Gabriel began his studies at age 14 at Cathedral High School, in Hamilton Ontario.   At the same time, he joined The Hamilton Portuguese Band, where in a span of 10 years as a member saw him first rise to Principle Saxophonist, (16) then to Associate Conductor and Band Archivist (20) as well as act as instructor to new members teaching a wide variety of instruments to students aged anywhere from 6 - 76. 

 

He studied at Mohawk College in the applied music program under Canadian Jazz Superstars such as Darcy Hepner, Pat Collins, Bob Shields, Adrean Farrugia, Sophia Pearlman, Mike Malone, and the late great, Dave McMurdo.  As well as noted international musicians, Jamshed Turel, and Dusty Micale. 

Gabriel started his professional conducting career with "Banda Lira Do Espirito Santo" of Cambridge in 2009,  aged 22 making him the youngest conductor in the history of the Portuguese bands in Canada.    Following BLES, Gabriel went on to conduct, The McMaster University Marching Band,  Royal Canadian Navy Cadet Corp Band RCSCC 31 Lion (Hamilton),  Cadet Summer Training Camp HMCS Ontario Junior & Senior Bands,   "Filarmonica Gafanhese" (In Gafanha Da Nazare, Portugal) and most recently "Filarmonica Lira Bom Jesus"  of Oakville, The Top Hat Marching Orchestra (Burlington ON) and SteelTown Symphony (Hamilton ON)

 

As a saxophonist he has played with groups such as The Mohawk College Big Band, Teenage Head, Ginger St. James, Ian Andrew & The Smoking Scoundrels

 

Presently, Gabriel is the conductor of Banda Lira Nossa Senhora De Fatima of Toronto.