MEET THE TEAM
Our staff are a tight-knit team of passionate individuals, each bringing a unique set of talents and diverse backgrounds to the table. Our members come from all walks of life, and together, we create a dynamic and harmonious group. With varying levels of experience in different areas of performance, we thrive on collaboration and support, continuously pushing the boundaries of our artistry. At Northern Empire, we believe that our differences are our strengths, and we unite under a shared love for music, fostering a vibrant and inclusive community.
NORTHERN EMPIRE STAFF
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Grace Oliver (she/her)
Lead Operations
Grace is a passionate arts enthusiast with 9 years of marching experience
in Calgary - 6 of which were with the Calgary Stampede Showband. She is also the co-founder of the Alberta Marching Arts Association - a collaborative organization dedicated to the growth and promotion of marching arts in the province. Grace is a graduate of the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce – Risk Management and Insurance. Between events and rehearsals, she enjoys travelling and sharing cultural experiences like theatre and live music.
Nova Lajeunesse (they/them)
Woodwinds Instructor
Nova started marching with the Edmonton Sabers Marching Band at age 5. They fell in love with music and marching, continuing to march with various groups until they were 17. After a brief hiatus, they started playing alto saxophone with Northern Empire and the Edmonton Elks pep band, reigniting their love for the craft. Nova is in the last year of their music performance degree and MacEwan University, and will be pursuing a degree in music education from the University of Alberta next year.
Lisa McKinnon (she/her)
Director, Lead Drum Instructor
Lisa has a rich history of music and marching arts that started over 20 years ago, in the Edmonton All Girl Marching Ambassadors where she began as a snare player. She continued on to perform in the Edmonton Crusaders Marching Band, the Edmonton Strutters Drum and Bugle Corps, where she added the tenor drums to her repertoire.
Currently she plays in the Edmonton Elks Pep Band and works as the Drum Caption Head and Director of Northern Empire.
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Ryan Tan (he/him)
Bass Line Instructor
Ryan performs and teaches drumline throughout Edmonton. He was first introduced to marching percussion as a member of Impact Performing Arts and then joined the Edmonton Elks Drumline; playing at home games, traveling to the Grey Cup festivities every year, and even performing with Alessia Cara at the 2018 Grey Cup halftime show. Ryan's also performed various drumline gigs with other local teams including the Edmonton Oilers, Stingers, and Riverhawks. Aside from music, Ryan is also a University of Alberta graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Alysha Ross (she/her)
Brass Instructor
Alysha first fell in love with the marching arts back in 2016, after joining Impact Performing Arts as a trumpet player. In more recent years she has performed as a member of the Edmonton Elks Drumline/Pep Band, playing bass drum and trumpet. She also discovered a passion for Color Guard as a member of CGC YEG. Alysha is a University of Alberta graduate with a Bachelors in Design - Industrial and Visual Communications Design and when she's not busy with band, she likes to spend her time sketching and trying to crochet.​​
Drew Lekic (he/him)
Front Ensemble Instructor
Drew has always been involved with the performing arts, whether it be dance, band, or theatre. Originally from the Calgary area, he was a member of the Bands of Calgary from 2013 through 2017, the final 3 years of which he was a member of the Stampede Showband. Outside of instructing at NEPA, Drew is a theatre technician and scenic painter, and is currently attending NAIT for a diploma in game design. Drew's hobbies include but are not limited to rock climbing, hiking, playing board games, and hanging out with his cats.
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