Joe Brown - Bass

Joe Brown has been playing the bass for over 6 years. Throughout his playing years, he has immersed himself in multiple projects and has gained experience playing in a wide variety of musical styles and genres.
Joe is constantly active musically, whether it be gigging/recording as a member of the local band
Vegabond, as a solo artist, a session player, a guest musician or studying the art of recording engineering.

 

 

Dan Chamberlain - Keyboards

Dan Chamberlain has been playing organ and synth for the past 15 years, playing a diverse range of styles, which has made Dan a sought after session player, since he can play just about anything.

He has been a regular on the local original music scene, playing live and /or recording with bands such as Porkchop Sandwiches, Halo, Penny Blacks and The Carousels.

Dan teaches "Audio Synthesis" in the Atlantica College's Recording Arts Program and plays keyboards in various projects around town, including the band HALO.

Dan's Keyboard Course has been designed for the beginner, who would like to play music using a keyboard and wants to do so quickly. Basic theory is also taught to give a better understanding. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to play a variety of songs and are ready to move on to the Atlantica Piano Course or an intermediate Keyboard Course. Students are required to purchase an instructional book for this course, which is sold at local music stores.

 

John Collier - Bass

John Collier has been playing bass professionally for 27 years. Toured the Maritimes and across Canada from 1985 to 1992. John has been fortunate to play with such artists as Carson Downey, Tony " Wild T " Springer, Thom Swift, Chris Cummings and the late Kenny Maclean of Platinum Blonde fame; to name a few. John's influences are Geddy Lee, Mark King, Stanley Clarke, Tony Levin and Victor Wooten. John is now playing with international recording artist DEE and is in high demand for freelance work and studio sessions.

John has always believed the rythm section is the backbone of any band. John has opened for such bands as, Trooper, Rik Emmit, Sven Gali, Haywire, to name a few.

 

 

Dianelys "Dee" Hernandez - Voice

Dianelys Hernandez grew up in Havana, Cuba surrounded by music. "For my family, singing was the way we could all come together. Every member in my family has a beautiful voice ". She has developed into an artist with a national and international career. The combination of original music, intelligent lyrics, superb vocal abilities and a dynamic stage presence make Dianelys Hernandez an artist to both appreciate and watch out for.

Dianelys Hernandez trained at the Conservatory of Music in Cuba, performed throughout the Island with a number of different bands and sang for Cuban President Fidel Castro by the age of 11.
After performing at the International Music Festival "Quimera96 " at age 13 in Toluca-Metec, Mexico, she was invited to perform at Canadian venues and festivals, such as the world-renown Montreal Jazz Festival. By the time she reached age 16, Dianelys "dedicated her life to music" (inspired by Cuban diva Celia Cruz) to the point where "I had to leave my family and country to take my career to a higher level". She settled in Canada to pursue her dreams.

Dianelys started her new life as a singer in Toronto, performing regularly with the Latin band Cassava, Hot Handle and recording as a featured vocalist on many independent CDs with various artists, such as Pedras da Rua. Word about her unique talents spread quickly and soon Dianelys was invited to perform at top Latin and Jazz venues in Toronto such as Lee's Palace, the Harbor Front Center, Havana Cafe and many others. Singing in Spanish, Portuguese and English, Dee - as her family and friends call her - developed her own musical style as a singer and composer.
In 2005, Dianelys started a solo project under the name of "DEE " that incorporates the success of her previous works and her appearance on Canada's top rated TV program, Canadian Idol, where she placed in the Top 11 and received many rave reviews from the judges, such as being described as "A World Class Jazz Singer" by Sass Jordan.

In December of 2009, Dee released her first CD “Crazy Love”, which has received a lot of international attention, especially in Asia and China. Dee has her music featured on several original MTV programs around the world and has had one of her original songs embedded into Samsung phones globally.

She is the most sought after vocal teacher in Southern New Brunswick and frequently provides back-up and harmony vocals on recordings by other recording artists.

 

Allison Hovey - Drums

 Allison Hovey has been an in-demand session and touring drummer on the East Coast of Canada for over fifteen years. He has performed on over 60 + recordings ranging from country to pop and all styles in between, many of the recordings being nominated for music awards. He has also appeared on live TV spots and live radio broadcasts for CTV, ATV and CBC in Atlantic Canada and Live TV appearance on European TV as well . Allison is currently an endorse for Mapex Drums, Dream Cymbals and Los Cabos drumsticks.

Recently, Allison has been playing live and recording with many artists including "Wild T & The Spirit" ( Tony Springer), Canadian Country artists Chris Cummings and Kevin Chase, roots rocker John Hughes, as well as Dee Hernandez. 2009 also saw Allison's first national drum festival appearance as well with a short set during the Cape Breton International Drum Festival in May. Currently, Allison is teaching and performing clinics across Canada.

 

Blaine LeRoy - Voice

Blaine has been singing since about five minutes after he began talking. He has 7 years of formal musical education playing saxophone, and has applied that musical knowledge along with the unique breathing and control needed for wind instruments to his vocal technique.

He spent 6 years as lead singer of West Coast country band Western Electric.  Since moving to the East Coast, he has been involved musically with the Saint John Theatre Company and Opera New Brunswick; appearing in Guys and Dolls as Benny Southstreet, Evita (multiple characters), Cabaret as Bobby, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Tosca, and most recently in Chicago as Billy Flynn. 

 

Antonia Munro - Violin, Piano, Keyboards

Antonia Munro was born in Latvia (one of the Baltic States)

She comes from a musical family for her mother (now in the U.K.)
is a piano teacher while her father, an engineer, enjoys playing the trumpet, piano, and bass guitar.
Just before Antonia was born her parents played in a popular pop band in Latvia.
In a while, Antonia was taking part, as a singer and violin performer with Kraslava's Music School kids ensemble. She performed on a Moscow TV Channel, in a Morning Kids Show – called “Veselie Notki”.
Just being age 4, Antonia started her performing career. And there was no single month without her taking part in any festival or competition.
After almost three years of Music "pre-school', Antonia started her Official (by government) schooling in two schools:
Musical and Primary:
1990 - 1995 Kraslavas Primary School (Latvia)
1988 - 1995 Officially attending Kraslava Music School (Latvia)

When Antonia was 11 years of age, her music teacher talk to Antonia's mom about transforming her to a better Music School in to a city, to continue her professional grouth.
Family moved to the city and Antonia continued her schooling in Daugavpils, attending also two schools.
And in her new Musical school Antonia continue shining as a performer: by getting any possible parts in a concerts; performing solo or/and with a bands:
1995 - 1999 Daugavpils Secondary School (Latvia)
1995 - 1999 Daugavpils Music School (Latvia)

After finishing secondary education, Antonia's violin teacher promoted her to enter the Musical College, to be a professional Violinist:
1999 - 2003 Daugavpils Musical College (Latvia)
Now Antonia has got a Diploma of Secondary Vocational Education – Pre Bachelor. And is recognized as a Professional Musician.
Getting part in various festivals and concert, allowed Antonia to be recognized by a professor from Latvian Music Conservatory, A. Bulavs. He advised her to enter the Latvian Music academy.
And so she did, passing her exam she was successful enough to get a government scholarship:
2003 - 2004 J.Vitola Latvian Academy of Music (Latvia)

As a professional musician in Latvia she took part in various projects on TV and theatre, and, among others, she performed with the Daugavpils Music College Orchestra, the Daugavpils Music College Teacher's Ensemble, and the Latvian Music Academy Orchestra.
Antonia lived in the U.K. for three years prior to moving to Canada, where she continues her career as a solo musician and performing with such artists as
singer-songwriters Barry James Payne and Richard Miron, and with jazz singers Valerey Laverne and Alex Barham.

Though a professionally trained classical musician Antonia plays almost all styles, including folk, pop, heavy metal, and rock.