Tony Mergel’s career as a performer, teacher, bandleader, composer-arranger and producer has been a long and varied one.  As a young musician, he was a well-known accordionist, performing classical and contemporary music in concert and on CBC national radio.  He was asked to play the premiere performance of Charles Camilleri’s “Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra” with the CBC symphony, and was the only accordionist to appear on the “Ten Centuries Concert Series” at the MacMillan Theatre, University of Toronto.

In 1972, Tony became the first Director Of Music at Humber College, and founded the prestigious music program.  He served as director of music for 2 terms and was a full time professor teaching Theory, Composition, Keyboard, Ensembles, and various business of music courses until 1997.

In 1995, Mississauga Festival choir commissioned Tony to write a major choral work.  “Space”, for choir and synthesizer orchestra, was performed in May of that year.  A previous major work, “Concertante Mosaic”, for symphony orchestra and jazz septet, was commissioned and performed in 1985 by the Mississauga Symphony. He has also written many works for solo keyboard and various jazz ensembles.  Tony wrote the score for the movie “Pretender’s Lot”, which was released in May 1996.

He has been associated with Merriam School of Music since 1992 and has been instrumental in the formation of the Keyfest Integrated Curriculum, a progressive method for music teaching, which employs an eclectic approach to music training for youngsters through to highly skilled artist’s level performers.

His latest music education project is “Jazz Workshop”. It is the culmination of many years of teaching the principles of harmony, melody, and improvisation to thousands of students in both the College and private music teaching environment. A textbook, workbook, and CD provide pianists and other musicians with an insight into the inner workings of harmony and melody as used by jazz musicians. 

Tony’s association with Michael Bechamp began at Humber College in 1985.  Michael’s exceptional abilities as a pianist, computer programmer, layout artist, and creative musician have been an integral part of a partnership which is unique in its longevity and close friendship.

Music Education

TMB Music Productions has embarked on a publishing program designed to

provide music students and teachers with high quality materials for learning and practicing.  Please check this site regularly to keep up with new products.