TAK MAEDA, CONDUCTOR
A graduate of the Osaka College of Music, Tak Maeda joined the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, a full time professional orchestra in Osaka, and performed with them from 1979 to 1989. In addition, he was a Band Clinician for Yamaha Music Foundation Japan for many years, where he conducted mass honour bands at Yamaha sponsored clinics and festivals. It was here that he began to mentor younger band instructors.
In 1990, Tak and his family moved to Canada. He played trumpet with the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and was the Choir Director of the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, as well as the Bandmaster of the North Vancouver Youth Band (2002/03). Not content to sit still, Tak is also the current Conductor of the West Vancouver Concert (Monday night) Band and the Sea to Sky Wind Ensemble.
Tak made a promise when he started conducting the West Vancouver Pops Band in 2006, "PLAYING MUSIC MUST BE AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE. You will have lots of fun at every single Thursday rehearsal. If band members start finding my rehearsals boring, please kick me out immediately and find another conductor!".
Now, more than ten years have passed since Tak started conducting the Pops Band, and we still continue to have fun with him at every Thursday night rehearsal!
