Young Artist Mentorship Programme
KSO Young Artists mentoring programme has as a main goal to further develop the technical and artistic skills of young musicians, and give them the opportunity to play side-by-side with professional musicians during weekly rehearsals, as well as during concerts, thus preserving and enhancing traditions, heritage, and culture. The Kindred Spirits Orchestra accepts unlimited number of young string musicians who are 18 years old or younger on an ongoing basis and without restrictions. The hours that high school students spend for playing in the orchestra count as community service volunteer hours. For more information, e-mail info@KSOrchestra.ca.
The members of the 2023 | 2024 KSO Young Artists Mentoring Programme are: Angela Wang (Markham), Sophia Wang (Richmond Hill), Selena Zhang (Richmond Hill), Brian Lo (Markham), Veronika Kolarska (Toronto), Samir Ahmadi (Markham), Ruoyi Qiao (Toronto), Theodora Chung (Markham), Tiffany Feng (Markham), Angel Jiang (Richmond Hill).
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.
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.
Tiffany Feng
Violin
Tiffany Feng has been playing the violin since she was 6 y.o. under the tutelage of Wilson Chu. She has earned a Level 9 certificate in violin performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music has been a member of the Moordale Senior Youth Orchestra in Toronto for several years. Most recently, Tiffany won the first prize at the Vienna Music Examination Board for violin. Tiffany also plays the piano and has earned a Level 10 certificate in piano performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She also plays the flute in her school in Senior Band Club.
Ruoyi Qiao
Violin
Ruoyi (Cindy) Qiao is studying violin under Jonathan Garabedian. She has earned many awards and scholarships in regional and international competitions during the past years. She is the First Prize winner of the 2023 International Music Festival and Competition, the grand trophy winner of the 2022 CCC Toronto International Music Festival and first place winner of the Concerto class in the 2022 and the 2021 Ontario Music Provincial Finals. She is enthusiastic about performing on stage and has performed in multiple Galas and concerts including North York Music Festival, Unionville Music Festival, etc. In addition to violin, Ruoyi enjoys playing piano and composing as well. She also excels in mathematics and language arts. In leisure time, she enjoys reading, travelling, and swimming.
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.
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.
Theodora Chung
Violin
Theodora Chung began studying violin at the age of five and is currently under the tutelage of Tony Fan. She has recently been awarded the Royal Conservatory of Music National Gold Medal for achieving the highest examination score in Canada. Theodora has participated in various music festivals and competitions where she has been awarded first place/gold medals: the Grand Trophy in the 2022 CCC Toronto International Music Festival, first place of the String Popular Class in the 2023 Ontario Music Provincial Finals, the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, among others. At the age of nine, Theodora made her debut at the Carnegie Hall in New York City. In addition to violin, she enjoys playing piano, ukulele, recorder, viola, and clarinet. Her hobbies include cooking, playing badminton, biking, and crafts.
Samir Ahmadi
Viola
Samir Ahmadi started learning violin and viola at the age of 15. He has won awards at festivals and competitions in the GTA. He is currently studying biotechnology at the York University in Toronto,
Angel Jiang
Violin
Angel Jiang has been studying the violin at the age of 6 with the concertmaster in Macao Symphony Orchestra Prof. Zezhou Hou. In 202, she completed, with distinction, the highest level in violin performance at the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In 2022, Angel won first place in the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival In addition, she started learning competitive dancing when she was 4 y.o. and in 2021 she completed Level 10 of the Chinese Dancers Association. In her spare time, she likes to read books.
The members of the 2022 | 2023 KSO Young Artists Mentoring Programme are: Angela Wang (Markham), Jarmin Weng (Vaughan), Sophia Wang (Richmond Hill), Leonard Taranov-Isaacs (Toronto), Faranak Honarvar (Toronto), Konstantin Chu (Markham), Selena Zhang (Richmond Hill), Katelyn Xie (Richmond Hill), Yi Leng (Markham), Frank Qian (Richmond Hill), Brian Lo (Markham), Sophia Chang (Toronto), Karen Leung (Markham), Evanka Liu (Markham), Zhoutong Ju (Markham), Veronika Kolarska (Toronto), Samir Ahmadi (Markham), Stella Chang (Toronto).
The members of the 2021 | 2022 KSO Young Artists Mentoring Programme were: Jing Lin (Markham), Angela Wang (Markham), Christine Wang (Markham), Jarmin Weng (Vaughan), George Sun (Toronto), Sophia Wang (Richmond Hill), Tiara Lai (Richmond Hill), Leonard Taranov-Isaacs (Toronto), Faranak Honarvar (Toronto), Konstantin Chu (Markham), Selena Zhang (Richmond Hill), Katelyn Xie (Richmond Hill), Lyndon Kirkley (Toronto), Austin Yuhan Dong (Markham), Ethan Yoon (Maple), Michelle Zhao (Richmond Hill), Yi Leng (Markham), Frank Qian (Richmond Hill), Jonas Shapiro (Vaughan), Brian Lo (Markham).
The members of the 2020 | 2021 KSO Young Artists Mentoring Programme were: Austin Dong (Richmond Hill), Faranak Honarvar (Toronto), Chelsea Kwong (Markham), Christine Wang (Markham), Selina Mei (King City), Leonard Taranov-Isaac (Toronto), Jarmin Weng (Vaughan), Selena Zhang (Richmond Hill), Jonah Shapiro (Vaughan), Brian Lo (Markham), Richard Lu (Richmond Hill).
The members of the 2019 | 2020 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Yolanda Tang (Newmarket), Tom Pan (Markham), Sophia Wang (Richmond Hill), Austin Dong (Richmond Hill), Lucas Choi (Markham), Daniel Yang (Toronto), Faranak Honarvar (Toronto), Chelsea Kwong (Markham), Katelyn Xie (Markham).
The members of the 2018 | 2019 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Charlize Yao (Richmond Hill), Braden Yao (Richmond Hill), Brandon Chen (Markham), Ellie Sievers (Markham), Star Xie (Markham), Jasmine Zhao (Toronto), Earnest Ma (Toronto), Yolanda Tang (Newmarket), Garrett Kawabata (Markham), Alina Dong (Markham), Jarmin Wang (Vaughan), Richard Xiong (Toronto), Rachel Wan (Richmond Hill), Alison Wan (Richmond Hill), Tom Pan (Markham), Angelina Sievers (Markham), Sophia Wang (Richmond Hill), Jing Lin (Markham), Belinda Du (Toronto), Kevin Song (Newmarket), Eric Zhao (Markham), Jennifer Zhu (Markham).
The members of the 2017 | 2018 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Charlize Yao (Richmond Hill), Braden Yao (Richmond Hill), Brandon Chen (Markham), Ellie Sievers (Markham), Janey Song (Toronto), York Wei (Richmond Hill), Eugene Ye (Richmond Hill), Justin Zhou (Richmond Hill), Jennifer Ye (Markham), Star Xie (Markham), Jasmine Zhao (Toronto), Bjon Li (Markham), Edward Cui (Richmond Hill), Eric Sun (Markham), Tom Pan (Markham), Angelina Sievers (Markham), Sophia Wang (Richmond Hill), Jing Lin (Markham), Belinda Du (Toronto).
The members of the 2016 | 2017 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Charlize Yao (Richmond Hill), Braden Yao (Richmond Hill), Brandon Chen (Markham), Ellie Sievers (Markham), Janey Song (Toronto), York Wei (Richmond Hill), Jennifer Ye (Markham), Star Xie (Markham), Jasmine Zhao (Toronto), Eugene Ye (Richmond Hill), Justin Zhou (Richmond Hill), Bjon Li (Markham), Carole Wei (Markham), Vivian Xu (Toronto), Edward Cui (Richmond Hill), Eric Sun (Markham), Sibo Dong (Markham), Davin Ma (Markham), Christopher Wong (Markham), Hana Zhang (Toronto), Tian Jian (Toronto), Rona Li (Markham).
The members of the 2015 | 2016 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Brandon Chen (Markham), Ellie Sievers (Markham), Janey Song (Toronto), York Wei (Richmond Hill), Jennifer Ye (Markham), Star Xie (Markham), Eugene Ye (Richmond Hill), Justin Zhou (Richmond Hill), Jasmine Zhao (Toronto), Bjon Li (Markham), Carole Wei (Markham), Vivian Xu (Toronto), Edward Cui (Richmond Hill), Eric Sun (Markham), Sibo Dong (Markham), Davin Ma (Markham), Christopher Wong (Markham), Hana Zhang (Toronto), Tian Jian (Toronto), Rona Li (Markham).
The members of the 2014 | 2015 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Star Xie (Markham), Jasmine Zhao (Toronto), Bjon Li (Markham), Eugene Ye (Richmond Hill), Justin Zhou (Richmond Hill), Carole Wei (Markham), Edward Cui (Richmond Hill), Eric Sun (Markham), Sibo Dong (Markham), Davin Ma (Markham), Christopher Wong (Markham), Hana Zhang (Toronto), Tian Jian (Toronto), Rona Li (Markham).
The members of the 2013 | 2014 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Eugene Ye (Richmond Hill), Yiyang Gao (Richmond Hill), Carole Wei (Markham), Edward Cui (Richmond Hill), Sibo Dong (Markham), Eric Sun (Markham) and Christopher Wong (Markham).
The members of the 2012 | 2013 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: David Hou, Yiyang Gao (Richmond Hill), Jimmy Zhang (Toronto), Elson Leung (Markham), Dennis Liu (Richmond Hill), Carole Wei (Markham), Louise Shi (Richmond Hill), Jingzhe Su (Richmond Hill), Edward Cui (Richmond Hill), Eric Sun (Markham) et Christopher Wong (Markham).
The members of the 2011 | 2012 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Dennis Liu (Richmond Hill), Louise Shi (Richmond Hill), Jingzhe Su (Richmond Hill) and Christopher Wong (Markham).
The members of the 2010 | 2011 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Jimmy Zhang (Toronto), Justina Wong (Markham), Dennis Liu (Richmond Hill) and Christopher Wong (Markham).
The members of the 2009 | 2010 KSO Youth Strings Mentoring Programme were: Jimmy Zhang (Toronto), Dennis Liu (Richmond Hill) and Lucy Yi (Markham).
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Phone: 905-604-8339
Email: info@KSOrchestra.ca