BIOGRAPHY
Crystal Mallory has been a musician for most of her life. She began her musical venture through singing within her school and community choirs. She mostly grew up in Port Elgin, Ontario a small town up along Lake Huron (South of Owen Sound). The first instrument she learned was the piano where she excelled through to gain her Grade 7 RCM by the age of 12 along with her Grade 2 RCM Theory. It was also at the age of 12 where she began to play clarinet, her first of many wind instruments to come. She quickly became well known as a clarinetist and was brought out to several groups around the Grey/Bruce areas. She was principal clarinet of the Kincardine Community Concert Band and of the Grey/Bruce Orchestra.
She later picked up several more wind instruments while taking a co-op through her High School. She was working within the music/band programme at her elementary school. This was where she began playing other woodwinds and where she picked-up playing brass instruments such as the trumpet and the French Horn. It was during this time she realized her true passion for teaching and playing more than one instrument, especially the French Horn. It wasn't long before she switched to playing horn primarily within many of the groups but at the same time keeping up with her clarinet playing. She was called in to sub in the Bruce Brass Quintet several times, and then she switched to horn in the KCCB. Soon after, it was decided to resurrect the Kincardine Brass Band which is where she learned how to play the Eb Alto/Tenor Horn. During this time she also studied and earned her grade 9 RCM on both the Clarinet and French Horn which is almost unheard of with brass and woodwind instruments being so different. She also played with the Port Elgin Community Band under the direction of Cameron Porter, her mentor and teacher from Port Elgin Saugeen Central School from when she was in school there and when she did her co-op. She learned a lot about conducting while working with him and in teaching beginner musicians. She was involved within the Concert Band (Principal Clarinet, Principal Horn-different years), Senior Band (Principal Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Section French Horn-different years) and Stage bands (Lead Tenor Sax) in Saugeen District Secondary school. She was also brought out to an "invite" only wind ensemble, the "Bayfield Winds" where she bounced back and forth between French Horn and Tenor Sax.
Another aspect of Crystal's life was her time with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. She was a cadet with 340 Port Elgin Squadron for 6 years and then a Civilian Instructor and Officer Cadet with 183 Typhoon Squadron in Kincardine for 3 years. This was where she had many opportunities for teaching and gaining valuable leadership experience. She taught lessons within her squadrons and also went on band courses during the summers until she was old enough to go up as staff. She first taught in the summer of 2000 as a SGT with the Intermediate Band in CFB Borden. She conducted the band, worked with individual musicians, did a lot of supervision and proved to be a strong leader and someone the young cadets could look up to and talk to. In 2001 she worked at the Blackdown Army Cadet Summer Training Centre as the Duty/Cadet Leader Instructor (Senior band) 2IC. Then in 2002 she worked at the Borden Air Cadet Summer Training Centre again, but as the Senior Brass & Reed Band 2IC.
In the Fall of 2002, Crystal moved to Toronto to attend the "Introduction to Jazz & Commercial Music Programme" at Humber College on clarinet and tenor sax. During her first week in Toronto she was brought out to the Governor General Horse Guards Military Band as a horn player, where she quickly became principal horn. Shortly after she was brought out to play with the Malta Band Club and various Italian Bands and then she was brought out to the Regimental Band and Bugles of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. She also joined the Northdale Concert Band on the clarinet, North York Concert Band as Principal Horn all during her first year in Toronto. It wasn't long before she was brought out to several other groups, small ensembles etc. She started being hired as a pit orchestra musician for several community show musicals and even a few Canadian Premieres (Jerry Springer: The Opera, Hart House 2009 & Little Women, Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions 2008). She also later attended college to work toward her diploma in Early Childhood Education, Centennial College.
Crystal is now a member of several groups around the city and has become a highly sought after musician and private teacher. She has become principal horn/section leader of most of the groups she is currently with. She has over 15+ years in performance experience and 11+ years in teaching experience. She has played for royalty including the Queen and Prince Phillip and many high officials within the government and military. Crystal had the amazing opportunity to play for the Juno Beach Centre Opening on June 6, 2003 with the Queen's Own and Royal Winnipeg Rifles military bands as well. She has played for the leaf's home opener for several years as a member of the 48'th military band, and has even had the opportunity to play with Sharon, Lois & Bram (from "The Elephant Show") on trumpet subbing in as principal with the NYCO Symphony. She plays with military bands, concert bands, wind ensembles, small ensembles etc. She has a great deal of experience with auditions and audition prep. She has taken lessons and master classes with well known musicians such as Julie Landsman (retired principal horn of the met opera, 25 years), Fergus McWilliam (Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Wind Quintet), James MacDonald (Head of Brass-York U, Boss Brass). Crystal also recently began studying with Joan Watson, principal horn of the Canadian Opera Company.
Currently Crystal is an IMI-Band Teacher with the Toronto District School Board as well as a freelance musician and private teacher in Toronto and the GTA.
Compositions: (To Be Posted)
Pit Orchestras/Musicals: (Most Recent-October 2004-Present):
Previous/Current/Upcoming:
Show Band *Trumpet* (Vanier College Productions, York University-April 2013), "GYPSY" *Horn* (Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions-March 2013), "Man of La Mancha" *Horn 1* (Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions-March 2012), "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" *Horn 1* (Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions-November 2011) “The Producers” *Horn 1*(Etobicoke, April 2010), “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” *Horn 1*(Markham Theatre, Markville Secondary School, Jan 2010), “The Pajama Game” *Sax/Clarinet*(Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions, Nov 2009-Richmond Hill), “Jerry Springer: The Opera *Re-mount**Horn*” (Hart House Theatre, Sept/Oct 2009), “Oliver!” *Horn 1*(Orangeville Music Theatre, May/June 2009), “Les Miserables” *Horn 1*(Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions, March 2009, Richmond Hill), “The Wizard of Oz” *Horn & Trumpet*(Fallen Rock Productions, Toronto February 2009), “Jerry Springer: The Opera *Canadian Premiere*” (Hart House Theatre, Richard Ouzounian-Producer, Jan 2009), “Little Women *Canadian Premiere*” *Horn 1* (Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions, Dec 2008), “Miss Saigon”*Horn 1* (Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton, Aug 2008), “Into the Woods” *Horn 1 & Trumpet* (Markham Youth Theatre, Spring 2007), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” *Horn 1* (In-concert, Markham Theatre, Summer 2006), “A Magical Mickey Mystery Tour” *Trumpet 2* (Disney Music, TDSB Cabaret Singers, June 2006), “Sounds of the Season” *lead horn* (Scarborough Choral Society, Markham Theatre December 2005), “Westside Story” *Horn 1* (Vanier College Productions, York University, Fall 2004)
Special Performances:
Upcoming: "Morceau de Concert, Op 94" for horn and orchestra-May 17, 2014, Calvin Presbyterian with the GTPO.
Previous:
“Michelle” (Horn solo with brass quintet, Canadian Brass series, December 2010),
“You Made Me Love You” (Horn solo, Canadian Brass Series with quintet, Dec 2010),“Nocturne” from a mid-summer Night’s Dream (Northdale Concert band, March 2009), “Mass in D” *Canadian Premiere, composed by Otto Nicolai in1832 (Principal Horn- York Minster Park Baptist Church, Pickup Orchestra, Oct 23, 2009), “A Vincent Youmans Medley” arr Eddy Graf (Horn Solo with Concert Band, North York Concert Band, June 2008), NYCO Symphony Family Concert Featuring Sharon, Lois & Bram (subbed in as principal trumpet, December 2006), Juno Beach Centre Opening (Juno Beach, France, June 6, 2003-QOR),*Have done many more concerts/gigs/solos*, *Have also done multiple tattoos, parades , balls and other various military functions etc*, *Have performed for the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Alexandria, and various other royalty and high officials and military personnel*.
Current Groups:
"Northdale Concert Band" (Principal Horn), http://www.northdaleconcertband.ca
"Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra" (Principal Horn), www.gtpo.ca
"48'th Highlanders Military Band (B&R)" (Principal Horn)
"Royal Regiment of Canada Military Band (Clarinet/Horn)"
"Magnus Brass Quintet" (Horn)
"Rossini Italian Band" (Horn)
She later picked up several more wind instruments while taking a co-op through her High School. She was working within the music/band programme at her elementary school. This was where she began playing other woodwinds and where she picked-up playing brass instruments such as the trumpet and the French Horn. It was during this time she realized her true passion for teaching and playing more than one instrument, especially the French Horn. It wasn't long before she switched to playing horn primarily within many of the groups but at the same time keeping up with her clarinet playing. She was called in to sub in the Bruce Brass Quintet several times, and then she switched to horn in the KCCB. Soon after, it was decided to resurrect the Kincardine Brass Band which is where she learned how to play the Eb Alto/Tenor Horn. During this time she also studied and earned her grade 9 RCM on both the Clarinet and French Horn which is almost unheard of with brass and woodwind instruments being so different. She also played with the Port Elgin Community Band under the direction of Cameron Porter, her mentor and teacher from Port Elgin Saugeen Central School from when she was in school there and when she did her co-op. She learned a lot about conducting while working with him and in teaching beginner musicians. She was involved within the Concert Band (Principal Clarinet, Principal Horn-different years), Senior Band (Principal Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Section French Horn-different years) and Stage bands (Lead Tenor Sax) in Saugeen District Secondary school. She was also brought out to an "invite" only wind ensemble, the "Bayfield Winds" where she bounced back and forth between French Horn and Tenor Sax.
Another aspect of Crystal's life was her time with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. She was a cadet with 340 Port Elgin Squadron for 6 years and then a Civilian Instructor and Officer Cadet with 183 Typhoon Squadron in Kincardine for 3 years. This was where she had many opportunities for teaching and gaining valuable leadership experience. She taught lessons within her squadrons and also went on band courses during the summers until she was old enough to go up as staff. She first taught in the summer of 2000 as a SGT with the Intermediate Band in CFB Borden. She conducted the band, worked with individual musicians, did a lot of supervision and proved to be a strong leader and someone the young cadets could look up to and talk to. In 2001 she worked at the Blackdown Army Cadet Summer Training Centre as the Duty/Cadet Leader Instructor (Senior band) 2IC. Then in 2002 she worked at the Borden Air Cadet Summer Training Centre again, but as the Senior Brass & Reed Band 2IC.
In the Fall of 2002, Crystal moved to Toronto to attend the "Introduction to Jazz & Commercial Music Programme" at Humber College on clarinet and tenor sax. During her first week in Toronto she was brought out to the Governor General Horse Guards Military Band as a horn player, where she quickly became principal horn. Shortly after she was brought out to play with the Malta Band Club and various Italian Bands and then she was brought out to the Regimental Band and Bugles of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. She also joined the Northdale Concert Band on the clarinet, North York Concert Band as Principal Horn all during her first year in Toronto. It wasn't long before she was brought out to several other groups, small ensembles etc. She started being hired as a pit orchestra musician for several community show musicals and even a few Canadian Premieres (Jerry Springer: The Opera, Hart House 2009 & Little Women, Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions 2008). She also later attended college to work toward her diploma in Early Childhood Education, Centennial College.
Crystal is now a member of several groups around the city and has become a highly sought after musician and private teacher. She has become principal horn/section leader of most of the groups she is currently with. She has over 15+ years in performance experience and 11+ years in teaching experience. She has played for royalty including the Queen and Prince Phillip and many high officials within the government and military. Crystal had the amazing opportunity to play for the Juno Beach Centre Opening on June 6, 2003 with the Queen's Own and Royal Winnipeg Rifles military bands as well. She has played for the leaf's home opener for several years as a member of the 48'th military band, and has even had the opportunity to play with Sharon, Lois & Bram (from "The Elephant Show") on trumpet subbing in as principal with the NYCO Symphony. She plays with military bands, concert bands, wind ensembles, small ensembles etc. She has a great deal of experience with auditions and audition prep. She has taken lessons and master classes with well known musicians such as Julie Landsman (retired principal horn of the met opera, 25 years), Fergus McWilliam (Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Wind Quintet), James MacDonald (Head of Brass-York U, Boss Brass). Crystal also recently began studying with Joan Watson, principal horn of the Canadian Opera Company.
Currently Crystal is an IMI-Band Teacher with the Toronto District School Board as well as a freelance musician and private teacher in Toronto and the GTA.
Compositions: (To Be Posted)
Pit Orchestras/Musicals: (Most Recent-October 2004-Present):
Previous/Current/Upcoming:
Show Band *Trumpet* (Vanier College Productions, York University-April 2013), "GYPSY" *Horn* (Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions-March 2013), "Man of La Mancha" *Horn 1* (Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions-March 2012), "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" *Horn 1* (Steppin' Out Theatrical Productions-November 2011) “The Producers” *Horn 1*(Etobicoke, April 2010), “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” *Horn 1*(Markham Theatre, Markville Secondary School, Jan 2010), “The Pajama Game” *Sax/Clarinet*(Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions, Nov 2009-Richmond Hill), “Jerry Springer: The Opera *Re-mount**Horn*” (Hart House Theatre, Sept/Oct 2009), “Oliver!” *Horn 1*(Orangeville Music Theatre, May/June 2009), “Les Miserables” *Horn 1*(Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions, March 2009, Richmond Hill), “The Wizard of Oz” *Horn & Trumpet*(Fallen Rock Productions, Toronto February 2009), “Jerry Springer: The Opera *Canadian Premiere*” (Hart House Theatre, Richard Ouzounian-Producer, Jan 2009), “Little Women *Canadian Premiere*” *Horn 1* (Steppin’ Out Theatrical Productions, Dec 2008), “Miss Saigon”*Horn 1* (Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton, Aug 2008), “Into the Woods” *Horn 1 & Trumpet* (Markham Youth Theatre, Spring 2007), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” *Horn 1* (In-concert, Markham Theatre, Summer 2006), “A Magical Mickey Mystery Tour” *Trumpet 2* (Disney Music, TDSB Cabaret Singers, June 2006), “Sounds of the Season” *lead horn* (Scarborough Choral Society, Markham Theatre December 2005), “Westside Story” *Horn 1* (Vanier College Productions, York University, Fall 2004)
Special Performances:
Upcoming: "Morceau de Concert, Op 94" for horn and orchestra-May 17, 2014, Calvin Presbyterian with the GTPO.
Previous:
“Michelle” (Horn solo with brass quintet, Canadian Brass series, December 2010),
“You Made Me Love You” (Horn solo, Canadian Brass Series with quintet, Dec 2010),“Nocturne” from a mid-summer Night’s Dream (Northdale Concert band, March 2009), “Mass in D” *Canadian Premiere, composed by Otto Nicolai in1832 (Principal Horn- York Minster Park Baptist Church, Pickup Orchestra, Oct 23, 2009), “A Vincent Youmans Medley” arr Eddy Graf (Horn Solo with Concert Band, North York Concert Band, June 2008), NYCO Symphony Family Concert Featuring Sharon, Lois & Bram (subbed in as principal trumpet, December 2006), Juno Beach Centre Opening (Juno Beach, France, June 6, 2003-QOR),*Have done many more concerts/gigs/solos*, *Have also done multiple tattoos, parades , balls and other various military functions etc*, *Have performed for the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Alexandria, and various other royalty and high officials and military personnel*.
Current Groups:
"Northdale Concert Band" (Principal Horn), http://www.northdaleconcertband.ca
"Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra" (Principal Horn), www.gtpo.ca
"48'th Highlanders Military Band (B&R)" (Principal Horn)
"Royal Regiment of Canada Military Band (Clarinet/Horn)"
"Magnus Brass Quintet" (Horn)
"Rossini Italian Band" (Horn)