Dawn Haylett grew up in Victoria, BC, and it was a one-week horn camp during high school run by an inspirational horn teacher named Richard Ely and an amazing band trip to Europe that were the catalysts that led to a career in music and teaching. She has been a member of the Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Island Symphony, Kamloops Symphony, and played extensively with the Vancouver Symphony and Vancouver Opera. She continues to work regularly as a freelance horn player with orchestras, early music groups, and jazz ensembles in BC. She has recorded CDs of chamber music (Corno Dulciana; Christmas Favourites with Four Horns; Oregon Symphony Horns and Friends), jazz ensemble (Intrada), and orchestral music, in addition to a wide range of radio broadcasts and commercial recordings. While maintaining a busy performing schedule, Dawn taught for 20 years in the school system, teaching students from K to Grade 12. She used her Orff training to bring creativity to her band and music classes and particularly loved helping students write and perform their own musicals. She has recently moved to sunny Sidney.
Dawn performed frequently on the WCCM stage in the nineties, and is thrilled to be playing with Holly and Alan again in 2026.