Our Instructors

Jamie Oatt  (Brass Arranger and Instructor)

James (Jamie) Oatt is first and foremost an educator 'par excellence.' He has been on the Faculty of Music at St Michael’s College School in Toronto for the past several years. His drum corps experience has been wide and varied.

Since his final year as Blue Devil’s soprano soloist in 1988, Jamie has composed music, designed drill, and instructed all three drum corps disciplines with several notable organizations.

Jamie’s introduction to the Optimists Alumni in 2005 is indelibly stamped in our memories. The immediate impact of his progressive teaching methods was nothing short of astonishing. His insistence on excellence and technical advancement of each and every member has contributed enormously to our continued improved musicality. Many of our principal musicians will attest that they are now playing at the highest level in their entire performance history because of Jamie’s positive influence.

Dave MacKinnon (Brass Arranger and Instructor)

Dave's connection with the Optimists goes all the way to the 1970s when he played mellophone with the Toronto Optimists and the Seneca Optimists. Today he is co-brass caption head for the DCI Bluecoats. His teaching experience dates back to the 1970s when he was the musical director of the Ventures (Kitchener, ON).

Dave resides in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and has taught, written, and consulted for drum and bugle corps in Canada, the United States, Korea, and Japan for many years.

Dave is an active music judge for U.S. Scholastic Band Association, New York Field Band Conference, Ontario Drum Corps Association, Michigan C.B.A., and Indiana State Music Association.

Jeff MacKay (Percussion Arranger and Instructor)

A graduate of The Humber College Department of Music and York University (B.A. Honours Music, B.Ed) Jeff has been a marching member of the Optimist Lancers, The Oakland Crusaders, The Bayonne Bridgemen and The Kingston Grenadiers.

Jeff was the Canadian Individual Snare drum Champion in 1979 and the Cadre Individual Snare drum Champion in 2007.

Jeff's drum corps teaching stints have included Oshawa Rebels, The Emerald Knights, The Oakland Crusaders, The Guelph Royalaires, the Kingston Grenadiers, The West Coast Cadets from Bristol England, and, now, The Optimists Alumni.

Bill Thomas (Brass Arranger and Instructor)

Bill's connection with the Optimists goes back to 1977 when he played soprano with the Seneca Optimists. Currently, Bill is a Professor of Music and the conductor of the wind Symphony at York University in Toronto. He is a graduate of the jazz program at Humber College and holds Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of education degrees from the University of Toronto. He also holds a Masters in Composition from York University and is presently Associate Chair of the Music Department at York. Bill taught music for twenty-three years at the elementary and high school levels spending most of that time as the head of the music department at Markham District High School.

Bill is much in demand as an adjudicator and clinician. He is a former Drum Corps International adjudicator and he has been active as an arranger for over forty marching bands and drum & bugle corps in Canada and the United States. His performing groups have won many accolades and awards. He is also a member of the International Bandmaster’s fraternity Phi Beta Mu.

Steve Meikle (Drill Design and Instructor)

Steve joined our instruction staff in 2009. On the competition field, he marched with Dutch Boy from 1977 though 1983 and with Garfield Cadets in 1984 and 1985.

In 1986 he taught marching technique to Star of Indiana and in 1987 he was a marching instructor with Garfield. Since then, Steve has instructed St John's Drum Corps, Suncoast Sound, Magic of Orlando, Conqueror II, Cardinals and Dutch Boy.

Steve was director of Cardinals from 1995 – 1998 and, from 2001 to 2008, he was the director for Dutch Boy.

Lois Nicholls (Guard Design and Instructor)

Lois founded the Hamiliton Firefighters guard in 2002 and has considerable experience with numerous senior guards.

Kevin Matthew (Brass Instructor)

My love of music started at the age of 10 when I joined the Hamilton Sea Cadets. I was a snare drummer for 3 years. Then, pursuing new challenges, I joined Conqueror II as a tri drummer. As winter approached, there were already 5 tri drummers, and a certain young lady convinced me to join the baritone line beside her. The rest is history.

Marching career: Conqueror II and Dutch Boy.

I started teaching in 1990 and have taught since then.

1990 – 1991     Ridge Raiders, Hamilton, ON
1992 – 1996     St Johns, Brantford, ON
1996 – 1998     Kiwanis Kavaliers, Kitchener, ON:  Part time
2000 – 2003     Guelph Royalaires, Guelph, ON: Part time
2003 – 2006     Optimists Alumni, Toronto, ON
2006 – Present Optimists Alumni, Toronto, ON: Part time
2001 – Present United Alumni, Simcoe, ON

I was fortunate to have fantastic teachers as I went through the High School system and into Drum Corp.  A few of my teachers in Drum Corps were John Phillip (DCI Chief Judge, Wayne Dillon (Judge and DCI Brass Caption), Douglas Thrower (DCI Brass writer) to name a few.  I am thrilled to work with the Optimists Alumni as I consider them as a part of my extended family.