MARKHAM WINDS
FESTIVAL FOR DEVELOPING BANDS
March 9th - March 12th, 2026
NewRoads Performing Arts Centre
March 9th - March 12th, 2026
NewRoads Performing Arts Centre
Jeff has recently retired from thirty years of teaching elementary and high school music in York Region. He was the Head of the Music Department at Unionville High School in Markham, Ontario for twenty years where he worked with students of all levels and disciplines. His award-winning ensembles regularly received the highest ratings at provincial and national festivals and competitions. Jeff has been awarded multiple Conducting Excellence Awards at the Ontario Band Association's (OBA) Provincial Band Festival and is the founding Director of the OBA's Ontario Provincial Honour Band. He is currently working with school groups through the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre (OELC) and is a sessional lecturer with the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. As a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator Jeff is active across Ontario including the 2026 Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival and the MusicFest Nationals in Niagara Falls.
Jeff received his Honours Bachelor of Music Education from Western University and his Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University. He also recently received the 2025 Arts Ambassador Award from the City of Markham.
With a passion for band, Jessica Puskar has built a career in music education as a conductor and clinician. Jessica holds a Master of Music Degree in Literature and Performance with a focus on Wind Studies and Instrumental Conducting, from the University of Western Ontario, where she studied with Dr. Colleen Richardson. While at Western, Jessica served as the Associate Graduate Conductor of the Symphonic Band and was a two-time recipient of the Clifford Evens Memorial Conducting Award.
Jessica is currently the conductor of the TYWO Concert Winds, part of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra family of ensembles. She is also on Faculty at the Interprovincial Music Camp where she serves as director of the Beginning Band Program. She has served as guest conductor for the Rouge River Winds, the Metropolitan Winds of Toronto, and the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra. She has been a clinician for the Ontario Provincial Honour Band, the Halton Mississauga Youth Orchestra, and numerous high schools in the GTA and beyond. She has the pleasure of serving as coordinator of the Ontario Band Association (OBA) Provincial Band Festival.
Musical Director, Adjudicator and trombonist Jules Estrin maintains a busy schedule giving master classes, lectures and clinics on band and jazz band pedagogy across Canada.
He has recently presented at the: Ontario Band Association, Ontario Music Educators Conference, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Sir Wilfred Laurier University, Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, Halton District School Board and has adjudicated at the Brandon Jazz Festival in (Brandon, Manitoba), Optimist Band Festival (Regina, Saskatchewan), West Coast Jazz Festival (Nanaimo, British Columbia) and the Golden Horseshoe Festival (Ancaster, Ontario)
Recently, Jules has been appointed Musical Director (Canada) of the Canada Cuba Summer Jazz Academy to be held in Varadero, Cuba from July 1st-8th, 2025!
As a trombonist Jules Estrin has appeared with many internationally renowned entertainers and musicians including: Clark Terry, Paul Anka, Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, Ralph Bowen, Don Menza, Rob McConnell, Moe Koffman, Matt Dusk, Kenny Wheeler and PJ Perry. Jules has performed internationally in France, Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States and at jazz festivals across Canada.
As Musical Director his groups have performed with legendary jazz artists: Randy Brecker, Bucky Pizzarelli, Lew Tabackin, Tom Scott, Wycliffe Gordon, Joey DeFranceso, PJ Perry and Guido Basso. In 2010, his jazz ensemble opened for Al Jarreau at the Brantford International Jazz Festival.
Since 2019 Jules has been serving as Jazz Camp Director at Interprovincial Music Camp and enjoys working with all the campers and the incredible faculty!
Jules is a graduate of McGill University and University of Toronto holding a BMus & MMus.