Members of the Naden Band

Lieutenant (Navy) Catherine Norris - Commanding Officer & Director of Music

Lt(N) Catherine Norris began her military career in 1999 playing flute and piccolo with The Ceremonial Guard Band, a band she would continue to return to the following six summers. While completing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Music at McGill University she served in the Primary Reserves with the Governor General’s Foot Guards Band and then la Musique 34e Groupe-brigade du Canada.

Lt (N) Norris successfully auditioned for the Regular Force, component transferring in 2005 and was posted to the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) Band in Edmonton, AB. She served for seven years with the RCA Band performing and parading as a flautist and working in Public Affairs, Stores and Finance. She was promoted to Warrant Officer in 2012 and selected to attend QL7 training at CFB Borden. Immediately after course she was posted to the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, ON as Bandmaster where she enjoyed working with staff of all elements and trades, mentoring the Naval and Officer Cadets and conducting the college’s Brass and Reed Band, Stage Band and Choir.

In 2015, Lt (N) Norris was promoted to Master Warrant Officer for a brief time before saying good-bye to the Army, receiving another “promotion” to Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class and a posting as Band Chief to The Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy. Working with Stad Band she got to tour all over Nova Scotia, attend the Highland Military Tattoo in Scotland as well as the awesome experience of conducting the Massed Bands of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo for our National Anthem.

Lt (N) Norris accepted her commission in July 2017, was promoted to her current rank and posted to CFB Borden for Music Officer training.

 Lt (N) Norris met her husband, Marc Shepard, in 2005 while they were both posted to CFB Edmonton and are very happy to be expecting their first child in December.

Chief Petty Officer Second Class Brayden Wise, CD - Band Chief

Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Brayden Wise was born and raised in Vernon, BC. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1996 as a member of the Band of the 15th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, in Vancouver BC. While in Vancouver, CPO2 Wise attended Capilano University’s Jazz Studies Programme, concentrating on Double Bass performance. During his tenure in the Reserves, CPO2 Wise was employed in a variety of tasks within the Band including Library, Transport and Sound Reinforcement, in addition to leading small jazz, pop and rock groups. He took on employment outside the Musician occupation, working as a clerk at Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Vancouver, as well as being employed as the Chief Clerk of 6 Field Squadron, 39 Combat Engineer Regiment, in North Vancouver BC. He transferred to the Regular Force as a Musician in 2006 and was posted to The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces in Ottawa, ON, where he worked as a bassist, Drum Major, and Bandleader for the pop/rock ensemble. In 2011, he returned to the Army, was promoted to WO and posted to the Royal Canadian Artillery Band in Edmonton AB, where he served as Operations Manager and Quartermaster for the Band, as well as leading ensembles as both a player and conductor/bandleader. CPO2 Wise was promoted to his present rank and posted to the Naden Band in 2015.In his spare time, CPO2 Wise enjoys playing hockey, cycling, running, attempting to golf, and is an avid home brewer. He resides in Victoria with his three children.

Band Members:

Flute/Piccolo

PO 1 Ginette Gibeault

S1 Laura Andrew

Oboe

PO 2 Katrina Bligh

Bassoon

PO 2 Robyn Jutras

Clarinet

PO 2 Marielle Audet

PO 2 Rebecca Hissen

PO 2 Mélanie Paré

S1 Laura Engsig

Saxophone

PO 1 Jeff Cooper

PO 2 Barrie Sorensen

PO 2 Roy Styffe

French Horn

PO 2 Jean Potash

PO 2 Allison Zaichkowski

Trumpet

PO 1 Matthew McCrady

PO 2 Steve Champ

PO 2 Steve Donegan

PO 2 Greg Sly

PO 2 Miguel Valdes De La Hoz

Trombone

PO 2 Alon Soraya

PO 2 Annemieke Vanderkraay

PO 2 Mike Wade

Bass Trombone

S1 Zack Everett

Euphonium

PO 2 Bob Fearnley

Tuba

PO 2 Tim Keels

PO 2 Winston Hind

Electric Guitar

PO 2 Stephen MacDonald

Piano

PO 2 Olivier Néron-Bilodeau

String/Electric Bass

PO 2 Ross MacDonald

Percussion

PO 2 Robert Stevens

S1 Kyle Reyes

S1 Simeon Weststeijn

S1 Sandra Veilleux