Doug Sole

Drum Circle Facilitator, Educator, Professional Speaker, Author, and Co-owner of Soul Drums Ltd, DOUG SOLE has facilitated drum circles ranging from 10 to 1,100 players in size.

These exciting musical experiences have been a common activity throughout history. Virtually all cultures have used drumming to maintain community spirit, wellness as well as celebrations of social importance, stress management, and co-operative team building. Doug has designed curriculum for, and trains teachers in the Art of Multi-Cultural Integration for many of the Boards of Education in Ontario. Doug continues to enjoy success with his publication “THE SOUL OF HAND DRUMMING” with over 20,000 copies sold in North America. It is used as a main resource for meeting the new requirements in the curriculum and is available worldwide from Mel Bay Productions.

Doug is also serving the non-musical community, finding much success in the professional public speaking and management consulting field. His platform of Community Building and Values Integration is much sought after by many companies and conferences which have included include American Express, XEROX, CIBC, IBM, Canadian Cancer Society, Health Canada , The Ministry of Health, Sun Life Assurance, Bell Canada, Ontario Hydro “One”, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Canada Post Corporation, The Red Cross, KPMG, The Ontario Science Center, Pfizer, Proctor and Gamble, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Federal Government of Canada.

Doug was recently the Closing Keynote Speaker at the 2002 International Public Speakers and Facilitators Conference held in Toronto Ontario. Our events give tremendous results for groups wishing to combine Team Building, Stress Management, Multi-Culturalism, Relationship Building, Entertainment and solidifying “Core Values” statements.

As a faculty member at the Secretan Centre, Doug seamlessly integrates his work with the Values Centred Leadership message that is the hallmark of Lance Secretans publications, INSPIRE! and the highly anticipated release of ONE! Lance and Doug have presented Keynotes together, in a session that truly inspires all.

» » http://www.secretan.com/bio_sole_org.html

Come actualize your teams potential through the guidance of a masterful teacher, speaker and performer.

Michael Beauclerc

Rhythm is in his blood. Michael's father, also a drummer, taught him his first beats on a plastic Muppet drum set when he was only two years old. Since then, Michael has developed into a very talented performer.

Michael had a unique high school education, majoring in music and drama at the Integrated Arts Program at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School. This allowed him to focus on his true interests at a young age. Michael later received a diploma with honours in Performance Music from Cambrian College, where he was a percussion major and vocal minor. His studies focused on classical mallet and Latin hand percussion, as well as jazz drumset.

Since the age of eighteen, Michael has taught students of all ages and levels. He has composed and instructed for several drum corps and indoor drumlines, and taught private lessons at Wayne's Music World in Peterborough, and the Cambrian College Music Academy in Sudbury.

He played in his first rock group at the age of twelve, and has toured across North America in several world-class drum corps. Michael has performed as a drummer with, among others, Felix and the Swing Cats, Beau Dixon, Deep Pocket, the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, LOTUS, Canuck, Gauche, the Bohdi Trio, Weekend Dad, and Jemo. He has also performed as a hand percussionist with Smooth…Sounds of Santana, the Drum Adix, Doug Sole, Carrie Chesnutt, the Brian Quebec Trio, Michael Graham, Njacko Backo, Rick Lazar, Chendi, Slips and the High Fives, and the Arrogant Worms. He was also the lead percussionist and composer for the Junk Jammers, a "Stomp"-like percussion group at the CN Tower in Toronto.

In 2004, Michael published his first drum method book, "The Mad Practice Pad". Distributed nationwide by Canadian Print Music Distributors, "The Mad Practice Pad" is the only practice pad method book available, and was an overnight success. A second edition containing additional exercises will soon be available. He is currently developing several other publications including a drumline development book.

Currently, Michael is a busy marching percussion clinician for Yamaha Canada, Sabian Cymbals, and Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets. He is also the percussion head of the Saint Michael's College School Drumline in Toronto.

Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo

Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo born and raised in Cuba, earned his degree in percussion at the National Art School of Havana. Some of his alumni include Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and Gonsalo Rubalcaba.

As a professional artist Joaquin has had a successful music career in Cuba. Performing in multiple music events and festivals, he shared the stage with some of Cuba’s most elite musicians such as Jose Luis “Changuito” Quintana, Emiliano Salvador, Miguel Anga, Juan Pable Torres.

Since his arrival in Canada in 1999, Joaquin has performed various artists in most of the festivals in the country as well as internationally (Barbados, Montreal, Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival). Other than finding him performing in these venues, Joaquin is also bringing his vast performing experience to the classroom by offering numerous clinics and workshops. As a master Afro-Cuban percussionist, Joaquin has worked closely with other renowned clinicians such as Giovanni Hidalgo, Nii Tettey Tetteh and locally Rick Lazar, Njacko Backo, Hilario Duran. Currently, Joaquin is also the leader and director of the Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble “Havana Rumba” and the traditional Cuban music trio “Cubanos”.

Joaquin produces live shows featuring Canada’s elite Cuban musicians, including the “Rumberos Afro-Cuban Master Sessions” and the Distillery Jazz Festival. He is currently the percussionist for the "Dirty Dancing" theatrical show.

» » www.rumberos.ca

Develop your style and create an exciting new sound that will spark your career into the Modern Age! Soul Drums is very pleased to offer one of the most exciting teachers and hybrid performers in Canada today.

Altaf Vellani

Altaf (Drummer / Percussionist), born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, began his music career in the vibrant mid-seventies music scene in Nairobi. He has lived and worked in Germany, U.S.A. and Canada since leaving Nairobi in the eighties. He is fluent playing drumset and percussion and tours internationally performing at major concert venues, clubs and festivals as well as recording with various artists ranging from Funk, R & B Soul, Worldbeat Fusion to Pop & Rock music.

Altaf is a drummer & percussionist of the 21st century, open to music from around the world. His knowledge of rhythms and music of the African diaspora and World music afford him a unique style. His teaching concept focuses on both the roots of a rhythm and its practical application.

In December 2005 he released an educational Cd/Book " African Grooves for Drumset" featuring some of his favourite African rhythms adapted to drumset.

He teaches drumset, congas, djembe, darbouka, talking drums, shekere and also conducts drum circles in the spirit of uniting people.

» » vellanionline.com/altaf.html

David Patel

Dave has been playing for over 23 years and has had the good fortune to record/ perform with some wonderful musicians and people including: Special Ed and the Musically Challenged, Molasses Run, The great Tony Monaco, Mint Band, Bass is Base, One, Jamie Bonk, Nick "Brownman" Ali Chiva, Mike Freedman, Michael Keith, Emily 13, Madagascar Slim, Donne' Roeberts, Ndidi Onwukulu, Katherine Filippeos, Lance Bennett, Wendy Irvine, Ian Crieghton H3O, Gary Diggins, Don Thompson, Simon Wilcox, JukeJoint, Shelly Hamilton, R.C. Johnson, Robi Botos, and Planet Earth.

His studio work includes recording on over 50 albums/ discs, various jingles and television.

Dave has been teaching for 20 years privately and at some of the most reputable retail/ educational stores in Toronto such as Soul Drums and Drummer's Choice.

Dave's educational background is:

• 1 year York U
• 3 years Humber College and private study with, Vito Rezza, Jim Blackley, and Paul DeLong.

Adam Teixeira

Adam Teixeira has lived with many musical influences from an early age.

Pursing his musical interest, Adam began to take drum lessons at Soul Drums, studying with Dave Patel, while studying music through High School. Going on to graduate from the Humber College music program. Adam is a constant student and has studied with the likes of Billy Hart, Ian Froman, Barry Romberg, Bob McLaren, Ted Warren and Mark Kelso.

Gaining experience rehearsing and performing in all styles of music, playing both percussion and drum set, Adam has performed with such musicians as, Steve Gadd, Pat Labarbera, Kirk Mcdonald, Ravi Naimpally, George Koller, Adrian Farrugia, Brian Dickenson, Shantanu Bhattacharyya.

His current projects include innovative groups such as Monsoon, Chaos Theory, Adam Teixeira Unit, Mxyomatosis, The Banff Project, Frontier, Justin Gray Project. Aside from being active on the music scene Adam continues to teach and inspire students of all levels and age groups.

Teaching at Soul Drums, Adam is available for lesson Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. His experiences fuel his musical development and inspiration.

Ikjun Won

IKJUN was born in Seoul, South Korea. His various experiences show his versatility. He has performed with the professional rock bands: High Wire, Headhunter and Easy Rider. He was part of the navy band, and was trained in classical and marching drumming. During his military service, he played around twelve countries: Russia, Japan, Australia, New Zeal land, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, and etc.

After finishing his service, he extended his musical ability in Musicals and Korean pop. He was a live session drummer in the musical 'NANTA' and recorded MR CDs. He joined the 2002 Seoul Drum Festival with 'Percussion Group Balkwang'. He worked with the Hip hop ministry "Mento," Miretal, and Korean pop singer "Teajina".

Ikjun went to the Humber Music Program. He studied under Humber's Best Ensembles: John Macleod, Nancy Walker, and Brian Dickinson's 'Birth of the Cool Ensemble'. He also had a chance to play with the great trumpet player, 'Randy Brecker' at the Humber Showcase Concert.

For more information: www.nanta.co.kr   www.balkwang.com

Richard Greenspoon

Richard Greenspoon is an accomplished player and teacher whose credits include studio work, feature film recordings, touring and a large student base.

Patience, understanding and dedication to his students make Richard an invaluable source.