Valerie Sylvester

CONCERT MASTER

Valerie Sylvester, NSO concertmaster, enjoys an eclectic musical career. She was introduced to the violin right here in the Niagara region by her grandfather, who played in local dance bands and was a member of the Niagara Region Musicians’ Association. She now plays violin and viola as well as Baroque violin and bass viola da gamba. She received a Master’s Degree in violin performance from Mannes School of Music in New York after completing undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. In addition to her work with Niagara Symphony, Valerie is concertmaster of Opera York, Talisker Players Choral Orchestra, and is a founding member of Nota Bene Baroque Players. She also free-lances, and has performed with many of the province’s orchestras including Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Orchestra London, Esprit, and Tafelmusik. In addition to working as an orchestral musician, Valerie is an active chamber musician, a founding member of Harmonie, Musathena, and the Yorke String Quartet, as well as a frequent guest soloist with the Toronto Continuo Collective. She has participated in the premieres of many new Canadian works and enjoys interacting with composers and arrangers. Valerie has performed in several series and summer festivals including Elora, Ottawa, Vancouver International, and Luminato, and has made tours of several Asia-Pacific nations with various orchestras. In addition, she frequently performs in small ensembles for social events and functions. As a bass viol player, Valerie is a member of The Cardinal Consort of Viols, Ontario’s only performing viol consort. She also maintains a small violin teaching studio, enjoys adjudicating music festivals and workshops, and coaching in an arts-focussed high school. Valerie deeply values Niagara Symphony’s varied and innovative programming which gives our audience the chance to hear the orchestra in many different styles and genres of music. She has played for many touring artists, and was a member of the onstage band for the hit television show ‘Canadian Idol’ for its last five seasons. Most recently, Valerie joined ‘The Wintergarten Orchestra’, an eleven-piece band specialising in prohibition-era music from the dawn of jazz.

Doug Miller

Principal Flute

Douglas Miller is a versatile soloist who performs regularly in 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 currently the principal flute of the Niagara Symphony and a former Instructor at Brock U. As a 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. He has performed with Diana Krall and has made videos with Idina Menzel 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.

dougmillerflute.com

flutesenroute.com

Austin Hitchcock

Principal Horn

A graduate of McGill University and Rice University, Austin has held principal and associate principal positions with the symphony orchestras of Niagara, Kingston, Calgary, Winnipeg, New Zealand’s Auckland Philharmonia and Spain’s Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia. He has also performed with almost all of Canadian’s premier orchestras including the COC, TSO, OSM and NACO. While performing in Miami with the New World Symphony, he was personally invited to attend the Music Academy of the West (USA). This was followed by invitations to the Pacific (Japan) and Tanglewood Music Festivals (USA). Austin has also been awarded Canada Council grants to study with members of the world renowned Metropolitan Opera Company and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has also recorded and performed with the Canadian Brass including a tour to Venezuela working with the celebrated El Sistema. Austin has also been a finalist at several prominent solo competitions and performed as soloist with several orchestras. As core member of Euphonia, Austin brings exciting Indie Classical art music projects to Toronto stages. And yes, Austin is related to Alfred Hitchcock, his grandfather’s cousin.

Laura Thomas

Principal Percussion

Principal Percussion Chair supported by B.J. Armstrong & Michael Robertson

Laura Thomas is a conductor, arranger, composer, percussionist, and teacher. She is Music Director of the Niagara Youth Orchestra and the Dundas Valley Orchestra, as well as Artistic Director of the Hamilton/Niagara area WomEnchant Chorus. She is the Principal Percussionist of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra where she also served as Associate Conductor for thirteen years. Along with acclaimed flutist Douglas Miller, she developed the Flutes en Route! programs of orchestral, ensemble, and educational concerts.

Gail Poulsen

FIRST VIOLIN

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.

Erika Janzen

Second Violin

Erika is a violinist and an enthusiastic member of the Niagara Symphony since 1973. Currently, she is a string coach with the Niagara Youth Orchestra, of which she is an alumna and former concertmaster. She is the leader of The Rainbow Trio (flute, violin & cello), playing professionally at weddings and special events year-round since 1985, and for which she gets opportunities to try her hand at musical arranging. Erika also teaches a variety of classes at the Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp, including launching a new program in 2014 that uses Harpsicles to teach music basics to young children. Since 1994, she is a strings Instructor with “Niagara Elementary Instrumental Music” (NEIM), which is the District School Board of Niagara’s (DSBN) instrumental music program. This is the same music program where she began violin studies in Grade 5 in St. Catharines. She then continued music at Laura Secord Secondary School, at which time she became involved in both the Niagara Youth Orchestra and Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Erika then majored in music, getting a B.A. degree from Brock University. Erika would like to thank three local music teachers, who had a huge influence in her musical life and career: Paul van Dongen, Henry Goerzen, and Tom Inglis.

Marlene Danikw-Bath

Principal Viola

Born and raised in Toronto, Marlene Danikw-Bath studied at the University of Toronto Music Department where her main coaches were violinist, Victor Martin and the members of the Orford String Quartet. After graduation, she joined the NSO as principal viola. Marlene’s teaching career has always been a rewarding priority. As a student, she toured in Switzerland and the British Isles. In London, she performed with the International Orchestra with cello soloist, Mstislav Rostropovich at the Royal Albert Hall. She continued this tradition of touring with her own students with whom she has toured in Britain, Switzerland, and the Caribbean. Marlene has also taught the students of the Niagara Youth Orchestra for many years and at the Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp. As a violist, Marlene has performed in musicals, studio recordings, and with the Joffrey Ballet. She performs frequently with the WRSO, the Southern Tier Symphony, and continues to enjoy her long-held position as principal viola of the NSO.

Andrée Simard

Viola

Originally from Saint-Wenceslas, Québec, Andrée Simard joined the Niagara Symphony Orchestra in 2012. A seasoned violist, she has performed with numerous ensembles including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the World Rock Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Akron Symphony (Ohio). Andrée has also participated in a number of recitals on the Music@Noon and Encore! Professional concert series both as a guest artist and as a faculty member at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts at Brock University.

Pursuing her passion for the noble craft of lutherie, Andrée completed her certification as a luthier at the Chicago School of Violin Making (under the tutelage of Antoine Nédélec) in 2021. She is currently apprenticing at Wilder and Davis in Montréal, carving time in her schedule to play viola with the NSO.

Brian Baty

Principal Bass

Principal Bass Chair supported by Anonymous

Brian Baty attended the University of Toronto where he studied the Double Bass with Joel Quarrington. He is currently principal double bassist of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and also works as a freelance musician throughout Ontario where he regularly performs with orchestras in Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Hamilton, and Kingston among others. Brian has also mentored and served as principal bassist for the National Academy Orchestra for the past two seasons. As a teacher, Brian has been a double bass Instructor at Lakehead University and the Kincardine Summer Music Festival and also maintains a private studio at his home in Kitchener, Ontario.

Xiaoling Li

ASSOCIATE CONCERT MASTER

After studying violin in her homeland of China with professor Zongde Wang at Xian Conservatory of Music, Xiaoling Li became a member of the Shannxi Symphony Orchestra. She frequently performed as a soloist with the orchestra from 1982 to 1997 including appearances on television and radio. In late 1997, she moved to Canada and became Associate Concertmaster with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. In the 2009-2010 season, she appeared as a guest artist for the Niagara Symphony’s opening concert and also for the Niagara Symphony All-Stars Pops concert for the 2010-2011 season. She has also performed as Concertmaster with Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, Choralis Camerata, Chorus Niagara, and Toronto Ziye Orchestra. She also performs with many other professional orchestras in Southern Ontario. Chamber music is a part of her musical life as well. She appeared as a violinist in the St Catharines Chamber Music Society and has also appeared at the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival (now Music Niagara) and Brock University’s Encore! Series. Besides playing, she also does a lot of teaching. She is currently a teacher at the Long & McQuade school of Music in Mississauga, and maintains a private violin studio at home.

Charlene Nagel

Principal Second Violin

Charlene Nagel began her musical studies at the age of two with her violinist father, Deryck Aird. She joined the Niagara Symphony in 1975, playing section first violin, and has held the position of Principal Second Violin since 1989. In addition to concerts, Charlene has enjoyed may opportunities to bring the joy of live music into schools and the community via in-school concerts, The Niagara Symphony Ensemble Concert Theatre Tours, the Niagara Symphony’s highly acclaimed Composer in the Classroom program, The Story Quartet school tours, and the Niagara Symphony String Quartet Tour of Libraries and Nursing Homes in the Niagara Region.

Charlene loves to play a wide variety of music and is also an original member of the World Rock Symphony Orchestra, a multi-national ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians created in 2008 and performing locally at the Fallsview Casino Avalon Theatre, the new OLG Theatre, and various other locations around southern Ontario.

As a freelance violinist, Charlene has many years of experience backing up touring artists and providing live music for shows, special events, weddings, and private functions.

Away from the violin, Charlene is a passionate kitchen gardener, nature lover, and outdoor photography enthusiast.

Jadwiga Pomorski

Second Violin

Jadwiga Pomorski was born in Poland and began playing the violin at age 6. She obtained a Master in Music Performance degree at the University of Music, Katowice, Poland studying with renowned violin professor Stanislaw Lewandowski.

She went on to play with the Lublin Philharmonic orchestra and soon became concertmaster of the orchestra. She taught violin at a secondary music school and at Marie Sklodowska Curie University in Lublin, Poland. The university orchestra, of which she was leader, went on concert tours throughout Europe to Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and Italy.

Jadwiga came to Canada and completed an Honour Specialist degree in teaching at the University of Toronto. She taught strings at Laura Secord Secondary School in St. Catharines for 23 years. She also taught strings as part of the Niagara Elementary Schools Instrumental Music Program. Since 1991 she is a Niagara Symphony violin player. She frequently performs solo music and chamber music in the Niagara Region. She also plays with her husband who is a musician and organist, and with her son who is a cellist. Currently, Jadwiga is enjoying retirement from secondary school teaching but still teaches in local private music schools.

Caitlin Boyle

Viola

Caitlin Boyle, a Hamilton-based violin and viola performer and pedagogue, began her musical training at the Hamilton Suzuki School when she was three years old. Since that time she has received subsequent training at the New England Conservatory, The Glenn Gould School, McGill University, and most recently at the University of Toronto where she researched nonverbal communication in chamber music for her doctoral thesis.

Gordon Cleland

Principal Cello

Principal Cello Chair supported by Charlotte Cleland

Principal cellist of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Gordon Cleland has performed across North America. He has appeared as a soloist with the Niagara Symphony (Schumann Concerto in A minor and Vivaldi Double Concerto in G minor with cellist Gisela Depkat) and for the Debut Series in Montreal. He has extensive experience as a chamber musician, notably as a member of Trio Surgite with Erika Reiman on piano and fellow Niagara Symphony member Vera Alekseeva on violin. He is a regularly featured artist for the Encore! Series at Brock University. Gordon has broadcast frequently for CBC FM Radio and has performed on TV5, the international French television network. His strong interest in contemporary and Canadian music is reflected in the repertoire he performs. In addition to his activities as a performer, Gordon has made a strong commitment to music education. He teaches cello at Brock University and is an instructor with Suzuki Niagara and the Niagara Youth Orchestra. He has been a featured performer for the Concertino Program of Jeunesses musicales, whose artists are carefully chosen for their pedagogical skills and their ability to communicate with young people. Gordon has adjudicated music festivals across Canada and runs a private studio in the Niagara region. Gordon started his musical training in London, Ontario, and completed his studies with a Master of Music degree from Boston University. His principal teachers were George Neikrug, Walter Joachim, and Gisela Depkat.

Fil Stasiak

Double Bass

Section Bass Chair supported by Anonymous

Filip Stasiak, Double Bassist, holds a Diploma in Chamber Music from Wilfrid Laurier University, a MMus in Literature and Performance from the University of Western Ontario, and a BMus from Wayne State University in Detroit. Stasiak joined the NSO in 2012, but continues performing as a freelance player with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and music theatre productions throughout Ontario. Since 2011, Stasiak has also been a member of the award winning world music group, The Light of East Ensemble. A recent interest in period performance has led Stasiak to study with Tafelmusik at both their Summer and Winter institutes, and subsequently to perform with Toronto’s Talisker players and Aradia Ensemble. As an educator, Stasiak maintains a large private studio in London Ontario and is a double bass instructor in the Music Education Department at Western University.

Natalie Wong

FIRST VIOLIN

Natalie began her musical studies at the age of 3. She started playing violin at the age of 7. At the age of 16, she received the ARCT performance diploma at the Royal Conservatory of Music and majored in violin performance at the University of Toronto. Her list of teachers includes Scott St. John, Annalee Patipatanakoon, and Katharine Rapoport. Natalie also has an extensive background in music theory and composition, having studied with Abigail Richardson and Alexander Rapoport. She actively performs in orchestras, chamber music, musical theatres, jazz, and pop concerts. She is currently a core member of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and has also been playing with Sudbury Symphony, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Opera York, Sneek Peek Orchestra, University of Toronto Baroque Chamber Ensemble, National Academy Orchestra, and many more. Natalie is very active in musical theatre and has played in shows on violin and other instruments for both classical and contemporary productions. She has also been active as violinist and vocalist in numerous bands in the past 15 years with a wide spectrum of genres including pop, folk, R&B, rock, and metal, performed in numerous bars, weddings, corporate events and broadcasted television productions, and has appeared in soundtracks and albums. She is the violinist and lead female vocal in her Spanish fusion band, Urban-Gypsy Trio. She also works and performs with singer-songwriters and various rock groups on electric violin. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys reading, writing, and playing more music.

Mary Beth Doherty

Second Violin

Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Doherty holds a BA (Hons) from the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and a Bed (Hons) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She studied with Kenneth Perkins of the Orford Quartet, university quartet-in-residence, and with Tak Ng Lai playing under his baton with the Toronto Chinese Chamber Orchestra. Pursuing her violin studies after university, she studied with Marta Hidy of Trio Canada and attained her ARCT in pedagogy and performance. Mary Beth grew up in St. Catharines Ontario where she was a member of the Niagara Youth Orchestra. During her early music studies, Mary Beth toured as a member of various orchestras, one of which was the George Brown College Orchestra traveling to Aberdeen Scotland to represent Canada at the 1976 International Festival of Youth Orchestras. Mary Beth held the position of director of the Niagara Symphony Music camp for the summer of 1986 and continues to teach at the camp each summer. She has taught music/drama for 35 years with the DSBN and was a string instrument specialist for 22 years with the Niagara Instrumental Music program (DSBN). Mary Beth has been a core member of the Niagara Symphony since 1986 and has had an extensive performance background in the Niagara area, as a soloist and as a member of the Niagara Symphony, NOTL Sinfonia, Orchestra Camerata, and small ensembles: 54 Strings, Trio Arabesque and Arpegge. Mary Beth has enjoyed a distinguished career as a private violin instructor in the Niagara region for over 35 years. For the past few summers, Mary Beth has studied Celtic music at the Goderich Celtic College, specializing in Irish Fiddle and Keyboard Accompaniment. Mary Beth presently lives in St. Catharines with her husband of thirty years, Sean. One of her favorite pastimes is playing fiddle music with her three sons, Peter, Connor, and Brennan all who are all accomplished amateur musicians.

David Braun

Second Violin

David Braun 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 was also recently appointed the Musical Director and Conductor of Choralis Camerata.

Sarah de Niverville

Viola

Canadian-American violist Sarah de Niverville performs throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario, and has been a core member of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra since 2018. Prior to pursuing graduate studies in Victoria, British Columbia, Sarah held a position in the viola section of Symphony New Brunswick during the 2013-14 season. In addition to performing with the Niagara Symphony, Sarah maintains a busy freelancing career, having played with the Esprit Orchestra, Sinfonia Toronto, the Ontario Pops Orchestra, the Toronto Philharmonic, the Ontario Philharmonic, the Toronto Sinfonietta, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Kingston Symphony Orchestra, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, the North Bay Symphony Orchestra, the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, the Scarborough Philharmonic, the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, and the Galiano Ensemble of Victoria. She was a four-time member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada between 2013 and 2016, acting as Co-Principal Viola for three summers.

Although based in Canada, Sarah has also performed in the United States, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, China and Italy. Outside of classical music, Sarah has shared the stage with Michael Bublé, Josh Groban and Sarah Slean, and was a guest musician on OKAN’s Juno Award-winning album, Okantomi. Additionally, she has appeared as a featured musician extra on an episode of CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries.

Sarah earned her Master of Music in Performance at the University of Victoria under the tutelage of Joanna Hood of the Lafayette String Quartet. She previously earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Université de Moncton, studying with Nadia Francavilla and Isabelle Fournier.

Mark Russom

Cello

Growing up in Ancaster, Mark Russom had a poster of Garfield on his bedroom door, in which the cherubic cat, bedecked as a one-man band, proclaims “music is my life”. Although not quite a one-man band, the similarity is evident today. Mark’s musical studies have included the organ, cello, piano, and clarinet. Since the late 80’s, Mark has also been putting his vocal cords to great use. No stranger to the choral music scene these days, he sings baritone with the Exultate Chamber Singers and tenor with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir. Mark has been performing with the Niagara Symphony since 1988, and has been an active member of the organization behind the scenes as well. In 2005, Mark’s dedication and volunteer efforts were recognized with the inaugural Jack Silverstein Memorial Volunteer Award. Beyond his role with the Symphony, Mark is also a founding member of the Serenata String Quartet, and enjoys an active freelance career, performing both as a vocalist and instrumentalist. Away from his music, Mark is an avid curler, cyclist, and golfer, on those rare occasions when spare time avails itself.

Neal Evans

Double Bass

Section Bass Chair supported by Anonymous

Toronto musician Neal Evans has performed on double bass with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Talisker Players, Opera York, Soundstreams, New Music Concerts, the Open Ears Festival, the Shaw Festival, Theatre Aquarius, Mirvish Productions. Neal has been a long-time member of “And Wolf Shall Inherit the Moon” a group started by composer R Murray Schafer that holds an annual week-long outdoor ritual drama performance. As a member, Neal has cooked, cleaned, packed heavy barrels through the rain, played bass from the top of a rocky ridge, conducted in the middle of a rain-soaked meadow, and sung nocturnes to the stars from a canoe. Through his association with this group, he was asked to perform the Bass and musical Saw in the 2009 Luminato/ Soundstreams production of Murray Schafer’s “The Children’s Crusade” and most recently in the acclaimed Luminato production of Schafer’s “Apocalypsis”. Introduced to the world of Appalachian old-time music by his two musical sons, Neal performs and records regularly with them in the Kitgut, All Day Breakfast, and Right Rounders stringbands. Neal is a member of the Ravenstring Collective whose latest production Hugin and Munin speaks to current themes of time and memory sourced from the poetic Edda of the Norse Myths. The show uses elements of sculpture, performance art, opera, folk music, and dance. http://huginandmunin.ca. Neal has been a member of the Niagara Symphony bass section since 1988.

Michael van Dongen

FIRST VIOLIN

Michael van Dongen is a violinist, conductor, teacher, and arranger. He earned a Bachelor of Music Degree at McMaster University in Hamilton. Michael has been a member of the Niagara Symphony since 1995, playing in the first violin section. Since August of 2008, he has been a member of the World Rock Symphony Orchestra performing rock music from Britain, at the Fallsview Casino in the Avalon Theatre as well as an arena tour in Ontario. He has also performed in orchestras backing up Anne Murray, Smokey Robinson, and Wayne Newton. Michael, with his two brothers and father form the group called the “van Dongen string quartet,” which has been performing since 1979. Michael is equally devoted to teaching and has been with the Niagara Youth Orchestra since 1997. He has been the conductor of the Junior Niagara Youth Orchestra since the 2008/09 season. In 1994, Michael began teaching with Niagara Elementary Instrumental Music in the District School Board of Niagara, as an Itinerant Music Instructor, where he was the conductor of three string orchestras. In the year 2000, Michael started a fiddle group called “No Strings Attached.” The fiddle group, which plays mainly Celtic music, has performed on many stages including the Starlight Café in Walt Disney World, the Old Triangle in Halifax, and in July of 2008, alongside “No Strings Attached High” (formed in 2006,) on a floating stage at Illuminauqua in Welland.

Orsolya Szalados

Second Violin

Orsi Szalados has been playing the violin since early childhood. She studied at the Bela Bartok Conservatory of Music in Budapest (Hungary) and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (Austria) where she was awarded the Bachelor of Music and the Master of Music in Violin Performance degrees. Following her graduation, Orsi was a member of the Danubia Orchestra Obuda in Budapest for six years. She played throughout Hungary, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, England, and the US in various orchestras.

Pierre-Yves Gagnon

Viola

Pierre-Yves Gagnon has long experience as a viola and violin teacher in the Oakville area. Born in Montreal, Pierre-Yves Gagnon is fluent in both English and French. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance from the University of McGill, under the direction of Steve Kondaks. He then further pursued his viola study with Ralph Aldrich at the University of Western Ontario where he received a Master’s Degree in Viola Performance and Literature.

Pierre-Yves Gagnon was a member of L’Orchestre des Jeunes du Québec and the National Youth Orchestra. He was also principal violist of the Canadian Chamber Orchestra in Banff. He is presently a core member of the viola section of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra.

As a teacher, he was invited to teach in summer Suzuki institute at the South Carolina Suzuki Institute, l’Institut Suzuki de Montréal as well as the Oakville Performing Arts Camp. He has been teaching for the Oakville Suzuki Association for over 30 years.

He joined the teaching staff of the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2018 initially as a viola teacher. As such, he worked on developing a viola program for the Oscar Peterson School of Music. He is now teaching both viola and violin as well as chamber music for the RCM. He has also been a guest teacher at several string workshops in Southern Ontario and Quebec and has adjudicated string festivals in Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland.

Dr. Zach (Zihao) Yang

2nd Clarinet

Zach began his musical pursuit at the age of six on the clarinet. He studied at the Music Middle School Affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School, the New England Conservatory of Music, and then the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Zach was instructed by many distinguished clarinetists, including Richard Stoltzman, William R. Hudgins, Alexander Fiterstein, Ron Aufmann, Ixi Chen, and Thomas Martin. During his studies, he won the Asia Pacific Bands Association Instruments Competition, the Piedmont Winston Symphony Concerto Competition, and the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.

Prior to his appointment with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Zach served as the Second Clarinet and Principal E-flat Clarinet for the Kentucky Symphony for four seasons. Additionally, since 2022, he has been associated with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as an Associate Clarinet Player. Zach was recently appointed as the Clarinetist of the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra by Music Director Jia Lv.

As a teacher, Zach has extensively taught numerous students in North America and China. He previously worked as a clarinet teaching assistant for the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Faculty of New Arts Music Centre in Hong Kong. In his studio, students have been accepted to the Boston Conservatory of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the University of Miami, the Michigan State University School of Music, and the University of Georgia.

Cathi MacDonnell

Bassoon 2

Section Bassoon Chair supported by Anonymous

Cathi MacDonnell earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance Degree from the University of Toronto. Her primary bassoon teachers have been David McGill, Kathleen McLean, Tom Elliott, and James McKay and studied contrabassoon with Steven Braunstein. She has been a regular performer with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra since 1995 as well as freelancing with many orchestras throughout Ontario, including the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Windsor Symphony, The Stratford Festival, London Symphonia, and Opera Hamilton.

Patricia Dydnansky

Flute 2 / Piccolo

Patricia Dydnansky currently holds the position of Second Flute & Piccolo with the Niagara Symphony and teaches at Brock University. She is also an active freelance musician, often playing flute and piccolo in the Shaw Festival Orchestra, the Stratford Festival Orchestra, Talisker Players Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic, Windsor Symphony, Orchestra London, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and various smaller ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area. As a faculty member in the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts at Brock, Patricia has regularly performed recitals on the Music@Noon and Encore! Professional concert series since joining the Music Department in 2002. Patricia has a Bachelor of Music (Music History & Theory) from McMaster University, a Master of Music (Performance) from the University of Western Ontario and a Postgraduate Diploma (Performance) from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. She has participated in the Professional Residency Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts and her teachers include Peter Lloyd, Patricia Morris, Paula Elliott, Camille Churchfield, Wissam Boustany and Ian Clarke. Patricia has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the National Academy Orchestra of the Boris Brott Music Festival. Recent summer activities include being a Mentor for the National Academy Orchestra and teaching lessons, coaching chamber music & conducting the flute ensemble at the Scottish International Flute Summer School, held in St. Andrew’s, Scotland.

Graham Mackenzie

Principal Oboe

Dr. Graham Mackenzie is principal oboist of the Niagara Symphony, London Symphonia, and Windsor Symphony, and has performed as guest principal oboist with the Montreal Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and Brantford Symphony orchestras. He has also appeared with orchestras in Chicago, Hamilton, Indianapolis, and Toronto. He has been a member of the Tanglewood Music Centre, Music Academy of the West, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, National Repertory Orchestra, National Academy Orchestra of Canada, l’Orchestre de la Francophonie Canadienne, the Banff Centre, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.

Equally at home as a soloist, he has performed concertos by Bach, Marcello, Martinů, Mozart, Strauss, Vaughan-Williams, and Vivaldi with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, London Symphonia, Niagara Symphony, and Windsor Symphony, among others. An avid chamber musician, he is a founding member of the Reed Minders Duo, Stonebridge Wind Quintet, and Trio Pistachio, and has performed in many Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society concerts as well as the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. In the contemporary music realm, he has performed with Soundstreams, New Music Concerts Toronto, and the Continuum New Music Ensemble.

A passionate teacher, he has served as oboe faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University and Wilfrid Laurier University, and has conducted master classes at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, National Academy Orchestra, Penn State University, Ohio State University, University of Victoria, University of Western Ontario, West Virginia University, and Kenyon College. He has also presented at conferences of the International Double Reed Society, Texas Music Educators’ Association, Pennsylvania Music Educators’ Association, Ohio Music Educators’ Association, and National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors.

Dr. Mackenzie holds a Doctor of Music from Indiana University, studying with Linda Strommen and Roger Roe. He also earned a Master of Music from DePaul University, studying with Eugene Izotov, and a Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University, studying with James Mason and Richard Dorsey.

When he’s not performing, he enjoys raising his son Jasper, table tennis, board games, and making music with his wife Dr. Margaret P. Fay, who is a bassoonist.

Julia Morley

Piccolo

Julia Morley received her Honours Bachelor of Music Degree from Queen’s University and her OTC with Honour Specialist Qualifications from the University of Toronto. She has studied with Margot Rydall, Donelda Gartshore and Amy Hamilton. Prior to moving to Niagara in the late eighties, Julia taught music and performed for numerous theatre groups in Toronto as well as the Scarborough Philharmonic, the East York Symphony, the North York Symphony and the 7th Toronto Regiment Band under the direction of Bobby Herriot. Julia performs professionally and teaches throughout the Niagara Region and is also an associate director of Dalhousie Drama and Music Camp. She currently resides in St. Catharines with her husband and two daughters.

Karen Ages

Second Oboe

Karen Ages has held the position of second oboe and English horn with the Niagara Symphony since 1994. A freelance musician in the Toronto area for many years, she has also played with other orchestras, including Opera York, Toronto Sinfonietta, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Kingston Symphony, Windsor Symphony, Ontario Philharmonic, and Symphony New Brunswick. For many years she played traditional drums with Kekeli African Drum and Dance Ensemble, and with Gamelan Toronto (traditional Indonesian music ensemble). Since 2005, Karen has participated in Murray Schafer’s summer project And Wolf Shall Inherit the Moon, in the wilderness of the Haliburton Forest.

Zoltan Kalman

Principal Clarinet

Zoltan Kalman was born in Hungary. He received his training at the prestigious Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Clarinet Performance and Chamber Music in Budapest. After graduation, he spent a year as principal clarinet with the Hungarian State Orchestra, where he played under the baton of such luminaries as Sir George Solti, Giuseppe Patane, Leonard Bernstein and Janos Ferencsik.

From 1983-1989, he served as principal clarinet with the Hungarian Opera House in Budapest. His achievements in the musical field include second prize at the Prague International Clarinet Competition, and several awards with one of Hungary’s foremost woodwind quintets, Aquincum. These include first prize in the 1986 International Chamber Winds Competition in Ancona Italy, as well as the jury’s special award in the 1987 competition in Colmar, France. As a result, the French National Television has produced a documentary program featuring the quintet. In 1988 he received the Hungarian Cultural Ministry’s award “Musician of the year”. He has had several solo and orchestra performances throughout Europe, including Austria, Belgium, France, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Since arriving in Canada in 1989, he has appeared as guest soloist with numerous orchestras and ensembles in the area, including the Georgian Bay Symphony, Symphony Hamilton, Niagara Symphony, Cambridge Symphony, Etobicoke Symphony, Boris Brott Music Festival Orchestra, and the Gallery Players.

He joined Trio Canada for a performance of the Weber Clarinet quintet which was broadcast by Toronto’s CJRT. In collaboration with the Niagara Symphony and the St. Catharines based Carousel Players, he performed in Winnipeg, in the National Arts Centre in Ottawa as well as in Vancouver.

Mr. Kalman is principal clarinettist with both, the Niagara Symphony and Symphony on the Bay, and appears regularly with the Brantford Symphony, Mississauga Opera Company, and Scarborough Symphony.

In addition to his career as a musician, he has taught Clarinet Performance Studies at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario and is currently the clarinet and chamber music instructor at McMaster University in Hamilton, conductor of the University Wind Ensemble at Brock University in St. Catharines, where he teaches clarinet, saxophone and Woodwind Techniques Course as well.

In June 2014, he was appointed as Music Director of the Burlington Concert Band.

October 2006 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising, a defining moment in both, Hungarian and Canadian history. Mr. Kalman was selected by the National Arts Centre as one of the 50 Hungarian-Canadians who have made significant contribution to the cultural life in Canada.

His special portrait has become part of the permanent collection at the Portrait Gallery of Canada in the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Kevin Harris

Principal Bassoon

Always striving to expand his role as a performer, Kevin has built a career around deeper audience connection, wider collaboration, and delving deeper into unfamiliar musical territory. As a freelance bassoonist, he performs regularly across Southern Ontario and the GTA in nearly every established orchestra, including the Toronto Symphony, the National Ballet, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and the Niagara Symphony.

Based in Toronto, Kevin is a member of two ambitious woodwind quintets: Quintagious and Blythwood Winds, each of whom are known for their innovative projects and engaging concert experiences. He contributes a variety of musical arrangements and transcriptions, and many hours of research to help these ensembles achieve their goals of building a broad and inclusive repertoire. In addition to his woodwind quintet transcriptions, Kevin has undertaken the work of producing editions of previously unpublished bassoon concerti by Canadian composers Jean Coulthard and Imant Raminsh.

As a studio musician Kevin has had the opportunity to lend his skills to a number of exciting projects in film, television, and video game soundtracks. Recently, he contributed to “The Ugly Chickens,” a short film produced by famed novelist and screenwriter George R.R. Martin and scored by Canadian composer Agatha Kaspar. Other soundtrack credits include the hit video game “Cuphead,” composed by Toronto musician Kris Maddigan. Kevin can also be heard on the 2023 album “Lignum et Spiritus” by composer Robert Lemay, featuring works for solo woodwinds and piano.

Kevin is an Edmonton, Alberta native, and he moved to Toronto to attend the Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory, where he studied with Fraser Jackson and Nadina Mackie Jackson, receiving his Performance Diploma in 2013 and Artist Diploma in 2015.

Ira Zingraff

Principal Trumpet

Ira Zingraff grew up in Toronto. He was accepted into the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto with a music scholarship studying under Stephen Chenette. Ira continued his studies at Domaine Forget in Quebec with Larry Knopp and Vincent Cichowicz. In May 2004, Ira graduated in Professional Studies at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Andrew McCandless, and Jim Gardiner. Currently, he holds the position of Principal Trumpet with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, and The Canadian Sinfonietta. Other orchestral credits include: Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Windsor Symphony, Orchestra London, Monster Rock Orchestra, and the Video Games Live Orchestra. Ira is also an active member of the Hannaford Street Silver Band. In addition to classical music, Ira records and performs with some of the top popular music groups in Canada and The US, including bands such as: Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think, Serena Ryder, Bry Webb & The Providers, The Most Serene Republic, Michael Bolton, Wayne Newton, and Josh Groban. Ira is very passionate about film, and is highly involved in soundtrack recording for movies, video games and Apps. Ira has also appeared in the feature film “Talk To Me”, as Doc Severinsen. Since 2005, Ira has been active in Canadian Indie music, and is a co-founder and performer in the Toronto/Guelph band “del bel”. http://www.delbelmusic.com/ “del bel” has been featured on the CBC radio program Q, and along with live performances is also involved in scoring music for film, notably a live screening and performance of the 1922 silent movie Nosferatu.

James Zimmermann

Bass Trombone

James Zimmermann was born in Toronto, Ontario. He began his musical studies on piano at the age of five. At the age of nine, he started playing the tuba and switched to bass trombone at the age of 17. Mr. Zimmermann attended McGill University in the performance degree program studying with Ted Griffiths, Peter Sullivan, and Vivian Lee. His musical experiences have seen him in the North Vancouver Youth Band, Niagara Youth Orchestra, McGill Symphony, National Band of the Naval Reserve, and various Naval Reserve unit Bands. Mr. Zimmermann has also played with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener -Waterloo Symphony, and Windsor Symphony. He currently plays Bass trombone for the Niagara Symphony, and also plays in various Big Bands and chamber groups whenever he can. In more recent years he was a member of the World Rock Symphony show at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Janice Fralick

Horn 2

Janice Fralick started playing piano at the age of four, and later voice, in her home county of Simcoe. At the age of 13, after inquisitively watching her younger brother learning to play the trumpet, she decided to try playing a brass instrument to figure out how one could play more than three notes if you only had three keys! She joined the “Cowhand Band” in Alliston, ON and was given a white cowboy hat and an E-flat alto horn to start with, until the director, Arthur Burgin (former horn player with the Toronto Symphony), encouraged her to switch to the French horn. During high school, she studied with Barbara Bloomer, of the Toronto Symphony, and was a regular member of the Toronto Horn Club. Janice also played with the Huronia Symphony, where she first met her trombone-playing husband. While at the University of Toronto, she studied with John Simonelli, of the Toronto Symphony, and was also a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Her musical training took her travelling; to the Banff School of Fine Arts, Hawaii with Symphony Canada, and across southern Ontario with the Canadian Opera Company performing “La Cenerentola”. After graduating, Janice pursued a teaching career which spanned the next 33 years; teaching vocal, strings & instrumental music, mathematics, and also horticulture with a Special Needs program. She started playing with the Niagara Symphony in 1980, and has also performed with the World Rock Symphony Orchestra, the International Horn Festival, Chorus Niagara, and is a member of the “Canzona Brass” which plays ceremonies here in the Niagara Region.

Brian Roberts

Trumpet

Brian Roberts holds the position of Second Trumpet with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. He is the former Principal Trumpet of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Third/Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. He played Principal Trumpet with Opera on the James and held a chair in the Solo Cornet section with the North Carolina Brass Band. He played Second Trumpet with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra for 9 years. He’s the former Second Trumpet and Principal Trumpet of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and the former Principal Trumpet of the Macon Symphony Orchestra. Brian subbed with Orchestras through the southern US before moving to Toronto in 2018. Since moving to Canada, Brian has played with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Brian received his Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from Arizona State University where he studied with David Hickman. He graduated from Calvin College with Bachelor’s degrees in Music Performance and Music Theory/Composition. As a soloist, he performed the Vivaldi Concerto for 2 Trumpets throughout the Northwest with the Calvin College Band. He also performed Handel’s Suite in D Major with the Calvin College Orchestra. He was a semi-finalist in the National Trumpet Competition in both 1996 and 1997. Brian grew up in the Chicago suburb of Wheaton and now makes his home in Toronto.

Brent Adams

Principal Tuba

Brent Adams has held the Principal Tuba position for the Niagara Symphony for many years and performs regularly with several orchestras throughout Ontario, including the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra London Canada, Windsor Symphony Orchestra and the Hannaford Street Silver Band. As a member of the Niagara Brass Ensemble, Brent has recorded for Analekta and Echiquier recording companies as well as CBC radio. As a member of Brass Rings, he has toured extensively through Canada and the United States.

Iris Krizmanic

Horn 3

Iris Krizmanic holds the position of third horn in the Niagara Symphony as well as being principal horn of the Scarborough Philharmonic. As a post-graduate student at the Glenn Gould School, currently studying with principal horn of the Toronto Symphony orchestra, Neil Deland, she has played under the baton of many conductors with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra such as Bramwell Tovey, the late Richard Bradshaw, and Uri Mayer amongst others. She toured to China with that same orchestra as part of a cultural outreach program for the school. Ms. Krizmanic is also a scholarship recipient and is honoured to have been allowed the use of the horn of the late Anne-Marie Monaco, former fourth horn of the Canadian Opera Company. A multi-talented musician, Iris also plays the cello and takes vocal lessons with Jean MacPhail.

Steve Fralick

Principal Trombone

Supported by Ruth Aspinall, in memory of Glen Dodson

Steve Fralick began playing the trombone at his high school in Orillia, ON. Throughout his high school years, he studied with Frank Harmantas, of the Toronto Symphony, and performed regularly with the Huronia Symphony in Barrie, ON. He continued his musical training at the University of Toronto, where he studied with Gord Sweeney and Frank Harmantas, and was a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Steve enjoyed a summer at the prestigious Banff School of Fine Arts where, as a member of the Canadian Chamber Orchestra, he trained with members of the Canadian Brass. In 1981, he moved to St. Catharines to become the instrumental music teacher at the St. Catharines Collegiate. Over his 34 year teaching career, he had the privilege of coaching many fine young musicians including two of his own daughters. Steve has been the Principal Trombone for the Niagara Symphony since 1983 and performs chamber music as part of a brass quintet with his horn-playing wife, Janice. He has also performed with the Toronto Symphony and the Canadian Opera Company. Close proximity to Niagara Falls and the Casino, has provided him with opportunities to perform with the World Rock Symphony Orchestra, the Four Tenors, and even Regis Lee. In collaboration with Ross Stretton, Steve has organized, and performed with, the Civic Brass Ensemble for the annual Civic Carol Sing for the last 25 years, and has been a long-standing member of the “Canzona Brass”. He has been the Trombone instructor at Brock University since 1984, and also has a private studio where he coaches brass players who plan to pursue music performance as a career. The highlight of his musical career occurs when one of his children returns home to perform along side him with the Niagara Symphony, either Vanessa on trombone, or Jocelyn as a soprano.

Dave Sisler

Trombone 2

Dave Sisler (B. Mus. Ed., B. Ed.) began studying trombone as a member of the Niagara Symphony’s summer program. He furthered his studies with the Empire Brass Quintet at the Tanglewood Institute, and then the University of Toronto with Gordon Sweeney. After 31 years of teaching, he retired as Head of Arts at Laura Secord Secondary School where he directed numerous bands and choirs and travelled around the world showcasing various ensembles which performed with top professional artists. Mr. Sisler recieved the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. He continues to work as a freelance trombonist in a diverse variety of styles.

Mr. Sisler has been a member of the Niagara Symphony since 1983.

Michael Phelan

Section Percussion

Percussion Chair supported by Karlie Boyle

Mike Phelan is a drummer, percussionist, instructor, educator, conductor & an arranger of Percussion Ensemble music. He was the District School Board of Niagara’s Principal Percussion Instructor from 1989 to 2012. Mike is a Percussion Instructor with the Niagara Elementary Instrumental Music Program, the Ridley College Music Department, offers private instruction for students 10 years of age & older in his home studio & continues to work with & coach several Secondary school Percussion Ensembles. Mike also teaches an Adult Percussion Class through Niagara College, providing enough students register! Mike is a percussionist with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra & performs on a regular basis with the Town of Lincoln, Thorold, Port Colborne & the Hamilton Concert Wind Ensembles. As a “pit” percussionist, he performs with Garden City Productions in St. Catharines & Firehall Theatre in Niagara Falls. Over the years, Mike has been the drummer/percussionist for many popular Rock & Contemporary bands such as Starlord, Nightwinds, Jeffrey & the Juniors, Private Stock & Undun. He was the Music Director, Conductor & Arranger of The Malletheads, a very popular student Percussion Ensemble, from 2000 to 2006. The group recorded 4 CD’s in that span, highlighted by performances with the John Sherwood Trio, at the OMEA Conference in Huntsville, ON. & with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra for a Christmas Pops Concert. Since 1993, Mike has been the Principal Percussion Instructor at the Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp. In 1996, Mike wrote & performed two pieces of music for the CD “Local Scores” recorded by the late poet/lyricist Terrance Cox & in 1999, enjoyed the experience of teaching the Percussion Techniques Course at Brock University. From 2008 to 2011, Mike was the percussionist with the World Rock Symphony Orchestra, featuring a 7-piece Rock band, a 12-voice Gospel Chorale & a 35 piece Orchestra at Fallsview Casino’s Avalon Ballroom in Niagara Falls, ON.

Julian Jeun

Section Percussion

Deborah Braun

Principal Harp

Deborah Braun is currently the principal harpist with the Niagara Symphony. She has performed with the NSA since 1992. Deborah began her studies on the harp with Doris Sharing, former principal harpist with the NSA. Since that time she studied with Suzanne Thomas of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Eileen Malone at the Eastman School of Music and with Eileen Pamphilon in Cambridge England. To her credit, Deborah has recorded twice with the Brock Music Department, and twice with the Niagara Children’s Chorus. Deborah is also a well-established freelance musician in the Niagara community. Deborah has performed much of the major choral repertoire written for chorus and harp and is regularly invited by choruses in the Golden Horseshoe area to perform. Performing in chamber ensembles is also of particular interest to Deborah. She enjoys performing with the Gallery Players, a well-established chamber ensemble in the Niagara area, and of course most often with her husband David and their trio Glissandi–a harp, flute, and violin combination that has recorded three CD’s together. A concert tour of southern England in 1997 provided the inspiration for many of the arrangements on their first recording Serenity. In addition to her performing, Deb is a Registered Real Estate Agent with Royal LePage Niagara.