AIBF Edmonton Adjudicators

Concert Band

Dr. Darrin Oehlerking

Dr. Darrin Oehlerking is a Professor of Music in the University of Saskatchewan School for the Arts. He currently serves as Associate Dean of Student Affairs for the College of Arts and Science at USask. His teaching at U Sask has included courses in Conducting, Music Education, Wind Band Repertoire, and direction of the University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra. He previously served as Director of Bands and Jazz at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota, and as Music Coordinator for the Louis Riel School Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (Wind Band Conducting) from the University of Iowa, as well as a Master’s degree in Performance (Conducting) and separate Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Education, all from the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Oehlerking conducted the 2022 National Youth Band of Canada, held at York University in Toronto, Ontario. He has previously served as the President of the Canadian Band Association, as well as the President of the Saskatchewan Band Association. He has conducted ensembles, served as an adjudicator, conference presenter and clinician across Canada, as well as in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. He is also a True North Master Educator with Yamaha Music Canada.

He is the editor and compiler of the book Winds of the North: A Survey of the Canadian Wind Band Tradition and Repertoire, a music education resource dedicated to Canadian wind band history and perspectives. The book was released in 2025 and is available through GIA Publications. He also has two arrangements for wind band available from Eighth Note Publications – RCMP Regimental March and Souvenir de Quebec

Ken Rogers

Ken Rogers retired in 2018 from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute after a 32 year career of music teaching. He currently conducts the Lethbridge Community Brass Band as well as the newly formed Coulee Winds adult wind ensemble in Lethbridge and is very happily busy adjudicating band festivals and conducting clinics, workshops, and honour bands across the province.   He has conducted and played in many Lethbridge area musical groups including the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, Lethbridge Community Band, Lethbridge Big Band, and various musical theatre groups, most recently conducting the Broadway musical, The Secret Garden.   Ken is a past president of the Alberta Band Association and is the recipient of several awards including the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Legion of Honor Laureate”, the “David J. Peterkin Memorial Award” for outstanding service to band music in Alberta, the Alberta Band Association “Elkhorn Award” and “Lifetime Membership” award, and the Choir Alberta “Con
Spirito Award”.  

Jazz Band

Jonathan Challoner

Jonathan Challoner is one of Canada’s most versatile and imaginative voices on the trumpet. Growing up in Qualicum Beach, BC he began his career with mentorship from Canadian legends Phil Dwyer, Ingrid Jensen and Arnie Chycoski. In Toronto his eclectic disposition led to collaborations in a wide variety of genres across the city’s diverse music scene. Upon relocating to New York to attend the Juilliard School Jonathan began performing at some of the jazz’s most iconic venues, including Birdland, Mezzrow, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Newport Jazz Festival. His collaborations span names such as Bobby Sanabria, Vince Giordano, Miho Hazama, Remy LeBeouf, Louis Cole, Braxton Cook, Adrian Cunningham, the Heavyweights Brass Band, Don Thompson and John MacLeod. Now based in Winnipeg, Jonathan serves as Assistant Professor in Jazz Performance at the University of Manitoba. A recent collaboration with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, ‘East Meets West: Connections’ won the 2026 JUNO award for Jazz Album of the Year - Group.

John Lee

Raised in Nanaimo, BC, multi-instrumentalist John Lee has emerged as one of Canada’s most acclaimed jazz artists. Demonstrating a deep passion for music from an early age, Lee developed into a virtuoso by his late teens. In 2010, he moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music, where he studied under the mentorship of Ralph Peterson Jr., Terri Lyne Carrington and Dave Santoro. 

Lee's experience as a sideman reaches far beyond his years. Growing up on Vancouver Island, he cut his teeth performing with notable Canadian musicians including Phil Dwyer, Christine Jensen and Ingrid Jensen. Throughout the early 2010s, Lee was a prominent figure in the Victoria jazz scene, performing alongside visiting artists such as Larry Fuller, George Colligan, and Misha Piatigorsky. In recent years, Lee has built a strong association with saxophonist and Jazz impresario Cory Weeds which has opened the door to performing alongside many of today’s jazz luminaries. His appearances in Vancouver have included performances with Eric Alexander, Peter Bernstein, Joe Farnsworth, Mike LeDonne, Terell Stafford, Jeremy Pelt, Ralph Moore, Seamus Blake, Roy McCurdy, Jerry Weldon, Benny Benack III, Nicole Glover and Alexander Claffy.

With the support of the Cellar Music Group, Lee released his debut album The Artist in 2021 on the Cellar Live label, featuring Carl Allen. His sophomore album, Second Wind—featuring Peter Washington and Kenny Washington—was released in July 2024. In addition to his own projects, Lee appeared as a guest artist on Carl Allen’s 2025 album Tippin’ featuring Christian McBride and Chris Potter, as well as Mike Clement's 2024 release Hittin’ It featuring Herlin Riley. Lee can also be heard on several of Cory Weeds' albums, including Just Coolin’ and With Strings: What Is There to Say?.