Our Board
Colleen Maybin, Ph.D.
Director, Education and Community Engagement, Vancouver Opera
Colleen Maybin is the Director, Education and Community Engagement at Vancouver Opera. A passionate advocate for arts education, Colleen has more than 20 years experience in arts leadership, public education and arts advocacy. She is a teacher, producer, and writer recognized for her ability to build community through the arts. Colleen is a regular speaker on the impact of values-based community arts programs and integrating Indigenous pedagogy into music education. At her core, Colleen is an educator with the ability to inspire everyone she works with. She is currently a PhD candidate in Arts Education at Simon Fraser University focusing on social justice, culturally responsive pedagogy and music education.
Secretary - Katherine Evans
Manager of Admissions & Recruitment, UBC School of Music
Katherine Evans is a freelance musician, teacher, and administrator. She is the principal trumpet of the Newport (OR) Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Symphony, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Turning Point Ensemble and others. She teaches private lessons at the VSO School of Music. As a singer, Katherine has been a member of musica intima, Phoenix Chamber Choir, and the St. Andrews Oratorio Singers. She holds an M.Mus. in Trumpet Performance from the Longy School of Music and a B.A. in English and Music from Harvard University.
Treasurer - Graham Blank
Vice-President and Director, Tom Lee Music
Graham Blank Graham Blank is a multi-instrumentalist, elementary school parent and the Vice-President and Director for Tom Lee Music Canada where has worked since 1989. His long career in the music industry started with his involvement in the elementary and secondary band programs in Ladysmith and Nanaimo and following graduation he enrolled in the Jazz Program at Vancouver Island University. After joining Tom Lee Music, Graham continued his studies in the Sales & Marketing Diploma program at UBC and the Masters in Business Administration program at Simon Fraser University.
Through his work at Tom Lee Music and the Coalition for Music Education in BC, Graham is deeply committed to protecting, promoting and advancing music education in British Columbia.
Angela Elster
Vice-President, VSO School of Music and Community Program
Ms. Elster, one of Canada’s preeminent Arts & Learning executives, is currently the newly recruited Vice President, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music and Community Programs. Following three decades of leadership, most recently as Senior Vice President of The Royal Conservatory where she launched ‘Learning Through the Arts’ in addition to many other successful education and wellness programs. She has held leadership positions with the Coalition for Music Education and the Canadian Network for Arts and Learning and leads several Canadian creative projects. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, an MA from OISE and the Certificate of Leadership in Expressive Arts from the European Graduate School where she is in the process of completing her PhD. She brings to organizations demonstrated expertise in teaching, research, curriculum development, government relations, fundraising and strategic planning. Central to all of her work is the creativity, inspiration, excellent quality, depth, and joy she learned through her music education and music teaching. Angela was awarded one of Canada’s highest honors – the Meritorious Service Medal from the Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada recognizing outstanding accomplishments that set an example and bring benefit to our country.
Community Engagement - Eduardo Ottoni
Operations Director, Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Passionate about arts and culture, and building community through live events, Eduardo has over 25 years experience in the music and event industry. As Operations Director for the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, he oversees Production, Site, Permitting, Artist Hospitality, Transportation, and Safety & Emergency Management. He is currently also Production Manager for the Vancouver Fringeand Writers Festivals, Site and Safety Manager for the Red Truck Concert Series, Producer for Lumiereat the Vancouver Art Gallery, Site Manager for the Honda Celebration of Light, and Technical Director for Blendfest.
Eduardo often consults with the City of Vancouverin placemaking and the remediation of public spaces, and is part of the Music City Taskforce Advisory Committee. He has also worked as Site Manager for the Squamish Valley Music Festival, was local Production Manager for Place de la Francophonieduring the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and was backline lead for both the Opening and Closing ceremonies at BC Place.
Christin Reardon MacLellan
Manager of Education and Community Programmes, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Christin Reardon MacLellan is the Director of Education & Community Programs for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, where she develops, implements, and oversees a wide variety of educational programming for individuals of all ages. She is also the director of the University of British Columbia Concert Winds and Associate Conductor of the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
Christin is dedicated to supporting and advocating for quality music education in schools. She maintains an active schedule as an in-demand clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and guest speaker. Christin has presented workshops and her research at numerous conferences and symposia in Canada and the United States, including the recent Canadian Music Educators Association National Conference. As President of the Coalition for Music Education in BC, she works closely with teachers, community members, and arts organizations to protect, promote, and advance music education in BC schools.
Christin has taught band, choir, and general music in the public schools of Manitoba. She earned her masters degree in music education from Indiana University, where she taught undergraduate courses in music education and was a university supervisor for student teachers. Christin’s research is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education and Music Educators’ Journal.
Webmaster - Zoltan Virag
Music Teacher, West Vancouver; Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia
Zoltan Virag is a music teacher at the West Vancouver school district since 2006, where he currently teaches band, orchestra, composition & production, as well as RnB band jazz band at the secondary level. He is known as a pioneer in bringing digital literacy into the music classroom, and is also an Adjunct Professor with the Education Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at UBC, teaching sessional courses focusing on educational technology. Zoltan frequently speaks at local, provincial and national conferences, such as for the British Columbia Music Educators Association, and the Canadian Music Educators Association (2015).