- Projects - 

The Leading Ladies

     Created in 2019, The Leading Ladies Little-Big Band is a an all-female 10-piece jazz ensemble, directed by Casey Thomas-Burns. This dynamic group of young women met while studying at Capilano University, and have stuck together ever since. This ensemble has received glowing reviews and great applause since it's creation, and has most recently performed at the West Coast Big Band Festival and the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival.

"I've been wanting to hear The Leading Ladies for a while now, and they didn't disappoint.
Under the direction of Casey Thomas-Burns, and featuring some of the lower mainland's brightest young musicians, this band swung hard."   - Tim Reinert, Infidels Jazz 
Photo by Claire Pipher

Ladies Night: Jazz Jams for Women

Deep Cove Big Band

​DEEP COVE COMMUNITY SWING BAND SOCIETY (Deep Cove Big Band) is delighted to announce the recent appointment of our new Director CASEY THOMAS-BURNS.

Casey is the founder and director of the 10-woman jazz band 'The Leading Ladies', and holds a diploma in Jazz Studies from Capilano University, where she is currently pursuing her BMus.  While at Cap, Casey has had the opportunity to study trombone with Dennis Esson and  is currently the lead trombonist in the "A" band under the direction of Brad Turner.
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The Deep Cove Big Band is looking forward to an exciting fresh start with Casey at the helm!

Arts Council of New Westminister + ArtsNW Podcast

     Since 2020, Casey has been the Music Programmer at the Arts Council of New Westminster.  In the summer of 2021, she programmed the 13-show Summer Concert Series, as well as the inaugural Queen's Park Arts Festival. In the summer of 2021, she co-produced and recorded the second season of the ArtsNW podcast, and hosted two notable panel episodes. The first episode discussed all things big band with guests Jill Townsend and Chris Berner. The second focused on jazz guitar,, with guests including rising guitarist Alvin Brendan, and Juno-nominated guitarist Bill Coon. 

     These episodes are available as artsnw.ca as well as on all major podcasting platforms. 
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