Trumpets

ATCHELEH ARYEE
Favourite song in the repertoire: It’s Not Unusual
Atcheleh Aryee is a 23-year-old trumpeter, composer and arranger. Born to a music-loving family in Ottawa, she spent her childhood immersed in all styles of music. In her high school years, Atcheleh would perform with several concert and jazz bands in the Ottawa area, pursuing the sounds of her inspirations: Roy Hargrove and Maynard Ferguson. She went on to study music at Humber College in Toronto, where she honed her playing and compositional abilities under the tutelage of renowned musicians like Hilario Duran. Atcheleh, whose writing gives every musician a spotlight while also showcasing ensemble playing inspired by the traditions established by the great Canadian bandleaders of all generations, recently debuted her album “Pieces”. She has several projects in the works and it’s not unusual to find her performing throughout Ontario.

GORD ROWLAND
Favourite song in the repertoire: Body and Soul
Gord has been making music for as long as he can remember, starting with humming hymns in church before he could read. He studied piano before moving to trumpet and completing a music degree at the University of Ottawa. He’s performed with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and the Band of the Governor General’s Foot Guards, and enjoyed five hot summers with the Ceremonial Guard on Parliament Hill. A former member of the Heritage College Big Band, the Bill Jupp Big Band, and the University of Ottawa Alumni Jazz Band, he currently performs with Big Band Ottawa and the Ottawa Wind Ensemble, and is now unleashing his wild side with The Wild Cards. Gord’s listening ranges from Renaissance motets – okay, those aren’t so wild – to orchestral greats to Motown to young artists like Jacob Collier. Trumpet favourites include Miles, Dizzy, Freddie, Clifford, Chet, Doc, Guido, Maurice André, Bud Herseth, and Markus Stockhausen. He’s relieved he doesn’t have to lug CDs around now, and prefers to stream music online, although he’s still mourning the death of liner notes. For him, listening to and performing music is like having a time machine, but without having to park it in the winter.

DAN DESROCHERS
Favourite song in the repertoire: Fly Me To The Moon
(originally titled "In Other Words")
Dan has been involved in music as a hobby for most of his life, managing to include a lot of band time throughout his military career as aircrew on a patrol aircraft. He started playing music in public at a young age with local bands, the Air Cadets program, and at the Collège Militaire Royal de St-Jean in Québec. Mostly involved in volunteer bands in Nova Scotia and Ottawa, he played in multiple parades and a variety of ensembles from small jazz combos to full size concert bands. He is a current member of the Barrhaven Community Concert Band and recently joined the Ottawa New Horizons Band program’s Jazz Band. In other words, Dan fits in well and we’re happy whenever he’s in the section.

JONAH GAUDET
Favourite song in the repertoire: Runaway Baby
Jonah was born in Fort McMurray, Alberta but raised in Ottawa, Ontario. A recent graduate in Software Engineering, Jonah stayed involved in music . . . from performing at the Montreal International Jazz Festival to directing a musical production! . . .throughout his time at Carleton University. As a student, he also spent four years with the Nepean All-City Jazz Band, performing as a featured ensemble on several occasions at Musicfest Nationals. Jonah cites his music influences as Roy Hargrove, Sergei Nakariakov, and Wynton Marsalis. Jonah is our “runaway baby” and we’re delighted to have him with us.

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Trumpets

RANDY WAUGH
Favourite song in the repertoire: In The Midnight Hour
Randy Waugh is a multi-instrumentalist/recording artist who has appeared on radio and television and who has been performing in various acts on various instruments in Canada, the United States and Europe for 50 years. The trumpet bug bit him when he was 8 years old when he heard Al Hirt playing The Happy Trumpet. It’s hard to remember Randy during his childhood and adolescence without a trumpet in his hands and, despite periods on other instruments, Randy has always returned to trumpet for his soul food - although his wife believes part of it is because he actually likes polishing them! When not playing, Randy is: an accredited PDQB (Pipes and Drums Qualification Board) Scotland bagpipe instructor who has performed, competed, and brought his youth band to compete at the World Bagpipe Championships in Glasgow, Scotland; is a past choir director of the internationally acclaimed award winning Ar n-Òran Gaelic choir ;and, for the last seven years, was founder, composer, bassist and bagpiper with the IMA (NYC) award-winning Celtic Rock band Fiùran - which recorded four albums over their time together. After a lifelong flurry of musical and professional activities, Randy returned to the trumpet, his first musical love, and is currently studying with Bobby Shew Randy has found his new musical home with The Wild Cards and, in the midnight hours, can be found practising . . . when not polishing, of course!!!

RUTH MERKEL

Favourite song in the repertoire: Puttin’ On The Ritz
Ruth retired after teaching for many years and, when not on a golf course, can be found playing her trumpet. As she so eloquently posted on Facebook “Music isn’t a hobby. Collecting coins is a hobby. Being a musician is a way of life. It’s who you are, not merely something you do.”. Whether it’s music or baking or gardening or puttin’ on Halloween garb, Ruth undertakes everything she does with enthusiasm. We’re fortunate that some of that energy is being directed toward The Wild Cards!

MATHEW SHLEGA
Favourite song in the repertoire: God Bless The Child
Born in Hamilton, Mathew relocated to Ottawa at age five. He picked up the guitar at age seven, but it was a switch to trumpet in grade 7 that really lit the fire: he spent the next several years splitting his time between his school's orchestra and jazz band. Currently in grade 11 at Earl Of March Secondary School, Mathew clearly can't say no to a good ensemble! He played first with the school jazz ensemble, and joined the Nepean All City Lab Band in 2025 under Jean-François Fauteux and Stephen Szabo, where he remains an active first trumpet today. Some of his influences include Louis Dowdeswell, Snookie Young, and Allison Balsom. God bless Mathew for letting us introduce him to the world of pros!!!

JEAN-PIERRE (J-P) LAFLEUR

Favourite song in the repertoire: We're Here For A Good Time
Jean-Pierre has played trumpet in a variety of band types and styles, but his main love is big bands. From the big band he started at his high school, to playing lead trumpet in Big Band Ottawa and helping out other big bands around Ottawa, J-P loves to play and entertain. J-P has received several awards and accolades for his contributions to volunteer community and youth music programs. He has been involved in several music programs and bands in the National Capital Region, Nova Scotia, and Texas. He enjoys supporting pit orchestras in local high school and local musical theatre productions. J-P is also a band leader for the Ottawa New Horizons Band program’s Jazz Band, the Music Director of the Barrhaven Community Concert Band, and a member of the award-winning dance band “The Wailin' Hues”. When he joins The Wild Ones, he – and we – definitely have a good time!

RICK RANGNO
Favourite song in the repertoire: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Rick is one of Ottawa’s most sought-after trumpet players, and his tune selection directly relates to his quest for excellence. Rick graduated from the University of British Columbia and cites Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, Chet Baker and Kenny Wheeler as influences. Recently retired from the Central Band of the Canadian Forces, he is now working full-time as a freelance trumpet player and teacher. Rick has a wide range of musical interests, but is particularly enthused when playing kick-ass horn-driven funk and blues à la James Brown and Tower of Power.

MARK DECLOUX
Favourite song in the repertoire: Rockin’ Robin
Mark started playing the “G bugle” at age 10 with a Drum and Bugle Corps in Toronto, competing throughout Canada and the U.S. for 11 years. The horn was packed up for 35 years after moving to Ottawa at age 21, until a friend introduced him to the New Horizons program and Mark now plays in a number of concert bands in Ottawa. He is a huge fan of progressive rock and live music and, of course there has to be some brass in there too. Tower of Power, Mangione, Maynard, Snarky Puppy and more. Rockin’ Mark is happy to be in The Wild Cards’ line-up and the feeling is mutual.