The Next Generation of Jazz Musicians light up the Festival
Each year the Brantford International Jazz Festival supports up-and-coming Jazz artists on our Next Generation Stage. This years line-up includes:
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2026
Isabella DiFelice Lauer & Tristan Hernandez • 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM
The JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band • 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2026
SCOTT TAPLAY TRIO • 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
ALYSSA DUPUIS QUARTET • 2:30 PM to 3:15 PM
JOHN IMRE QUARTET • 4:15 PM to 5:00 PM
Isabella DiFelice Lauer
& Tristan Hernandez
Saturday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 • 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Isabella DiFelice Lauer has always had a love for music. At a very young age her grandmother would take her to sing in the church choir with her, and also began to learn to play the piano. At nine years of age she began formal lessons with the Hernandez Voice Studio in Brantford. Since then she has won various awards and scholarships, performed at the Sanderson Centre main stage, and canters at church services. In 2013 she was presented with the Grand River Chorus Trophy in classical voice. This year she was chosen to represent Brantford at the Ontario Music Festival. Isabella enjoys to sing for others and is honoured to be performing at the Brantford International Jazz Festival.
Twenty-one year old Tristan Hernández is in his third year of the Bachelor of Musical Theatre Performance degree at Sheridan College. His first performance was at the age of three with Canada’s Three Tenors. He has received the “Wolf’s in Song” and “Wolf’s Spirit” musical theatre trophies at the Brantford Kiwanis Music Festival. He received scholarships for musical theatre and classical voice every year that he competed. Tristan has had the pleasure of representing both Brantford and Stratford at the Provincial level of the Kiwanis music festival.
Tristan has performed at Canada’s Wonderland’s in the“British Invasion” show. He has also performed with Opera in Concert and the Toronto Operetta Theatre, Toronto. Mr. Hernández was honoured to sing the anthem as the 2010 Olympic Torch traveled through Brantford.
The JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band
Saturday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 • 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Jules Estrin, Musical Director
Now in its seventh year, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band provides an opportunity for exceptional middle and secondary school students to hone their skills and interact in a diverse, professional setting.
The band rehearses each Saturday at the JAZZ.FM91 studios in Liberty Village (King and Dufferin). The students receive regular workshops on improvisation, ensemble playing and jazz techniques from some of the foremost Canadian music educators and musicians.
JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band performs extensively throughtout the year. Apprearances include the TD Toronto International Jazz Festival, Markham Jazz Festival, Sound of Jazz Concert Series, The Rex Hotel, Lula Lounge, OMEA (Ontario Music Educators Conference), Xerox Rochester Jazz Festival, Jazz Lives, and various festivals in Southern Ontario.
Over the past five years the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band has performed with legendary jazz figures such as Joey DeFrancesco, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tom Scott, and Lew Tabackin, and recently opened for Al Jarreau at the Branford International Jazz Festival. They have also appeared with Canadian guests including Shirantha Beddage, Kelly Jefferson, Alistair Kay, Brian O’Kane, Sundar Viswanathan, and Ron Westray.
They have also shared the stage with the Thelma Yellin Big Band (Tel Aviv, Israel), Jazz Ensemble I (Montreal, PQ), Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (Monterey, CA), University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra, and York University Jazz Orchestra.
Alumni from the group have gone onto further their studies at the Berklee College of Music, Brubeck Institute, Humber College, McGill University, New England Conservatory, University of Toronto, and McGill University.
GTA schools that have been represented in the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band including Etobicoke School of the Arts, Humberside CI, Monarch Park CI, Malvern CI, Earl Haig, Cawthra Park Secondary, St. Michael’s Academy, Baythorn Public School, Bayview Glenn, O’Neil Secondary and Lawrence Park CI.
SCOTT TAPLAY TRIO
Saturday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 • 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Scott Taplay is a Jazz guitarist with a passion for improvising. Scott began his musical career by playing the piano and took up guitar during his highschool years. Entering 3rd year in the Mohawk College Music Program he has been developing as a young jazz player for some time now. He has studied with Bob Shields, Kim Ratcliffe, Emile D’Eon, Pat Collins, Kevin Dempsey, Rob Somerville and Michael Stuart to name a few. He has been playing guitar for 7 years. He preforms regularly in the Hamilton area.
Jonas Pearson Paavola was raised in Bolton ON where he began playing the piano at the age of 7. By the time he was 13 he was given the electric bass and never looked back. Taking lessons with Eric Mahar and playing in multiple small local bands helped Jonas development the fundamental aspects of musicianship. In 2011 Jonas was accepted in the music program at Mohawk College studying Jazz where he fell in love with music based in improvisation. He is currently working as a teacher and a freelance musician.
Matthew Pullicino is currently enrolled in Mohawk College’s jazz and contemporary music program for drums and percussion. He has been playing music sine he was 13 years old. He has studied with Kevin Dempsey, Pat Collins and Will Jarvis during his enrollment at Mohawk College.
ALYSSA DUPUIS QUARTET
Sunday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • 2:30 PM to 3:15 PM
Brought together through Mohawk College’s Applied Music program, the Alyssa Dupuis Quartet approaches every style of jazz with their own personal touch. Each musician has their own flavour to add to the mix, with Brandon Munro on drums, David Hollingshead on keyboards, Jill McKenna on upright bass, and Alyssa Dupuis on vocals. Together, they find a balance in every tune to create one sound, be it original music or a choice from the Great American Songbook.
JOHN IMRE QUARTET
Sunday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • 4:15 PM to 5:00 PM
John Imre is currently in his third year of the Applied Music program at Mohawk College studying jazz piano. He has had the pleasure to work with some of Canada’s finest musicians, including Pat Collins, Adrean Farrugia, Bob Shields, Darcy Hepner, Rob Fekete. After studying classical music he become attracted to jazz music. John is so passionate about music that he spends his spare time teaching music to kids.
His quartet includes Brandon Munro on drums, Jillian McKenna on bass and Victor Brendan Agrippa on Alto Sax also Mohawk College students.
Don’t forget to check out the performers on the Bell Stage, the Dixieland Stage, and the Local Stage! We’ve got 22 live performances over 3 days of great music, plus…
Don’t miss our 2014 headliner:
Frank Sinatra Jr.
Sinatra sings Sinatra
Saturday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 at the
Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, Brantford, ON
Tickets $55/$65/$75
1-800-265-0710 or 519-758-8090 or online here