Band Director
Bernard (Bernie) Wexler, trumpeter, organizer, entrepreneur, event manager; b. Montreal Quebec. Bernie played trumpet for over a decade with popular Preville Big Band under the direction of Tommy Green in Montreal from 1990 to 2000. After moving to Toronto in 2001 Bernie developed his event management company WPI Events to become one of the most successful, popular event management companies in Canada. Bernie’s keen sense of management and years of experience has kept WPI at the top of the list when it comes to corporate events. Photo Streaming services and Pro DJ services have brought international recognition to WPI events. Bernie’s success in the field of management has allowed him to pursue and develop his passion – Metro Big Band. Call Bernie for all booking inquiries.

Band Vocalist, Emcee, Director of Promotion & Public Relations
Rick Levine has been performing in and around the Toronto area for well over a decade. Rick’s dedication to the arts, particularly in the fields of music and entertainment at literally thousands of events is a driving force behind the success of Metro Big Band. Rick's on stage presence, radiant smile, off the cuff humour and polished vocal stylings charm every performance, delighting audiences and maintaining the overall entertainment pace to an event. Rick's vibrant personality brings every single gig to life!

Visit The Rick Levine Band

Lisa Levy, a classically trained vocalist, is originally from St. Louis. She's been singing in big bands and combos for twenty years. A self proclaimed "jazz snob", her repertoire includes hundreds of jazz standards, swing and pop songs. Lisa's passion is performing, so she's thrilled to be a part of the Metro Big Band. By day she is a freelance graphic designer. She even created this web site!

Trombones

Martin Hubel plays lead trombone. He was born in Toronto and has played trombone since 1969. Martin has been a member in a wide variety of groups including the Royal Regiment of Canada, the Swing Band of the Royals, the Mississauga Symphony, and the Metropolitan Silver Band.

In his day job, Martin runs a worldwide IT consultancy specializing in large database systems.

Laurie Landau is a retired physician who has been playing trombone for almost 50 years. She is currently also a member of the Thornhill Community Band and has played orchestral and chamber music as well as musical theatre in the past. She also records with a small group in her home.

Chris Murdoch, bass trombone, attended Humber College and Mohawk College, both for music. He also toured with the Glen Miller Orchestra in the mid eighties.

Rhythm

Kenny Simon, guitar - studied Privately with Tony Braden (guitar), Patricia Stewart (Piano) and at Humber College. He is influenced by Eric Clapton, Wes Montgomery, Mason Williams, Paul McCartney, and James Jamenson, leader of the Kenny Simon Hourglass Band.

Kenny also enjoys working out, skiing, movies, theatre, boating & fishing, song writing and composing.

www.kennysimonband.com

Lorne Tepperman started studying classical piano at the age of 5 and spent much of the next 20 years studying music and playing jazz and dance music with bands around Toronto. However, a career in university teaching (as a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto) took him away from music altogether. Now back to piano playing after more than a thirty-year absence, Tepperman is once again playing jazz and dance music with bands around Toronto, and loving it.

Saxophones

Daniel De Kee took early retirement in 2012, from an academic career in the USA where he taught engineering and mathematics and was director of the Tulane Institute for Macromolecular Engineering and Science (TIMES), as well as Program Director at the National Science Foundation (2009 to 2012).  He published over 200 scientific papers and is the co-author of five textbooks and eight edited books.  He studied music at Humber College from 2012-2014, to then start playing in several big bands. He is currently also Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto, and associate editor of the American Institute of Physics journal: Physics of Fluids.

Steve Weingberg attended Jackson Secondary School from 1975 - 1978. At the University of Waterloo, from 1979 - 1984 he played in the Concert Band. From 1990 to the present he has played in the North York Concert Band.

Steve's outdoor pursuits include camping, hiking, kayaking, canoeing and cycling. He is also a competetive runner (4 marathons) and triathlete. He enjoys traveling, listening to music and eating!