George Corwin, Conductor - On graduating from the Eastman School of Music, Mr. Corwin immediately joined their Faculty of Music, staying for seven years, and after a further two years at Ball State University in Indiana, immigrated to Canada in 1969, joining the faculty at the University of Victoria. His distinguished career has brought him renown as an orchestral, choral, wind ensemble and operatic conductor throughout Canada, the United States and more recently Southeast Asia. Mr. Corwin has distinguished himself through his innovative programming, eclectic musical tastes, keen desire to foster the careers of young performers and his impeccable musicianship.
His hallmark has been his unflagging faithfulness to the musical score and his untiring search for what he believes to be the wishes of the composer.
Retiring as Professor of Music in 1995, he took up the leadership of Victoria’s Civic Orchestra in 1998 and, more recently, of the Ensemble Pacifica. For Mr. Corwin’s continuing passion for music, Victorians, and most especially, the members of the Ensemble Pacifica, are profoundly grateful.

Katrina Bligh, Oboe - The principal oboist of the Naden Band, Katrina has a Bachelor’s degree from UBC in music performance and has studied with Roger Cole, Beth Orson, Joe Robinson, Keith Atkinson, Ray Still, and Nancy King. She has attended the summer music festivals NYOC, Marrowstone, and SOAP in Powell River. Other than playing oboe and making reeds all day, Katrina enjoys having a life.
 
Patrick Conley, Oboe - Patrick is a fourth-year physics student at UVic.  He has been performing as an oboist for seven years with the Kawartha Youth Orchestra, the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.  Patrick can usually be found doing physics, making music or practicing with the UVic Juggling Club.

Edith Eaton, Clarinet - A graduate of the University of Ottawa, her professional career has taken her to Ottawa, Fredericton and Victoria.  She enjoyed her time with the Saint John Symphony Orchestra and the 100 piece Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and has always been an avid lover of chamber music.  Since 1989 she has been lead clarinet with the Naden Band.  Edith will often be found racing sailboats in local waters.

Mario Joly, Clarinet - Mario is a graduate of Laval University and for the 10 years prior to moving to the Naden Band was the principal clarinet with the Royal 22nd Regiment in Quebec.  When not playing clarinet, Mario can be found playing recorder or building pipe organs.

John Larsen, Bassoon - After studying in Victoria and Toronto, John accepted the position of principal bassoon with the Calgary Symphony Orchestra.  Bitten by the travel bug, he had the opportunity to play in several countries and journeyed across Asia, eventually settling in Japan where musical opportunities were plentiful.  He is well known as an entrepreneur, impresario and patron of the arts.  You will find him most days at his store, Larsen Music, on Cook Street.

Cuyler Page, Bassoon - Cuyler’s music studies began in Ithaca, New York, with Cornell University as his childhood playground.  He became a musical omnivore.  While studying at UBC in the 1960s, he discovered a passion for Early Music, becoming the Founding Secretary of the Vancouver Society for Early Music.  After many years of musical life in the Okanagan which included playing for the Okanagan and Kamloops Symphonies, Cuyler now lives in Victoria, making exhibits at the Royal BC Museum and playing Renaissance and Baroque Music on replicas of historic instruments, especially in the renaissance band, “A Great Noyse”.

David Watson, Horn - David lives and breathes music.  He divides his time between the Victoria Chamber Orchestra, the Sooke Philharmonic, the Victoria Civic Orchestra and the Ensemble Pacifica.  He is the conductor of the Hampton Orchestra and the Music Director of St. Peter’s Church.  When not involved in musical pursuits, he enjoys designing and building purpose-built cargo bicycles.

Karen Hough, Horn - A graduate of Yale University, Karen is an active freelance musician.  She is a regular performer with the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra and recently performed an Opera in Qualicum Beach.  She has a large music studio where she inspires many students of music.

Ross Macdonald, Double Bass - A professional bassist, his musical skills have taken him around the world, playing music in Dubai at the 7 star Burj al Arab, the tallest hotel in the world, and cruising on the world’s only residence ship, The World. After obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance from McGill University, he was a freelance musician in the Montréal scene for three years before relocating to his hometown of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. At present, he is the bassist for the the Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific, which is one of the six full-time Regular Force bands within the Canadian Forces