Conor Conway is a Canadian brass musician, conductor, and educator known for his versatility across classical, jazz, and commercial music. Originally from Ottawa, he began trumpet at 13 and quickly rose to national recognition, earning Outstanding Jazz Soloist at MusicFest Canada and performing with both the National Concert Band and Emerging Jazz Artist Big Band. He pursued his education with honours from Humber College’s Bachelor of Music in Performance program in Toronto.
Conor has toured and performed with internationally recognized artists including The Weeknd, Snoop Dogg, Walk Off the Earth, Jahkoy, Raheem, Julien Cruz, Jimmy Bowskill, and Omari Shakir. Since moving to New Brunswick in 2014, he has become a prominent voice in the region’s music scene, performing with Symphony New Brunswick, Tutta Musica, and was a co-founder of East Coast Brass Quintet.
Alongside his work as a performer, Conor spent seven years as a teaching artist with Sistema New Brunswick and currently teaches French horn while conducting multiple ensembles including the Moncton Youth Orchestra Brass and Wind programs and the Codiac Concert Band, since September 2026. Outside of music, he is an award-winning coffee professional, father of two beautiful children, and entrepreneur; recognized internationally as a competitor, educator, and judge, and a three-time Eastern Canadian Barista Champion.
Ismael Vitriago, Conductor (2024 – 2026)
Ismael Vitriago served as the conductor of the Codiac Concert Band from April 2024 until August 2026. He has over 15 years of experience as a bassoon teacher and music pedagogue. He has performed with esteemed Symphony orchestras such as the Venezuela Philharmonic Orchestra and the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, as well as bands like both the Simon Bolívar Symphony Band in Venezuela and in Canada with Tutta Musica Orchestra. He has been an educator at Sistema New Brunswick Moncton Centre, while also coaching the woodwinds sections of the Moncton Youth Orchestra and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.
Justin Guignard, Conductor (2016 – 2024)
Justin Guignard served as the Musical Director of the Codiac Concert Band from February 2016 to June 2024. During his eight-year tenure, he significantly improved concert planning, recruitment, public relations, and the management of the band’s digital music library. His leadership was key in elevating the band’s musicianship to a higher level.
Having started voice lessons at the age of 9, Justin Guignard had already won his first Provincial Music Festival by the age of 12, and won a second time in 2012. He was named the Most Outstanding Junior Vocalist in 2006 by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and got to perform for the French Consul General that same year. From there, his vocal career led him to perform on national television, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa under the direction of Pinchas Zukerman, and most recently at Carnegie Hall in New York City with John Rutter CBE.
As a composer, Guignard’s compositions have been performed in four different continents. Most known for his Orchestral and Concert Band/Wind Ensemble repertoire, Guignard also avidly composes vocal music. When he is not composing, Justin Guignard spends most of his time orchestrating music and creating arrangements for various different ensembles. He most recently orchestrated the score for the musical “Broadway Musical: The Broadway Musical”. Justin hopes to one day pursue a career in orchestral conducting while putting much emphasis on the importance of educating the youth about symphonic music through the integration of guest contemporary/pop artists into its concerts. He was the Musical Director of the Codiac Concert Band from 2016-2024.
Chad Dominie, Conductor (2003-2015)
Chad Dominie was the Director of the Codiac Concert band since its inception in 2003 and was instrumental to the band’s success, passionately leading the band during 12 years.
He recieved his B.Mus and B.Mus Ed. at Acadia University. His principle instrument is the trumpet which he studied under Geoff Thompson and Mark Dharmaratnam, both former principle trumpet players of Symphony Nova Scotia.
Chad has preformed with Acadia Brass Ensemble and Acadia Band under the direction of Dr. Greg Burton, and Richard Bennett. He also performed in the Acadia Orchestra under the direction of Christoph Both. Chad was also principle trumpet of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra.
Currentley Chad is a member of the Hub City Big Band and also performs as a local freelance musician.
Since Graduating from Acadia he has developed a music program at Salisbury Middle school and J.M.A. Armstrong High School and recently moved to teach music at Riverview High School and is beginning to rebuild a band program at the school.
The most important things in his life are his family and music.