2026 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 written songs and performed her original music for over 30 years. She hosts an event called “Samantha’s Songwriter Sessions” at The Harbour Street Fish Bar on Wednesday evenings, 6 pm to 8 pm, showcasing herself and other songwriters in the area. She has a video and several of her songs at https://youtube.com/@samanthajones3310?si=hu_65qYsLn73jxk5.

2

Lesley Joosten

Flutist – Lesley Joosten resides in Wasaga Beach and is a professional musician and educator. She has four adult children and six lovely grandchildren!
She studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music through the University of Toronto in the 70s, is a professional flautist, teaches flute privately, directs the Beaver Valley Concert Band in Collingwood, directs the Trinity United Church choir in Collingwood, and organizes many drum circles. African drumming has always been a passion. In 2006 and 2007, she travelled to Ghana, Africa, worked with a medical team, and became interested in learning djembe drumming techniques. For five years now she has been running the ‘rhythm of the beach’ drum circle program at the wasaga beach public library, the “creemore collective drum circle’ in creemore and freelances doing drum circles for community events and corporate team building exercises.
She is also heavily involved playing flute and piccolo in the “georgian shores concert band” in midland, the “york chamber orchestra” in newmarket and plays flute, harmonica and percussion in a local trio called “mixed groove”. Her husband is also a professional musician and songwriter, and together they have done many musical collaborations in the studio. During COVID, they produced videos for the Wasaga Beach Public Library’s “Music in Story Time,” featuring different instruments alongside narrations of children’s books.

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 bring to life 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 Collingwood’s sister cities. 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

Leigh Gallant

Piper – 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 ambassadors for the community. When she moved to Collingwood in 2003, she found her new community in the Beinn Gorm Highlanders, a local band that shares its 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.

6

Sheila Stewart

Piper – Sheila started her piping journey at 11, 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

Jack Bischoff

Jack Bischoff is a 13-year-old actor and singer from Collingwood, Ontario, and is excited to return for his third Bruce Trail Musical Hike. Jack has performed in several musical theatre productions, including Willy Wonka Jr., Matilda and A New World. He has also appeared on screen in Burps, Butts and Bones on TVO Kids. He loves singing, acting, skiing, and spending time with friends and family. Jack is thrilled to be back on the Bruce Trail for another year, sharing his love of music and performing with the community.

8

Sue Joyce & Partner

Saw, accordion, etc.

9

Rob Johnston

Lives in Collingwood with his wife and two cats. Guitar player, singer, and scratchy fiddle player. Writes songs and makes noises. As a busker, he is a favourite of the Collingwood mayor and individuals lacking stable housing. Plays bars, senior’s homes, legions, sporting events, and once played the posh Royal York Hotel ballroom. Describes his music as “Hard to pigeonhole” and “Don’t expect too much and you won’t be disappointed.” Big fan of the Bruce Trail.

10

 Al 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 fiddle contests and jams across the province, where they play with the many friends they have made through music. 

11

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”.

12

Sandy Herron

Sandy Harron is a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter who creates blues- and folk-inspired music with a lively, upbeat vibe!  Guitar, harmonica, banjo, foot tambourine, strong vocals and cajon come together to create a big, full sound that brings any song or story to life.  Sandy loves all music and performs a wide variety of genres, so you can sing along with your favourites in the mix!  Sandy’s music is available on all major music platforms.

13

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

14

Alicia Hutchings

and 

Jen Burak

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. The ensemble plans free local performances to spread the joy of music in the community. Before joining these 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.

15

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, Danil Biba, an accomplished musician with a Master’s in Music from Dresden University in Germany, has led the choir. Our repertoire includes a wide variety of music from Bach to the Beatles. Keiko Yoden-Kuepfer, a skilled concert pianist and organist, accompanies the choir.

16

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 mics and the occasional retirement facility, disguising myself as a musician.” Trees will be swaying. Rocks will be rocking.

17

Honeypaw

Honeypaw (Jurgita Zvinklyte, Matti Palonen) plays microtonal math-folk born from ancient Finnic and Baltic traditions. Their music is a journey through ancestral forests where cuckoos call, bears amble, and the buzzing of the bees furnish the underlying soundscape. The tree harp project they are presenting here is an artistic focal point in their recording and performing process, linking their music to the environment where it originated, and to the cultural elements that they hope to preserve. They will be the artists in residence at Hart House in Toronto in the winter of 2026-7.

18

Paz Ciuk

Kids Drum Circle – Paz Ciuk is a drum instructor, musician, and community facilitator with years of experience leading drum circles and rhythm-based practices that bring people together through shared sound and presence. His approach draws on his formal music background as a performing artist, drummer, and DJ known as Dauri Cems, as well as his deep training in mindfulness-based practices, creating drum circle experiences that are as much about connection and presence as they are about rhythm itself.

Paz is the founder and executive director of Resonance Cultural Center in Collingwood, Ontario, where he creates spaces for art, music, healing, and authentic community connection. He holds a Master of Arts in Theory, Culture and Politics and a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies from Trent University. He is a certified Master Reiki Teacher and Personal Coach, equipped with a variety of tools and resources to support others. Over the past two decades, he has founded, led and supported various collectives across Ontario, including Rhizoma, Love For Life Collective, Soulshine Community and Festival, bringing people together through music, art, and mindfulness practices in festival and community settings.

Whether guiding a room through rhythm, meditation, or music, Paz’s work is rooted in the belief that authentic connection and self-expression can bring people back to themselves and to each other.

Links to social media and websites:

https://www.pazandflow.com/

https://www.resonancecollingwood.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/pazandflow/