Music Camp Faculty

Adrean Farrugia – Camp Director, Piano

Adrean Farrugia has extensive experience in the creation and administering of programs designed to engage and educate young musicians. Aside from his work as an Assistant Professor in the Music Department at St. FX, he is a current faculty member of both the National Music Camp and Interprovincial Music Camps in Ontario. He also founded The Meadowlark Summer Music Masterclass Series which ran from 2014 to 2021 with an enrollment of more than 100 students, many of whom are now practicing professional musicians and educators.

Adrean has served on the faculties of The University of Toronto, York University, Humber College, and Mohawk College, as well as giving masterclasses at The Sydney Conservatorium in Australia, the Polish National Jazz Camp in Warsaw Poland, The University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Western Ontario, Sir Wilfred Laurier University, Brock University, Grant McEwan University, and Acadia University. As a performing artist he has appeared on more than 50 recordings and is a 9-time JUNO AWARD nominee and 2-time winner, as well as a winner of the distinguished ARTIST OF THE YEAR award at the 2021 Production Music of America’s MARK AWARDS, held in Hollywood, CA, and has also toured extensively across Canada, The United States, France, Germany, Poland, Australia, Israel, Taiwan, and Japan.

Dr. Paul Rushka – Camp Director, Bass

Award-winning bassist & educator Dr. Paul Rushka has been a dedicated instructor of adolescent and young adult musicians for over 25 years. He is currently on faculty at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and is an online instructor at the VSO (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra) School of Music, the premiere community music school in BC. He has substantial experience working with many high schools throughout the lower mainland of BC, where he has led small jazz ensembles, which focused on the development of practical jazz improvisation skills, taught private bass lessons, music theory classes, led clinics for small and large ensembles, and contributed to music department functions. Paul has served as adjudicator at regional and national music festivals, and prior to moving to Nova Scotia, was on the faculty at Vancouver Community College.

As a performer, Paul has performed on over 20 albums and several CBC broadcast recordings, toured throughout Canada, China, parts of the United States and Europe. He has performed at most major Canadian Jazz Festivals, and has performed and/or recorded with an extensive list of jazz luminaries. 

Paul holds a Doctor of Music degree from McGill University, where he was the recipient of a prestigious 3-year Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarship from SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada), which funded his research on the compositional language of Canadian jazz legend Kenny Wheeler.

Jessica Lalonde – Vocals

Recently listed by Jazz FM91 as one of 8 Canadian Women in Jazz You Need to Know; Jessica Lalonde has made a name for herself as a compelling and eclectic Canadian artist. Her unique and powerful vocal sound blends a wide range of musical influences, transcending genres, and moving easily between jazz, folk, opera, and swing. Since her early days as a young singer, she's enjoyed lending her voice to a diverse array of projects ranging from Operatic roles in Vancouver and Italy, to Indie-Rock backing vocals, to New Music, to every major jazz festival in Southern Ontario, Canada. In 2023, Jessica was honored to perform with multi-GRAMMY award-winning musician, Lang Lang at Toronto's 3000-seat Meridian Centre. 

Heidi Burns – Drums

Heidi Burns is a drummer from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, currently based in St. John's, Newfoundland. She is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, holding a Bachelor of Music degree with Honours. Prior to moving to St. John's, Heidi had been an active member of the Nova Scotia music scene, collaborating with a variety of groups and artists. Heidi has spent time playing a range of styles including jazz, rock, pop, country, indie, and folk. In addition to her work as a performing drummer, she has enjoyed teaching private drum lessons for the past five years.

                                                                                Heidi is super excited to be part of the StFX Summer Music Camp.

Brendan Fitzpatrick – Guitar

Brendan Fitzpatrick is a musician and educator from St. John’s and a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, holding a Bachelor of Music Degree with Honours. Brendan has been playing guitar since the age of five and bass since the age of seven, having studied with some of Atlantic Canada's finest musicians. He started teaching music lessons in 2022 and has since taught students of all ages and varying skill levels. Drawing from his experience playing multiple genres of music, Brendan is a well-rounded instructor, capable of teaching all styles from rock and country to jazz and blues and beyond. Growing up, Brendan loved participating in music camps every summer. These camps helped instill a lifelong love of music and performing. 

Brendan is thrilled to be joining the faculty of the St. FX Summer Music Camp. 

Mike Murley – 2025 Artist In Residence

An engaging, lyrical saxophonist, Mike Murley is one of Canada’s most celebrated jazz artists.  He has played on fourteen Juno Award-winning recordings since 1990, seven as a leader or co-leader, seven as a sideman. His most recent Junos include The North (2018), Metalwood’s Twenty (2017) and his trio’s Test of Time (2013).

Murley moved to Toronto from his native Nova Scotia in 1981 and has enjoyed a career that has spanned a wide stylistic spectrum.  Recordings with legendary Canadian artists such as Ed Bickert, Rob McConnell, and Guido Basso showcase the saxophonist’s talents in the mainstream standard repertoire.  On the more contemporary side, Murley has collaborated frequently with younger generations of improviser/composers including pianist David Braid and guitarist David Occhipinti. He is also well known for his work with the three-time Juno Award winning electric jazz group Metalwood. In addition, he has recorded and performed with numerous international artists including David Liebman, Renee Rosnes, John Schofield, Norma Winstone, as well as the late Paul Bley, John Abercrombie, and Kenny Wheeler.

As an educator Murley has held positions at the University of Toronto, York University, Humber College, and as a visiting member of faculty at the Banff School of Fine Arts.  He also served as Jazz Area Chair/Coordinator at both U of T (2016-18, 2020-21) and York (2008-11).

In 2022 Murley retired from U of T and returned to Halifax NS, from where he continues to tour nationally and internationally.