The Alberta Emerging Musicians Festival is pleased to feature a series of special guest performances by an outstanding roster of professional musicians.
Terell Stafford, trumpet
Terell Stafford, acclaimed trumpet player based in New York, has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford is recognized as an incredibly gifted and versatile player, he combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. Stafford’s exceptionally expressive and well defined musical talent allows him to dance in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors while making his own inroads. Since the mid-1990’s, Stafford has performed with groups such as Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Frank Wess Quintet, Jimmy Heath Quintet and Big Band, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band. Stafford with the Hamilton-Clayton Jazz Orchestra, performed on Diana Krall’s GRAMMY nominated From this Moment On (2006).

Stafford is the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University, founder and band leader of the Terell Stafford Quintet, and Managing and Artistic Director of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia (JOP). Stafford is renowned in the jazz world as an educator, performer and leader and has received countless award nominations and accolades.
Roger Admiral, pianist
Canadian pianist Roger Admiral performs solo and chamber music repertoire spanning the 18th through the 21st century. He works regularly with New Music Edmonton and Aventa Ensemble (Victoria), and performs as part of Kovalis Duo with Montreal percussionist Philip Hornsey. Roger teaches piano and also coaches contemporary chamber music at the University of Alberta.

​Recent performances include György Ligeti's Piano Concerto with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the complete piano works of Iannis Xenakis for Vancouver New Music, and recitals for Curto-Circuito de Música Contemporânea Brasil, New Music Concerts (Toronto), Open Space (Victoria), Groundswell (Winnipeg), New Works Calgary, Bradyworks (Montreal), La Chapelle historique du Bon Pasteur (Montreal), Franz Liszt Academy (Budapest), University of Debrecen, Kodály Pedagogical Institute (Kecskemét), Music Centre Slovakia (Bratislava), and the Festival of Polish Contemporary Music (Wrocław.)
György Ligeti's Piano Concerto with Victoria Symphony conducted by Tania Miller; three cross-Canada tours with Philip Hornsey as part of Kovalis Duo, performing new music for piano and percussion; Sir Ernest MacMillan Award for chamber music, Hammerhead Consort; First Prize in chamber music, CIBC National Music Competition, Hammerhead Consort. B.Mus. (Western); M.Mus., D.Mus. (Alberta). He has released two CDs.
Guillaume Tardif, violinist
Guillaume Tardif is Associate Professor of Violin and serves as String Area Coordinator at the Department of Music, University of Alberta. His current research explores various aspects of the history and practice of the violin, and often features new or neglected works - such as Gallois-Montbrun’s accompanied version of Paganini’s 24 Caprices, which he presented with Roger Admiral at Carnegie-Weill Hall. Guillaume Tardif has appeared widely as a violin soloist and guest professor, collaborating with ensembles and distinguished artists in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. He produced a number of CD recordings, violin arrangements, and cadenzas, and led projects such as the Dare to Discover Series with the Enterprise Quartet and the SSHRC-sponsored Genius of the Violin video-documentary.
Edmonton Saxophone Quartet
The Edmonton Saxophone Quartet has been performing throughout North America for more than twenty-five years, striking a balance championing new works with creative interpretations of more traditional music. Their immediate musicality and warm stage presence have enticed and excited ears in expected (and some unexpected) places, and they have taken a prominent place in Edmonton's cultural fabric.  ESQ has commissioned and premiered a number of new works for saxophone quartet from Canadian and international composers and they enjoy frequent support from provincial and national government arts organizations. ESQ’s current membership features instructors of saxophone Alberta's top universities: Allison Balcetis [University of Alberta], Raymond Baril [MacEwan University], Chee Meng Low [University of Lethbridge] and Charles Stolte [The King’s University].
Chandelle Rimmer and Tom Van Seters
Artist biography coming soon!