Our Directors

Laura Mercer Conductor Music Director

The SECOND WIND COMMUNITY BAND was the inspiration of Laura Mercer and a small group of her ski friends. Deep in the winter of 1991 during a philosophical discussion, Laura and her friends theorized that if parents and administrators were themselves students of a band, perhaps they would understand the importance, the level of intelligence and how many intelligences they use when learning music and especially a band instrument. She felt that this would give a different approach to the support of school band programs. The idea became the challenge and with the help of friends, Laura began the SECOND WIND COMMUNITY BAND. Laura is a 1979 BME graduate from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Her major was piano and her minor was French horn. As well as being the conductor of SWCB, Laura was the conductor for the Cape Breton Orchestra for 8 years until 2007. She was a guest conductor for the Nova Scotia Junior Youth Wind Ensemble in the late 90's and enjoys conducting workshops and creating special events in the Band World. Laura maintained her ties with Acadia University where she participated for many years in the summer band program. She served for many years with the Nova Scotia Music Educators Association and with Arts Cape Breton and Atlantic Band Festival. Currently, Laura sits on the Celtic Colours International Festival Board and on the Cape Breton Music Industry Co-operative (CBMIC) Board. Laura is involved with the East Coast Music Association (ECMA 2010) and won an ECMA award in 2005 for Volunteer of the Year. Laura maintains a life that is busy and full. Laura and her husband Gary, raised three children and she managed to convince Gary to learn to play an instrument, which he did. She boasts with pride about his abilities as a fantastic Baritone and Tenor Sax player and musician. She also has developed her artistic skills as a water colour and oil artist since about 1997. You can find many of Laura's paintings on the covers of many of Ron MacKay's Band Scores. Laura has a passionate enthusiasm for all her music and art. It is at the base of her life, filled with family and friends and especially with SWCB and her students. She is the driving force behind SWCB, along with her co-conductor, Sean, her members and executive. Her easy going style and quick wit provides an excellent rapport with all the band members. Thank you Laura for sharing your talent and enthusiasm with us!

Sean McLennon Conductor Music Director

Sean McLennon is very pleased and honoured to have been invited by SWCB to co-conduct the band with Laura Mercer. SWCB is made up of a wonderful group of musicians and people. It is a pleasure to play with and conduct such a terrific band! Sean received his B.Mus., majoring on tuba, and a B. Mus. Ed. from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. After teaching music for several years in Labrador, he went on to complete a Master of Music degree at the University of Western Ontario. Sean moved to Cape Breton in 2002 where he is an instrumental music teacher with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. In addition to playing tuba and co-conducting the Second Wind Community Band with Laura, Sean is a member of several other musical groups in Nova Scotia including the Cape Breton Orchestra, Cape Breton Brass Band, Donkin Citizens' Brass Band, and Nova Brass Quintet. Other ensembles in which Sean has been a member of in the past include the Cape Breton University orchestra for their productions of "My Fair Lady", "Oliver", and "Annie", Plumbing Factory Brass Band (London, Ontario), Stratford Concert Band (Ontario), principal tubaist of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (St. John's, NL), Band of the Ceremonial Guard (Ottawa, Ontario), Memorial University of NL Brass Quintet, Memorial University of NL Concert Band (principal), City University Symphony Orchestra (London, England), City University Brass Band, Guildhall School of Music and Drama Brass Quintet (London, England), and the Guildhall Tuba Quartet. Sean has some previous community band experience from Labrador as well where he founded and conducted the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Concert Band. Sean currently serves on several music education boards including president of the Nova Scotia Music Educators' Association and board member of the Canadian Music Educators' Association. In the past, Sean was the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Music Educators' Association, Co-chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, and Labrador Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Drama Society. Sean was fortunate enough to receive the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Award... twice! This is a $10,000 grant awarded to a school band program to help acquire instruments. The first award was for his school band program in Labrador. The second was awarded to Sydney Academy and was presented by rock-legends Nickelback. Other awards include the George Proctor Memorial Award (University of Western Ontario) awarded to a graduate student who has contributed most significantly to musical scholarship, and particularly Canadian music, through writing, composition or performance, first place in the CMEA Franklin Churchley National Graduate Essay Competition for a paper entitled "Defining Musical Creativity: A Critical Examination of Concept and Measurement," and published in the Canadian Music Educator, Vol. 38, Nr. 1, Fall 1996, and The Don Wright Award (University of Western Ontario), a graduate entrance scholarship awarded to individuals who show pedagogical innovation and leadership.