Musicians – 2024

Jayden Lee is pursuing an exciting career as an aspiring orchestral flutist. Originally from Arizona, USA, he has had the opportunity to work with several ensembles, often serving as principal flute for the McGill Symphony Orchestra and performing as principal guest, second flute, and piccolo with various ensembles, including the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Symphony Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Obiora, and Hawkesbury Chamber Orchestra.
As a soloist, he has performed Cécile Chaminade’s Concertino for Flute and Wind Ensemble with the Desert Ridge High School Wind Ensemble and François Devienne’s 7th Flute Concerto with the McGill Beethoven Orchestra. Holding dual American and Canadian citizenship, he has had the opportunity to work with several conductors on both sides of the border, including Samy Rachid, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, Alexis Hauser, Jean-Philippe Tremblay, Jean-Michel Malouf, Larry Livingston, and Jeffrey Meyer.
Jayden is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in flute performance at the Schulich School of Music with a full scholarship, studying with Joanna G’froerer, and receiving additional instruction from Robert Langevin and Chris James.

Joey Zhuang is a Chinese flutist and piccoloist, who finds joy in engaging with a multitude of musical styles. She is currently the acting Principal Flute in Saskatoon Symphony and sessional lecturer at University of Saskatchewan. She has performed in Canada, China, Scotland and the United States. Passionate about music education, Joey collaborates with diverse learners as a teacher in her own studio as well as IDAGIO Academy, and has taught as a guest artist in various institutions in Canada including University of Toronto.
Joey holds a master degree at Northwestern University in Chicago with full scholarship while being a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association.

Jin Dong Zhao began playing the flute at the age of 12 in high school with Yuki Isami. Over the next five years, Jin delved into classical music, exploring composition, orchestration, and artistic direction. In 2020, he joined the Orchestre des Jeunes du Mont-Royal in Montreal, where he had the opportunity to perform a concerto two years later. It was also at this time that Jin continued his music studies at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal with Marie-Andrée Benny, Jacinthe Forand, and Denis Bluteau. In 2024, Jin joined the Orchestre Symphonique des Jeunes de Montréal. Throughout his years of study, he also participated in various workshops and competitions, including the Concours de Musique de la Capitale, where he won third prize in his category in 2024, and the Sherbrooke Music Festival and Competition, where he won first prize in his category in the same year. Jin also won second prize at the OMNI Competition in 2022 and first prize at the Victoriaville Soloist Competition twice in 2021 and 2022. During his time at Domaine Forget de Charlevoix in 2023, he was the recipient of the Excellence Scholarship for the woodwind stage. Today, at the age of 18, Jin continues to actively participate in various orchestras in Montreal as a flutist, as well as a percussionist and chorister.

Flora is a clarinetist born in Budapest, Hungary. She studied her Bachelor’s degree at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Madrid and a Master’s degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. She is currently part of the Soloist class at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus. She has performed in numerous orchestras around the world, including Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia de Madrid, Malmö Opera Orchestra, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil, among others. She has also had master classes with important clarinetists such as Pascal Moragues, Yehuda Gilad, Ernst Ottensamer, Béla Kovács and others. In addition, she has been invited to participate in some Danish TV shows: Musikquiz and Orkestret.

Kevin Jin is a clarinetist based in Rochester, New York. Performing with the Eastman School of Music’s large ensembles, Jin has performed numerous masterworks with Dr. Mark Scatterday and Maestro Neil Varone. Jin has performed with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and has participated in several masterclasses by Mark Nuccio, Joacquin Valdepenas, Christopher Pell, and more. Alongside his orchestral experience, Jin has extensive chamber music experience, performing with a woodwind quintet during his summers at Interlochen, Michigan and his woodwind quintet, the A710 Quintet, at the Eastman School of Music. Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Jin studied with Dr. Justin Stanley of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and Georgia Symphony Orchestra before going on to study for his Bachelor of Music Degree in Clarinet Performance from the Eastman School of Music. As a D. Stanley Hasty and John D Haldane Jr. scholarship recipient, Jin currently studies under the tutelage of Michael Wayne.

Oboist Caroline Wu earned her Bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Frank Rosenwein (Principal Oboe of The Cleveland Orchestra) and will pursue her Master’s degree this fall at the New England Conservatory, studying with John Ferrillo (Principal Oboe of the Boston Symphony Orchestra). An avid orchestral musician, Caroline has performed principal, section, and auxiliary roles in The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony, and Snowbelt Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, she was a member of the Taipei Music Academy & Festival Orchestra, touring Taiwan under the baton of Kent Nagano. She has also performed under JoAnn Falletta, Anthony Parnther, Larry Livingston, Tito Muñoz, and Sey Ahn.
Most recently, Caroline was awarded the 2024 John Mack Prize in Oboe and named CIM’s 2023 “Presser Undergraduate Scholar,” a student selected by the institution’s faculty who exhibits “a high level of academic and musical accomplishment and [embodies] the qualities of leadership and citizenship.” She has spent past summers at world-renowned international camps and festivals, including le Domaine Forget International Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Hidden Valley Music Seminars. Caroline has also served as principal oboe of the Phoenix Youth Symphony, Youth Symphony of the Southwest, 2019 MusicforAll Honor Orchestra of America, and 2018 National Association for Music Education’s All-National Honor Symphony Orchestra.
An Arizona native, Caroline previously studied with Martin Schuring, Professor of Oboe at Arizona State University, and Nikolaus Flickinger. When she isn’t making reeds, Caroline enjoys weight-lifting, making matcha oat-milk lattes, and spending time with loved ones.

Corinne Foley is an oboist engaged in orchestral, chamber, and new music performance. In the 2023-24 school year, her wind quintet, Category Five Winds, won an Honors Ensemble fellowship at the New England Conservatory. In 2024, she completed her bachelor’s degree at NEC under John Ferrillo and Anne Marie Gabriele. Previously, she studied with Jamie Roberts in Washington, D.C. In the fall, she will begin a master’s degree at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with Linda Strommen.

Logan Jawgiel (b. 2002) is a bassoonist of 11 years originally from the Chicago area. He graduated from the Peabody Institute in 2024 (BM) under Prof. Brad Balliett and he is a candidate for a GPD in 2025, again under Prof. Brad Balliett. In addition to his musical studies at Peabody, Logan serves as an assistant conductor and assistant-at-large at the Peabody Preparatory. Logan is a 2023 alumnus of the Kent-Blossom Chamber Music Festival where he studied with Prof. Barrick Stees. Logan hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Germany following his studies in the United States with an end-goal of making his home and career in Germany. In his spare time, Logan enjoys learning languages and caring for his 12-year-old chinchilla.

Born into a family of musicians, Arthur Jorda developed a passion for music at a very young age, which quickly became a central element of his life. From his childhood, he began learning the bassoon under the tutelage of Charles Villard in Vichy. For him, it was not just an activity but a vocation, and he decided to make it his profession. In 2021, at the age of 15, he made the decision to leave his hometown to join Annabelle Mineo’s class at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (CRR) of Lyon. In parallel, he followed the S2TMD (Sciences and Techniques of Theater, Music, and Dance) school curriculum, allowing him to dedicate all his time to practicing the bassoon. During this period, he refined his musical knowledge through orchestral academies such as the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra (OJM) directed by Duncan Ward, performances at the Vichy Opera with pianist François Dumont, and various chamber music projects.
Arthur Jorda soon distinguished himself through his hard work and, in 2023, obtained his Diplôme d’Études Musicales (DEM) with honors: he was unanimously awarded with the jury’s congratulations, highlighting his mastery of his instrument. The following year, in 2024, he took another decisive step by passing the entrance exam to the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSMD) of Lyon. There, he joined the class of Carlo Colombo, one of the masters of the bassoon. This admission marks the beginning of a new phase in his musical career and opens up prospects for a promising future.

Daniel Zaldana, a native of South Florida, is a dynamic and versatile musician who recently graduated from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, where he studied under the guidance of Stephane Levesque. Prior to his studies at McGill University, Daniel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, studying with Dr. Jeffrey Lyman. His passion for music was cultivated early on through intensive training at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where he worked with renowned instructors such as Dr. Eric Stomberg, William Short, and Keith Buncke.
Daniel’s musical journey has been enriched by a diverse range of experiences, from his formative years at Interlochen to his immersive chamber music experiences and involvement in arts administration. Notably, he has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, contributing to the advancement of initiatives through his volunteer work with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Michigan.
As Daniel transitions into the next phase of his career, he is eager to embark on a path of freelancing and teaching in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Equipped with the tools and insights gleaned from his varied experiences and interactions with fellow musicians, Daniel feels exhilarated to take part in this new community and musical landscape.

Sarah Amahrit has been immersed in the artistic world for many years. After studying in the field of physical sciences, she redirected herself towards her first passion and decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in French Horn Performance at McGill University. A versatile performer, Sarah participates in numerous musical projects alongside her studies, ranging from jazz to standard orchestral repertoire and contemporary music.

Born in Orléans in 2003, I started learning music at the age of 7. In 2017, I joined the conservatory in Orléans and obtained my DEM with honors in 2022. That same year, I also joined the class of Tristan Aragau and Robin Paillette at the conservatory in St Maur des Fossés (94). I will be joining Vladimir Dubois’ class for the 2024 school year.
I am fortunate to regularly participate in various projects with professional orchestras such as the Colonne Orchestra and the ONDIF. I am a member of a high-level amateur harmony orchestra with which we won the French Harmony Orchestra Championships in 2023 at the Philharmonie de Paris and placed 3rd in the last European Championships (ECWO). We will be representing France in late May at the ECWO 2024 in Oslo, Norway.
I am also passionate about sports, particularly tennis.

Lucie Lemaire, born in 2002 in Gap, began playing the horn at the age of 6 at the music school in Sisteron. In 2014, she continued her studies at the regional conservatory in Aix en Provence, and then in 2019 at the regional conservatory in Avignon. In 2020, she joined the Haute École de Musique in Geneva where she studied with Jean-Pierre Berry, Bruno Schneider, Benoît De Barsony, Bertrand Chatenet, and Clément Charpentier-Leroy.
In 2010, she won the Symphonic Little Hands competition in the 8-10 age category. In 2019, she obtained her DEM from the conservatory in Aix en Provence and participated in the junior orchestra academy at the Verbier Festival. In 2021, she won first prize in the 16-19 age category at the international Eurochestries competition and second prize in the 15-18 age category at the Léopold Bellan Junior competition. Since 2023, she has been a member of the Schweizer Jugend Sinfonie Orchester. She is also an extra musician in many Swiss orchestras, such as the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra.

Andrei Lipoczi is a tenor trombonist currently based out of Toronto, Ontario. Hailing from Scarborough, Andrei received his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Toronto where he studied privately with David Pell and Vanessa Fralick. Andrei maintains an active freelancing and performance schedule, having played with numerous Greater Toronto Area ensembles such as the Ontario Philharmonic, Scarborough Philharmonic, Etobicoke Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, Kindred Spirits Orchestra, and the Royal Conservatory of Music Contemporary Ensemble. In masterclasses, Andrei has had the pleasure of performing for Brittany Lasch, Charles Benaroya, Douglas Rosenthal, Domingo Pagliuca and many more. This upcoming fall, he will be touring with Hans Zimmer Live during the North American leg of their tour. Following the tour, Andrei looks forward to beginning his Master of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where he will be studying under the tutelage of Dr. Per Brevig. Outside of performing, Andrei maintains a sizable teaching studio and is passionate about music education and instilling a love of brass playing in students of all ages. He has been assistant conductor of the University of Toronto Campus Philharmonic and director of the St. Patrick jazz ensemble. When not practicing the trombone, Andrei can be found trying new pizza places, bartending, playing video games, and honing his gardening skills.

Quinn McGillis is a 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, 2019 and 2023 Seasons. He joined 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 First Alternate in the 2024 ITA Frank SmithTrombone Competition, 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 has earned 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.

Eric Prodger is a bass and tenor trombonist from Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. He currently holds the Principal Bass Trombone position with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and formerly held the same position with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he maintains an active and diverse freelancing schedule throughout Manitoba, 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 a freelance orchestral musician, Mr. Prodger has performed with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Orchestre Classique de Montréal, the Ontario Philharmonic, the Orchestre Symphonique de Drummondville, and the Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke. During his studies, he was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for four seasons, participating in 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.  

An award-winning bass trombonist, Mr. Prodger was a recipient of the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Award, the Crabtree Foundation Award, the Sturdevant Prize for Orchestral Excerpts, the Rich Little Endowment Fund, as well as the Jacob Siskind and Friends of the NAC Orchestra Scholarships.  

Eric is honored to be a bass trombone artist for the Edwards Instrument Company and performs exclusively on their instruments.

Graham Lumsden is a Montreal/Toronto-based Trumpet player from London, Ontario, Canada. He is known for his outstanding tone and musicality. He is pursuing his Artist Diploma at the Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School in Toronto to study with Steven Woomert starting fall 2024. He graduated from McGill University with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in trumpet performance studying under Richard Stoelzel and Alexis Basque. During his time at McGill he was the principal trumpet of the McGill Symphony Orchestra as well as the Opera Orchestra and Contemporary Music Ensembles. During his time at McGill he had the opportunity to play for and take lessons from noted guest artists such as Sergei Nakariakov, Fabio Brum and Jim Thompson. For the past two years he was a member of the Orchestre Symphonique de la Côte-Nord where he performed as both principal and second trumpet. Graham recorded with the Orchestre Classique de Montreal for their 2023 Juno winning Classical Album of the year. He has also performed with the London Symphonia and Orchestre Philharmonique & Chouer des Mélomanes. This past summer Graham was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for the 2023 season where he worked with esteemed players such as Jim Ross, Karen Donnely and Larry Larson. Graham has also had international success where he has been a semi-finalist of the International Trumpet Guild Orchestral Excerpts Competition for both 2023 and 2024. Currently he is in the finals for the 2024 Sylva Gelber Foundation Award which will be decided in June 2024.

Born and raised in Salem, Oregon, Stephen Vannevel found his love for music early on. He pursued his undergraduate studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, guided by professors Stéphane Beaulac, Russell DeVuyst, and Rob Weymouth.
Stephen is now gearing up to start at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where he’ll be working with Tony Prisk and other esteemed faculty.
Throughout his journey, Stephen has garnered recognition for his talent and dedication. He’s performed in numerous solo and ensemble settings at McGill. Beyond the stage, he’s passionate about sharing his love for music through teaching and community outreach efforts, inspiring others to pursue their musical passions.

Emma began studying double bass at the conservatoire in Perpignan, France. She then studied at the conservatoire in Toulouse and later at the conservatoire in Pau with Jean Baptiste Salles, where she obtained a DEM (Diplôme d’Études Musicales) in double bass. She is currently in her second year of bachelor’s studies at the Haute École de Musique in Geneva with Alberto Bocini. Alongside her studies, she often performs in orchestras and chamber music ensembles, including the Volubilis Orquestra and the Orchestre de Perpignan Méditerranée. In 2023, she had the opportunity to join the Orchestre Français des Jeunes under the direction of Michael Schønwandt. Passionate about pedagogy, Emma also participates in large-scale social projects such as Demos (which brings culture to areas where access is not always easy) and teaches during workshops with the association Découv’Art.

Gabrielle Martin is a Montreal-based performer and composer. With over 20 years of music under her belt, she is currently involved in a variety of musical projects, ranging from classical double bass performance in orchestras to composing music for film and stage.
Her educational journey has taken her through several programs and schools. In 2021, she obtained a master’s degree from the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, where she studied with René Gosselin and Joel Quarrington. She then continued her studies in contemporary composition at the same institution with Jimmie Leblanc and Maxime McKinley, which she is still pursuing. She also concurrently earned her D.E.S.S. in Music for the Screen from the Université du Québec à Montréal in 2023. Additionally, she has attended several music composition workshops, such as the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance and the mentorship program of the Guild of Canadian Film Composers.
Currently, she performs as a double bassist with various orchestras, including the Fidelio Orchestra and the Orchestre de l’Agora. She also collaborates with artists from other disciplines, such as directors, actors, stage designers, and more. Furthermore, she conducts research in contemporary music with several ensembles and musicians (she expresses her gratitude to them!).
Her life is characterized by an eclectic lifestyle filled with artistic experiences and collaborations. As long as there is music, she is there too!

After completing her undergraduate studies in Philippe Noharet’s double bass class in Paris, Jeanne Delbès entered the Haute Ecole de Musique in Geneva at the age of 18, where she is currently finishing her bachelor’s degree under Alberto Bocini. She is preparing for entrance exams for Master’s programs in orchestral performance at the prestigious Hochschule in Stuttgart with Philipp Stubenrauch and Düsseldorf with Rick Stotijn.
Passionate about orchestral music, Jeanne has had the opportunity to play in major European orchestras such as the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Swiss Youth Orchestra, the Orchestra do Alto Minho in Portugal, the Chœur et Orchestre de la Sorbonne in Paris, and many others. She is also on the reserve list for the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, two major European youth orchestras. Playing in a double bass section in an orchestra and being able to share music with others, whether musicians or the audience, is one of the aspects of music that she finds most enchanting.
During her studies, she has had the opportunity to meet and play for great double bassists such as Theotime Voisin, Rick Stotijn, Philipp Stubenrauch, Lorraine Campet, and others.

Mark Stroud’s love for music blossomed in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he spent his childhood enthralled by the Cleveland Orchestra. Regular visits with his family instilled a deep appreciation for the power of orchestral music, particularly the rich, grounding presence of the double bass.
This passion fueled his academic pursuits. He first honed his skills at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Performing Arts, a renowned liberal arts institution known for its vibrant music program. There, he studied with members of the Cleveland Orchestra, building a solid foundation for his future endeavors.
Mark’s musical journey didn’t stop there. He furthered his education at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, where he delved even deeper into the complexities of his instrument with the Pittsburgh Symphony’s own Micah Howard. Carnegie Mellon’s esteemed School of Music provided an environment where he could refine his technique and expand his musical knowledge under the guidance of exceptional faculty.
Today, Mark thrives as a freelance double bassist. His impressive resume boasts performances with various orchestras in Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. He also shares his passion with budding musicians by working as a substitute teaching artist at Baltimore based OrchKids, a program that fosters orchestral training in the Baltimore City school system. Mark’s musical journey, nurtured by childhood inspiration, academic dedication, and a love for sharing his craft, continues to resonate in the world of classical music.

Canadian cellist Alistair Mariz is an avid performer who just completed his studies at the McGill Schulich School of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance. His practice in cello performance has been enriched through years of experience, through festivals such as the Brott Music Festival (Hamilton), Festival of the Sound (Parry Sound), Collinwood Festival, Orford Music Academy, and competitions such as the Ontario Music Festivals Association (OMFA) Provincial Finals Competition, where he was awarded second prize. As a student of the Royal Conservatory of Music, he has received First-Class Honors with Distinction certificates. Further, Alistair has studied with established musicians, including Sharon Prater, Matt Haimovitz, Jinjoo Cho, Brian Manker, Elizabeth Dolin, Chloe Dominguez, Elinor Frey, Britten Riley, and Eva Ribchinsky, some of whom are also members of faculty at the Schulich School of Music. In ensemble, Alistair has held positions in the National Academy Orchestra for two seasons, York Symphony Orchestra, and has taken an interest in contemporary performance, having significant involvement with McGill’s Contemporary Music Ensemble. His venture into the contemporary genre has immersed him into exciting projects of premiere performances and recordings of new music composed by young composers. He performs on his English cello made by James Gibbs.

Corentin Couëffé began his musical training at the age of 3 with his father and grandfather, Eric and Yves Couëffé. Despite his young age, Corentin already showed a rare gift and learning ability. At the age of 5, he entered the Conservatoire de Saint-Maur des Fossés and continued his education by joining Xavier Gagnepain’s class at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Boulogne-Billancourt at the age of 17. In parallel and to further pursue his passion, he followed a dual curriculum by attending specialized classes at the Le Parc middle school until his baccalaureate at Lycée Lamartine in Paris. From there, Corentin embarked on higher studies in cello and was accepted in his first year at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Rhonda Rider’s class but chose to attend the Faculty of Music at the University of Montreal in Yegor Dyachkov’s class.

Ella Tomko, 24, is a cellist from Northern Virginia. She is currently completing a Master’s degree at McGill University under the study of renowned cellist Matt Haimovitz. She earned her Bachelor’s of Music in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. In her secondary education Ella was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Youth Fellowship Program, where she studied and performed with members of the NSO at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Ella has a passion for chamber music, and has attended rigorous summer festivals such as the Castleman Quartet Program, LyricaFest, Festival Napa Valley, and the International Chamber Music Academy in Ochsenhausen. She has performed in masterclasses with inspirational musicians, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Watkins, Charles Castleman, and the Danish String Quartet, Thalea String Quartet, Imani Winds, and The Percussion Collective. Ella has had many accomplished teachers, studying with Ross Harbaugh, Terry King, Mark Evans, and Kenneth Law. Outside of performing, she founded and hosted the first classical radio show, Pando, at the University of Miami’s radio station, WVUM 90.5fm. Ella believes music should be accessible to all and that it deserves to be enjoyed in all formats.

Emily Roberts is a young Canadian cellist based in Montreal, Quebec. She is now a recent graduate of McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, achieving her bachelor’s degree with Elizabeth Dolin and will return this fall to pursue a graduate diploma with cellist Matt Haimovitz. Active on the provincial and international scene, Emily has performed throughout Canada, the United States, Austria, and the Netherlands in both chamber and solo settings. Through the support of Elizabeth Wirth’s Austrian Society Scholarship, Le Domaine Forget’s Steppingstones Scholarship and the Interlochen Fine Arts Award, she has collaborated with renowned cellists Marc Coppey, Rafael Rosenfeld, Garry Hoffman, Johannes Moser, and Phillipe Muller in masterclasses and festival concerts. An avid chamber musician, Emily was a finalist in McGill’s Chamber Music Competition as the cellist of Trio Riopelle and has had the privilege of working closely with members of the Ysaÿe and Emerson string quartets. She is additionally extremely passionate about giving back to the Montreal community in collaboration with the La SAMs organization, providing personalized and engaging concert programs for assisted care facilities along with a violinist she frequently plays with as part of the ensemble Duo Mystique. In August of 2023, she has made solo recital debuts in the Klienes Studio Hall at Salzburg’s Universitat Mozarteum as well as Bergen’s Ruïnekerk. Most recently, Emily performed her final recital at McGill’s Redpath Hall to conclude her bachelor’s studies at the Schulich School of Music this past spring.

Eve Thompson is a cellist from a London Ontario currently finishing her Bachelor’s degree in performance at Western University. She has sat principal cellist of the Western University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and this past year, she won an audition and became a fellow with London Symphonia. She is a recipient of the Dean’s Award of Excellence, the Parents Fund Award, and the Gordon Jefferey Endowment for Strings. She has attended Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute and continues to be an active member of Western’s Early Music Studio. This summer, she will also be attending Orford Academy and Domaine Forget.

He started his studies at the age of 4 with the Suzuki’s methodthe , than he continued at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan with maestro Bernardin and subsequently with maestro Matteo Ronchini. He gradueted in October 2018 with top marks, and he finished the master in July 2020 with the same mark. Between 2020 and 2022 he specialized at the Pinerolo music academy with maestro Patrik Demenga. He currently follows the “orchestral objective” course at the APM school in Saluzzo, where he studies with the masters Amedeo Cicchese and Relja Lukic, first cellos at the Teatro Regio in Turin. He was found suitable for the audition at the orchestra of the Accademia della Scala in Milan where he regularly collaborates and has participated in productions with the Cherubini orchestra directed by Maestro Muti. This year he also obtained eligibility for auditions at the “Maggio musicale Florentino” theater and at the Verona Arena. He plays regularly with the Canova chamber orchestra, in which he often holds the role of first cellist.

My name is Julia Citlalli Benitez De Santiago, I am 23 years old and originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. I began my musical studies at the age of 11.
I studied at the “Ollin Yoliztli” school of life and movement in Mexico City under the teaching of teacher Beata Kukawska.
I am currently studying a bachelor’s degree in performance at the University of Guadalajara in the Chair of teacher Minako Ito and specifically with teacher Chris Wilshere.
I have played as a soloist in the Enrique Díaz de León auditorium, López Portillo museum and the Sala Hermilo Novelo.
I am principal second violin in the Colima Philharmonic Orchestra.
I have been part of different chamber groups and orchestras such as
Tlaquepaque Symphony Orchestra, Latin American Youth Orchestra (in Cancún), Zapopan Youth Symphony Orchestra and Zapopan 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 McGill Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre de la Francophonie, 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.

Alireza Tarviji was born in Iran. He began taking violin lessons at the age of 7 and continued until the age of 16 in Iran, performing in orchestras such as the Guilan Philharmonic, Paytakht, and the Tehran Conservatory Symphony, before moving to Canada in 2020 to further his studies. He completed his high school education while learning two new languages, French and English, and currently studies music at the University of Ottawa with Professor Timothy Chooi, continuing his experiences in various orchestras. Drawing on his educational experiences, he teaches music to many learners at a local music school. His trio, Vivo Trio, had a successful launch in 2022, and his ensemble, Caspian Ensemble in 2023, which features Western classical repertoire as well as Persian repertoire that Alireza brought from Iran. Alireza is a compassionate young man who has organized numerous fundraisers for various needs around the world. He held one in April 2022 at his high school for Ukraine, followed by one in the fall titled the Concert of Hope for Iran, and one in October for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria.

Camilla Caldwell is a NYC-based, Australian, violinist-composer whose repertoire pushes the limits of violin texture and sound through advanced techniques, electronics and creative partnerships. She graduated with a second Masters, in Composition and Performance at Mannes the New School under Curtis Macomber and Stefan Jackiw, after graduating with a Professional Studies Diploma, while being awarded the American Australian Arts Fund Scholar of 21.
An enthusiastic orchestral, chamber and pit musician, Camilla has toured over 30 Chinese cities with the Australian International Opera Company as Associate Concertmaster and with the Melbourne Opera Company and performed in over 40 musicals. Camilla has been a concerto soloist at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Melba Hall and with U3A Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with Chamber Philharmonia Cologne, Young New Yorkers Chorus, La Fraternità di Solisti chamber ensemble, Australian Discovery Orchestra, Australasian Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, South Georgia Ballet, Guilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria and Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight. Camilla performed in Taylor Mac’s ‘A 24 Decade History of Popular Music,’ hailed as no.1 Timeout’s best shows on Melbourne stages 2017 as well as winning two Helpmann Awards. She led Opiuo’s Syzygy Orchestra as part of his world tour and was engaged for the launch of ‘My Fair Lady’ directed by Dame Julie Andrews DBE.
A passionate advocate for new music, Camilla composes and collaborates with multi-disciplinary performers to premiere new works. She mixes electronics, improvisation and choreography and has performed with Contemporaneous ensemble, Blackbox ensemble, Melbourne Composers’ Orchestra and Melbourne Metropolitan Sinfonietta. Camilla has also won scholarships to perform at many international music festivals which include Bang on a Can, Brevard, Ensemble Evolution and Mostly Modern Festival.

Chih-Yi (Joyce) Chen, a Violinist born in Taiwan. Currently pursuing her Doctoral degree at Rutgers University with prof. Todd Phillips. At the same time also serving as the Music Director at New Asia Chamber Music Society and as a substitute violinist at Chicago civic orchestra.

Elise Persiaux was born in 2003 in Paris into a family of musicians. At the age of 4, she began learning the violin with Anoulay Valentin and entered the conservatory of the 17th arrondissement of Paris at the age of 6, then the CRR de Paris with Serge Pataud at 9.
At the age of 7, she also started learning the flute and entered the conservatory of the 17th arrondissement of Paris. She obtained her CEM in flute in 2021.
In 2011, she won 2nd prize at the Vatelot competition. In 2019, she obtained her DEM unanimously in violin in the class of Christophe Guiot. That same year, she won 1st prize at the international competition in Cambrai. She continued her studies in CPES at the CRR de Paris in the classes of Frédéric Laroque and José Alvarez. Currently, Elise is in her second year of Bachelor’s degree in the class of Tedi Papavrami at the HEM in Geneva.
Elise has been performing numerous concerts since the age of 6 as a soloist and in chamber music, in Japan, Russia, Bulgaria, Germany, and Belarus. Passionate about orchestral music, she was part of the French Youth Orchestra in 2021-2022, under the direction of Michael Schonwandt, performing in France, Germany, and Romania. Finally, she often has the opportunity to play with the Musicians of Europe orchestra, the Franck Martin orchestra, or the Jubilus ensemble, in Geneva.

Italian violinist, she began studying the violin at the age of eleven. She continued her studies at the Civica Scuola di Musica C. Abbado in Milan, where she graduated in 2022 under the direction of Maestro Francesco Borali. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in violin at the LUCA School of Arts in Leuven, Belgium, in the class of Lei Wang. In 2023, she attended the advanced class of Patrice Fontanarosa at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. In Italy as in Belgium, she has performed in orchestras and chamber music ensembles at various festivals and concert seasons, such as Musica al Tempio, Estate Sforzesca, San Fedele Musica, Como Città della Musica, Schwung Klassiek, and the Italian Embassy in Vienna, having the opportunity to work with several conductors. Eligible for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons in the Apulian Symphony Orchestra, she has had the opportunity to play as first violin in important concert halls such as the Muth and the Musikverein in Vienna, deepening her knowledge of the orchestral repertoire and winning first place in the Summa Cum Laude symphony orchestra competition. With the Filarmonici Friulani youth orchestra, she participated in the Weikersheim Opera Academy 2023 as first violin with the production of Elisir D’Amore and the symphony tour. Along the way, she has had the chance to meet many musicians and teachers who have contributed to her training, including Anton Berovski, Daniele Gay, Danilo Rossi, Carlo Parazzoli, and Julien Eberhardt.

Born in Aotearoa New Zealand, Grace McKenzie presently holds the title of Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and has performed in international venues including St James Piccadilly in London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A skilled Baroque violinist too, she studies with Indiana University Professor Ingrid Matthews. Her teaching experience is extensive, from working for the Fairview Violin Project in Bloomington, itinerant teaching at Rongatai College in Wellington, to working online with students in Loma de Carbrera through the Cheerful Hearts Education Mission. Her passion for interdisciplinary collaborations has led to a variety of endeavors, such as performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with young emerging actors at the Tim Bray Theatre Company, and collaborating with local songwriter and poet Carrie Newcomer for her A Great Wild Mercy album release tour. McKenzie’s completed her Bachelor of Music degree with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland under the tutelage of Stephen Larsen. She graduated with a Master of Music degree from the Jacobs School of Music in the Spring 24 under the guidance of Grigory Kalinovsky.

Jay Hansen is a violinist from Edmonton, Alberta, who has recently completed his Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance at the University of Alberta, studying with Guillaume Tardif and Robert Uchida. He has participated in music festivals and programs across Canada and internationally such as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival, and Aurora Festival in the Netherlands. He led the University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra as concertmaster during his undergraduate degree, and was a member of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra and River City Chamber Orchestra for years prior. In 2017, he was also the winner of the ASA Concerto Competition which gave him the chance to perform Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Burman University Orchestra. Over the past year, Jay has enjoyed performing with his piano trio, JAM Trio, who were awarded Gold in the 2024 Alberta Provincial Music Festival, as well as Silver in the 2024 IPPA Conero Competition National Round. Apart from music, he enjoys art in many different forms, and especially loves to paint in his free time.

Mexican violist, he completed his undergraduate studies in musical performance at the University of Guadalajara. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in musical performance at the Faculty of Music of the University of Montreal, previously under Juan Miguel Hernández and now with Cynthia Blanchon. He has served as the principal violist in several youth orchestras, such as the University of Montreal Orchestra, Zapopan Youth Symphony Orchestra, Higinio Ruvalcaba Chamber Orchestra, Virtuosi Guadalajara Orchestra, and the University of Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in various international festivals, such as the Guadalajara International Music Festival, Viola of the Americas International Workshop, Viola Voice Festival, Formandi Festival, and Festival del Lago.

Her musical journey commenced at the age of 13 within the Esperanza Azteca social
project, igniting his fervor for classical music. Following her initial training, she
earned admission to the Conservatorio Nacional de Mexico, where she honed her
craft for two years in the school’s professional technician program. Subsequently, she
was awarded a scholarship to pursue a degree in music and innovation at
Panamerican Universidad, affording her the opportunity to study under the tutelage
of Felisa Hernández Salmerón and further enrich her musical acumen. In 2021, she
received an invitation to participate in the Academia de Música Antigua of the
UNAM, immersing herself in the realm of ancient music from a historically informed
perspective. Currently, she is an esteemed member of the Orquesta Juvenil
Universitaria Eduardo Mata.

Troy is a recent graduate of the Master of Music program at the McGill University Schulich of Music in Montréal, Québec, where he studied under the instruction of André Roy. Prior to his time at McGill, Troy received his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he was a student of Kirsten Docter.
Troy has attended programs such as the Bowdoin International Music Festival and Colorado College Summer Music Festival, where he worked with renowned musicians such as Philipp Ying, Robin Scott, Toby Appel, Andrew Wan and Nelson Lee.
Troy is active in the music scene across Canada. He is an inaugural fellow of the Windwood Music Festival, a community engagement program based in Airdrie, Alberta. In Québec, Troy performs with several ensembles, appearing as a substitute violist with the Orchestre Symphonique du Sherbrooke, Orchestre Symphonique du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, and Sinfonia de Lanaudière. Troy is a member of Ensemble Obiora, a Montréal-based group that aims to uplift musicians and works from traditionally underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.
Throughout his career, Troy has worked with Merry Peckham, James Dunham, Ivo-jan Van der Werff, Gwen Krosnick, Richard Hawkins, Alexa Still, Yolanda Kondonassis, and Peter Slowik. He has also appeared in masterclasses with violists Jeffrey Irvine, Dimitri Murath, and Victoria Chiang.
In his spare time, Troy enjoys staying active by going to the gym, learning new recipes with friends, watching anime, and following his favorite sports teams.

Ryan Vis holds a Master of Music Performance in Viola from the University of Ottawa, where he studied under the esteemed Michael van der Sloot. He previously served as orchestra manager for the uOttawa Symphony Orchestra and as social media manager for the Canadian Viola Society. He is actively engaged in pedagogy, delivering instruction in group classes and theory at Ottawa Suzuki Strings and ocassionally collaborating with Glebe Montessori School as well as Back to Bach. Ryan’s musical contributions include performances with prominent groups such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Candlelight Concerts, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Gatineau Symphony, Ottawa Pops Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony as part of the PRISMA Festival as well as most recently Orchestre de la Francophonie. Ryan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from McGill Schulich School of Music under the tutelage of Frédéric Lambert. His musical journey began with piano at age 3, followed by violin at age 8, and eventually viola at age 12. He enjoys playing on his viola made by Theo Marks based in the Netherlands and Canada.

Sophia Is a young Canadian Violist from Vancouver, British Columbia. She recently graduated at the New England Conservatory with her Bachelors of Music. During her time in NEC, she was studying under Nicholas Cords. Sophia primarily is a chamber performer and soloist, working in a wide variety of different chamber ensembles with all different types of instruments. As part of her studies she was a member of New England Conservatory Philharmonia and works closely with conductors such as David Loebel, Hugh Wolff, Paul Biss, and Robert Tweeten. She will now be pursuing her masters at McGill Schulich School of Music under Victor Fournellle-Blain. 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 formally a member of different youth orchestras at such as Surrey Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2014 and Vancouver Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2015. She was also a recent Recipient of a full fellowship to the Miami Music Festival 2023 season.

She moved to Bogota to begin her university career at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, under the professorship of maestro Juan Carlos Higuita.
In 2022 she was admitted to join the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogota under the conducting of Maestro Manuel Lopez Gomez. this same year, she had the opportunity to travel to France with the Symphony Javeriana Orchestra, performing in important theaters such as the Sorbonne in Paris.
In June 2023, she completed her thesis, violin exam and her degree recital. In September she had the official ceremony of her degree with honorable mention for excellent average during her career.
In january 2024, she was part of the diploma course in chamber music with her Scarlatta Quartett under the Cartagena musical festival.
She is currently a member of the Philarmonic Youth Chamber Orchestra of Bogotá under the conducting of Julien Faure and Nueva Filarmonía Orchestra under the conducting of Maestro Ricardo Jaramillo.

Born in Ottawa, 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 École Secondaire Publique De La Salle, where he served as concertmaster of the orchestra for five years. After two tours in Europe under the baton of Jason Hutt, Patrick continued his violin studies at the University of Ottawa with Yehonatan Berick, and later Timothy Chooi. Patrick is now pursuing his Master’s degree at McGill University with Violaine Melançon. During his undergraduate studies, he was concertmaster of the orchestra for one year, won the chamber music competition, and was a finalist in the concerto competition. A finalist and laureate of the NAC Bursary Competition, he has also performed numerous concerts with the NAC Orchestra through their Mentorship Program and their Orchestral Music Institute. He has attended many summer academies, including Domaine Forget and the Scotia Festival, given a solo recital in Tallinn, Estonia, performed a solo concerto with the Pembroke Symphony, and participated in masterclasses with artists such as Hilary Hahn, Shlomo Mintz, and Vadim Gluzman.

Sonia Hellenbrand is a German violinist currently living in Montreal, where she performs and teaches. She studied with Yehonatan Berick at the University of Ottawa and earned a Master’s degree in music from McGill University. During her studies, she participated in masterclasses with artists such as James Ehnes and Rachel Barton-Pine. She has performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Orchestre Symphonique de la Côte-Nord, and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Québec. Sonia has been a soloist with the Vivaldi Young Philharmonics Berlin and the McGill Baroque Orchestra. As a chamber musician, she has participated in festivals across Canada and Europe, including the Scotia Festival of Music and NYO Chamberfest. In Montreal, Sonia organizes concerts of contemporary music and participates in concert series such as the Oasis Musicale. She places great importance on community work – she teaches in the EncoreSistema program and is a SAMS artist who performs in hospitals and long-term care residences.

Originally from Montréal, Vanda Paszko began her musical studies at the age of 6 with Dorota Milczarek. In 2012, she won the Dolce Musica Concerto Competition where she made her soloist debut, performing Bach’s Concerto in A minor.
Graduating with a master’s degree in violin performance from New York University, Vanda has played in masterclasses for renowned soloists Qianqian Li, Yehonatan Berick, Denise Lupien, Ida Bieler, Ian Swensen, Giora Schmidt, Andrew Wan, as well as the Gryphon Trio, the Penderecki String Quartet and the Dali Quartet. She was a member of Orford Music Academy for six years, where she was featured in their Rising Stars-On the Road Series. In 2022, she completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Ottawa with Yehonatan Berick. During her time in Ottawa, she played in the Ottawa Symphony as a member and was featured as a soloist in the Harmelodic Music Series and Dominion Chalmers Noon Hour Series.
A huge fan of opera, Vanda led the New York University orchestra as concertmaster in their productions of Mozart’s Idomeneo, as well as Puccini’s Gianni Schicci and Suor Angelica. She has performed in the Neidorff-Karpati Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St Vincent Ferrer, Brooklyn Dimes Bank, and Cantor Theatre in NYC. She currently holds the position of graduate adjunct violin teacher at NYU. In the fall, Vanda will be obtaining her artist’s diploma, continuing her studies with Giora Schmidt at NYU. She plays on a 1929 Louis Billottet violin, on loan from University of Ottawa.

Alexandre Alexandre Nantel is a classical percussionist who completed an advanced orchestral excerpt certificate under Corey Rae, as well as a graduate diploma at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. He also studied with Hugues Tremblay, Jacques Lavallée, André Dufour, Marie-Josée Simard, Catherine Meunier, Anne-Julie Caron, and Nicolas Lapointe.
Throughout his studies, Alexandre joined several ensembles at the Conservatoire, including the Brass Ensemble, the Musique Avenir Ensemble, the Baroque Ensemble, and the CMM Symphony Orchestra as a percussionist and timpanist, but also as a soloist in 2018, performing Paul Creston’s Concertino for Marimba.
Additionally, he performed in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Håkon Kartveit, timpanist of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and Joseph Pereira, timpanist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as Philippe Spiesser, solo percussionist.
On the professional stage, Alexandre has played with various ensembles such as the Orchestre Symphonique de la Côte-Nord, Ensemble Volte, Choeur de Laval, Choeur de la Montagne, Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes, ECM+, Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke, Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Orchestre Classique de Montréal, and Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. He has just won an audition as the Principal Timpanist of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.

Praised for her “passion in every note” and “rich dynamic expression” (Artburst Miami), Katherine Fortunato is a percussionist based in New York City. A young champion for new music, Ms. Fortunato has performed and collaborated with Sandbox Percussion, Linda May Han Oh, Heartbeat Opera Company, Mark DeChiazza, Noise Catalogue, and Excelsis Percussion. Last fall, Ms. Fortunato performed the North American Premiere of Linda May Han Oh’s Ephemeral Echoes at The Stone in Manhattan. This spring, Ms. Fortunato was the percussionist on Heartbeat Opera’s THE EXTINCTIONIST, a world premiere by Daniel Schlosberg with libretto by Amanda Quaid featuring over 30 percussion instruments.
Ms. Fortunato was the winner of the 2023 George and Elizabeth Gregory Concerto Competition at The New School, and she performed Kevin Puts’ Marimba Concerto with the Mannes Orchestra in the fall of 2023. Ms. Fortunato performed Kevin Puts’ Marimba Concerto with the Doctor’s Orchestral Society of New York this past May. Ms. Fortunato regularly performs with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, the Brooklyn Orchestra, Music of the Somerset Hills, and other orchestral groups throughout the Northeast.