Stephanie Jill McKeown graduated from Dalhousie University with her BMusED in 1994. She studied Percussion under the late James A. Faraday, and as a percussionist, has performed with Chebucto Symphony Orchestra, Nova Sinfonia, Chester Playhouse Summer Theatre Festivals, and most recently in Neptune theatre’s production of Dear, Rita. Through the HRCE, she directed countless High school Musicals; most notably, Les Misérables, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Kiss Me Kate, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and A Chorus Line. Her High School bands have received the Evelyn Longard Tray for most outstanding Senior Band at the Kiwanis Festival, and were invited to the Young Artists series at the Lincoln Centre in New York City to perform bi-annually. Stephanie was the recipient of the Carolyn P. Oxner Baton for most outstanding musical direction from 2009-2011.

In 2012, Stephanie was awarded the position of Artistic Director of the RBC Multicultural Festival in Halifax. Stephanie was contracted to Musically Direct DGM Music’s successful production of RENT (Spatz Theatre 2012) and co-founded Broadway Atlantic, a community based Musical Theatre Company with her son Matthew. She musically directed the company’s critically acclaimed inaugural show Sound of Music (Spatz Theatre 2015).

Most recently, Stephanie was the Music Director for the Second Chances Community Band Program; Concert, Jazz and Show-bands. Her SCCB bands have received the Gold standard at Atlantic Band and Kiwanis Festivals. In 2019, Stephanie founded the  performing group Atlantic Sound Machine an 18-piece big band featuring guest soloists which has been featured at the Halifax Jazz Festival and the Queens Marque concert series. Stephanie resides in Halifax and is the Lessons Coordinator for Long and McQuade.