Trombones

MALCOLM WADE
Favourite song in the repertoire: Make Me Smile
Malcolm began playing the trombone at age ten. No particular memory accompanies his choice of instrument but, looking back after so many years, it seems to have been a wise one. Music is a wonderful hobby and has helped bring balance to Malcolm's other life as a high school science teacher. Since graduating from Brookfield H.S., Malcolm has performed (in no particular order) with the Ottawa University Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble, Ottawa Community Concert Band, Musica Jocosa Orchestra, CAMMAC Orchestra, Stan Clark Orchestra, Queen's University Jazz Band, Riverside Bones Quartet, Christchurch Concert Band, Johnny Vegas All Star Band (under the name Eddie Riviera), and the latest group to make him smile: The Wild Cards.

TRACY PERSAUD
Favourite song in the repertoire: Whatever Lola Wants
Tracy grew up surrounded by music and it is her passion. Music being the fifth member of the family, she started piano lessons at age 4 and picked up the trombone at age 12.
Tracy has degrees from McGill University in music education (piano) and performance (trombone), and – since leaving university, never wishing to see a tenor clef again! – has performed and toured with big bands and dance bands in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. Tracy has been in backing bands for such notable vocalists as Ginette Reno, at the Montréal International Jazz Festival in 1986, and Cleo Laine in 1998 at Moncton’s Capitol Theatre. As a member of The Memphis Mafia showband from 2003 to 2008, Tracy loved being the trombone player in their 3-piece, CHICAGO type horn section with Rick Rangno and Vic Maltby.
Her nickname is Lola, a name conferred upon her by a friend of long-standing who was well aware of her go-getter personality . . . Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.

KARRIE SMITH
Favourite song in the repertoire: On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Karrie grew up in the Waterloo Region with many wonderful music mentors, and was inspired to be an instrumental music teacher. After studying trombone at Western University with Jay Castello, she conducted and performed in many concert and big bands during her career as a music teacher. Now in Ottawa to be closer to family, she thoroughly enjoys playing in a variety of ensembles and being a member of The Wild Cards definitely always puts her on the sunny side of the street!

WALTER GEISSER
Favourite song in the repertoire: Nice and Easy
Walter was born and raised in Switzerland. At age of 12, he started playing cornet and trumpet and joined the community band where he lived. At age 18, he fell in love with the trombone and music became more serious. Walter took trombone lessons for 2 years before playing in a competitive harmony band and in classical orchestras before joining the Swiss Army, where he played the euphonium and the trombone. At 25, he joined a newly-formed big band in town and fell in love with Ellington-style music. At 41, he moved to White Lake, Ontario to purchase Bayview Lodge - a vacation destination - and music came to a halt for almost 10 years. At 50, Walter practised again (Good chops make good jobs!) before joining the Valley Concert Band in Arnprior and the Standing Room Only big band in Almonte. At present, taking life a little more “nice and easy”, he plays with The Wild Cards and occasionally subs in other bands.

JUSTIN McLEAN
Favourite song in the repertoire: At Last
Justin McLean is an Indigenous bass trombonist and tuba player from the M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. In 2011 he attended the Music Performance program at Cambrian College in Sudbury and, during his time in Northern Ontario, he became the bass trombonist with multiple orchestras including the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra (2011 - 2020) and the Timmins Symphony Orchestra (2015 - Present). Along with performing regularly with these groups, he has also played with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique Régional D'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, made several appearances on CBC Radio, and worked with Sudbury’s YES Theatre on several productions.

Justin has also collaborated with Unsettled Scores on multiple occasions. He performed in their premiere of “Contraries: a Chamber Requiem”, in 2018, “Radar”, at the Celebration of Nations Festival in 2019, and “Transpositions”, in the Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival at the Native Earth Performing Arts Centre in 2022. You can hear him on their most recent album TRANSPOSITIONS on Spotify and other streaming services.

Justin was with the Pembroke Symphony Orchestra from 2018 to 2024 and, after his Ottawa debut in Holst’s Planet Suite on solo tenor horn with the Ottawa Pops Orchestra in 2023, he has been and active member in the National Capitol Region on both bass trombone and tuba. Justin is currently the Personnel Manager of the Ottawa Pops Orchestra and is their Principal Bass Trombonist. He also works with the Ottawa Wind Ensemble on BBb Tuba and substitutes in the Maple Leaf Brass Band along with several other community groups in the region.

Justin joined The Wild Cards Big Band in the Spring of 2025 . . . At Last!!!

COLIN LEECH
Favourite song in the repertoire: Route 66
Like many other band members, Colin first picked up a trombone at an early age: 11 to be exact! Life as an army brat meant that he only sporadically touched his horn for several years, but he returned to music while at university and has been playing ever since. Colin is a civil engineer by training and transportation planner by choice. He is thrilled to be retired and finally have the time to play in a big band on a permanent basis. In addition to The Wild Cards, he is currently a member of the Valley Concert Band in Arnprior, the Nepean Concert Band during summers, and has contributed to numerous other concert bands and big bands in the Ottawa area over the last 35+ years. Colin’s favourite song reflects his passion both for his career and for getting his kicks travelling the world off the beaten path.

PAUL ADJELEIAN
Favourite song in the repertoire: The Best Is Yet To Come
“6 years San Quentin. 3 years Kingston Pen. (early release for good behaviour). The rest of my years I just wasted… “
No wonder the best is yet to come from this local Ottawa boy! Paul studied music at the University of Ottawa and at the Conservatoire de Musique in Montreal, and enjoys playing/listening to all styles of music. This former member “Cuivres à Cinq” brass quintet took time out from music to get married, start a business, and raise 4 daughters. A huge fan of New York City, Paul is the proud owner of a late 60’s Conn 88H (Elkhart), with F-attachment by the late Larry Minick, and is now happy to be part of the music world once more. Which, from his wife’s perspective, is a good thing because he’s been known to start projects around the house but not necessarily fin…..

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Trombones

SERGE FILIATREAULT
Favourite song in the repertoire: Adios Muchachos
Born in Montréal, Serge started playing the trombone at age 13 in high school, many years before deciding to switch to bass trombone - a decision he doesn’t regret. In 1982, his studies took him to McGill University and the renowned Montreal Symphony Orchestra bass trombonist Ted Griffith - a fantastic teacher and father figure to a lot of his students. In April 1983, Serge successfully auditioned for the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Durban South Africa. Armed with a one-year contract, he said “Adios, muchachos!” and went to live his dream and the adventure. The dream was so real, and the adventure so good, that he stayed there for 20 years! Serge and his family call Ottawa home since 2003, and he currently teaches music full-time at École secondaire du Versant in Gatineau. Serge is also the bass trombonist with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau, teaches trombone at École publique de LaSalle, and is the Outaouais region representative for the Twigg Musique store of Montreal.