Logo for Tempo Manitoba Music Conference with a blue music note in a speech bubble.

Friday, October 23, 2026
8:40 - 3:40 pm
Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute
173 Talbot, Avenue, Winnipeg

Keynote

Keynote & Headliners

Tim Lautzenheiser

Tim Lautzenheiser is a trusted friend to anyone interested in working with young people in the pursuit of excellence. 

For ten years he served as a band director at Northern Michigan University, University of Missouri, and New Mexico State University. In 1981 he created Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc., an organization designed to manage the requests for student leadership workshops, teacher seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on “the teacher as a leader/role model.” 

He presently serves as the Senior Vice President of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc.  Tim is a co-writer of Hal Leonard’s popular band method, "Essential Elements.”  His books, published by GIA Publications, include The Art of Successful Teaching, The Joy of Inspired Teaching, Classic Leadership, and Pathway to Success.


Headliners

  • A woman with short blonde hair sitting on a bench, writing in a notebook, in a well-lit room with a large plant, wooden wall panel, and a sign with large letters.

    Heather Nail

    Elementary
    Calgary Board of Education

    Heather Nail has been an Orff Music Specialist for the Calgary Board of Education for 26 years. She holds Orff level three certification and has a Master of Education degree from the University of Alberta, specializing in Elementary Music. Heather co-teaches the Introductory Orff level in Calgary, presents regularly at music conferences in western Canada and beyond, and in her spare time conducts the Westside Junior Concert Choir. Heather mentors emerging music teachers in Calgary and is currently serving as the past president of Carl Orff Canada. 


  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses with pink frames, smiling, dressed in a black pinstripe blazer and white shirt, against a blue background.

    Shelley Jagow

    Concert Band
    Wright State University, Dayton Ohio

    Dr. Shelley Jagow is Professor of Music at Wright State University (Dayton, OH), where she is Director of Bands and teaches conducting. She earned top honors in Music Education from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Missouri (Columbia) and the Ph.D. in Music Education from Union Institute & University (Cincinnati). Dr. Jagow presents clinics, performances, and adjudications and serves as an honor band conductor at state, national, and international. She has presented widely across the U.S. and Canada and internationally in Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Scotland, and Spain.


  • A Black woman with curly hair smiling, wearing hoop earrings and a necklace, standing in front of a brick wall.

    Coty Raven Morris

    Choral
    Portland State University

    Coty Raven Morris is the Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education, and Social Justice at Portland State University. A two-time Grammy nominee, she is a newly published composer with works performed at honor choirs and festivals nationwide. Morris also hosts at All Classical Radio and the International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN), fostering access to the arts for children. She serves as Chorus Master and Artistic Collaborator with Portland Center Stage, the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, and Choirs of America. Morris is the Founder of Being Human Together, a community focused on mental health, diversity, and inclusivity in music education.


  • Close-up of a smiling man with dark curly hair wearing a suit and tie.

    Neil Yorke-Slader

    Jazz Band
    MusicFest Canada

    Neil taught music from grades 7-12 for many years, and is active as a jazz composer, adjudicator and clinician. Over 55 of his jazz compositions are available worldwide through J.W. Pepper; several are preserved in the National Library of Canada’s archives. In 2018, he was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Tommy Banks/National Arts Centre Outstanding Canadian Jazz Director Award. In 2020, Neil was named an Honorary Life Member of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association. He was a contributor to “Jazz Pedagogy, A Canadian Perspective” (available through ArtistShare). Neil is the Executive Director of MusicFest Canada.