted tunes.

4

Keiko Kupfer

Keyboard – Keiko is an accomplished concert pianist, organist, and accompanist. She is originally from Katano City, Osaka, Japan, one of the sister cities of Collingwood. She has performed both locally and internationally and, while in Japan, has taught in high schools and at the Osaka International University. Since making her home in Collingwood in 2006, Keiko has been sharing her expertise with students and the local community. She has accompanied the Sound Investment Community Choir since 2010 and conducts the Youth Ensemble, the church choir, and other instrumental groups. 

She was the music director and organist at All Saints’ Anglican Church for 16 years, and now she is a freelance organist who keeps quite busy visiting several churches in the region. Keiko is a very active member of the Georgian Triangle Music Teachers’ Association, Royal Canadian College of Organists, Simcoe-Muskoka branch and is the Collingwood-centre representative of the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is also involved in the Collingwood-Katano Sister-City Committee, where she is helping to develop a friendship between these two cities!

5

Bob Muir

Trombone – Over 79 years ago, at the age of four, Bob began playing on a 1/16th size violin. By the time he was in high school, he had worked up to a full-size instrument that he still has today. Bob’s love for music was encouraged by his mother, the piano teacher in Port Credit. Bob excelled on both the violin and the trombone. After a break from music to build and race sailboats, Bob resumed his musical journey in the 1970s, playing in the second violin section of the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra and trombone with the Mike White Dixieland Band. Bob eventually moved to Collingwood and played first trombone with the Georgian Sound Big Band for over ten years, and now plays first Trombone with the Georgian Sound Concert Band. Bob also plays viola with the Huronia Symphony Orchestra and has a band, the Regal Jazz Band, that plays traditional tunes at local venues.

6

Sheila Stewart

Piper – Sheila started her piping journey at 11 years of age, learning from the Stayner Pipe Band. Sheila is a founding member and the Pipe Major of Collingwood’s Pipe Band, The Beinn Gorm Highlanders. The band offers free lessons to new learners and performs at various events throughout the Southern Georgian Bay Area. The band also proudly represented our community at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in 2022!

7

Leigh Gallant

Leigh grew up in Three Brooks, Nova Scotia, where she learned to bagpipe as a member of the Heatherbells Pipes and Drums. This all-girls junior pipe band travelled throughout the Maritimes each summer as musical community ambassadors. When she moved to Collingwood in 2003, she found her new community in the members of the Beinn Gorm Highlanders, a local band that shares their enthusiasm for Scottish music and culture by offering free lessons to new learners, young and old. Leigh currently serves as pipe sergeant for the band. When she’s not piping, you can find the mom of two out running the trails or paddling on Georgian Bay.

8

Warren Coates

Singer, Guitar – Warren Coates is a Collingwood busker, trained actor, writer, and multi-instrumentalist (drummer, singer, guitarist). In his words, “I left Mississauga for Collingwood in 2021 under the cover of darkness…I really don’t like to talk about it. Since then, I have been hiding out at open mic’s and the occasional retirement facility, disguising myself as a musician.” Trees will be swaying. Rocks will be rocking.

9

Jack Bischoff and

Philly Hamelin

Singer, Dancer – Jack Bischoff, a Grade 8 student from Collingwood, brings enthusiasm, charm, and a playful sense of humour to every performance. He made his stage debut at age nine in School of Rock (Wasaga Beach, 2022), played the lead role of Charlie in Willy Wonka (Wasaga Beach, June 2023), and starred as Maui in his school production of Moana, where he discovered how much he enjoys playing a comedic character. Jack was a cast member in Matilda (Clearview 2024) and recently filmed a children’s television show set to premiere this fall. He was also recently featured on The Scoop Georgian Bay. Outside the spotlight, he loves hiking and exploring the Bruce Trail, and he’s excited to blend that love of nature with his music for the Musical Hike, aiming to lead audiences on a joyful musical journey through the outdoors. Jack will be singing a duet with a fellow Moana cast member, Philly Hamelin.

Philly is 13 years old, an actor, singer/songwriter and artist. She has won awards for her artwork and poetry, and was featured in a published Canadian Poetry book last year. She most recently played as Moana in Moana Junior, the musical, and has landed lead and supporting roles in several community theatre plays. She has sung Oh Canada at the Stayner Siskins game and will be singing the anthem alongside a classmate for the grade 8 graduating class this spring. Most recently, she was hired to sing at the Collingwood Youth Festival and then invited to play a cover of Riptide onstage at the Summerfolk music festival, where she had a standing ovation by nearly 200 people. Philly is inspired musically by her own life experiences. She likes to play guitar and sing with her Dad. If she isn’t active playing sports, you can find her writing and recording music and auditioning for upcoming roles.

10

Red N Blue

Folk/Rock and Stories – The trio, Red N Blue, is comprised of Jeff Monague, Heather McIntyre and Michael Martyn. Red N Blue celebrate their First Nations’ culture through story and song. Their original music is a blend of Folk and Rock, telling stories of the people and the land we walk on.  

11

Andy Elliott

Ambient sounds – Andy is a multi-instrumentalist who draws inspiration from the waters of Georgian Bay and the rugged landscapes that surround it. Using synthesizers and guitars, he conveys his impression of his surroundings into ambient music.

12

Jen Burack and

Alicia Hutchings

Classical – Alicia currently plays violin with the Georgian Bay Symphony in Owen Sound and the Sweet Strings Ensemble, which is based in Meaford. The Sweet Strings Ensemble is a collective of adult amateur string players who are coached by local professional musicians, all under the artistic and organizational guidance of the SweetWater Music Festival. Free local performances are planned to help spread the joy of music to our community. Before participation in these musical groups, Alicia played with the Dundas Valley Orchestra and the Della Sera Strings Orchestra, both based in Hamilton. She currently lives in Thornbury and enjoys collaborating with other instrumentalists in making beautiful music.

Jen Burak plays violin with the GBSymphony and the SweetStrings Ensemble. She also plays flute and violin with the Riverbank Duo and is a member of the Drowsy Fiddlers. Spreading the joy of music in the community has led her to become the conductor for the Scarecrow Kazoo Band in Meaford and a participant in MOB. This recently formed karaoke singing group does mini performances around town. Jen is a member of the board of the Sweetwater Music Festival, helps curate the music for the Meaford Farmer’s Market and feels strongly about the importance of arts and culture in the community.

13

Alan and Pat McKnight

Fiddlers – Alan and Pat are old-time fiddlers who live in Brampton, Ontario.  They enjoy playing all types of fiddle music, including Canadian and American old-time, Celtic, folk, swing and bluegrass styles.  They can often be found playing at square dances in the area or performing with the Karen Reed Orchestra and the Oakville Celtic Fiddle Orchestra.  Alan and Pat enjoy attending various fiddle contests and jams across the province, where they play with the numerous friends they have made playing music.  

14

Bob Woodcock

Singer, Guitar – Bob is a singer-songwriter with an East Coast vibe. His songwriting journey started during the pandemic. He’s been described as a musical storyteller who captures those moments most of us have experienced in our lives. Several of his songs focus on the Collingwood Shipyard. A friend coined the phrase “The Bard of the Yard”.

15

Lyle Oliver

Singer, Guitar – Lyle is a Disney-published singer-songwriter, born in Scotland and now living in Thornbury. An enigmatic writer not wanting to be like or sound like anyone else. All the time working under the premise of writing catchy, hooky songs that have meaningful lyrics, and that people can relate to. Trying to write radio-friendly songs that get into your head. Songs to sing along to. You can listen to Lyle Oliver on Spotify and Apple Music. Website: www.lyleoliver.com, Instagram: @lyleolivermusic

16

The Sound Investment Community Choir

Choir – Celebrating 50+ years of song on Georgian Bay! The Sound Investment Community Choir was founded in Collingwood in 1973. Since 2023 the choir has been under the direction of Danil Biba, an accomplished musician with a Masters in Music from Dresden University in Germany. Our repertoire includes a wide variety of music from Bach to Beatles. The choir is accompanied by Keiko Yoden-Kuepfer, a skilled concert pianist and organist.