Patricia Ahern has been a frequent soloist and core member of Tafelmusik since 2002. She was educated at Northwestern University, Indiana University, and the Schola Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland. She taught baroque violin at the Freiburg Conservatory in Germany and Oberlin’s Baroque Performance Institute, and has given masterclasses at McGill, York University, Wilfrid Laurier, University of Windsor, Western University, University of Toronto, University of Wisconsin, Grand Valley State University, California State University Long Beach, Sookmyung Women’s University (Seoul), and the Sydney Conservatorium (Australia). She has concertized throughout Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America, and has performed with Milwaukee Baroque, Ars Antigua, Chicago Opera Theater, Toronto Consort, Aradia, I Furiosi, Newberry Consort, Musica Pacifica, and the Carmel Bach Festival. Tricia has recorded for Sony, Naxos, and Analekta.
Violinist, violist and jazz vocalist, Jenny Armor has a passion for telling stories and performing joyfully. Her beginnings were in a small town in Virginia where she began playing violin at the of age 5 and made her first performing debuts at farmers markets with her dad on guitar and uncle on banjo. Her love for jazz quickly followed this, and she began singing jazz standards in coffee shops when she was 9 years old. A few years later, she recorded an album of jazz standards. In high school, she gigged weekly on violin and voice with the Jazz at Dusk Trio around Cincinnati, Ohio, and won the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame Elsa Sule Scholarship. In Summer of 2024, she sang with drummer Morgan Childs and pianist Dave Restivo at the Bamfield Music By the Sea Festival on Vancouver Island. In Spring 2025, Jenny performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto with her own cadenzas alongside the Guelph Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Adam Johnson. She has a deep love of chamber music and won the silver medal at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as a violist with her string quartet. Jenny is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Basel, Switzerland at The Basel Academy of Music studying under Alina Pogostkina and is enjoying many mountain escapades and lots of dark chocolate. Additionally, Jenny studies Jazz Vocals at the Basel Jazz Institute as her minor focus. She holds a Bachelors Degree from The Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto, Canada, where she studied with Paul Kantor and Barry Shiffman. She has been further shaped through masterclass with renowned artists such as Leonidas Kavakos, Noah Bendix-Balgley, David Kim, and Barnabas Keleman.
In three decades of work at the Shaw Festival, Guy played in over 4000 performances. Recent work on stage includes King Charles III (Studio 180, Toronto); Agatha Christie’s comedy thriller Spider’s Web (Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton); the world premiere of Norm Foster’s The Writer (Foster Festival, St. Catharines); and The New Canadian Curling Club (Thousand Islands Playhouse, Gananoque, 2019; Western Canada Theatre Company, Kamloops and Vernon, British Columbia, 2020). On television he has been seen in Murdoch Mysteries, The Firm and Warehouse 13. Guy is also heard as the voice of Mr. Bear on Rupert the Bear. While working at the Stratford Festival, Guy received a Guthrie Award, and he has also received a Newton Award and a Paul Reynolds Award at the Shaw Festival. He has been an artist-in-residence at universities across Canada, and frequently teaches with colleague Sharry Flett, specializing in “Victorian Costumes and Customs.”
Karlie Boyle is a passionate and committed musician, teacher, composer, and arranger. Karlie started her studies at the age of 4 and continued with private teachers in viola, piano, composition, theory, and history. As well as private studies, Karlie attended Laura Secord Secondary School, the University of Toronto and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. An active member of the growing arts community, Karlie has collaborated with several chamber ensembles such as the Brock University String Orchestra and the popular Niagara based string ensemble, Grace Notes; for whom she has written many arrangements. She has also worked for many years with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra's Summer Music Camp, as the Camp Director, which has fostered her passion for sharing the love of music with young people. She is currently the Director of Education and Administration for the Niagara Symphony and has enjoyed moving the education department forward!
David began his studies on the violin at the age of seven. His family having relocated numerous times allowed David to experience instruction from a number of teachers in various methods. David’s introduction to orchestral playing was with the Niagara Youth Orchestra in St. Catharines. After high school David earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Northwestern College in Roseville Minnesota. During his time in Minneapolis David was able to tour internationally as Concert master of the Continental Singers and Orchestra and of the Communique Singers and Orchestra. While in Minneapolis David studied with Roger Frisch, Associate Concert Master of the Minnesota Orchestra. Upon returning to St. Catharines David studied with Deryck Aird of the Bradley Institute of Music and at that time, Concert Master of the Niagara Symphony. David has been a member of the Niagara Symphony Association since 1989 and has also worked for the District School Board of Niagara as a secondary school music educator since 1989. He currently teaches music at Centennial High in Welland. David and his wife Deborah met while preparing a faculty recital for the Laura Secord Music Department where David began teaching. Since then they have formed the chamber ensemble now known as Glissandi; together with their friend and colleague Douglas Miller, principal flute with the Niagara Symphony. The past twelve years have been very full as the demand for their particular style of chamber music has increased. Performances and audiences have varied greatly providing many rich experiences. One of those was a concert tour of Southern England in the spring of 1997. Upon returning from that tour Glissandi set out to record their first CD entitled Serenity. He enjoys both teaching and performing and is looking forward to much more of the same. David and his wife Deborah have three children: Matthew, Nicholas, and Jessica.
Deborah Braun (harpist) is a native of St. Catharines and began her harp studies locally with Doris Scharing. She subsequently studied with Eilene Malone of the Eastman School of Music, Suzanne Thomas of the Buffalo Philharmonic, and Elaine Pamphilon of Cambridge, England. In additional to extensive solo and ensemble playing, she is harpist with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and Glissandi.
Nick Braun is a graduate of Brock University’s Bachelor of Arts Music program as well as a former student in the Mohawk College Jazz Music Program in the field of drums and percussion. Nick has been writing music since the age of 15 with groups of various styles as well as producing his own albums typically playing all of the instruments and featuring guest musicians. Nick intends to continue to branch out in the fields of composition, music production, and live performance to hone his craft.
Keiran Campbell was drawn to the cello after he stumbled across one in his grandmother’s basement and was baffled by its size. Once he turned 8, he began taking lessons—on a much smaller cello—in his native Greensboro, North Carolina. After studying extensively with Leonid Zilper, former solo cellist of the Bolshoi Ballet, he received his Bachelors and Masters at the Juilliard School, working with Darrett Adkins, Timothy Eddy, and Phoebe Carrai. Keiran also spent several springs in Cornwall, England, studying with Steven Isserlis and Ralph Kirshbaum at Prussia Cove. Keiran has performed with ensembles including The English Concert, NYBI, Philharmonia Baroque, The Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, Four Nations Ensemble, and Les Violons du Roy. He recently performed with Le Concert Des Nations under Jordi Savall, touring Europe performing Beethoven Symphonies before recording them on Savall’s new Beethoven CD. During the summers, Keiran has performed with Teatro Nuovo, Lakes Area Music Festival, and The Carmel Bach Festival. He is also on faculty at the recently formed, UC Berkeley-based, Chamber Music Collective, which focuses primarily on post-1750 performance practice. Recent performance highlights include concerto appearances with Tafelmusik and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, a concert of Monteverdi Madrigals with Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations in Carnegie Hall, a solo recital with fortepianist Sezi Seskir at the Berkeley Early Music festival, and performances of Handel’s Saul and Solomon with English Concert at the BBC Proms and Edinburgh Festival. Keiran is also fascinated by instrument making, which he studies with the maker of his cello, Timothy Johnson. keirancampbellcellist.com
Patty Chan is a second generation Chinese Canadian erhu musician, educator, and author. She is the Music Director of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra, Co-Founder of the cross- cultural PhoeNX Ensemble, and Director of Centre for Music Innovations (musinno.com). As an erhu musician, Patty has collaborated with many ensembles and organizations, including the Strings of St. John’s, Red Snow Collective, the Toronto Masque Theatre, and the Canadian Children’s Opera Company. She has performed in world premieres of theatre/opera productions such as Red Snow (2012), The Lesson of Da Ji (2013), Comfort (2016), and The Monkiest King (2018). Patty’s composition, Redemption: The Chan Kol Nidre (2015) for erhu and viola da gamba has been added to the archives at the Beit Hatfutsot in Tel Aviv, a museum for the Jewish people. Patty has taught erhu and Chinese music at York University, Ryerson University, and Carleton University. She has led and participated in music exchanges and tours in Canada and Asia. Patty has written several books about the erhu that have sold in over 30 countries, and a storybook in three languages about Chinese instruments for children. She is currently creating a Chinese music database for English readers at the Centre for Music Innovations in partnership with the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra in Taiwan. Her focus continues to be forging cultural connections through music.
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Declassified is a dynamic musical quartet that reimagines the classical music experience by boldly incorporating popular tunes into its repertoire. With a core of string trio enriched by the evocative sounds of piano and vocals, the ensemble delivers a unique program of “music through the ages” that spans art songs, operatic arias, and inventive pop arrangements. Imagine a fully classical twist on a beloved rock anthem or an instrumental, jazz-tinged interpretation of a favourite pop song. These unique arrangements further highlight the ensemble’s creative approach to blending tradition with innovation, expanding the appeal of classical music by presenting programs that resonate with non-traditional audiences. Every performance is meticulously curated to welcome listeners into an engaging environment, ensuring that each individual is both included and captivated by the artistry on stage. Rooted in and proudly connected to the Niagara community, the group features a diverse lineup of seasoned musicians: Dr. Leanne Vida singing and playing piano; Karlie Boyle playing viola, Annie Slade playing violin; and Ian Slade playing bass. Together, these artists not only embody a high level of performance excellence but also showcase the multifaceted career possibilities available to music graduates—teaching, performing, arts administration, and beyond. More than just reinterpreting familiar pieces, Declassified serves as an inspiring example for musicians and audience members alike, demonstrating that classical technique can be both rigorous and refreshingly unconventional. Their work celebrates the boundless versatility of a musical education and ignites the creative spark that connects tradition with today’s vibrant artistic expressions.
Sanya Eng is one of Canada’s most sought-after harpists of her generation, equally celebrated as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. A dynamic and sensitive performer, she has been described as “an outstanding musical talent” (Jerusalem Post), “remarkably polished” (Globe and Mail) and “dazzling with her delicate and intense command of the harp” (Musical Toronto). She has been a featured soloist in many festivals and concert series throughout North America, Europe, Israel, Asia, and Africa. As an active chamber and orchestral musician, she performs regularly with ensembles such as the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra, Continuum, New Music Concerts, and Soundstreams. Sanya is passionately dedicated to New Music and has personally commissioned and premiered countless works by both Canadian and international composers. She has recorded for Naxos, Centrediscs, CBC Records, Canadian Art Song Project, hatART, ClassXdiscs, and Orange Mountain Music. Most recently, in collaboration with internationally renowned erhu player Patty Chan, Sanya co-founded PhoeNX Ensemble, a new cross-cultural mixed chamber ensemble pairing East Asian and Western instruments. Based in Toronto, Canada, the vision of PhoeNX Ensemble is to explore, promote, and expand the East/West mixed-musical medium through performances, educational workshops, commissioning, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Each concert has an arc of experience. Programmes are based upon compelling stories of true history, traditional mythology, or tales of life-lessons learned through fables. With music ranging from time-honoured, Eastern-oriented classics to freshly commissioned contemporary new music, the audience is treated to a journey across cultures, languages, borders, and time…. and ultimately: a journey of hope and inspiration.
The Eybler Quartet came together in late 2004 to explore the works of the first century and a half of the string quartet, with a healthy attention to lesser known composers such as their namesake, Joseph Leopold Edler von Eybler. The group brings a unique combination of talents and skills: razor-sharp ensemble skills, technical prowess, expertise in period instrument performance and an unquenchable passion for the repertoire. The Toronto- based ensemble’s live performances have consistently garnered praise as “glowing and committed”, “spirited” and “lively and energizing”. Their recording of Joseph Haydn’s Op. 33 String Quartets for the Analekta label was called “simply a treasure” by Early Music America, “the tempos are beautifully chosen, the ensemble perfect, and the intonation absolutely pure. This is music-making that reflects the deeply human and attractive qualities found in Haydn the composer—good humor, wit, and invention.” Their recording with clarinetist Jane Booth won praise from Gramophone for being “totally engaging performances that breathe life into Backofen’s music”. Their most recent release, Beethoven Quartets, Opus 18 nos. 1-3 garnered this praise from Gramophone: “…the revelations flood in: the swiftness with which the Eyblers take the great Adagio of Op 18 No 1 allows violinist Aisslinn Nosky’s almost vibrato-free period-instrument tone to sound breathtakingly fragile.” Violinists Julia Wedman and Patricia Ahern, and violist Patrick G. Jordan are members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Cellist Margaret Gay is much in demand as both a modern and period instrument player. This summer the group will again be on the faculty at the Banff Centre as part of the EQ: Evolution of the String Quartet program. In September 2022 Patricia Ahern joined the group, replacing founding member Aisslinn Nosky.
After completing a Bachelor of Music degree at Boston University School for the Arts, Margaret Gay accepted an invitation to the Banff Centre for Fine Arts, where she completed the winter programme. From there she moved to Toronto, where she earned a Master’s degree at the University of Toronto and began a remarkably active freelance career performing on both modern and period ‘cello. Margaret performs regularly with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, Opera Atelier, Mississauga Sinfonia, Baroque Music Beside The Grange, the Eybler Quartet, and Ensemble Polaris, a group exploring the traditional music of various Nordic countries. She is the Artistic Director of The Gallery Players of Niagara, an organization based in the Niagara Region that presents chamber music. She was for many years a member of Modern Quartet, a string quartet dedicated to the performance of new works, the Burdocks, a foursome specializing in works of the 20th century, and Critical Band. In the summers she has performed at the Carmel Bach Festival, Stratford, Elora, Parry Sound, Grand River Baroque, and Lameque Baroque Music festivals, as well as teaching ‘cello and coaching chamber music at the Toronto Board of Education Music Camp, and the University of New Brunswick Summer Music Camp. Margaret can be heard on numerous CD’s, including a recent release from Analekta of Joseph Leopold Eybler's string quartets Op. 1, Ensemble Polaris, Not Much Is Worse Than A Troll, a Hungaroton disc of 17th century English theatre music, Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love, O Bali, from New Music Concerts, and, A Curious Collection for the Common Flute.
Geneviève Gilardeau has been a core member of Tafelmusik since 1999. She has been featured as a soloist several times with the group, in recordings of concertos by Vivaldi and Leclair, and in concert playing concertos by Bach and Telemann. She was introduced to baroque performance practice by the violinist and conductor Jean-François Rivest, at the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec à Chicoutimi and at the Université de Montréal, where she obtained her Master's degree. A core member of Les Violons du Roy from 1995 to 1998, she commuted during those years from Quebec City to Toronto in order to study baroque violin with Jeanne Lamon at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory. Geneviève also performs with several groups in Toronto (Aradia, Toronto Consort, Classical Consort) and in Montreal (Masques, Les voix humaines). With her husband, lutenist Lucas Harris, she released the CD The Bach-Weiss Sonata. She is the proud mother of eight-year-old Daphnée Gilardeau Harris.
Glissandi, is a Niagara-based trio that has been performing together for over twenty-five years. They are featured regularly in Niagara's finest venues, and are members of the Niagara Symphony. Glissandi has recorded three CDs and each of the members is an established freelance musician of their own.
Patrick Jordan, a native of West Texas, studied with Susan Schoenfeld before moving to Boston in 1981 to study with Walter Trampler. Mr. Jordan holds a Bachelor's degree from the New England Conservatory and an Artist's Diploma in Chamber Music from the Longy School, where he began several years' study with Eugene Lehner. Now a resident of Toronto, Mr. Jordan is a member of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra with which he tours throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Asia and Europe. He is also the Artistic Administrator and violist with the Gallery Players of Niagara. He has been a member of the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra since 1997 and has appeared with the New York Collegium as well as the American Classical Soloists. While living in Boston, he performed regularly with D.C. Hall's Band (a recreation of a 19th-century dance and concert band),the van Swieten Quartet, a period instrument string quartet, and the Handel & Haydn Society Orchestra. He was a member of the Boston Quartet, a modern instrument string quartet, and the Really Eclectic String Quartet (RESQ), a group that explored popular dance and lyrical music from many cultures. From 1988 to 1993 he was Lecturer in Violin and Viola at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA; he is currently on the faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He has recorded for Sony, Sony Classical, Dorian, Newport Classic, NorthStar, Analekta and Northeastern.
The eclectic cultural richness of Ladom Ensemble’s music is a reflection of Canada’s cultural diversity. Like the vibrant colours of a beautifully woven Persian carpet, the intricacies of an Iranian stone mosaic, Ladom’s sound is drawn from the old and brought into a contemporary presentation. Like the traditions of music from that region, Ladom also relies on the equal balance of both structure and improvisation. Ladom Ensemble, consisting of founding member Pouya Hamidi on piano, accordionist Michael Bridge, cellist Beth Silver, and Adam Campbell on percussion, creates a sound that represents one of the oldest cultures in the world, one can hear influences drawn from the Balkan, Celtic, Iran, Argentina, and Europe. The elasticity of styles is the musical foundation of these four musicians and their vast experiences create a new sound and experience that will be appeal to all audiences. The musicians met in Toronto and quickly realized that they shared a passion to create a sound that draws from their unique musical experiences. A sound that would incorporate inspirations from classical tango, Celtic music, Serbian folk dance, Persian classical dulcimer, amongst others. Ladom was formed, not to define one specific tradition, but rather, to express what a modern and authentic Canadian sound experience, that reflects a beautiful new world. As critic Michael Vincent of musicaltoronto.org wrote, “Toronto’s Ladom Ensemble is not your typical chamber group. In many ways, they represent a changing definition of chamber music which sees musicians increasingly looking away from a purely Eurocentric purview…They can play pretty much anything.”
Douglas Miller is a versatile soloist who is active within various symphony orchestras, chamber music series, mega-musicals, film and television recordings. He has performed with the Toronto Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, and Kitchener Waterloo Orchestra. He is current principal flute of the Niagara Symphony and a former Instructor at Brock University. As theatre musician, he is a regular member of the pit orchestras in Toronto productions such as The Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of OZ, and Les Miserables. In The Lion King, and The Lord of the Rings, he played a collection of ethnic bamboo flutes, several of which he built himself. In 2004-2006 he toured North America with Hal Princes' production of EVITA, celebrating the show's 25th anniversary. He has been a member of the Shaw Festival Orchestra in various productions since 1991 and performs regularly at the Stratford Festival. One of his many online videos with guitarist Timothy Phelan was used for a seminar in the music curriculum at Brock University in 2021. He has performed with Diana Krall and has made videos with Idina Menzel, Jonathan Antoine, and Chantal Kreviazuk. He is heard on the soundtracks of many films and TV series such as CBC's Road to Avonlea and David Suzuki's Nature of Things. Mr. Miller's diverse education includes a Master of Music in flute from University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Music and Licentiate with Distinction in saxophone from McGill University, where he completed a year of graduate studies in recording engineering. A graduate of the Royal Conservatory's Orchestral Training Program, he also spent a year of Advanced Studies in Music at the Banff Centre followed by private studies in Vienna. He is a founding member of The Gallery Players of Niagara and has produced three CDs with his trio Glissandi. He regularly performs his multimedia show, 'Flutes en Route!' a showcase of ethnic flutes from around the world. He makes his home in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
As a performer, Charlotte Nediger’s first love is playing continuo in an orchestral and/or choral setting, something she’s been delighted to do with Tafelmusik since joining the orchestra in 1980 at age 21. She also works being the scenes as Librarian, Program Editor, Artistic Operations Assistant, and Artistic Coordinator of the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. A native of southwestern Ontario, Charlotte holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Western University in London and a Solo Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands. She teaches at the University of Toronto. Charlotte’s grateful to her father for deciding on a whim to build a harpsichord for his pianist daughter when she was 14 years old. His woodworking project forever changed the trajectory of her life, sending her down a path that led to Tafelmusik. She’s also grateful to her mother, ever a lover of the piano, who cheered her on even while asking, “Dear, does anyone actually like listening to the harpsichord?”
Joan Nicks, retired associate professor, Communication, Popular Culture and Film, author of two new volumes, Lost Movie Theatres / Disappearing Motels (Niagara Artists Centre, 2022), and co-editor of two studies on popular culture (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010, 2002). For many years, Joan and Barry Grant programmed BUFS (Brock University Film Series). Her on-going public work includes programming film series at the Niagara Falls History Museum, and collaborating with Gallery Players musicians on special screenings of restored silent films. Active researcher and writer, she continues to walk, drive and document Niagara Falls street scenes and voices.
Passionate advocates of chamber music, Toronto-based Odin Quartet explores of the role of classical music in modern-day storytelling. Named after the one-eyed Norse god, seeker of knowledge and holder of the wisdom of the world, the ensemble is dedicated to making classical music accessible to generations of listeners, both old and new. Since their formation in 2015, the Quartet has promoted modern Canadian compositions, including those of cellist Samuel Bisson, alongside classical music literature. In June 2015, the Odin Quartet took part in the Luminato Festival's epic production of R Murray Schafer's 1980 oratorio Apocalypsis. Since their 2017 debut at the opening gala of the Music Niagara Festival, the Quartet has been a recurring performer at the summer festival, in 2019 and 2021. Other festival appearances include the University of Toronto's New Music Festival, Midday Music with Shigeru, the Ottawa Valley Music Festival, Guelph Connections, and Music Mondays Toronto. The Odin Quartet has enjoyed multiple collaborations with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra as its ensemble-in-residence since 2018. Most recently, the Quartet premiered a new piece for string quartet and symphony orchestra by Samuel Bisson, under the baton of Maestro Ron Royer and has also been a collaborative artist for their annual New Generations Composer’s Project. The ensemble presented its first concert season in 2019-2020 in Toronto and ambitiously programmed a second concert season in 2021-2022. This second season featured their 2-part project, a commission of compositions from composers worldwide, entitled “Lockdown Lullabies” in which over 180 works were received and 30 were chosen and premiered. Additionally during this season, the Quartet released its first album entitled “Journey Through Night: Canadian Music for String Quartet” featuring the musical creations of 7 Canadian composers. The Quartet has recorded numerous film scores both locally and internationally and is regularly featured in musical projects by other artists both in Toronto and abroad.
PhoeNX Ensemble is a cross-cultural mixed chamber ensemble which blends traditional East Asian and Western instruments. Its vision is to explore, promote, and expand the East/West mixed-musical medium through performances, educational workshops, commissioning, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. This multi-layered instrumental palette merges together the rich musical histories and influences of the East and West, giving rise to an altogether new canvas of limitless sound potential and musical story-telling. Founded by leading erhu musician Patty Chan, Director of Centre for Music Innovations and Music Director of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra, in collaboration with Sanya Eng, an internationally acclaimed Toronto-based harpist, PhoeNX Ensemble is rooted in the heartfelt hopes of sharing inspirational narratives through a mixed ensemble sonority. Each concert has an arc of experience. Programmes are based upon compelling stories of true history, traditional mythology, or tales of life-lessons learned through fables. With music ranging from time-honoured, Eastern-oriented classics to freshly commissioned contemporary new music, the audience is treated to a journey across cultures, languages, borders, and time…. and ultimately: a journey of hope and inspi
Gail Poulsen has an ARCT in violin performance from the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, where she studied with Katharine Rapoport. Gail regularly performs with The World Rock Symphony Orchestra and has performed with The National Youth Orchestra of Canada, The Windsor Symphony, and The Boris Brott Festival Orchestra. As a soloist, Gail has appeared with Chorus Niagara, The Niagara Symphony, Brock University Chorus, Avanti Chamber Singers, Young Singers of Niagara, and To The King Chorus, among others. Gail is an avid composer, and often plays on the CDs of other Canadian artists, writing her own fiddle/violin parts. Her compositions have been performed by Chorus Niagara, Glissandi Trio, Niagara Symphony, Niagara Youth Orchestra, Avanti Chamber Singers, Chorus Niagara Children's Choir and many churches. In 2014, the CD, Songs of Jubilee was released on iTunes. These songs were written by Gail and Linda Lensink. Two of the songs have won international competitions. One is published in an Anglican hymnal. Another was orchestrated by Gail, and performed by the NYO. Celtic Blessing (arr Harris Loewen) and Mary's Heart (arr Larry Nickel/James Moffett) were published by Cypress Choral Music while Open Arms (arr H. Loewen) has been published by Renforth Music. Visit www.songsofjubilee.ca to download songs or see videos. Gail is so grateful to the congregation of Jubilee CRC for their constant support and inspiration.
Born in Mexico City, Daniel Ramírez is a specialist in period oboes, dedicated to the historically informed performance of music from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. His career spans solo, chamber, and orchestral work, with a particular passion for chamber music. He began his oboe studies with Boris Glouzman, Rafael Tamez, and Miguel Salazar. In 2007, he was appointed principal oboe of the Carlos Chávez Youth Symphony Orchestra and, later that year, joined the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra as assistant oboe and English horn. He also performed regularly with the Minería Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, Daniel moved to Barcelona to specialize in historical oboes under the guidance of Alfredo Bernardini and Xavier Blanch at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) and with Josep Domènech at the Isaac Albéniz Conservatory in Girona. He earned his bachelor’s degree from ESMUC in 2013 and continued his studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he completed a master’s degree under Alfredo Bernardini in 2015. As an active performer in the field of early music, he has collaborated with internationally acclaimed ensembles, including Concerto Copenhagen, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir, Orquestra Barroca Catalana, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, Vespres d’Arnadí, La Tempestad, Finnish Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Zefiro, Ensemble Matheus, Il Pomo d’Oro, La Folia Barockorchester, and Holland Baroque, among others. Since 2022, he has been a member of Pérgamo Ensemble, furthering his dedication to historically informed performance and chamber music. Throughout his career, he has received artistic guidance from distinguished musicians such as Joseph Shalita, Lorenzo Coppola, Sigiswald Kuijken, Paolo Grazzi, Alberto Grazzi, Frank de Bruine, and Marcel Ponseele.
Winner of the 2021 Michael Measures Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, Métis-Canadian cellist David Liam Roberts enjoys an international performing career as a soloist and chamber musician. The 2024-25 season included a 40-concert tour of the Canadian Prairies with pianist Godwin Friesen presented by Prairie Debut. With his Rilian Trio, David Liam won the 1st Prize, Audience Prize and Commissioned Work Prize at the 12th Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition in Norway. Originally from Winnipeg, David Liam began performing his siblings at age 5, and some of his earliest musical memories are of playing the bass lines to Métis fiddle tunes at farmers' markets in Manitoba. Recent and upcoming appearances include the Copenhagen Summer Festival (Denmark) and the Prince Edward County Festival (Ontario), Trondheim Kammermusikkfestival (Norway), as well as debuts in Calgary (Calgary Pro Musica), Bergen and Oslo with the Rilian Trio. David Liam has performed as a guest with the Toronto Symphony and the Winnipeg Symphony and has participated in the Open Chamber Music seminar at Prussia Cove in Cornwall, UK. David Liam holds a bachelor's degree and Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, where he studied with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Andrés Díaz. He is now studying with Danjulo Ishizaka in the Masters program at the Basel Academy of Music in Switzerland. Additionally, he studies Historical Cello with Petr Skalka at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. David Liam performs on the 1690 Francesco Rugeri cello, on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank, and a WE Hill&Sons bow generously loaned to him from CANIMEX, Inc.
Leading Canadian percussionist Dr. Ryan Scott has been hailed as “Fierce and delicate…a chameleon-like virtuoso who triumphs over the varied colouristic demands and technical challenges” (Gramophone). As a marimba and multi-percussion soloist he has performed extensively in contemporary music festivals in Europe, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, the UK and The Netherlands. He has also performed as guest soloist with the Esprit Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, The Hyogo Performing Arts Centre Orchestra, The Austin Symphony and numerous other orchestras and chamber ensembles across North America. Ryan is a stalwart figure in the Toronto contemporary music community and has performed in over 400 world premieres. In addition to his work as a regular guest artist with NEXUS, Principal Percussionist of the Esprit Orchestra and Percussionist in the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra since 1996, he is also a sought-after chamber musician and teacher. A core member of Continuum Contemporary Music (founded 1985), he also serves the organization as Artistic Director. His live recording of three Maki Ishii percussion concertos with the Esprit Orchestra (Innova 809) elevated Ryan to international acclaim in 2011. He studied with Russell Hartenberger and Robin Engelman at the University of Toronto and serves on the faculty at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
Annie Slade is a Niagara-based arts administrator specializing in audience development and community partnerships. As a life-long lover of all forms of artistic expression, she aspires to support artists in creating accessible, inclusive, and engaging experiences for audiences of all ages. With nearly a decade of experience in the non-profit arts industry in roles that include education, marketing, fundraising, and audience development, Annie brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for collaboration to her role as General Manager of Carousel Players. She also holds an MA in Arts Management from Queens University. When not behind the curtain as an administrator, Annie is a vocalist and violinist performing regularly throughout the Niagara Region as a member of the Avanti Chamber Singers and Grace Notes String Ensemble.
Ian Slade is a part-time musician from the St. Catharines area who has been performing on the Double Bass for upwards of 15 years. After learning to play in the local N.E.I.M. Program (Niagara Elementary Instrumental Music), and graduating in 2018 from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Orchestral Performance on Double Bass, Ian has come full circle to teach young aspiring musicians through the NEIM program himself.
Leanne is thrilled to be performing with the Gallery Players this season! Upon completion of an Honours Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at Brock University, she attended Western University Canada to complete two graduate degrees: a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Literature, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance. Leanne has extensive operatic, music theatre, and recording credits, and has performed throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. Leanne is the voice instructor at Brock University, and is also the adjunct professor of voice at Niagara University, a music instructor at Ridley College, as well as maintaining a small home teaching studio. An active performer, Leanne sings in 2 choirs (Avanti Chamber Singers, The Edison Singers), 3 bands (High Fidelity, Temple of Night, Minuscule), and frequently performs as a soprano soloist and session musician. Recent research projects include a curriculum of Canadian Art Song, and the development of a meditation technique for singers and performers. When not making music, Leanne can be found at her local yoga studio, cultivating her wild perennial garden, or immersed in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
Violinist Julia Wedman brings an "infectious vitality" to music (Victoria Times Colonist). Her playing has been described as "highly communicative", and "extraordinarily lithe and intuitive" (Globe and Mail). Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Julia completed her studies in music at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Toronto and Indiana University at Bloomington. With a life long passion for chamber music, she formed her first serious string quartet at age 15 and performs with a wide collection of chamber ensembles including the Eybler Quartet, I FURIOSI Baroque Ensemble and L’Harmonie des Saisons (Montreal). She joined the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in 2005, and is regularly featured as a soloist with the group on their home series in Toronto as well as on tours in Canada, the U.S.A, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Germany, China and Korea. Always interested in the latest research in period performance, Julia joined the Accordes! Ensemble in 2019 at Oxford University (UK) in their ground-breaking research into 19th Century performance practice, which culminated in a CD of music by Tchaikovsky and Fuchs.