These are the folks that you'll be working with throughout the JazzWire Canadian Summit. They will be teaching the small combos, electives, masterclasses, and special presentations.
Jeff Antoniuk
Saxophone/Artistic Director
Born in Edmonton Canada, and having lived in Nigeria as a child, saxophonist and educator Jeff Antoniuk has defined his musical life by creating and expanding communities, whether improvising a solo, connecting with a festival audience, or in his numerous workshops and master classes. Heralded for his “considerable chops” (Jazz Times Magazine) and “a creative spark that never lets up,” (Rochester City Paper) Antoniuk is a force to be reckoned with on the horn, and a master educator
renowned around the world. His “Digging Deeper” jazz education videos on Your Tube and Facebook have been watched over 3 million times.
An Eastman Saxophones, Boston Sax Shop and Rovner artist, Jeff is internationally respected as both a master performer, and as an engaging and inspirational educator. He has received numerous awards and commissions, and has produced over 10 critically acclaimed albums over the past several decades. He is currently the Artistic Director of the four international JazzWire Summit workshop and Jazz Band Masterclass in the Washington DC region. Jeff has performed with the likes of Jimmy Haslip, Marcus Miller, Ingrid Jensen and Helen Sung.
A past university professor and guest lecturer, Jeff became clear that good jazz eduction is not about “more information.” Better education is based on more wisdom, more curation, and more community. His subscription web site, www.JazzWire.net is connecting adult musicians from over 25 different countries around the globe, and providing them with a place to support each other, to truly connect and work together, and to get great, actionable input. Jeff has personally worked with thousands of adult musicians to help get jazz back into their lives.
Biboye Onanuga
Drums
Biboye Onanuga is a versatile drummer, imaginative composer, and passionate educator based in Edmonton. A recent MacEwan Music graduate, Biboye quickly became a sought-after player and has made significant contributions to the local community through series such as New Standards—a weekly show and jam session centered around improvisation —and [REJAZZ] by his band Good Information, which reimagines the music of popular hip-hop artists in a jazz context.
In 2019, Biboye spent five transformative months studying in Finland at Metropolia University, delving deeper into the intricacies of jazz drumming and composition while immersing himself in European musical culture. His approach to jazz education is rooted in the live, exploratory, and expressive nature of the music, emphasizing the interplay between tradition and innovation. He fosters a deep appreciation for the art form’s rich history while encouraging students to engage with its contemporary expressions, creating an environment where curiosity and creativity thrive.
Anastasia Litviniuk
Piano
Working with Ukrainian pianist Anastasia Litviniuk means stepping into the world of a fearless, internationally active artist who blends deep jazz tradition with classical precision and modern creativity. A graduate of the Lviv National Academy of Music, she has performed across Europe and beyond as both a bandleader and collaborator, bringing a distinctly Ukrainian voice and global perspective to every project she touches.
As the founder and artistic leader of ShockolaD—one of Ukraine’s most recognized contemporary jazz/world ensembles—and co-creator of KINVA, Anastasia thrives at the intersection of styles. A two-time Gaude Polonia scholarship recipient and longtime professor at the Lviv National Academy of Music, she now teaches at MacEwan University in Edmonton. At the Summit, expect clarity, intensity, and a fresh musical perspective that will challenge and inspire your playing in all the right ways.
Rubim de Toledo
Bass
Bassist and composer Rubim de Toledo brings deep Brazilian roots and deep love of the jazz tradition in every note he plays. His playing blends Latin, Caribbean, and African influences with modern jazz language, creating a sound that’s grounded, joyful, and forward-moving all at once.
A multiple Western Canadian Music Award winner—including Instrumental Artist of the Year (2021) and Jazz Artist of the Year (2018)—Rubim has built a reputation as one of Western Canada’s most compelling musical voices. He began performing professionally at seventeen alongside legends like Tommy Banks and PJ Perry, and has since become a highly sought-after sideman and prolific bandleader with seven albums of original music to his name.
Beyond the bandstand, Rubim is a founding member of several Alberta-based Latin ensembles and has served for years as a musical director for Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. As Head of Performance and Bass at MacEwan University in Edmonton, he brings the same energy and depth to teaching that he brings to the stage. At the Summit, expect groove, clarity, and a masterclass in how great bass playing can elevate the entire band.
Dean McNeill
Trumpet
Dean McNeill is an award-winning jazz musician, composer, educator, and arts leader whose work has shaped Canada’s jazz and creative music scenes for decades. A Professor at the University of Saskatchewan for over 27 years, he holds degrees from MacEwan University, McGill University, and the University of North Texas. His contributions as an educator and administrator have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Award, the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s Special Recognition Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan).
As a jazz performer, composer, and arranger, Dean’s work spans large and small ensembles, with music written for symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, and jazz orchestra. His arrangement of All of You earned DownBeat Magazine’s University Student Arrangement of the Year award, and projects he has performed on have received Western Canadian Music Award recognition, including The Complete Rebirth of the Cool and The Saskatchewan Suite: The Story of Us. Dean has shared the stage with many of Canada’s leading jazz artists and currently serves as Artistic Director of the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra. He previously served nine years as Head of the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music and is a Yamaha Artist.
Mo Lefever
Guitar
Mo Lefever is an Edmonton-based jazz guitarist, performer, and educator whose work bridges big band tradition, small-group jazz, and a wide spectrum of contemporary styles. Raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Mo’s path into jazz began through an inspiring high school band program and a formative clinic with the legendary Tommy Banks, leading to formal studies at MacEwan University.
A versatile and in-demand musician, her career includes work across funk, disco, and afrobeat projects such as GODIVA, Magilla Funk Conduit, and Fusionauts, alongside extensive pit orchestra performances for major musical theatre productions including Six, Little Shop of Horrors, Rock of Ages, Grease, Jersey Boys, and MJ The Musical. At the center of her musical life is a deep commitment to jazz performance—holding the guitar chair in big bands, small ensembles, and as a leader when the occasion arises. A dedicated educator, Mo has been a sessional faculty member in the MacEwan music program since 2008, where she continues to mentor emerging jazz musicians.
The Summit reserves the right to change or substitute faculty at any time