High school music teacher Keith Todd speaks with warmth and enthusiasm about his seven years in the Yukon.

He says not all communities have such a collaborative relationship among musicians.

There’s a bond here, says Todd in an interview with the Star earlier this week about his retirement today, after 33 years in the music teaching business.

Todd says the combined music program between his Porter Creek Secondary School and F.H. Collins Secondary School for Grades 8 to 12 students is unique.

The All City Band he’s been a part of presents an opportunity for students and adults to rehearse and perform together.

He says Duncan Sinclair has done an amazing job with Jazz Yukon.

“He’s played a major role in putting jazz on the map, not only in Whitehorse but in western Canada,” says Todd.

Similarly, he says, Daniel Janke has done outstanding work with his Problematic Orchestra.

Todd says he always had a leaning toward instrumental and big band music, jazz and orchestral music.

What makes him tick are the big ensembles and the synchronicity among musicians of completely different backgrounds, even states of mind, who come together and interpret a piece of music for the audience – together.

A man of many instruments, the 55-year-old Todd favours the trombone.

His early introduction as a kid was to the piano. His parents were not big musicians but they really valued music, the arts and culture.

All three of his siblings were also exposed to music at an early age.

Todd played in his high school band before moving on to get a degree in music from the University of Victoria.

He spent most of his years teaching in B.C. but began feeling a need for a change. He responded to a national advertisement for a music teacher at Porter Creek Secondary, and was hired.

The tone of his voice tells you there have been absolutely no regrets with the move north.

“Whitehorse has a very rich and active music scene,” says Todd. “And it is a very collaborative music community.

“In other areas, it is common to have a competitive environment but I did not see that here.”

Todd said he and his partner, Sarah Dobell, will be moving to Nelson, B.C., where he taught for 24 years.

He has three daughters living in southern B.C.

Todd says the music scene in Nelson is also rich and alive – and collaborative.

It won’t be long, he thinks, before he’ll be involved with it again in some way, though he is looking forward to the time he’ll have to pursue his own creative process more.

Todd says he’s confident the high school band program will be in good hands.

It’s been a delight working with F.H. Collins music teacher Toby Moisey, he says.

“He is a relatively new teacher, and he is bringing a lot of fresh ideas and just a lot of youthful enthusiasm,” says Todd. “It was nice to see.”

The latest word is Moisey has been hired to replace Todd at Porter Creek Secondary.