Dr. Mark Hopkins - Professor
Instrumental and Choral Conducting & Instrumental Pedagogy
 
Contact Information
Office: Festival Theatre, Rm 107
Email: mark.hopkins@acadiau.ca
 
 
 
 

Interests and Expertise:  

  • Instrumental and Choral Conducting Performance and Instrumental Music Pedagogy. 
  • Canadian Wind Ensemble Music and the development of a Canadian wind repertoire of extraordinary works. 
  • The role of "Failure" in the development of instrumental performance techniques. 
  • Arrangement and composition of specific extraordinary works for wind and choral musicians, including collaboration with Cree composer Andrew Balfour on bringing two of his choral works to the wind band genre. 
  • Developing techniques for creating/improvising music in large ensemble settings using SoundPainting. 

Community & Ensemble Involvement:  

  • I am on the Board of Musicfest Canada, the largest integrated music festival system in North America. I also serve on the Nova Scotia Band Association (member at large); and the Nova Scotia Music Education Council.  
  • I am involved in Acadia University Wind Ensemble, Acadia University Symphonic Band, and Acadia University Orchestra. 
  • I play cornet in the professional brass band, The Boardwalk Brass, since 2024. 

Fun Fact: 

  • I have the best dog in the history of the world - his name is Blue and he is amazing!