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Our Newsletter


Welcome to Opening Day

Opening Day Entertainment Group has emerged as the premier showcase for Canadian classical and jazz performers and composers. The label has already earned an enviable reputation for excellence – with multiple awards, a renowned artist roster, critically acclaimed recordings, celebrated producers and chart topping titles. It is also the home to Canadian Brass – the world’s most famous brass ensemble and legendary recording group. 

Opening Day Entertainment Group was founded in 1993. The label group quickly became a favorite among critics and broadcasters, rapidly earning an enviable reputation for exclusivity and quality – accumulating numerous Juno nominations and honored with one Juno win. Since 2003, Opening Day has seen consistent positioning on the Billboard charts with best-selling titles and an outstanding track record with critics and consumers.   Stretching over a broad definition of music, Opening Day Entertainment Group (ODEG)  also supports artist management, publishing, design and distribution outlets. Our recording efforts are assisted by deep-rooted publishing relationships with Hal Leonard Publishing Corp. and Universal Music Publishing to ensure a world-wide reach .

Since its inception, ODEG has been on the fast track to cumulative success, with the Grammy-nominated and Juno and Echo winning Canadian Brass leading the way with active touring and appearances worldwide, a broad based educational outreach and recording more than ever – as well as a triumphant return to the top of the Billboard charts!

Today Opening Day continues its tradition of recording the greatest artists of today. Along with a world-class roster, we also feature and promote award-winning and acclaimed composers and arrangers that includes R. Murray Schafer, Christopher Dedrick, Malcolm Forsyth, Howard Cable, Eric Robertson, Brandon Ridenour, Bramwell Tovey, Richard Walters and many more. These recordings represent not only wide-ranging repertoire but distinctive performance styles, writing and interpretations.

The Opening Day music and video catalog boasts recordings covering classical, classical crossover, jazz, pop, Christian and holiday as well as award-winning Canadian composers and indigenous Canadiana – traditional music, spoken word and humor all from Canada. We also feature a wealth of holiday music featuring traditional Christmas classics as well as newly composed yuletide treats. A special feature is the launch of our label imprint – Soloists of the Canadian Brass. Here we offer a perfect opportunity for listeners to experience some of the world’s finest brass virtuoso’s, who normally perform with Canadian Brass, in recordings of captivating solo projects and chamber music.

Opening Day prides itself by being on the cutting edge of technology giving consumers and fans multimedia airplay, downloads and streaming opportunities as well as digital applications via iPhone and other smartphone carriers. As new advancements in music presentation are developed, Opening Day is positioned to offer access to our artists and their catalogs of great music via these new digital platforms.

Opening Day is now the preeminent independent label in Canada, nurturing gifted young artists as well as expanding and supporting the careers of all-time legends. We want to invite all fans and lovers of music to explore our website and experience the magnificent artistry and music within. As technology changes not only is Opening Day prepared to meet those challenges with digital music offerings but we feel CDs sales are still a critical ingredient in presenting music to music consumers. As we grow, we have more and more opportunities to not only create new music but also offer it to you in every imaginable way. We simply ask that you enjoy the music and the possibilities. With this exciting new website, Opening Day gives music lovers more options and more information than ever before, including sample music clips, video access, artist information, artist photos, press and reviews, tour information and so much more. It’s our commitment to music lovers to create a music experience that is like no other!

 

Opening Day Key Players
chuck-daellenbach.jpgChuck Daellenbach
One of the world’s most recognizable tuba players, Chuck Daellenbach is also President of Opening Day Entertainment Group. Originally coming on board in 2003, he has brought a fresh and unique perspective to the label as it meets the challenges of the music industry today. Chuck’s music experience is varied (performer, producer, arranger and recording artist) and his never-ending enthusiasm are well-known hallmarks. He has a PhD from the Eastman School of Music and has made well-over 100 recordings with the world famous Canadian Brass, the group he founded. 

 

mb.jpgMary Beth Daellenbach
A co-owner of the Opening Day label; Mary Beth has a lifetime of experience in music and has earned important recognition as a classical record producer. A chorister of note, she was a member of the acclaimed Elmer Iseler Singers and continues to teach piano and coach voice privately. A literal member of the Opening Day family, she is married to Chuck Daellenbach and has played a major role in continued momentum of the Canadian Brass – from social media, photography, project management and artist communication. Teaming with multiple Grammy Award winning Dixon Van Winkle, MB has worked with Opening Day artists Canadian Brass, Jeff Nelsen, Sean Kelly, Giles Tomkins, Trey Mills and others.

 

mikejipson.jpgMike Jipson
Sales Manager, is a music industry veteran of twenty six years. After receiving a BME Choral Music degree from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, Mike began his career at print music publishing giant, Hal Leonard Corp. where he excelled for over six years. His experience in music publishing and knowledge of the music industry has benefited him greatly in his nineteen years working with Canadian Brass, and more recently ODEG. Mike is also the manager of both the Canadian Brass (www.canadianbrassstore.com) and Opening Day (www.openingday.com) online stores.

 

mattbrooks-01.jpgMatt Brooks
Hailing from Kingston Ontario, grandson of famous Canadian artist Ruth Brooks, Matt graduated from Sheridan College in 2000 with a bachelor of the arts in Illustration. Has since pursued a career in architectural design and visualization, graphic design, web design, and 3D conceptualization. In 2007 he started Baby Jack Design Studio, named after his 3rd born son. Matt has worked with the Canadian Brass and Opening Day since the early 2000's. Adopted into the ODEG family, Matt has taken on a significant role in being the primary source for the organizations art direction, visualization and design needs.

 

dixon-01.jpgDixon Van Winkle
From pop to classical and back again, engineer/producer Dixon Van Winkle’s acclaimed career spans over four decades where he has worked in just about every genre of music. Urged on by legendary producer Phil Ramone, Van Winkle got his start in the recording business in 1969 and has worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, The New York Dolls, Paul Simon, Men Without Hats, Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Winter, the Soviet poet Yvgeny Yevtushenko and Canadian Brass to name but a few. Dixon is a native of Ogdensburg NY and is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music.

 

janina-01.jpgJanina Laughton
Janina Laughton, Project Associate, first joined Opening Day Entertainment Group in 2004. Ms. Laughton’s pursuits span project consulting and coordination, as well as events, design and marketing. Born and raised in Baltimore, Janina is a graduate of McGill University, and her work now spans between Calgary and Toronto.

 

austinhitchcock.jpgAustin Hitchcock
Austin Hitchcock is videographer and in charge of both the Opening Day and Canadian Brass YouTube channels. With a family background in film production, including Alfred Hitchcock as a relative, he has been focused on providing media campaigns for the cultural community of the Toronto area for over a decade - including the Canadian Opera Company, CanStage, Tapestry and Canadian Brass. He is certified in Web and Graphic Design from the Toronto Image Works and blends his skills into social media production, management and consulting.

 

stuart-laughton.jpgStuart Laughton
Stuart Laughton was a founding member of Canadian Brass before attending Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music. Upon graduation he was appointed solo trumpet at La Scala in Milan, Italy and has since then appeared with many orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony, as well as made numerous recordings. He rejoined Canadian Brass in 2004 for two seasons. In 1993 he founded Opening Day Recordings in order to showcase Canadian classical performers and composers. Since 2008 he has been consultant to the label.