Members of the KSO
Strings
Concertmaster
Alexander Gangurean
Principal Violinist
Ivan Samozvantsev
Violin
Olga Petrashkevich
Lilit Zakarian
Olga Kostianiuk
Selina Mei
Sophia Chang
Katelyn Xie
George Byelov
Dongyu Yao
Jarmin Weng
Karen Leung
Faranak Honarvar
Leonard Taranov-Isaacs
Selena Zhang
Sophia Wang
Konstantin Chu
Regina Kim
Angela Wang
Veronika Koalrska
Evanka Liu
Vacant
Principal Viola
Emma Vachon-Tweney
Viola
Valentina Tchaikovsky
Martin Levman
Janet Wilchfort
Natalia Laribi
Ruth Cheng
Valeria Koroleva
Fanny Tang
Liz Torrealba
Vacant
Principal Cello
Lusine Navoyan
Cello
Stella Chang
Faina Sosedova
Stella Leng
Frank Qian
Vacant
Principal Contrabass
David Gustilov
Contrabass
Lisa Haddock
Anthony Damtsis
Sara Lukjanovs
Vacant
Woodwinds
Principal Flute
Rodney Gray
Associate Principal Flute
Alexa Ball
Flute/Piccolo
Brooke Ramos White
Principal Oboe
Claire Kobayakawa
Associate Principal Oboe
Christopher Vshy
English Horn
Vacant
Principal Clarinet
Carmen Gassi
Associate Principal Clarinet
Leonard Corsini
Bass Clarinet
Ken Fudurich
Principal Bassoon
Rachel Stewart
Associate Principal Bassoon
Rostislav Tikhov
Contrabassoon
Tom Kelimbet
Brass and Percussion
Principal Horn
Gilles Thibodeau
Associate Principal Horn
Rebecca Whiteside
Horn
Darryl Dinniwell
Donald G. Bastian
Principal Trumpet
Boris Chung
Associate Principal Trumpet
Vacant
Trumpet
Brian Lo
Principal Trombone
Thomas LaGrange
Associate Principal Trombone
Hanna Wilson
Bass Trombone
Jack Shiels
Principal Tuba
Christina Caccavella
Principal Timpani
Bruce Reid
Principal Percussion
Paul M. Mouradian
Principal Pianist
Antonia de Wolfe
Alexander Gangurean
Concertmaster
Emerging from a musical family, Alexander Gangurean graduated from the State University of Music in Moldova, where he was taught by the leading professors from acclaimed Odessa’s Stolyarski School and world-wide known Moscow State Conservatoire. Alexander joined the National Opera Theatre of Moldova where he worked for 7 years touring in Italy, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Ireland. During this period Alexander was also a guest musician of the National Symphony orchestra and the founder of quartet “Ad Libitum”, which performed nationally as well as in Italy and Cyprus. From early 2000 he joined one of the leading Touring Opera Companies in the UK where he worked until he moved to Toronto. Alexander is known as a member of many orchestras across GTA and is also an active violin teacher. In Toronto, he was a Concertmaster for productions of Puccini’s La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly; Verdi’s Il Trovattore, Aida, La Traviata, Nabucco; Bizet’s Carmen, Tchaikovski’s Eugene Onegin, Iolanta as well as in numerous symphonic programs.
Ivan Samozvantsev
Principal Violin
Ivan Samozvantsev has earned degrees in violin and viola performances from the Altai State Music College and Philharmonic Orchestra and from the Novosibirsk State Music Academy. He worked for over 25 years with the Danube Symphony Orchestra and the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra in Hungary while touring the globe from US to Indonesia, Europe, China, and Japan. He gained international acclaim as a member of an acoustic duet with singer-songwriter Igor Hellman, featured in popular TV and radio shows and performing in hundreds of concerts in the USSR, Japn, and Hungary. He also played in orchestral and musical theatre productions, chamber ensembles and string quartets while traveling internationally with the London City Opera, the Symphonia Vienna Orchestra, the Szolnok Symphonic, and the Âge tendre, la tournée des idoles. Ivan played in orchestras for recordings of several theatre productions, music videos, and films, including Sunshine with Ralph Fiennes, and The Man with the Iron Heart with Jason Clarke and Rosamund Pike. Currently, Ivan is a Principal Violinist with the Summerhill Orchestra and tutti violinist with the Ontario Philharmonic. Dedicated pedagogue, Ivan also maintains a busy private music studio where he teaches violin, viola and guitar.
Dongyu Yao
Violin
Dongyu Yao started learning the violin at the age of 6 with prominent teachers – members of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, he continued his studies at Melbourne Conservatory of Music with Markiyan Melychenko and Wilma Smith. As a passionate chamber musician, Dongyu has appeared at the Mimir Festival where he studied with Stephen Rose. An experienced orchestral musician, Dongyu has been a member of the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Youth Orchestra. Currently, Dongyu Yao is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree on a full scholarship at the Glenn Gould School of Music where he studies with Atis Bankas. He has performed in masterclasses of Jinjoo Cho and Violaine Melancon and participated in the summer program at the Northwestern University. Dongyu is a recipient of the Dorothy Johnson Joyce Memorial Scholarship.
George Byelov
Violin
George Byelov began studying violin and piano after immigrating from Ukraine at the age of six. After several years of tutelage under Svetlana Filippova, he made his international debut at the age of 11 in Germany. The winner of several local and regional music competitions, George has 15 years of orchestral experience and has worked with orchestras and ensembles, premiered works, and given solo concerts across Europe and North America. He holds a Bachelors of Music degree specializing in violin performance from Wilfred Laurier University, where he studied under Jeremy Bell and received coaching from the members of the Penderecki String Quartet. He acted as principal violinist in the WLSU orchestra and led its string quartet.
Angela Wang
Violin
Angela started her music journey at age 5 with piano, and fell in love with violin after two years at her own choice. She started to learn violin with Jia Xiao Cheng professor at Shenyang Conservatory of Music. Then she continued learning with great passion under the instruction of two professional professors. She passed RCM violin level 5 examination with first class honour, within a few years, and passed both piano and violin RCM level 8 examinations in 2018. Soon after, she passed RCM violin level 10 examination at the age of 12 in 2020. Her two tutors, Qian Zhao and Jing Ye, two prestigious violinists in the violin field, not only taught her skills but also awareness, love, and the mission of music. She was awarded many prizes in China National Youth piano and violin competitions, the Kiwanis Music Festival. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music and playing sports.
Sophia Wang
Violin
Sophia Wang started learning piano at the age of 5, voice at the age of 6, and violin at the age of 7. In 2021, at the age of 14, she completed the Associate Diploma (ARCT) in violin performance of the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) with First Class Honours with Distinction. She is currently pursuing ARCT performance in piano performance. In 2016, Sophia was awarded by the RCM a gold medal for achieving the highest examinations mark in the province of Ontario. She is also the recipient of a scholarship from Kiwanis musical festival, as well as of many trophies and awards from several music festivals and competitions. Sophia is an avid chess player, has attained the Dan in Taekwondo Black Belt, and enjoys composing, learning Latin, math and history.
Faranak Honarvar
Violin
Faranak Honarvar is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Music performance at York University, after completing the Royal Conservatory of Music program. She plays violin in the Summerhill Orchestra and participates in the Canadian Amateur Musicians reading sessions. Faranak started learning the violin when she was 12 y.o., first with Roksana Reyhanian in her home country Iran, then with Bijan Sepanji and Mark Skazinetsky in Toronto.
Leonard Taranov-Isaacs
Violin
Leonard Taranov-Isaacs started studying the violin at the age of 15 with Alexander Gangurean and within 2 years was able to successfully complete 7 levels of the Royal Conservatory of Music violin performance program. and I currently 17 years old. In his spare time, Leonard learns competitive swimming and skating as well as Tae Kwan Do, in which he has won first place at the World Master Olympics.
Konstantin Chu
Violin
Konstantin Chu began studying the violin at the age of 5 with Wilson Chu, concertmaster of the Philharmonie Salzburg. Konstantin has performed as a soloist with the Po Leung Kuk Camões Tan Siu Lin Primary School since he was 7 y.o. At the age of 10, he has completed the Royal Schools of Music in London, England (ABRSM) Grade 8 Violin performance examination with distinction. He has earned the Vienna Music Examination Board TMPZ and the Trinity ATCL Performance diplomas when he was 11 y.o. Konstantin was also awarded the music scholarship of St. Paul’s College and is a prize-winner of many prestigious competitions, such as New York Golden Classical Music Awards 2018 International Competition – Champion, VMEB Competition 2020 Summer Semester, Advanced Level – Silver Medal, Hong Kong Youth Barclampory Music Festival – 1st Runner-up and a handful of Hong Kong Schools Music Festival Awards. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music, jogging, and skateboarding.
Selena Zhang
Violin
Selena Zhang started learning the piano at the age of 7 and violin at the age of 10. In 2018, she won second place at the Chopin Pianoforte Competition and in 2019 – first-place at the violin devision of the YIP’s Music Festival. She has successfully passed the Royal Conservatory of Music examinations for Grade 9 violin and grade 10 piano, music history, harmony and counterpoint. She is enrolled at French immersion school and in her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to music and playing Sudoku.
Sophia Chang
Violin
Sophia Chang began her musical journey playing violin at the age of 6 and is currently under the tutelage of Marie Berard. In 2020, she received a Grade 10 Certificate in violin performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music certificate and is currently pursuing her ARCT. Sophia has won several gold medal awards at the 2021 and 2022 International Music Festival and Competition, as well as at the 2020 and 2021 Kiwanis Music Festival. An incoming student of Earl Haig’s Claude Watson music program, Sophia also excels in her academics, being the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award. In her spare time she enjoys playing competitive tennis, and golf.
Katelyn Xie
Violin
Katelyn has been playing violin since the age of eight. In 2021, she has been working on her Grade 10 violin examination at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has been a member of OCMS Youth String Orchestra, her school string quartet and symphony orchestra, since she was in grade six. She performed with the orchestra in a dozen concerts and charity events. In her spare time Katelyn enjoys reading, hiking and swimming.
Veronika Kolarska
Violin
Veronika Kolarska started learning violin at the age of 9. She studied primarily with Nancy Lokan and is currently playing under the tutelage of Bronson Kwan. She performed as associate concertmaster in the 2018 TDSB All City Orchestra, and as a tutti violinist at the 2020 Thanks to Dr. Suzuki concert. At the 2022 International Music Festival and Competition, Veronika was awarded two gold medals.
Zhoutong Ju
Violin
Zhoutong Ju developed a keen interest in both the piano at the age of 6 and the violin, a year later. He has played in a variety of competitions and concerts, including the Canadian Musical Competition in 2018. He has eared a Level 8 Certificate in violin performance and a Level 10 Certificate in piano performance of the Royal Conservatory of Music. He attends the International Baccalaureate program at St. Roberts CHS and the Canadian Sinfonietta Youth Orchestra.
Jarmin Weng
Violin
Jarmin Weng started learning piano at the age of 6, violin at the age of 8, and cello at the age of 12. He has earned a Grade 10 Certificate with first class with distinction in violin performance, a Grade 10 Certificate with a first class with distinction in cello performance, and a Diploma (ARCT) with distinction in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2022, he was awarded the First place in piano performance at the Canadian Music Competition (CMC), after being awarded a Second place in 2017 and 2019. In 2022 and in 2017, he won the First place in piano performance at the Ontario Provincial Music Competition (OMFA). He holds numerous Prizes and Awards from the International Music Festival and Competition, Markham Music Festival, North York Music Festival, Kiwanis Music Festival. Jarmin also loves math, physics, and history, and enjoys playing table tennis and basketball.
Evanka Liu
Violin
Evanka Liu started learning violin at the age of 5 and viola at the age of 14. In 2021, she earned Grade 8 Certificate in violin performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is a member of the Chinese Artists Society of Toronto Youth Orchestra and the Viola performance program at the Unionville high school. In addition to music, Evanka also enjoys playing tennis, badminton, and guitar as well as singing.
Karen Leung
Violin
Karen Leung has been playing violin solo, in a group, and also in an orchestra for years. From flash mob performances in shopping malls to performances in seniors’ long-term care centres, to orchestral performances in concert halls, Karen has experience performing in an assortment of venues. She performed with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra in Hong Kong and is currently a member of the orchestra in her high school. Karen has been awarded the highest Level 8 in violin performance of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) in Hong Kong at the age of 11. She has also achieved Level 9 in Certificate in violin performance of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada, Apart from playing violin, her hobbies are reading, writing and playing volleyball.
Emma Vachon-Tweney
Principal Viola
Emma Vachon-Tweney has been performing as a professional violinist and violist for over 10 years. Based in Toronto, Emma regularly performs with her mariachi bands Mexico Amigo Mariachi and Mariachi de los Gallos. She has been featured in many tv shows, including City TV Breakfast Television. She also regularly performs with her string quartet, Alexander Ensemble and many different orchestras throughout the city. Emma has toured and performed with her mariachi bands in many countries including USA, Mexico and China. She has been featured in many world music festivals including Chinese New Year, Taiwanese and Iranian music festivals. She is featured on professional recordings and performed with Down with Webster, Arcade Fire and Arkells band. She resides in her hometown of Toronto, Canada.
Lizdaribeth Torrealba
Viola
Lizdaribeth Torrealba has earned two Bachelor degrees: in philosophy and in Music Pedagogy with summa cum laude. From 2007 to 2016, she was a member of the National System of Orchestras in Venezuela and a tutti violist at the Simón Bolívar Conservatory Youth Orchestra. In Canada, Lizdaribeth played with the Orchestre Philharmonique du Haut-Saint-Jean, the Tutta Música Orchestra, and Summerhill Orchestra Strings,, while continuing her studies in Viola performance with Prof. Helen-Jacob-Stein at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Oscar Peterson School of Music. Lizdaribeth also provides private music instruction through her own professional studio.
Lusine Navoyan
Principal Cello
Lusine Navoyan studied cello with Armen Mesropyan at the Tchaikovsky Music School in Yerevan. From 2001 to2006 she studied cello with Aram Talalyan at the Komitas State Conservatory, where she graduated with honours. From 2006 to 2008 she completed postgraduate studies in cello performance. In 2009 and 2010, Ms Navoyan studied with Maria Egelholf and with Vagram Sarajyan. She has performed with the “Baroque” chamber orchestra, the “Naregatsi” chamber orchestra, “Alan Hovhaness” chamber orchestra, “Tagaran” state ensemble for ancient music. Ms. Navoyan has been a visiting musician at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre orchestra in Yerevan.
Stella Chang
Cello
Stella Chang started learning cello at the age of 6. She is currently studying with Paul Widner, with whom she was awarded first place at the 2022 International Music Festival and Competition. Stella also participated in the 2021 Toronto Kiwanis Festival and received 1st place with Platinum award. She continues to share her passion for music by performing at a variety of community and cultural events with her father and her sisters. In addition to cello, Stella also enjoys drawing, tennis, and gymnastics.
Frank Qian
Cello
Frank has been playing cello since the age of seven. He was a cellist in Shanghai City Youth Orchestra before coming to Canada in 2020. Frank performed with the orchestra in a dozen concerts and charity events, including several concerts dedicated to raising awareness and funds for children with autism. He passed ABRSM Grade 7 cello exam with distinction. In addition to cello, he also learned piano and once played a leading role in the musical The Sound of Music. Currently a student at St Theresa Lisieux High School in Richmond Hill, Frank enjoys reading history books, bicycling and swimming.
Stella Leng
Cello
Yi (Stella) Leng began learning cello at the age of seven under the tutelage of Guo Cheng and James Xia. In 2021, she won the first prize in the 1st Milan International Cello Competition and in 2022, she was awarded first place at the Canada Rocky Mountain Concerto Competition. In June 2022, she took part in the Vienna Virtuoso Music Competition, and was awarded first place in the junior category. In 2022 as well, she was awarded first place with a gold medal at the 2022 International Music Festival and Competition concerto competition. Stella was awarded First place and a Platinum Award at the 2022 Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival and First place at the Ontario Provincial Music Competition (OMFA). In her free time, Stella enjoys art, mathematics, drawing and skateboarding.
David Gustilov
Principal Contrabass
David Gustilov earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Regina in Saskatchewan studying with Steven Mc Lelland. He then attended Indiana University to earn a Masters of Performance with Bruce Bransby, as well as an Artist Diploma from Cincinnati College Conservatory with Albert Laszlo. He attended many summer music camps including Congress of Strings, The Aspen Music Festival, Le Domaine Forget Academy, and Centre díArts Orford. David performed with the Regina Symphony Orchestra for ten years, as well as several seasons with Opera Saskatchewan. Upon moving to Toronto, David has performed as Principal Bass with Korean Canadian Symphony Orchestra, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Masterworks of Oakville, and Opera Bel Canto of York. David and his wife enjoy their summers kayaking, swimming, hiking, and working on building projects.
Rodney Gray
Principal Flute
Rodney Gray has served as Principal Flute in the KSO since 2013. He received a Bachelor of Music and a Masters of Music degree in performance flute from the University of Western Ontario. He supplemented his learning at the Banff School of Fine Arts, and during several months studying in Paris France with Pierre-Yves Artaud. Rodney attributes his main learning experience to a two year period of study in the international master class of renowned British flutist Geoffrey Gilbert, former teacher of William Bennett, Trevor Wye, James Galway, and Susan Milan. Rodney has performed with Orchestra London, London Concert Players Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony, and Cambridge Symphony, and has appeared as a recitalist across Canada. Constantly in demand as a flutist, Rodney performs as the Principal Flutist with the Southern Ontario Lyric Opera orchestra, and is a regular member in the orchestras for the Brampton Musical Theatre, East West Orchestra, and other Toronto based performing groups. He is an avid supporter of physical fitness and enjoys running and cycling. Rodney is a frequent performer in the KSO pre-concert recitals and lectures. He plays an Altus model 1607 flute with a Yamaha head joint.
Alexa Ball
Associate Principal Flute
Alexa Ball is a flute performer and teacher based out of Thornhill. She has performed with several local orchestras, including the Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra. She is currently a member of Flute Street, Toronto’s professional flute choir, performing on flutes of all sizes including piccolo, alto, treble and contrabass flutes. She is a certified teacher with the RCM and ORMTA, and has a thriving flute studio which has produced multiple RCM gold medal winners and successful university candidates who have gone on to pursue careers in music. Alexa obtained her Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Peg Albrecht and continued her studies with Nora Shulman, former Principal Flutist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Alexa was also the National Gold Medalist upon receipt of her ARCT with the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Brooke Ramos White
Flute/Piccolo
Brooke Ramos White is a graduate from the School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design at York University, earning her BFA in Flute Performance. Since childhood, Brooke has had a passion for the arts and learning. Raised in Barrie Ontario, she has studied flute performance for the past 10 years. Throughout her degree she had the pleasure of being a member of the York University Symphony Orchestra as well as the York University Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble. She has performed in wind quintets, flute choirs, as well as with her piano trio; Solaris Trio. Brooke has studied flute performance in Toronto with Barbara Ackerman, and has had the enjoyment of performing in masterclasses with Dr. Patricia Wait, as well as the Artistic Flutist Masterclass at the Eastman School of Music. Brooke is a proud recipient of the Patricia and Robert Martin Scholarship Award in recognition of outstanding adjudicated performances, the Peggie Sampson Award for academic achievements in music history studies, as well as the Musicfest Canada Nationals Award for outstanding musicianship.
Claire Kobayakawa
Principal Oboe
Claire Kobayakawa has been playing with various GTA orchestras since 2011, the year she first worked with KSO, but her first appearance at Markham Theatre was in 1992 with Markham Youth Theatre. She holds a Bachelor of Music (performance), and could most recently be found in the pit orchestras of Whitby Courthouse Theatre, Unionville Theatre Company and others.
Christopher Vishy
Associate Principal Oboe
Christopher Vishy began his music studies with the saxophone at the age of 11 and later went on to study flute and oboe to pursue his passion for Baroque and orchestral music. Throughout his high school years, Christopher has been a part of the Toronto Youth Symphonic Winds and the Canadian Sinfonietta Youth Orchestra. During that time he studied flute with Alexa Ball and oboe with Aleh Remezau. In 2021, he won the RCM national gold medal among level 9 winds for his flute exam. This past season, Christopher was the second oboist of the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and was featured as the English horn soloist in Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 2. In addition, he enjoys taking part in chamber ensembles and solo performances. Christopher currently studies with Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s oboist Hugo Lee at the University of Toronto.
Carmen Gassi
Principal Clarinet
Carmen Gassi has earned a Master of Music in Clarinet performance degree, a Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario. He has studied with Jerome Summers, Robert Riseling, and Imre Roszanyi. Mr. Gassi has performed with the Brampton Symphony Orchestra, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Oakville Symphony Orchestra, Brampton Lyric Opera, Opera Kitchener, Meadowvale Theatre, and others. An accomplished composer, Mr. Gassi wrote Diversions for Woodwind Quintet and The Last Tournament for a Brass Quintet (both published by Eighth Note). He has also been conductor of the Halton Senior Winds Honour Band, assistant conductor of Brampton Symphony Orchestra and Brampton Youth Orchestra, and Head of Arts & Moderns at the Halton District School Board.
Leonard Corsini
Associate Principal Clarinet
Leonard Corsini graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours degree in Physics and Mathematics and a Bachelor of Education. Mr. Corsini has performed with the North York Concert Orchestra and the Oakville Symphony. For 20 years he was a member of the Taffanel Wind Ensemble which performed chamber music in a variety of venues including Roy Thomson Hall and the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg. Musical theatre orchestras have included productions of Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical and the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire. Mr. Corsini has also performed with the Northdale and the North York Concert Bands and is currently principle clarinetist with the Markham Concert Band.
Rostislav Tikhov
Associate Principal Bassoon
Rostislav Tikhov has earned a Bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance from the Kaliningrad Music College and a Master’s Degree in bassoon performance from the Saint-Petersburg Conservatory. While studying at the Conservatory, he was offered a position of bassoonist in the Sergei Stadler’s Saint-Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, where he had worked for 3 years and perform in various concert halls throughout Europe and China under the direction of illustrious conductors Fabio Mastrangelo and Aleksander Titov.
Gilles Thibodeau
Principal French Horn
Gilles Thibodeau grew up in the Northern town of Kapuskasing, Ontario. Having discovered the horn at the age of 14, he instantly fell in love with the instrument, and never looked back. From the University of Western Ontario to the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory, he honed his craft and learned the ropes. An active orchestral freelancer, teacher and chamber musician, Gilles is also a senior administrator in the post-secondary education sector.
Rebecca Whiteside
Associate Principal French Horn
Rebecca Whiteside has been playing the French Horn for over 35 years in various ensembles in Canada and the United Kingdom. She studied with Dan Gress while growing up in Ottawa and was a member of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra from 1989 to 1993. While pursuing a degree in Engineering at Queen’s University, Rebecca started playing horn semi-professionally with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and was a full member of the orchestra from 1994 to 2003. She left Kingston in 2003 when her engineering career took her to England but while in the UK, she played in various ensembles in Derby and Nottingham most notably, the Nottingham Symphonic Winds and occasionally, the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra. Since returning to Canada in 2005, in addition to the KSO, Rebecca has been a member of the Brampton Symphony Orchestra, Brampton’s Rose Orchestra and the North York Concert Orchestra.
Darryl Dinniwell
French Horn
Darryl Dinniwell began studying Horn at the age of 14. Under the training of Harcus Hennigar, he has won such awards as the Ontario Grade 9 Brass Silver Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music and two time winner of the Top Senior Brass Instrumentalist from the Barrie Kiwanis Music Festival. Darryl played with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Huronia Symphony Orchestra, the Barrie Concert Band, and the University of Toronto Wind Orchestra. Aside from Horn, Darryl also plays piano and harpsichord.
Donald G. Bastian
French Horn
Donald G. Bastian is a book editor and the publisher of BPS Books, a division of Bastian Publishing Services Ltd. He is one of Canada’s most experienced non-fiction editors. From 1988 to 2002, he was managing editor of Stoddart Publishing. Before that he was managing editor of the trade division of Irwin Publishing. In high school and the first year of university, Donald Bastian studied French horn with Kaid Friedel of the St. Louis Symphony. Today he studies with Wendy Limbertie. He is director of the Wesley Chapel Sanctuary Choir in Scarborough, Ontario, sings occasionally with the Cathedral Singers of Ontario under Ian Sadler, including at Westminster Abbey; St. Paul’s, London; and Ely Cathedral, Cambridge. Donald Bastian earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Greenville College and an M.A. in Philosophy from St. Louis University.
Boris Chung
Principal Trumpet
Boris Chung is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Music in Trumpet Performance degree at the University of Toronto. As a versatile musician, Boris has performed music in various styles from classical, to jazz and pop. His performance experiences include positions at the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, University of Toronto Contemporary Music Ensemble, Hannaford Youth Band, Orchestra Toronto, Hart House Jazz Ensemble, and numerous musical productions. In addition to performing in orchestras, Boris has also been involved with several chamber ensembles, including brass quintet, jazz trios, and pop bands. Boris currently studies with Anita McAlister, and has previously studied with Barton Woomert and Steve Woomert. He has performed in masterclasses with notable musicians such as Phil Smith, Gabor Tarkövi, Jeroen Berwaerts, Tom Hooten, Stéphane Beaulac, and Karen Donnelly.
Brian Lo
Trumpet
Brian started learning piano at the age of 5 and trumpet at the age of 8. He was part of his school’s jazz band and performed in numerous concerts while winning many awards in various inter-school competitions. He has passed the Grade 8 piano examination at the Royal Conservatory of Music and is currently working toward Grade 10 level. During his university years, he continued to study trumpet and conducting privately while pursuing a degree in accounting. He is currently also a member of the Canadian Sinfonietta youth orchestra. Brian appreciates various athletic activities and has won two silver medals in track-and-field inter-school competitions. He also enjoys creative writing, film making, and swimming.
Thomas LaGrange
Principal Trombone
Thomas LaGrange received his Master of Music Performance from the University of Toronto in 2022 after earning a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Alberta. He was the recipient of the University of Toronto Fellowship in Music and of the Nour Private Wealth Award. He has studied with trombonists from around Canada, including Megan Hodge, Vanessa Fralick, Kathryn Macintosh, Erik Hongisto, Alden Lowrey, Chris Taylor, and John McPherson. In 2019, he won the University of Alberta Concerto Competition and was also awarded the Harvard Broadcasting Award.
Hanna Wilson
Associate Principal Trombone
Hanna is pursuing a Master in Music Performance (trombone) degree at the University of Toronto. She has received a Bachelor of Music degree with a Minor in English from Mount Allison University. She is the recipient of many awards for both performance and academia. Most recently, she received the New Brunswick Arts Council Classical Music Scholarship, the Ina Mitton Prize for Excellence in Winds and Brass. She is also a two-time winner of the prestigious Mary McKean Scholarship. Hanna has also demonstrated her abilities as a researcher and writer through an Independent Student Research Grant and by winning the coveted Canadian Graduate Scholarship (SSHRC). She currently performs with Orchestra Toronto, Kindred Spirits Orchestra, and the Scarborough Philharmonic. When not rehearsing and performing, Hanna can often be found playing board games, reading, or knitting socks for friends and family.
Jack Shiels
Bass Trombone
Jack Shiels started to learn the bass trombone at age 14. He currently attends Alexander Mackenzie High School and is in the Arts Mackenzie music program. He is a member of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra as principal tuba, along with the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra for bass trombone. He enjoys exercising and playing video games in his free time.
Christine Caccavella
Principal Tuba
Playing the tuba for over 30 years, Ms. Christine Caccavella started her studies in high school with Jane Maness (Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony) and continued at the University of Western Ontario with Claudio Engli. She has performed with the Guelph Youth Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Orchestra, the Metropolitan Silver Band, and the North York Concert Orchestra. She also recorded for the children’s television series Ruffus the Dog, and has performed Tubby the Tuba with Sharon, Lois, and Bram.
Bruce Reid
Principal Timpani
Bruce Reid has performed for over 25 years with various community orchestras as timpanist and percussionist, such as East York Symphony Orchestra, Etobicoke Symphony Orchestra, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Brampton Symphony Orchestra, Brampton Lyric Opera, NYCO Symphony Orchestra, Brampton Festival Singers, and Counterpoint Community Orchestra.
Paul M. Mouradian
Principal Percussion
Paul M. Mouradian was born in St. Catharines Ontario and started playing drums since he was 7 years old. He holds a music performing degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Manhattan School of Music, and Artists Diploma from Freiburg Musikhochschule Freiburg Germany. He enjoyed playing music both as a free lance percussionist and timpanist in the U.S., Germany, France, and England. Mr. Mouradian’s musical interests are broad and include performing operatic and symphonic repertoire, Broadway musicals, contemporary music, chamber music, steel band, African Drumming, popular and jazz music. In his leisure time, he enjoys studying law and politics and spending time with his wife Suzanne, son Peter and daughter Joanne.
Antonia de Wolfe
Principal Pianist
Antonia de Wolfe has graduated with a degree in piano performance from the George Enescu Institute of Music in Bucharest, Romania and, later, with another degree from the Central School of Music affiliated with the P. I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Moscow. She has also graduated from the Academia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where she studied with Sergio Perticaroli, and has earned a Master in Music (piano performance) degree from the University of Toronto. In addition, Ms. de Wolfe has studied with Maestro S. Petricaroli at Mozarteum Hochschule für Musik in Salzburg (Austria). Ms. de Wolfe has given several recitals and concerts in some of the finest concert halls in Bucharest, Moscow, Rome, Paris, Salzburg, and Toronto. She has also taught piano at the Columbus Centre, Cosmo school of Music, and Koffler Music School. As a collaborative pianist and accompanist, she has been in great demand for several productions of the Centuries Opera Association, Toronto Opera Repertoire, Palestrina Choir, Etobicoke Centennial Choir, and others.
Interact with the KSO
Donations
Your generosity enables us to reach out to your community, provide performing and learning opportunities for children, and to enrich people’s lives. Your donation plays a critical part in sustaining the excellence of the KSO!
Phone: 905-604-8339
Email: info@KSOrchestra.ca
