Alan Denike was the Principal Bassoonist in the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Regina Symphony Chamber Players from 1974 to 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree and a Performer’s Certificate in Bassoon Performance from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, New York, and a Masters Degree in Conducting from the University of Regina.
Alan was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, in a musical home where his father was a well-known music educator and his mother a pianist. By age 17 he was playing bassoon professionally in the Victoria Symphony.
Since taking up the position of Music Director/Conductor with the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra (SSYO) in 1989, he has helped the orchestra grow from 45 to as many as 80 musicians. He has guided the orchestra in festivals at Orlando (1991), Montreal (1995), Banff (1996 and 1998), Aberdeen, Scotland (2000), Chicago (2002), Ottawa(2004), Vienna and Salzburg (2006), and Niagara Falls (2008). Since 2009, the SSYO has been regularly invited to the Youth Orchestra Symposium held in Banff. The SSYO has produced three CDs and toured Saskatchewan in 1997 to celebrate its 20th Anniversary.
In 2007, Alan was awarded the Arts Management Award from the City of Regina’s Mayor’s Arts and Business Awards and in 2015, was awarded the Orchestral Development Award from the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association.
Alan has conducted the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) on numerous occasions over the last 25 years. He is also conducted both the University of Regina Chamber Orchestra and University of Regina Band. Since 2015, Alan has often conducted the RSO Kids Concerts.
Alan’s wife, Janice is a well-respected pianist and teacher. His hobbies include stamp collecting and golfing.
