Dan Horner has enjoyed a 31-year career as a music educator, conductor, and department head. He spent 17 years at Bayview Secondary School, where he led a thriving music department of over 500 students. He most recently served for four years as the Head of Music St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario, where he directed the Wind Ensemble before retiring.  

Throughout his career, Dan has been active as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He currently serves as Conductor of the Toronto Youth Symphonic Winds and, through his work with the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra organization, has collaborated with internationally renowned artists and ensembles including The Canadian Brass, TorQ Percussion Quartet, Big Smoke Brass, and trumpeter Jens Lindemann, among others. He has adjudicated at MusicFest Canada Nationals, the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival, Music Alive, and other festivals throughout Ontario. He also spent more than a decade as an Assistant Director with the SHAD program at Carleton University and is a co-founder of the York Music Camp.

Dan retired from full-time teaching in June 2026. He continues to be active in the music community through conducting, adjudicating, clinics, and private trumpet instruction.

Nancy Promane holds a Master of Music from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Music from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University. With over 30 years of teaching experience across primary, middle, and senior music levels, she has directed numerous ensembles and served 13 years as Head of Music in an independent school. Recognized by the Ontario Band Association for outstanding conducting, her bands have achieved top honors at festivals throughout Canada and the United States. Following a secondment teaching preservice educators at Nipissing University, Nancy currently serves as a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, and as an active adjudicator across Ontario. Nancy is delighted to be a part of this year’s Markham Winds Festival.

Sharon Fitzsimmins, Mus. Bac., B.Ed, is a respected educator, international adjudicator, clinician and conductor. She is past president of The Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA) and was co-editor of The Recorder for 8 years, examiner for The Royal Conservatory of Music and a conductor at the National Music Camp of Canada . She has received numerous teaching, professional development and leadership awards including Teacher of the Year. In November 2006, Sharon received the highest award from the OMEA, an Honorary Life Membership. In Feb. 2019 Sharon also received an Honorary Life Membership from the Ontario Band Association (OBA). Sharon is currently the Chair of the Concert Band Division for MusicFest Canada. Sharon is proud to have taught for thirty years at Barrie North Collegiate where she conducted award winning bands and choirs. She has written three teacher resources and a collection of stories called It Made Me Laugh, It Made Me cry. Stories From the Music Room. In October 2023 Sharon completed a reboot of An Earful : A teachers Guide to Listening.