Academic Background

BMus (Toronto), MMus (Western): Trumpet, Trumpet Techniques 

Biography

Anita McAlister has a BMus in Performance from the University of Toronto and a MMus in Solo Performance and Literature from the University of Western Ontario.  As a student, McAlister studied in Banff with the Canadian Brass and participated in the Canadian Camber Orchestra where she had the opportunity to have lessons and masterclasses with Armando Ghitalla, David Hickman and Robert Nagel.  As a member of the Orchestral Training Program at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, she studied with Larry Weeks. 
Over the last 15 years, McAlister has performed regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, touring with them to the Calgary Olympics and acting as 2nd trumpet for the past 2 seasons. She has performed with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Brass Quintet for the past 18 years, has been a member of the Hannaford Street Silver Band for the past 17 years and has held the position of principal trumpet with the Toronto Philharmonia for the past 5 seasons.  As an active freelancer, she works with such organizations as the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, and the Hamilton Philharmonic.  McAlister has toured Canada and the United States with the National Ballet Orchestra and as principal trumpet of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra.  She has also performed with the orchestra and fanfare trumpets at the Stratford Festival and as principal trumpet for shows such as Phantom of the Opera. McAlister is an active adjudicator and clinician, also teaching at a number of summer music programs including National Music Camp. She has taught for the Royal Conservatory and worked with the Examination Department to revise the trumpet syllabus.