Musicians – 2023

Mariana is a professionally trained flutist with pedagogical experience in flute teaching. She also has training in orchestral and chamber music, making her a versatile musician. Mariana is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Performance at the University of Montreal under the guidance of Jocelyne Roy.

Flóra Acosta was born in Hungary. She began her musical and clarinet studies at the Szent István High School with Géza Bánhegyi (2007-2012) in Budapest Hungary. She started her BA education in Szeged (Hungary) at the University of Szeged Music Faculty (2012-2014) and then she decided to continue her education in Madrid, Spain at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid where she graduated. In 2022 she finished a MA in Orchestral Studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark. Recently she has been accepted to the Soloist class (postgraduate degree) at The Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark. She also has played in several orchestras such as Santa Cecilia Symphonic Orchestra (Spain), DUEN (Danish Youth Ensemble), Copenhagen Phil Orchestra, Danish Radio Orchestra, Feroe Islands Symphonic Orchestra, Malmö Opera Orchestra (Sweden), among others. She also performed in the Danish Television in a comedy TV show called “Orkestret” and “Musikquiz”. She has received lectures from world-renowned artists: József Németh (Hungary), Pedro Rubio Olivares (Spain), Luigi Magistrelli (Italy), Zsolt Szatmári (Hungary), Ernst Ottensamer (Austria), Béla Kovács (Hungary), Pascal Moragués (France), Johnny Thessier (USA), John Kruse (Denmark), Yehuda Gilad (Israel), Mathias Kjøller (Denmark), Svante Wik (Sweden).

Diedelinde Linskens Buffel, born in Bruges on June 16, 2001, has been fascinated by music since childhood. She learned to read sheet music at the age of 5, and a year later, her first piano lessons brought her great joy. At the age of 8, she entered official music education, where she studied piano, bassoon, viola, and singing. Piano and bassoon turned out to be her true passions, and after obtaining her high school diploma, she began higher music studies at the age of 16. In the first year, she combined piano and bassoon studies at LUCA School of Arts in Leuven, Belgium, but then she decided to fully pursue the bassoon at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Belgium. There, she gained extensive experience in chamber music ensembles, and participation in numerous orchestral projects also added significant value to her musical journey. In 2022, she transferred to the Haute école des arts du Rhin (HEAR) in Strasbourg, where she is currently studying under the guidance of Mr. Rui Lopes. Making music together as a chamber ensemble gives Diedelinde the energy to live a radiant life.

Gilwon Kwack originally played oboe in South Korea at the age of 12 with Mungu Yun and Young Gu Kim. He won He also studied at McGill University with Jacqueline LeClair and Ted Baskin and transferred to the University of Ottawa and currently studying with Charles Hamann.

Jayden Lee has enjoyed a career as a budding orchestral flutist. Born in Arizona, USA, he is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in flute performance with renowned Canadian flutist Joanna G’Froerer. Since the start of his degree in 2019, he has had the opportunity to play as a flutist and a piccoloist with multiple ensembles, playing principal flute with the McGill Symphony Orchestra on numerous occasions. Most recently, he has started a position with the newly formed Ensemble Obiora as principal flute. As a young musician, Jayden performed on both flute and piccolo with various orchestras including the Honor Orchestra of America, the Arizona All-State Orchestra, the Phoenix Youth Symphony, as well as the Youth Symphony of the Southwest. He has played under several conductors including Alexis Hauser, Larry Livingston, Sey Ahn, and Jeffrey Meyer. Jayden hopes to begin a master’s degree in flute performance after graduation.

Néhémie Manca began playing the piano at the age of 5. He later switched to the recorder and then to the flute at the age of 9 at the Vernier Municipal Band. In 2018, he continued his studies in Sara Boesch’s class when he entered the Geneva Conservatory of Music. In 2020, he joined the pre-professional program, which allowed him to enter the Geneva University of Music in 2021, studying under Michel Bellavance. Néhémie regularly performs with symphony orchestras and wind orchestras. He has had the opportunity to perform with renowned conductors such as Philippe Béran, Roberto Benzi, and Gábor Takács-Nagy, and has played alongside wonderful musicians in the Swiss Army Wind Symphony, the Orchestre des Pays de Savoie, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Néhémie’s passions include orchestral music, chamber music, and pedagogy. Since 2022, he has been a substitute teacher at the Geneva Conservatory of Music.

Originally from France and 21 years old, I began playing the clarinet at the age of 8 with Émilie Jacquin at the Regional Conservatory of Angers. I spent 10 years there, during which I won the 1st prize in the clarinet competition in Amiens and obtained my DEM (Diplôme d’Étude Musicale) in 2020. In 2021, I was admitted to Mr. Romain Guyot’s class at the Geneva University of Music, where I am currently in my second year of Bachelor’s studies. So far, I have had the opportunity to perform with the Hanson Quartet in Beethoven’s Septet with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR) on several occasions and participate in numerous orchestral projects, including opera performances as a solo clarinetist. I have had the privilege of playing under the direction of Péter Eötvös, Kevin Griffiths, and Sascha Goetzel. Since 2021, I have been a member of the Sostenuto Orchestra. Highly engaged in chamber music, I am actively involved in several concert projects. In the near future, I aspire to join orchestral academies to further develop my skills and eventually secure a position in a symphony orchestra.

Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gabriel Nishikawa began their studies at the University of Manitoba with Professor Allen Harrington before transferring to McGill University. At McGill’s Schulich School of Music, Nishikawa completed his Bachelors of Music in Orchestral Performance as well as a Graduate Diploma in Orchestral Performance with Professor Stephane Levesque. This fall Nishikawa will be commencing his Masters of Music with Professor Daniel Matsukawa at the Curtis Institute of Music. In the past Nishikawa has participated in festivals such as Domaine Forget, Orford, NYO Canada 2019, and has subbed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Emily Luo is an oboist from Edmonton, Alberta. She began her musical studies at the age of 14 and attended Interlochen Arts Academy. She is an active soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, debuting in 2016. She has performed in music festivals including the Brott Music Festival with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Domaine Forget, and the Curtis Summerfest Young Artists Summer Program where she was the recipient of the Canadian Cross-Border Award. In competition, her quintet placed third in the Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition in 2023. Emily Luo is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Sarah Jeffrey.

From the day Alexander Ortins first picked up a clarinet in his high school music class he began developing a fervent passion for playing, listening to, and learning about classical music. He studied privately with Kerry Roebuck before continuing in music at Vanier College with Zaven Zakarian (principal clarinet of the Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal). He just completed his bachelors at Mcgill University with Simon Aldrich (principal clarinet of the Orchestre Métropolitain), where he has seen his musical world widen enormously, taking part in various large and small ensemble settings, developing solo repertoire with exams and competitions, and branching into contemporary music through his own programming and collaboration with student composers. In 2015 he joined the Mount-Royal Youth Orchestra, with which he performed the Mozart concerto in 2022. Alexander has participated in several summer festivals, notably the Orchestre de la francophonie (2020), Clarinet Maestro Festival (2020), and Domaine Forget (2022).

A native of South Florida, Daniel Zaldana is currently studying at the Schulich School of music at McGill University studying under Stephane Levesque. Daniel is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan, were he studied with Dr. Jeffrey Lyman for his Undergraduate degree. Before his undergraduate degree, Daniel studied both at the summer and academy programs at Interlochen Center for the Arts where he studied with Dr. Eric Stomberg, William Short and Keith Buncke. During his studies throughout the many institutions, Daniel has had many opportunities to experiences and learn from a variety of influences. Such as an extensive chamber experience performing with many groups, learning more about arts administration work including volunteering with the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Michigan. All these different experiences, and all the people he has had the wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with, has greatly expanded his own ambitions and plans for his career ventures.

Dylan Pinette is an oboist/English hornist from Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba. Currently studying under Anna Petersen and Charles Hamann at UOttawa, Dylan will be completing a bachelor of music performance in 2025. Dylan Pinette is fascinated with obscure and forgotten orchestral repertoire written by Canadian composers as well as modern drone music. In 2022, Dylan took part in an improvised project with Ottawa film-maker Mario Desbiens, which featured multi-track layering of English horn extended-techniques paired alongside pixilated images of sound-waves. Dylan Pinette has performed as principal oboe with the UOttawa orchestra, as well as English hornist for the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, and International Music Camp Concert and Chamber Orchestras in the United States. Dylan Pinette is interested in the improvisatory application of English horn in experimental and non-western music. With a deep interest in the music of indigenous peoples of Canada as well as Japan and India, Dylan implements world music aesthetics into the music of classical greats. While not reed-making or performing, Dylan composes music influenced by their experiences with bird-sounds and indigenous folklore. They also play traditional Métis music on the fiddle as well as oboe.

Lou Anne, a Montreal-based horn player, obtained her Bachelor’s degree in 2022 from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal under the guidance of Professor Marjolaine Goulet. She has recently completed a year of performance diploma at McGill University with Nadia Côté. Lou Anne held the position of principal horn in both the Conservatoire Orchestra and the McGill Orchestra, where she had the opportunity to work with conductors such as Jacques Lacombe, Alexis Hauser, Alain Trudel, and Adam Johnson. Passionate about orchestral music, Lou Anne participated in the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO) in 2020 and 2021. This program allowed her to receive a masterclass from the renowned Sarah Willis, among other experiences. She has also worked with top-notch horn players such as Jeff Nelsen, Radovan Vlatkovic, William Vermeulan, Bruno Schneider, and Benoit de Barsony. Additionally, Lou Anne has started her career as a freelance horn player in the Quebec region. With a deep passion for chamber music, Lou Anne has spent her recent summers attending programs such as Orford, Domaine Forget, Collegium Musicum in Pommersfelden, and the horn program in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Seeking to further refine her horn playing, Lou Anne plans to pursue her Master’s degree in Germany next year.

Mustafa was born on January 26, 1996, in Baku, Azerbaijan. He started playing the trombone at the age of 15. After successfully graduating from the Baku Academy of Music, he went to the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne in Switzerland, where he pursued his studies in Master of Arts in Musical Interpretation under the guidance of Professor Jacques Mauger.

Professor Mauger, one of the most talented solo trombonists, has had a significant impact on his life and creative development as a musician and performer.

The next step in his life is to study at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Professor Vincent Lepape. Demanding and strict, Professor Lepape has helped him grow as an orchestral musician.

Mustafa has also participated in competitions such as the 1st Innovatrombone Musical Competition in 2020, where he received the 2nd prize, and the Frank Smith Competition for Tenor Trombone in 2020, where he was named Co-winner.

Currently, Mustafa works as the principal trombonist at the Vratsa Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria.

Based in Montreal, Félix Gauthier is a young and versatile trumpet player specializing in various musical styles, ranging from baroque to contemporary music. As a trumpet teacher and freelance musician, he can be heard performing with different ensembles throughout Quebec, including the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra, l’orchestre de l’agora, Ensemble Caprice, l’orchestre philharmonique et chœur des mélomanes, and many others. Having completed his Bachelor’s degree in Performance at McGill University in 2023 under the guidance of Alexis Basque, Félix has made his mark both as an orchestral trumpet player and as a soloist and chamber musician. With a curious nature, he particularly enjoys participating in new projects that allow him to further expand his musical horizons.

Maxime Lepage has been involved in music since a young age, initially learning the basics of piano. It wasn’t until later, during his secondary education, that he began playing the tuba at Collège Notre-Dame under the guidance of Philippe Legault. He studied with him for three years. Alongside private lessons, he started his orchestral journey at Collège Notre-Dame in extracurricular orchestras. This allowed him to develop a taste for ensemble music, and he joined several different amateur ensembles, including the Orchestre des Jeunes de Montréal, the Orchestre à Vents Non-Identifiés (Ovni), and the Orchestre des Jeux Vidéo.

Maxime has also performed as a soloist with the West Island Youth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of David Martin and the Orchestre Symphonique des Jeunes de Montréal under the direction of Louis Lavigueur. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Music at McGill University under the tutelage of Austin Howle in 2022. He is currently furthering his development as a tubist at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal under the instruction of Pierre Beaudry. In addition to his own studies, Maxime also teaches tuba at several institutions in Montreal, including FACE School and Collège Notre-Dame.

Professionally, Maxime has had a successful start to his career. He advanced to the semi-finals at the international audition of the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, was selected as a reserve at the Verbier Festival, performed with the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières, and won an audition in Kingston where he has held the position of principal tuba since January 2023.

Eric Bouchard has completed his second year of undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa. He is studying the French horn with Lawrence Vine and piano with David Jalbert. He is also taking composition courses. Eric began playing the piano at the age of two, started composing at seven, and took up the French horn at the age of 12. On the French horn, he won the Robert Langley Award for Best Brass Competitor at the Kiwanis Music Festival in Ottawa. This year, he has performed with three orchestras and two wind ensembles in the Ottawa area. On the piano, he placed second in the concerto competition at the University of Ottawa and will be performing as a soloist with the university orchestra next year. He is also a national finalist in the Canadian Music Competition this summer. In terms of composition, Eric writes in neo-romantic and contemporary styles. He writes for piano, French horn, small ensembles, wind ensemble, and symphony orchestra. He has composed several soundtracks for student plays and short films. Recently, he was invited to write a piece for string orchestra by his high school conductor. In composition, he has won two national competitions and five provincial competitions, specifically the ORMTA (Ontario) and CFMTA (Canada) composition competitions. He is also a former recipient of the Helen Dahlström Award for Best Composition in all categories at the national level.

Quinn McGillis is a young trombonist from Ottawa, Ontario. He has held positions as the Co-Principal Trombone of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Principal Trombone of l’Orchestre de la Francophonie during the 2018 and 2019 Seasons. He will also be joining the Taipei Music Festival Academy for the 2023 season as a fellow, collaborating with world leading orchestral musicians from around the world. He has also participated in the Boston University Tanglewood Institute as a member of the orchestra in 2017. He has received the honours such as a National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary Competition winner, a Interlochen Fine Arts award scholar and concerto competition finalist, and the 1st place winner of the Canadian National Music Competition in 2016 among other awards. Quinn is pursuing his Masters of music in trombone performance at the New England Conservatory in Boston in the class of 2024 studying with Toby Oft of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has received his Bachelors of Music from the same institution studying under Norman Bolter and James Markey. He has a high school diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he studied trombone.

Parker Bruce is an incoming Masters in Orchestral Artistry student at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, United Kingdom. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance at The Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Being born and raised in Baldwinsville, New York, Parker was a very active high school musician taking part in both the New York State Summer School of the Arts alongside the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as Carnegie Hall’s NYO2. During his time at McGill, in which he was a recipient of the Schulich Undergraduate Scholarship, Parker has spent his time participating in conferences such as The International Trumpet Guild and The National Trumpet Competition. In 2021 Parker was awarded the Ryan Anthony Memorial scholarship, and in 2022 and 2023 Parker competed in the live rounds of the undergraduate solo division and small ensemble division of the National Trumpet Competition, respectively. Parker has also performed in masterclasses with Jim Wilt, Phil Smith, James Thompson, Karin Blisnik and Septura. Parker is also an avid mental health advocate and teacher, completing a minor in Music Education alongside his Bachelor’s degree at McGill in the hopes to further his budding pedagogical ideas that integrate old school brass teachings with mental health techniques and performance psychology.

Harrison Lam is a graduating senior at the Blair school of music studying music performance and minoring in medicine, health and society. As a performer, Harrison has had the opportunity to play with the new world symphony, Blair Symphony Orchestra, and most recently the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. In addition, during the summer time Harrison has had the opportunity to participate in the Interlochen arts camp as an orchestral scholar, Boston University Tanglewood music institute young artist orchestra, and last summer Harrison was a fellow at the Aspen music festival. After graduating, Harrison plans to pursue a master’s degree in Nursing at Vanderbilt University. Though Harrison’s musical journey will be put on hold for some time, he plans to continue playing and eventually he would like to play in a professional orchestra.

Eric Prodger is a bass and tenor trombonist from Ottawa, Canada. He currently holds the bass trombone position with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra. On top of that, he maintains an active and diverse freelancing schedule throughout Quebec and Ontario. Eric has completed studies at McGill University, The New England Conservatory, The Glenn Gould School, and The University of Ottawa. His principal teachers have included: James Markey, James Box, Pierre Beaudry, Jeffrey Hall, and Douglas Burden. As an orchestral musician, Mr. Prodger has performed with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, The National Arts Centre Orchestra, The Orchestre Classique de Montreal, The Ontario Philharmonic Orchestra, and, The Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke. During his studies, he was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for four seasons which involved several recording sessions and extensive tours across Spain and Canada. As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed in recitals across eastern Canada. Eric was a featured soloist with The Ottawa Youth Orchestra and The Intrada Brass of Oakville. In 2022 he was the first alternate in the prestigious Donald Yaxley Bass Trombone solo competition through the International Trombone Association.

Aymeric Ratouit began learning the trumpet at the age of 6 at the Conservatoire de Châtellerault. In 2018, he joined the Pôle Aliénor in Poitiers-Tours, where he studied trumpet under Arnaud Juchault and obtained his DNSPM (Diplôme National Supérieur Professionnel de Musicien) and DE (Diplôme d’État) in teaching in 2022 and 2023, respectively. From a young age, Aymeric has shown a passion for playing in ensembles. He has performed with various harmony formations such as the Orchestre d’Harmonie de la Région Centre and the Orchestre d’Harmonie des Jeunes de Charentes, as well as symphonic ensembles like the Choeur et Orchestre des Jeunes de l’Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Eurochestries Charente-Maritime, and the Orchestre Symphonique de l’Arques. He has also played in brass bands such as Le Brass Band de la Vienne and Exo Brass. In May 2023, Aymeric participated with the Orchestre d’Harmonie de la Région Centre in the ECWO (European Championship for Wind Orchestras), where they achieved a 3rd place. Throughout his various experiences, he has been conducted by numerous conductors, including Mathias Charton, Dylan Corlay, Philippe Ferro, Fayçal Karoui, Léo Margue, and Frédéric Rouillon.

Sofia Leal is a Mexican double bassist who completed her studies at the University of Texas and obtained an advanced diploma in double bass from the Conservatoire de Saint-Maur under the tutelage of Professor Thierry Barbe. She has participated in various orchestra festivals in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and France. Sofia is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Performance at the University of Texas, studying with Professor George Amorim.

Lucinda Toews is a violinist from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She began playing the violin during her teenage years and quickly transitioned from fiddle tunes to a deep interest in classical violin music. At the age of 17, Lucinda moved to Victoria to pursue her studies under the guidance of Sharon Stanis and the Lafayette String Quartet at the University of Victoria. In addition to her university studies, she has taken lessons with professors Christi Meyers and Gwen Thompson. After three years in Victoria, Lucinda enrolled at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she is currently studying under the direction of Dr. Nancy Dahn. She completed her undergraduate studies in violin performance in 2021. She resides in St. John’s, Newfoundland and continues her studies with Dr. Dahn.

Lina Argoubi graduated in 2020 from the Darius Milhaud Conservatory in Aix en Provence with diplomas in violin and chamber music. She was a student of Anne Ménier (Debussy quartet, Orchestre National de Lyon) and studied baroque violin with Alice Piérot. She started her bachelor studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussel with Naaman Sluchin, and is now studying with Valéry Oistrakh. She studied baroque violin with Joanna Huszcza Kim-Anh, and is studying Viola with Tony Nys, former Viola of the Danel quartet and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Lina has worked under the mentorship of the London Symphony Orchestra from a young age. First during the summer of 2011 in the “Junior Orchestra”, organized by Marc Withers. And later in the Mediterranean Youth orchestra as a first violinist from 2017 to 2019, under the direction of famous conductors such as Pablo Heras-Casado, Kazushi Ono and Daniele Rustioni. She participated in the festival “Casa Del quartetto” 2022 edition, in Reggio Emilia with her quartet “Dianthus quartet”. More recently the Dianthus quartet was invited to play in Milan three contemporary pieces for the festival “Milano Musica”. She also participated as a choral singer in 2015 premiere of Jonathan Dove‘s “the monster in the maze”, under the baguette of Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO. She a member of the newly created “Orchestra da camera dell’Istituto di Cultura italiana Bruxelles”,performing various concerts all over Belgium.

Violinist Whit FitzGerald has begun to cultivate a promising career. He has performed with orchestras including the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and holds a graduate assistantship with the MUN Chamber Orchestra. Whit was selected to attend the Aspen Music Festival and the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and is a two-time alumnus of the Meadowmount School of Music. In the spring of 2022, Whit was a prizewinner in the Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Competition, and in the spring of 2023, Whit won the Kiwanis Chapter of St. John’s Senior Instrumental Rose Bowl. As a violin teacher, Whit has taught string students in the Blair School of Music’s Pre-college Program and at Atlanta’s Westminster Schools, as well as within his own private studio. His principal teachers include Cornelia Heard, Justin Bruns, and Nancy Dahn. Additionally, Whit has several years of experience playing Baroque violin, training with Baroque violinist Maria Romero Ramos. Whit received a BM with honors in violin performance from Vanderbilt University and is currently pursuing an MM in violin performance and pedagogy at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. In his free time, Whit enjoys hiking and exercise, and he is a lover of books. Whit is also very interested in the cross currents between music and the visual arts; his paper comparing the aesthetics of Johannes Brahms and Adolph Menzel won the Martin Williams prize at the Blair School of Music in 2020.

Maddalena Severin graduated from the Pôle Supérieur de Paris Boulogne-Billancourt, where she studied in the classes of Serge Pataud and Thibaut Vieux. She also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Musicology from the Sorbonne. She furthered her training with the Orchestre-atelier Ostinato and played in various ensembles such as Orchestre Sostenuto, Orchestre National des Jeunes du Luxembourg, and Ensemble orchestral Clair de Lune. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s degree at the Royal Conservatory of Liège under the guidance of Marc Bouchkov. During her studies, she had several opportunities to perform in concerts in France and abroad, showcasing a diverse range of programs and formations, including original romantic repertoire for violin and organ. She participated in festivals such as the Musée Suisse de l’orgue (CH) and Organici storici in cadore (IT). Driven by her passion for chamber music, she co-founded a string quartet that was invited to perform at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Paris) in 2019 and the Festival de l’Épau (Sarthe) in 2021, among other prestigious venues. Currently, she is involved in several chamber music projects, ranging from duos to quintets, exploring both classical and contemporary repertoire. Maddalena Severin embraces contemporary music and regularly includes works from the 20th and 21st centuries in her concert programs, as well as compositions by Florestan Gauthier, Tomás Bordalejo, Régis Campo, and others.

Charlotte Van Barr is an Ottawa-based violinist currently performing in Montreal. She has performed with Montreal ensembles such as Sinfonia de l’Ouest and Ensemble Obiora, and enjoyed being a part of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for four years. In Ottawa, Charlotte was also an active member of the music community, playing as concertmaster of the Camerata Strings and of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, with which she won the concerto competition. Also an active chamber musician, Charlotte played as first violin of the Four Score Quartet for four years, playing in venues such as the the Museum of Civilization, and winning the Open Chamber class at the Ottawa Kiwanis Music Festival. As a soloist, Charlotte has played the Sibelius Violin Concerto at the National Arts Centre lobby, and has played in masterclasses for violinists such as James Ehnes and Martin Chalifour. Charlotte has attended institutes such as Domaine Forget, Orford Musique and the NAC’s precollege Young Artists Program. She is entering her fourth year of her undergraduate degree at McGill University with Violaine Melançon. In addition to her classical music accomplishments, Charlotte is also a skilled fiddler. She has performed in competitions since the age of seven, including a performance at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship in Winnipeg in 2022, returning this year to the competition held in Nova Scotia. She is the founder and organizer of the McGill Fiddle Club.

Born in 1998, Chiara graduated from the Conservatorio “B. Marcello” of Venice with top marks at the age of 20. Currently she is enrolled in a Pedagogy Master program in Mons Royal Conservatory, Belgium, in the violin classes of Profs. Wibert Aerts and Eliot Lawson. In 2016 and 2018, she was prize winner in the P. G. Finzi violin competition at the Venice Conservatory. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has taken part in concerts at the Venetian Palazzo Ducale (Sala del Maggior Consiglio), Teatro dell’Arsenale di Venezia (Biennale Musica), Pordenone Cultural Center (Musicainsieme Festival), the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels, private concert in Bozar (Brussels), and other similar centres. As an orchestral musician, she has played in venues such as Teatro La Fenice and Teatro Malibran in Venice, and the Accademia Filarmonica of Verona, Teatro Comunale di Treviso, Musical instruments Museum in Berlin, Zwinger Palace in Dresden (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister), Arsonic in Mons with the Belgian ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, Theatre of the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels, etc. In 2016-2018, she appeared regularly with the Venice Chamber Orchestra as leader of the 2nd violins. In 2022 she played regularly with Italian Cultural Institute Chamber Orchestra in Brussels, as leader of the 2nd violins, playing concerts in many important venues across Belgium (PBA Charleroi, Hotel de Ville de Bruxelles, Ambassade d’Italie à Bruxelles, Bruges, Antwerp, etc…). She followed masterclasses with great violinists and teachers such as D. Bogdanovič, A. Ganz, I. Grubert, I. Volochine, H. Shaham, V. Hudeček.

Kevin Belvedere is a Canadian violist who was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. Having recently completed his Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance at the University of Toronto, Kevin was delighted to have won a permanent position in the orchestra of the State Theatre Košice of Slovakia in September 2021. This spring, Kevin was featured in a documentary series about professional orchestras with the Slovak national broadcaster. (RTVS) Before moving to Europe, Kevin played for several years in many community orchestras including the Etobicoke Philharmonic, Greater Toronto Philharmonic, and Oakville Symphony Orchestras. In the summers Kevin enjoys playing in various high-level music festivals and programs such as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, l’Orchestre de la Francophonie, the PRISMA Festival in Powell River, BC, and at MusicFest Canada.

Lorenzo was born in Manizales, Colombia, and began his studies at the Batuta Foundation with professor Diana Marcela Bedoya. Since then, he has performed as a soloist with the Marco Tulio Arango Orchestra and has won opportunities to participate in various festivals such as SINEM in Costa Rica, the Aruba Symphony Orchestra, and the International Festival of Cartagena. He continued his university studies at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia with professor Aníbal Dos Santos. He has taken masterclasses with renowned violists such as Hsin-Yun Huang, Stephen Wyrczynski, Richard Young, Amy Muchnick, Reinhold Rieger, Julia Bullard, Mikhail Zemtsov, among others. He has also served as principal viola in various orchestras, including the Orquesta Filarmónica Juvenil de Bogotá and the Filarmónica Joven de Colombia. Currently, he is pursuing his Master’s studies at the University of Montreal under the guidance of Juan-Miguel Hernandez.

Julien Haynes is an emerging artist based in Victoria, British Columbia. A former violinist, Julien has received several awards at provincial festivals and had the privilege of performing as a soloist with the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance at the University of Victoria under Professor Ann Elliott-Goldschmid, Julien made the decision to switch to viola. A few months later, Julien won a gold medal at an online music competition (NAVIMC) and was featured as part of the Young Artists Program by the Canadian Viola Society. In the summer of 2022, Julien was awarded a full scholarship as a member of the Aspen Music Festival. In Aspen, Julien served as rotating principal violist of the AMFS Orchestra and studied privately with Masao Kawasaki. As a chamber musician, Julien has shared the stage with renowned Canadian musicians such as Nikki Chooi, Cameron Crozman, Robert Uchida, Violaine Melançon, Marina Thibeault, and Hao Zhou. Julien now holds a Master’s degree in Viola Performance from the University of Victoria, where he studied with Professor Joanna Hood.

Cellist, musicologist, and mediator, Arthur Prieur is part of a young generation of musicians driven by the desire to share their art with new audiences. His musical activities are diverse: in addition to numerous concert presentations and workshops at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris, Philharmonie, and Festival de Besançon, he explores the medium of radio programming and production with shows like “Simultans” for the Monte Carlo Festival. The combination of performance, musical mediation, and musicological research makes him a well-rounded musician and reinforces his belief that it is essential for performers to forge new connections with listeners in order to reach a wider audience and inspire new vocations. After receiving awards in music culture and music analysis at the CNSM de Paris, Arthur pursued a Master’s degree in cello at the University of Montreal in September 2020, graduating in 2022. He is currently continuing his studies in the DEPA program for cello. Chamber music is his preferred form of artistic expression. In his recitals, he regularly performs sonatas with piano and violin. For example, he has recorded “Héliogravure” (2019 version) for violin and cello by composer Marin Escande. He also participates in larger ensembles such as string quintets and sextets, which he practices each summer under the guidance of Jean-Charles Monciero, principal violist at the Opéra de Paris.

Kyle, 25, is a cellist originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who now lives in Bloomington, Indiana where he is completing his master’s degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of Brandon Vamos. Previously, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he studied with David Premo. Kyle is principal cellist of the Indiana University Concert Orchestra, and has also been a substitute cellist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He has recently performed in masterclasses led by Philippe Muller, Anne Martindale Williams, Andres Diaz, and Rafael Figueroa. Earlier this summer, he attended the Sarasota Music Festival in Florida, and in past summers he has participated in the Josef Gingold and Credo chamber music festivals.

Émile Cartier is a versatile performer, a double bassist and electric bassist based in Montreal. He began his music education journey at Cégep de Saint-Laurent, specializing in jazz electric bass, where he completed a technique program in performance under Rémi-Jean Leblanc. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in classical double bass and a Master’s degree in performance at the University of Montreal, studying under the guidance of Yannick Chênevert. In recent years, he has had the opportunity to perform with numerous classical music ensembles, including the University of Montreal Orchestra conducted by Jean-François Rivest, the Montreal Classical Orchestra under the direction of Jacques Lacombe, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada led by Sascha Goetzel, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec as part of the Orchestre philharmonique des musiciens de Montréal, and a tour of Mozart’s opera Cosi Fan Tutte in Switzerland in collaboration with the Haute École de Musique Vaud-Valais-Fribourg. His passion for music, enthusiasm for exploring new repertoire, and interpersonal skills shine through in each of his collaborations.

Gabrielle Martin is a double bassist and composer of music for visual media. After several years of studying classical music on piano and violin, she completed her master’s degree in double bass performance at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal in 2021. Throughout her journey as a double bassist, she has been involved with various orchestras such as the Video Game Orchestra, the Orchestre de la Francophonie, and the National Youth Orchestra. Being a multi-instrumentalist and an enthusiast of diverse projects, she also has a keen interest in music composition. She was first introduced to contemporary instrumental composition at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, and later pursued and completed her studies in composition for visual media at the Université du Québec à Montréal in 2023. Gabrielle can be found performing on the classical music stages of Montreal, working intensely on her compositions in her studio, or preparing for her upcoming artistic collaborations in Montreal’s cafes!

Aude is a violinist from French-speaking Switzerland. She began learning the violin at the age of 8 in Dalibor Hrebec’s class. She joined the conservatory’s student orchestra at an early age, giving her the opportunity to participate in numerous projects until the age of 15. In 2019, she started a bachelor’s degree at the Haute École de Musique de Genève in Patrick Genet’s violin class. She has had the chance to play under the direction of conductors such as Gabor Takàcs-Nagy, Guillaume Tourniaire, and Baldur Brönnimann. In 2022, she participated in the spring tour of the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra, performing in several major venues in Switzerland, such as the Tonhalle in Zürich, the Casino in Basel, the Victoria Hall in Geneva, the KKL in Lucerne, and the Rosey Concert Hall.

Originally from Mississauga, Kirit holds a Master’s degree in Violin Performance and Literature from the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with distinction from the studio of Annette-Barbara Vogel. Kirit is a passionate performer who is frequently invited to perform across New Brunswick with ensembles such as the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra and Tutta Musica. He has also performed in Ontario with the Windsor Symphony and London Sinfonia, in the United States with the Texas Festival Orchestra, and has recently completed a tour in Berlin, Germany, as a member of the Berlin Opera Academy.

Yuka started the violin at the age of 3 years old. From the age of 9, she joined an orchestra in Yokohama, the Hirayana-music orchestra, where she stayed until 2013. Winner of the 16th edition of the “All Japan Junior Classic Music Competition” in Tokyo. Since 2017, she regularly plays with her group “Iguazù Quintet” at the Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Brussels, the BPO, and Casco Phil.

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Patrick Paradine began his violin studies with Olena and Sergei Vyhovskyi and participated in local and provincial Kiwanis competitions during his childhood. He continued his musical education at De La Salle Public High School, where he served as the principal violinist of the orchestra for five years. After two European tours conducted by Jason Hutt, Patrick went on to study violin at the University of Ottawa with Yehonatan Berick and later with Timothy Chooi. During his undergraduate studies, he held the position of concertmaster for one year, won the chamber music competition, and was a finalist in the concerto competition. As a finalist and recipient of the NAC Bursary Competition, he also performed numerous concerts with the NAC Orchestra through their Mentoring Program and Orchestral Institute. Patrick has attended several summer academies, including Domaine Forget and Scotia Festival, and has given a solo recital in Tallinn, Estonia. He has also performed as a soloist with the Pembroke Symphony and participated in masterclasses with artists such as Hilary Hahn, Shlomo Mintz, Vadim Gluzman, and Cho-Liang Lin. Next year, he will pursue his master’s studies in violin at McGill University with Violaine Melançon.

She was born in Guatire, Venezuela in 1995. She began her musical journey at the age of 7 at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory in her hometown. Over the years, she has been a member of various orchestras, such as the Francisco de Miranda Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Teresa Carreño Youth Symphony Orchestra, and currently the Medellín Symphony Orchestra, where she completed her bachelor’s studies. She will soon be traveling to Spain to pursue her master’s studies in orchestral studies.

Christopher Stork originates from Plainfield, Vermont, and joined the TBSO as Principal Second Violin in 2021. An avid and talented chamber musician, Chris was the second violinist in the Iceberg String Quartet from 2018-2020. The quartet was the resident string quartet at notable festivals including at the Banff Center, the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and the Bowdoin Music Festival. They were the winners of the McGill Chamber Music Competition (2018), finalists at the Chesapeake International Chamber Music Festival (2020), and semi-finalists at the Young Concert Artists Competition (2019). He was also a member of the resident piano trio at the Zodiac Music Festival in France, and has toured with ensembles such as the Vermont Mozart Chamber Players. As an orchestral violinist, Chris has served as Concertmaster of the McGill Orchestra, and Assistant Principal Second of the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra.

Canadian-born violinist Lucia Warren began studying violin at the age of seven, and over the years has been in the studios of many prominent Canadian violinsts, including Violaine Melançon, Erika Raum, Marie Bérard, Annalee Patipatanakoon, and Bénédicte Lauzière. Lucia completed her bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the University of Toronto, and is currently pursuing a Graduate Artist Diploma at McGill University in Montreal. Lucia has participated in several Canadian summer music festivals, including the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (’20, ’21, ’22), Domaine Forget (’18, ’19, ’21), Orford Musique (’17), and Wilfrid Laurier University’s Quartetfest (’18). In spring 2022, Lucia was a semifinalist in the Classicalia Global Televised Music Competition, and in April 2016, Lucia was the winner of her youth orchestra’s concerto competition, where she performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor; additionally, in November 2019, Lucia performed as a soloist with the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra, playing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major.

Originally from Ukraine, Iryna Peleshchyshyn started her violin studies with Rostyslav Shevchyk in Lviv. Upon her move to Canada, she continued her education with Heidi Behrenbruch in Calgary, Alberta. During her time there, she participated in the Mount Royal Junior Strings Orchestra where she was concertmaster and soloist, as well as the Calgary Youth Orchestra. She studied at the University of Victoria, where she completed the Bachelor of Music in Music Education, under the tutelage of Ann Elliott-Goldschmid, Gerald Stanick, and the Lafayette String Quartet. She was also a finalist in the University of Victoria Concerto Competition. During her studies at UVIC, she participated in the 2019 National Youth Orchestra of Canada, which gave her the opportunity to perform in Canada’s most notable halls and tour Spain, where she performed at the Alhambra Palace. Currently, Iryna is pursuing her Master’s in Performance at McGill University under the direction of Marcelle Mallette and Violaine Melancon.

Mahina is a musician and artist currently residing in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She completed a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in viola at Memorial University in 2021. Currently, she is completing a Master’s degree in ethnomusicology at MUNL. Her master’s research focuses on performance, gender, and community within the St. John’s music scene. Originally from Calgary, Mahina moved to St. John’s in 2016 in search of music and community. Since then, she has carved out a place within the vibrant scene. Mahina has been performing with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra since 2017, initially as a student and now as a member. She has volunteered and served on the board of several local festivals, including the Folk Festival, Sound Symposium, and Newfound Music Festival. Alongside her studies and performances, Mahina has been working at the award-winning ECMA venue, the Ship Pub, since 2021.

Born in Venezuela, Sofia began playing the violin at the age of 7. One year later, due to the crisis in her country, she moved to Canada and continued her musical journey at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal until the age of 14, where she decided to specialize in viola. Since then, she has been studying with Jocelyne Bastien, with whom she will complete her Bachelor’s degree in 2023. Sofia plans to continue her Master’s studies with her professor at the conservatory. Sofia has had the opportunity to perform in front of numerous masters such as Antoine Tamestit, Maxim Rysanov, Miguel da Silva, Ivo-Jan van der Werff, Issac Chalk, and Edward Klorman, among many others. She has also participated multiple times in summer programs such as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada) and Domaine Forget. These experiences have allowed her to perform as a soloist with the chamber orchestra I Musici de Montréal, as well as at the Préludes de l’OM (Orchestre Métropolitain) as an opening act and with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal as part of their immersion project. Devoted to her instrument, Sofia Morao seeks to promote a sense of community and collaboration through her playing.

Sophia Tseng is a young Canadian Violist from Vancouver, British Columbia. She is currently studying at the New England Conservatory pursuing her Bachelors of Music. She is currently studying with Nicholas Cords. Sophia primarily is a chamber performer, orchestra performer, and soloist. As part of her studies she is a member of New England Conservatory Philharmonia and works closely with conductors such as David Loebel, Hugh Wolff, Paul Biss, and Robert Tweeten. She has won prizes in competitions such as Taiwan’s National Middle School Competition in 2014 and the Kiwanis Viola Competition both in 2015. She was formally a member of different youth orchestras at such as Surrey Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2014 and Vancouver Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2015. She is also a recent Recipient of a full fellowship to the Miami Music Festival 2023 season.

Tobias began taking cello lessons at the age of 5. A few years later, he learned guitar, electric bass, and other instruments, developing a keen interest in different musical styles. He studied cello with Elinor Frey during high school and continued in the music program at Marianopolis College, where he studied with Yegor Dyachkov. Currently, he is studying classical cello performance under the guidance of Professor Dyachkov at the University of Montreal. Tobias was a member of the Mont-Royal Youth Orchestra from 2015 to 2020 and won first place in the 2020 concerto competition, where he performed Saint-Saëns’ concerto. However, due to the pandemic, the concert was postponed until 2022, in which he performed Elgar’s concerto. Tobias has participated in summer festivals such as Orford, Domaine Forget, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute, and the UBC Chamber Orchestra Festival. Through school and the festivals he has attended, he has performed for musicians such as Michel Strauss, Thomas Wiebe, Brian Manker, Amir Eldan, Cameron Crozman, and others. He has played with the FILMharmonic de Montréal, the West Island Youth Symphony Orchestra, the collective “Novart,” the contemporary music collective “Radiance,” and regularly plays in the Mile End Chavurah group for Jewish services. In the future, he hopes to explore the role of the cello in jazz and non-Western music styles.

Haena Lee is a twenty three year old cellist from Calgary. She was born in Malaysia, and started her cello lessons at the age of nine upon returning to her home country, South Korea. A few years later, she moved to Canada where she continued her cello studies in Edmonton, Alberta. As a young soloist in Edmonton, she won various scholarships and awards, including the Alberta College Fall Music Festival Scholarship in 2009 and Alberta College Scholarship from the A.C Scholarship Competition in 2010. She served as a principal cellist for both Edmonton Junior String Ensemble and Edmonton Youth Orchestra, winning the Diana Bacon Young Musician Award. Haena also performed as a soloist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in 2012. In 2012, Haena moved to Calgary, Alberta and she was accepted into the Academy Program for Gifted Youth. In 2015, she sequentially entered the Advanced Performance Program, participating in various recitals, concerts, chamber ensembles, and masterclasses with guest artists such as Frans Helmerson, Colin Carr and more. Moreover, she won numerous awards and scholarships at the Calgary Kiwanis Festival and Canadian Music Competition. She joined the Calgary Youth Orchestra in 2013 and placed Honourable Mention in 2015 Frank Simpson Concerto Competition and had the opportunity to play the first movement of Lalo Concerto in D minor with the Calgary Youth Orchestra. During the summers, she participated in many festivals such as Morningside MusicBridge, Meadowmount School of Music, Heifetz Institute and more. Haena obtained her Bachelor of Music Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, taking part in many performances and masterclasses. She finised studying her Master of Music Performance at the McGill’s Schulich School of Music with Professor Brian Manker.

Jennifer Cristine Ingrid Schäfer is a German national born on January 30 in Passau. She began her musical journey at a very young age, at 6 years old, when she started her musical early education at Kreismusikschule Passau. From there, her passion for music only grew stronger. Jennifer continued her education at Alois-Johannes-Lippl-Volkschule Thyrnau, where she completed her primary school education from 09/2007 to 07/2011. She then enrolled in the musical branch of Auersperg-Gymnasium Passau, where she studied until 06/2019, receiving her high school diploma in spring/summer 2019. Throughout her musical education, Jennifer took guitar lessons with Bernhard Scholz from 7 to 17 years old and passed D1 and D2 exams in solo guitar. She also participated in a children’s choir at Kreismusikschule Passau in Thyrnau with Mario Eckmüller from 8 to 9 years old and played in a guitar ensemble with regular concerts from 8 to 15 years old. Jennifer further developed her musical abilities through piano lessons with Elmar Slama from 11 to 18 years old, participating twice in the piano master course „Umbria Classica“ in Chianciano Terme (Italy) at 16 and 17 years old. She also took solo singing lessons with Kurt Brunner from 12 to 18 years old, passed D1 and D2 exams in solo singing, and participated in the „Jugend musiziert“ competition in the category of solo singing. Jennifer was an active member of various choirs at the musical Auersperg-Gymnasium from 11 to 17 years old, including choir competitions and exchanges with partner schools. She attended the Förderklasse at Kreismusikschule Landkreis Passau from 14 to 17 years old and took double bass lessons with Klaus Stolle and Stephan Bauer from 13 to 18 years old. She was an active member of the school orchestra, the Dommusik Passau, the Passauer Konzertverein, and the Musikakademie Passau. Jennifer’s dedication and hard work in music paid off when she won first prize with advancement to the state competition in Hof on April 13, 2019, in the „Jugend musiziert“ competition in the category of double bass with piano accompaniment. She then continued her musical education at the University of Mozarteum Salzburg from 18 years old, participated in the „Oper am Berg“ festival in Salzburg from 19 years old, and participated in the „Collegium Musicum“ summer academy in Pommersfelden and the Verdi project in Pozzuolo Di Friuli by the organization „Opera Prima Wien“ at 21 years old. Jennifer’s love for music continues to flourish as she recently went on a Germany tour with Viktoria Kauzner titled „Eurasian Flow.“ With her passion and talent in music, Jennifer is a remarkable musician who has proven her dedication and commitment to her craft.

Translation: Native of Ottawa, Amanda started playing the violin at the age of 3. During her high school years, she studied in the strings program at Canterbury High School for the Performing Arts, where she had several opportunities to perform alongside members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. It was here that Amanda discovered her passion for orchestral music. In addition to chamber orchestra experience, Amanda was also a member of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra from 2018 to 2020. During her studies in Ottawa, Amanda studied under the guidance of Grace Bruno, Donnie Deacon, and Yehonatan Berick.

Teaching the violin for 16 years, Amanda also participated in several competitions and festivals such as Kiwanis, MusicFest, Camp des Laurentides, and Interlochen in Michigan. She continued her studies at the University of Toronto, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance under the tutelage of Marie Bérard, the first violinist of the Canadian Opera Company. Amanda is passionate about chamber music and violin pedagogy research. She is thrilled to be a member of several chamber ensembles, as well as the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Chamber Orchestra.

At twelve years old, Alessandro began his violin education during his secondary studies at Lindsay Place High School in the suburb of Pointe-Claire, west of Montréal, Québec. He promptly began private lessons, where he quickly progressed as a violinist under the guidance of Carolyn Klause. Alessandro is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, studying with distinguished violinist and mentor Marcelle Mallette. Since starting his musical journey, he has played with multiple ensembles such as the West Island Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Musical Theatre Orchestra, l’Orchestre Philharmique des Étudiants de Montréal, McGill’s Baroque Orchestra, the Brownies Concerto Orchestra, the McGill Symphony Orchestra, and numerous chamber groups, whether as part of a string quartet, string trio, or a non-traditional quartet of four violins. Alessandro is also motivated to pursue a Master of Music degree to further advance his musical education in hopes of becoming an orchestral musician.

Born & raised in Edinburg, TX, Angela Llanes began her violin studies at the age of 3 under her fathers instruction. Her passion for music grew stronger as a teenager which granted her the opportunity to play in many prestigious music festivals including Interochen in Michigan and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. She also won various awards as a soloist for state interscholastic music competitions. She studied with Emanuel Borok, former associate concertmaster of the Boston Symphony, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and maintained a private violin studio in Frisco. In 2022, she was awarded the position of Concertmaster at the Puerto Rico Summer Music Festival. She continues her studies with Dr. Diana Seitz at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and plays in several local symphonies.

Solana Frebold began her violin studies at age three in her hometown, Banff, Alberta. In 2019, she graduated from the Advanced Performance Program at Mount Royal University where she studied with Joan Barrett. She is now a recent graduate from McGill University, achieving her undergraduate degree with Axel Strauss. This fall, Solana will pursue an artist diploma at The Royal Conservatory, Glenn Gould School. She was generously awarded a full scholarship and will study with violinist, Erika Raum. Solana has worked with many distinguished teachers including William van der Sloot, Andres Cardènas, Gerardo Ribeiro, Vadim Gluzman, Ian Swensan, Joel Krosnick, James Ehnes, Christian Tetzlaff, and members of the Dover and Pacifica Quartet, among others. She has had success in local, provincial, and national competitions including first place at the Alberta Music Festival. In 2019, she was awarded first prize in the Frank Simpson Concerto Competition and has been a regular finalist in the Canadian Music Competition. She has been featured in concerts through the Advanced Performance Program, Banff Centre, Calgary’s Stars of the Festival, and Canada’s Rising Stars. She has attended programs including Orford Music Academy, Domaine Forget Academy, NAC Young Artists Program, Meadowmount School of Music, and Mozarteum International Summer Academy. An accomplished chamber musician, Solana participated in the Székely/Rolston Young Artists Program, Canadian Music Competition, Alberta Provincial Festival, La Sam’s Outreach Program, and the McGill Chamber Competition. This Summer, Solana will perform as a semi-finalist in the Concours Prix D’Europe. She will also attend the Orford Music Academy, and the International Music Workshop and Festival held in Kirchberg, Germany.

He began his musical studies at the age of 15 at the National Foundation Batuta. In 2014, he joined the basic program of the Conservatory of the National University of Colombia, where he continued his musical studies with violin masters Antonia Capitanova and Luis Dario Baracaldo. During this time, he was invited to participate in the World Orchestra of the United Nations (UN) in New York, USA, to celebrate its 69th anniversary, where he shared the stage with renowned music personalities such as LANG LANG and STING. In 2016, he entered the Pontifical Javeriana University in Bogotá to pursue his graduate studies in music under the guidance of maestro Francisco Iragorri until the sixth semester of the program. Since then, and up to the present day, he has been under the direction of violin maestro Anyango Yarbo-Davenport. He has received masterclasses from Ryu Goto (USA), Otto Delorez and Alexander Steinberger (Belgium), Alexis Cardenas (Venezuela), Chenjun Fan and Lin He (China). He has participated in international festivals such as the Huilo Huilo Music Festival in Chile and the Global Summer Institute of Music at Virginia Commonwealth University in the USA. Currently, he is a member of the tutti violin section of the Bogota Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alireza Tarviji was born in Iran. He began taking violin lessons at the age of 7 and continued his studies until the age of 16 in Iran, performing in orchestras such as the Guilan Philharmonic, Paytakht Orchestra, and the Tehran Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. In 2020, he moved to Canada to pursue his studies. While completing his high school education, he also learned two new languages, French and English. Currently, he is studying music at the University of Ottawa with Professor Timothy Chooi and continues to gain experience in various orchestras, including the University of Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Ottawa Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Ottawa Chamber Orchestra. Drawing from his educational experiences, Alireza teaches music to numerous students at a local music school called La Petite Fanfare. He is also actively involved in chamber music, with his trio, Vivo Trio, successfully launching in 2022, and his ensemble, Caspian Ensemble, established in 2023. The Caspian Ensemble showcases a repertoire that includes Western classical music as well as Persian repertoire that Alireza brought with him from Iran. Alireza is a compassionate young musician who has organized numerous fundraising events to support various needs worldwide. In April 2022, he organized a fundraiser at his high school for Ukraine, followed by a concert in the fall titled “Concert of Hope for Iran.” In October, he also organized a fundraiser for the earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. Alireza demonstrates his commitment to using music to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Esther Yao has been playing the violin since she was five years old. She is currently going into the University of Toronto as a second year music student studying with Mark Fewer, and had previously studied at the University of Alberta with Robert Uchida for the past year. She has also had lessons with Laura Veeze, Ewald Cheung, William van der Sloot, and Sally Thomas. She has participated in numerous programs such as Meadowmount, the MacEwan Chamber Academy led by the Garneau String Quartet, and the Edmonton Youth Orchestra. Recently, she played in the University of Alberta concerto competition as well as having played in numerous Kiwanis festivals in the past and placing first place in a previous concerto competition. Esther is also very involved in her community and school. At the University of Alberta, she was elected as the strings representative of the Music Students Association and frequently attends the meetings and helps plan events. She was also awarded the Symphony Women’s Educational Assistance Award in 2019. In her free time, Esther enjoys spending time with her peers and trying out new food.

Serena Piercey is violinist from St. John’s, Newfoundland. She is a 4th year student at Memorial University studying violin performance with Dr. Nancy Dahn. Serena has performed with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Kittiwake Dance Theatre as a member of the violin section. She has also performed as alternating concertmaster of the MUN chamber orchestra. Serena is very passionate about chamber music and has participated in the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival in 2019, 2020 and 2021. She was named to the Dean’s list of the MUN school of music in 2020 and 2021. Serena was also the winner of the St. John’s Kiwanis Festival Junior Rosebowl in 2020 and the winner of the Newfoundland provincial music festival strings category 2021. In addition to music, Serena enjoys reading, learning languages, and playing hockey.

Julián Camilo Lerma Bejarano is a violist currently pursuing his Master of Music in Viola Performance at the Université de Montréal under the guidance of Juan Miguel Hernández-Hache. He obtained his Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the National University of Colombia, Conservatory of Music in Bogotá D.C. with Sandra Liliana Arango Calderón. Julian is a proficient viola and violin teacher and has completed Suzuki courses with Fernando Piñeros. He has performed as Viola Principal, Viola Tutti, and also as a Viola Teacher with the Colombian Youth Philharmonic. Julian has won several Viola Soloist Competitions, including the Jóvenes Intérpretes del Banco de la República de Colombia, and performed in prestigious theaters across Colombia. He has participated in numerous Viola Masterclasses and Workshops under the guidance of Yura Lee, Nobuko Imai, and Lars Anders Tomter, among others. Julian has also participated in various international music festivals and programs such as the Orchestre de la Francophonie-Académie Orchestrale and the L’Orchestre classique de Montréal “Mentorat Special Program”. He has been a part of several Orchestral Participations with the Colombian Youth Philharmonic, including tours in Austria, Germany, and Holland, playing in venues like The Royal Concertgebouw Concert Hall and Wiener Konzerthaus, and performing as a Side by Side player with Tonhalle Orchester Zürich in venues such as Tonhalle Maag (Zürich) and Freiburg Konzerthaus.

Linda Torres was born in Aguascalientes on October 5, 1999. She began her musical studies at the age of 9 by learning to play the piano. In 2014, she joined the children’s orchestra “Esperanza Azteca Aguascalientes” as a violinist. In 2016, she was selected to participate in the 25th tour of the Children’s Symphony Orchestra of Mexico (OSIM), performing in some of the country’s most important theaters. It was during this time that Linda first heard a solo viola and became acquainted with the instrument. It happened while listening to W.A. Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. She realized that due to its tone and character, the viola was a better fit for her personality than the violin. At the age of 17, she began her Bachelor’s degree specializing in viola, under the guidance of Maestro Pablo Martínez Bourguet at the “Carlos Chávez” Orchestra/School of the Ministry of Culture of Mexico in Mexico City. In 2021, Linda participated in an international course in Solsona, Spain. She performed as a soloist and in chamber music concerts around Barcelona. That same year, she started studying at the “Ollin Yoliztli” School to further her soloist training. In 2022, she was part of the “Encuentros” orchestra under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, giving performances throughout Los Angeles at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Greek Theatre in San Francisco. Linda has attended master classes with Teng Li, Laure Gaudreon, Jonnathan Brown, and Roy Sonne. Currently, she is in her final year of her Bachelor’s degree, she is a member of two youth orchestras, and she is preparing for her final exam. Her future plan is to continue her studies in another country to further improve her skills.

Maria Paula began her musical career at the Allegro Casa Musical in Ibagué, the city where she completed his secondary studies at the Ibagué Conservatory, graduating in 2016 as a Musical Technical Bachelor, under the guidance of teacher Clementina Riveros. In 2014, she entered the music school of the Tolima Conservatory, where she received classes with maestro Iván León, with whom she later completed her undergraduate studies at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, graduating in 2022. In January 2023, she completed a Diploma in chamber music with an emphasis on strings, carried out by the Institución Universitaria Bellas Artes y Ciencias de Bolívar (Unibac) and the Conservatorio di Musica from Bolonia (Italy), within the framework of the XVII edition of the Cartagena International Music Festival. She participated in the 2013 and 2014 Premier Orchestra Institute Summer Camp in Jackson, Mississippi; at Festival South in Hattiesburg, Mississippi 2014 and 2015; at the Festiquartetos quartet festival in 2018 and 2022 and at the XVI and XVII edition of the Cartagena International Music Festival. This year she was the winner of the Young Performers Series 2024 of the Banco de la República. She has been part of the Youth Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra of Bogotá, the Youth Philharmonic of Colombia and has acted as a supernumerary of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. She is currently part of the Bogotá Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra.

Wendy Yuan is a cellist and pianist from Toronto, ON, currently residing in Montreal. She began studying the cello at the age of ten under the guidance of Dong Sheng and later Paul Widner in Toronto at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She attended Unionville High School and participated actively in the Arts Unionville Music Program. Wendy was the assistant cellist of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Chinese Artists Society of Toronto, and principal cellist of the Mooredale Youth Orchestra and Chinese Artists Society of Toronto Youth Orchestra during her high school years. Additionally, she has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and in masterclasses with Lynn Harrell, Leonid Gorokhov, Chu Yibing, Marc Coppey, Sergei Boardella, and Zlatomir Fung. Wendy has attended festivals worldwide, including Chamber Music Dolomiti in Italy, SuperCello in Beijing, and Cellosmagic in Spain. Wendy will be pursuing the last year of her bachelor’s degree, studying cello performance at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University under the guidance of Matt Haimovitz. In her spare time, Wendy loves to go on runs, read psychological thrillers, bake, cook and experiment in the kitchen, happily feeding all of those around her.

Iris Leck is a double bassist who recently graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Music Performance from the University of Ottawa, where she studied with Joel Quarrington and Travis Harrison. She has been playing the double bass for several years and has performed with the Ontario Francophone Youth Orchestra, the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, and the Camerata in partnership with Thirteen Strings. At the University of Ottawa, she held the position of principal bassist in the orchestra, wind ensemble, and opera productions. Iris has participated in the Scotia Festival of Music Young Artist Program and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. She recently won first prize in the Chamber Music Competition at the University of Ottawa with her quintet. In September, Iris will begin a Master’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Western Ontario, studying with Joseph Philips. She hopes to continue her research on gender parity in orchestras and the progression of women musicians in the 20th century.

Amiel Ang is a Philippine born percussionist raised and currently based in Toronto, Ontario. Studying under Dr. Aiyun Huang, John Rudolph and Beverley Johnston, he will be going into his third year of his Bachelor’s of Music in Percussion Performance at the University of Toronto. An avid drumkit player, Amiel has been heard in the pit bands and orchestras for numerous musical theatre productions, both on and off of the University of Toronto campus. In 2020, Amiel co-founded the independent multimedia production company, March Break Forever where he composed and produced the score for original short film “GOOSE SPIT”, directed by Nick Kastanis; which was premiered in the Landmark Cinemas of Whitby, Ontario in April 2022. Amiel has been a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Band of Canada, the University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble, and the Hannaford Youth Band.

Jean-Félix Poirier began his musical journey as a drummer in Alexis Carrier’s class at the École de musique du Bas-St-Laurent. In high school, he joined the Harmonie Vents-du-Fleuve under the direction of Marie-Anick Arsenault. He had the opportunity to participate in competitions in Orlando, New York, and London, Ontario with the ensemble. In 2018, he joined Gabriel Dionne’s percussion class. That same year, he became a finalist in the Concours de musique du Canada. Passionate about ensemble music, Jean-Félix has taken part in concerts with the Orchestre des Jeunes du Québec Maritime, the Baroque Orchestra of the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski, the Collégial Orchestra of the Conservatories, the Antoine-Perreault ensemble, and the Orchestre Symphonique de l’Estuaire. He has been conducted by Dina Gilbert, Nicolas Ellis, and Naomi Woo. He had the opportunity to participate in a video conference concert with musicians and teachers from the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Also active as a chamber musician, Jean-Félix has participated in concerts with the Percussion Ensemble of the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski, the Rythmus percussion ensemble, and the contemporary music project Le Piano Rue! He teaches drums at the École de musique du Bas-St-Laurent and has conducted percussion workshops at the Festival de musique du Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. Jean-Félix has received several scholarships at the Conservatoire and in 2023, he is the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal.

Mathias is a percussionist from Quebec City. Passionate about music from a young age, he graduated from playing pots and pans and is now starting his Master’s studies in music at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. He dreams of one day holding a position in an orchestra and is constantly seeking to improve his playing. Having participated in the 2021 online edition of the Francophonie Orchestra, he is thrilled to be able to come back and absorb the knowledge of the masters in person!