Ray Baril has recorded some eye-popping statistics after 37 years as the director of MacEwan’s Big Band. He has:

• directed more than 700 musicians and students,
• led 2,600 rehearsals,
• performed 500 concerts,
• conducted 772 pieces of music.

“It was never a conscious decision to lead the band for that length of time,” said Baril. “I was asked to take on the role in 1986 by Tommy Banks when he was the chair of the music department. It was an opportunity that I was very nervous about taking on, but it was the opportunity that defined my career.”

The early years of the band were focused on building up a solid foundation and ensuring students could grow as musicians.

“In 1987, we attended MusicFest Canada in Ottawa and were recognized nationally as the most outstanding ensemble at the festival. That opened many doors. The years that followed included radio broadcasts, performances at the Edmonton Jazz Festival, invitations to regional and international festivals, conference presentations and recordings, in addition to the activity that naturally occurred in the academic year. Involvement in convocation began in 1988.”

A member of the band in Baril’s first year was a young trumpet player, Dr. Allan Gilliland, now the dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications at MacEwan.

“Ray and I have been close collaborators and he has been at the centre of some of my most important compositions and premieres,” said Dr. Gilliland. “It all started in 1986 when I asked if I could write my first big band arrangement for the band, and he immediately agreed. That love, support and encouragement for his players is what sticks out to me.”

Those characteristics have carried on through the decades, according to Aidane Schafer, a student in the Big Band during this, Baril’s last year on the podium.

“Ray is helpful, kind, patient and always helping his students improve, no matter where they were starting off from or how slow they were learning,” said the baritone saxophone player graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance. “Ray has definitely built a community. I’m glad I got to learn from him one last year. I think the biggest takeaway from my experience with Ray is that music is a long, fun journey, and to appreciate the progress you make, big and small.” 

During the convocation ceremony for Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications graduates, Baril’s dedication to the Big Band was celebrated – with an added surprise. Dr. Gilliland led the band as they performed an original composition called “The Look,” written by the dean as an homage of Baril’s well-known gesture of cocking his head and staring at a musician who makes  a mistake during rehearsal. 

Dr. Allan Gilliland, the dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications, was in the MacEwan Big Band in 1986, Ray Baril’s first year as director. The two have collaborated on many musical projects for decades.

MacEwan’s music program changed and grew during the time that Baril has been leading the Big Band. Music’s diploma program evolved into the Bachelor of Music program in 2012, which meant many students performed with the band for four years instead of two. Baril says that was an exciting development which allowed him to push the musical envelope where he saw students repeatedly rise to the occasion.

“It may be 37 years, but every year got progressively better. As a result, it was like teaching something new every year. New students, new music and new experiences.”

Not only is Baril stepping down from the podium, his role at MacEwan is changing in other ways. He will step away from being an associate professor and head of the winds/bass section in the Department of Music - and from his position as the director of Community Engaged Research in the Office of Research Services.

But he is not retiring. Far from it, in fact. Starting in the new academic year, Baril will begin an initial three-year term as chair of the Department of Music.

“I will miss the band, but I feel that right now I need to serve the music department in a different capacity as chair. If I use the analogy of a flock of geese flying in V formation, I have been the lead goose at the front of the flock for 37 years with past directors, faculty and students honking at me to keep up the pace and set the direction. Now it is my turn to rotate to the back position of the Big Band flock and honk loudly to encourage the next lead goose.”