Our season finale of What’s Your Forte, with special guest Cynthia Johnston Turner, is out now! She and Sandy talk about her journey from small-town Ontario to conducting bands with jets flying overhead, ways you can differentiate yourself as an artist and the best parts of being the Dean of Laurier’s Faculty of Music.

The first in her  family to attend university, Cynthia received her B.Mus. and B.Ed. from  Queen’s University, a M.Ed. at the University of Victoria and a D.M.A.  (Conducting) from the Eastman School of Music. She has received numerous  teaching, research, and leadership awards in Canada and the United  States.
Cynthia was appointed Dean—Faculty of Music at Wilfrid  Laurier University on July 1, 2021.  She also oversees the Laurier  Academy of Music and the Arts, a community-based school serving hundreds  of children and their families in the region.

Cynthia has guest  conducted bands, music ensembles and orchestras at several universities  and conservatories as well as state honor bands in the United States  and abroad. She continues to actively promote commissions by today’s  leading and emerging composers around the world with a focus on  underrepresented voices. She is published in several notable journals  and has recorded CDs with the Innova and Albany labels. Cynthia has  served as a board member with the World Association of Symphonic Bands  and Ensembles (WASBE) and currently serves on the board of the Western  International Band Clinic (WIBC).