Conductor

Our conductor is Mr. Ted West.

Ted started piano lessons at the age of 8, and immediately fell in love with music. He got his first paying gig at the age of 13, playing the piano for a girl's ballet school. At the age of 17, he started playing the trombone professionally in dance bands, concert bands, orchestras, pit orchestras for shows, recordings and Dixieland bands. He was hired as organist and choir director of Rosemere United Church at the age of 19.

Somehow, amidst all this playing and conducting, Ted managed to earn a Bachelor's degree at McGill University and a Class 1 Teaching Diploma from Macdonald College. Armed with these credentials, he taught music at Macdonald High School and Hudson High School, from 1968 to 1981. During this period, various groups that he directed won national and international awards for Concert Band, Jazz Band and Choir.

In 1976, Ted was named to the International Who's Who In Music, in recognition of his accomplishments.

A major setback occurred in 1979: he was involved in an automobile accident, and suffered near-fatal injuries. At the time, it was considered a medical miracle that he survived. After a long convalescence, he resumed professional playing with the focus now on church music, as organist and choir director.

Ted is now enjoying his post as Musical Director of the Lachine Concert Band, and he continues to play the trombone in bands and orchestras in the Montreal area.