Dr. Mark Hopkins is a Professor in the School of Music at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He is Acting Director of the school for the academic year 2017-18. In addition to leading the Wind Ensemble, Dr. Hopkins teaches undergraduate and graduate Conducting, Music Education foundation courses, and coaches chamber music.
Dr. Hopkins is in demand as a guest conductor and music education consultant. In 2003 Dr. Hopkins was appointed Associate Conductor of the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra, one of Canada’s finest student wind ensembles, which selects players through annual national auditions. He is Artistic Director of the Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble (2008-2011, 2013-present), and is President of the Nova Scotia Band Association. Along with composer Derek Charke, Dr. Hopkins organizes Shattering the Silence, an exciting, innovative new music festival (visit www.shatteringthesilence.ca to learn more.) He can be heard leading the NBG ensemble on the cd Live Wired, released in February 2015. In Canada, he has guest-conducted bands and orchestras in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. Abroad, he has led collegiate and professional performances in the United States, Bermuda, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, and Romania.
A native of Toronto, Dr. Hopkins earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the New England Conservatory while serving as Assistant to Frank L. Battisti, and was awarded the Gunther Schuller Medal at graduation. From 2002-2005 he led ensembles and taught at the University of Calgary in Alberta. Dr. Hopkins taught music in high schools for twelve years, including seven years service as Chair of the Music Department at Upper Canada College in Toronto. His professional work as a Conductor spans the full range of ensembles and genres.
