Musicians

Evan Mitchell is one of Canada’s most innovative and imaginative conductors, an artist equally at home conducting symphonic masterworks, opera, contemporary music, and films live in concert. He has been consistently acclaimed for curating thoughtful, incisive, and affecting musical performances.

Evan’s style of leadership is based on a combination of personal sincerity and the dogged pursuit of collegial music-making—an approach, he says, that he learned from his parents. In performance, Evan prizes commitment, risk-taking, drive, and an unwavering effort to produce the widest possible spectrum of sound colours. He believes in extreme softness as well as extreme loudness, and his over-arching goal is to provoke a sustained emotional response in listeners.

Evan began his professional musical life at age 16 with drumset lessons. This experience fostered a deep-rooted sense of rhythm and pulse that he focuses on during his rehearsal process. While he loves all the instruments of the orchestra, he particularly adores the marimba, an instrument whose expressive potential is nearly limitless.

He has also brought the magic of orchestral music to over 500,000 students and children, many of whom had never experienced a live performance first hand. His programs for young people have been recognized for their appeal and educational mandate.

Evan is deeply committed to supporting Canadian artists and composers. He has premiered over 30 new Canadian works during his career and firmly believes the importance of supporting Canadian composers to write significant, substantial works cannot be overstated.

Recipient in 2022 of the Christa and Franz-Paul Decker Fellowship in Conducting as well as the Scarlet Key Award of McGill University, Frédéric Alexandre Michaud (Maestro FAM) is a versatile artist nationally recognized as a hardworking and talented conductor, violinist and radio cultural commentator. He is completing his PhD studies at McGill under the guidance of Jean Lesage as well as maestros David Itkin and Jonathan Dagenais. At the same institution, he also completed two Master’s degrees, in orchestral conducting studying with maestros Guillaume Bourgogne and Alain Cazes, as well in violin performance, with professors Mark Fewer and Alexander Read. He has studied under Alexander Shelley, maestros Bramwell Tovey and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and internationally acclaimed French maestro François-Xavier Roth, and in the summer of 2022, he was the assistant conductor for maestro Alain Trudel as well as seven guest conductors at the National Academy Orchestra of Canada.  In addition to being the RBC Resident Conductor with the TBSO, he is currently the artistic director of the Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Joliette (OSJJ) and of his own ensemble the Brownies Concerto Orchestra (BCO).

Jeff Christmas returns this season by popular demand as TBSO Principal Pops Conductor. He has performed with symphony orchestras across Canada and the United States, appearing with artists such as Michael Burgess, The Rankins, and Michael Bolton. As a drummer and guest conductor for Jeans ‘n Classics, Jeff has appeared with artists such as Alan Frew (Glass Tiger) and Rik Emmett (Triumph) to mention a few. Jeff’s many original compositions for live performance include Opening Ceremonies music for the Canada Games, film and television work, musical theatre and arrangements for numerous Pops shows. His versatility is legendary and his sense of humour has won him the appreciation of audiences and musicians alike.

Thomas Cosbey grew up in a musical family from Regina, Saskatchewan. He began his professional career as a teenager, playing in the violin section of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Thomas went on to obtain a Performance Diploma from the Glenn Gould School in Toronto, studying with Mark Fewer and Erika Raum. Following his studies, Thomas held the position of Principal Second violin in Sinfonia Toronto. Also an avid chamber musician, Thomas has performed along-side distinguished artists such as Min-Jeong Koh, Steven Dann, Gwen Hoebig and Benjamin Bowman among others. Thomas has appeared as a soloist with noted Canadian ensembles such as the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonia Toronto. In January 2007, Thomas joined the TBSO as Concertmaster. Since then he has fostered a vibrant music scene in Thunder Bay through performance and education. Thomas is the Music Director of the Thunder Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Director of the Community Orchestra. In addition to maintaining an active violin studio, Thomas and his wife Michelle helped to found the Thunder Bay Conservatory of Music in 2018. Outside of performing and teaching violin, Thomas enjoys renovating old houses.

Violinist Kathlyn Stevens, a native of Almonte, ON, joined the TBSO violin section in 2011, before winning the position of Assistant Concertmaster in 2012. During her career, Katie has performed with major Canadian orchestras such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and Thirteen Strings, among others. She holds degrees from the University of Ottawa, the Mount Royal Conservatory, and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her mentors have included David Stewart, William Van der Sloot, Lorand Fenyves and Erika Raum. Outside of the TBSO, Katie enjoys playing unique chamber music with the Martin Blanchet Jazz Quintet and Consortium Aurora Borealis.

Christopher Stork originates from Plainfield, Vermont, and joined the TBSO as Principal Second Violin in 2021. An avid and talented chamber musician, Chris was the second violinist in the Iceberg String Quartet from 2018-2020. The quartet was the resident string quartet at notable festivals including at the Banff Center, the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and the Bowdoin Music Festival. They were the winners of the McGill Chamber Music Competition (2018), finalists at the Chesapeake International Chamber Music Festival (2020), and semi-finalists at the Young Concert Artists Competition (2019). He was also a member of the resident piano trio at the Zodiac Music Festival in France, and has toured with ensembles such as the Vermont Mozart Chamber Players. As an orchestral violinist, Chris has served as Concertmaster of the McGill Orchestra, and Assistant Principal Second of the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra. 

Chris has appeared as a soloist with the Vermont Philharmonic, as well as at the Bathurst Chamber Music Festival, and the Hinesburg Artist series. He was a pre-college Honors student at Mannes in New York City, and holds Bachelor and Masters of Music degrees from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University. His mentors include Andrew Wan, Alexander Read, Mark Fewer, Sally Thomas and Elizabeth Reid. When not performing, Chris is passionate about passing on his musical knowledge through teaching violin. During the summer months Chris enjoys fishing, hiking and camping. When winter strikes, he can be found playing Nintendo and Xbox with Kimberly Durflinger and their four guinea pigs. 

Lindsey Herle hails from Fort McMurray, Alberta, and joined the TBSO violin section in 2019. She received her Master of Music degree from the University of Ottawa, Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria, and a Performance Certificate from Mount Royal Conservatory.  She was previously a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the National Academy Orchestra. She has also participated in Quartetfest West, Orford Music Academy and the Meadowmount School of Music. When not playing the violin, Lindsey loves practicing yoga and reading!

Violinist Katrina Johnson was born and raised in Calgary and is pursuing the Master of Music in Performance program at the Eastman School of Music, in the studio of Juliana Athayde. She holds an Advanced Certificate in Performance from the University of Toronto, where she studied with Mark Fewer, and graduated from McGill University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music in Orchestra Performance with Honours, studying with Marcelle Mallette, and a minor in Musical Applications of Science & Technology. Katrina’s summer musical activities have included studying and performing at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival in Germany, National Orchestral Institute and Festival in the USA, National Academy Orchestra of Canada, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Domaine Forget, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Institute. In addition to her extensive orchestral experience from universities and summer festivals, she performs regularly with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra when at Eastman and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra when “home”. Katrina also has a passion for chamber music, which she has performed from an early age in a variety of instrument combinations and award-winning groups. Outside of music, Katrina enjoys board game nights with friends, challenging jigsaw puzzles, hiking, cross-country skiing and snuggling with Bear, the family labradoodle.

William Sirois was born in Mont Saint-Aignan in France, and joined the TBSO violin section in 2022. He currently performs with the ensemble Volte, the Quebec contemporary society, the Estuaire and the Saguenay orchestra. He received his master’s degree from the conservatoire of Montreal and his musical diploma from Boulogne Billancourt and Rouen conservatoire. William participated at the Vatelot Rampal Competition in Paris and won the first place at the age of ten and twelve. His mentors include Johanne Arel, Jean-Sébastien Roy, Raymond Dessaints, Marcelle Mallette, Anne Robert, Marianne Dugal, Claire Bernard, Christophe Poiget, Paul Zafer and David Stewart. In his spare time, William loves hiking, running, driving his motorcycle and taking care of his cats.

Michelle Zapf-Bélanger was born in Montreal, before moving to Toronto with her family. She holds a Performance Diploma from the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2008, Michelle joined the TBSO violin section. An active educator, Michelle is a member of the College of Examiners with the Royal Conservatory of Music, and maintains an active violin studio in Thunder Bay. She is the Co-director of the Thunder Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra with her husband Thomas Cosbey. Michelle is passionate about music history and giving pre-concert talks, including her popular pre-Masterworks series.

Jennifer Martyn enjoys a busy career as performer, teacher, and researcher. She holds degrees in violin performance from the University of Toronto (BMus, DMA), and Mannes College (MMus) in New York City. Dr. Martyn’s performance career has taken her across Canada, as well as to Europe and Asia. She has performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kingston, Ottawa, Niagara, and Windsor Symphonies, l’Ensemble Prisme, Duo Felice, and the Talisker Players, including two programs in their acclaimed Journeys in Words and Music chamber music series, and in 2024 joined the violin section of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. She has served as guest concertmaster with several orchestras, including the North York Concert Orchestra, the Talisker Players, and the Arcady Ensemble orchestra. A sought-after teacher and adjudicator, Martyn especially loves to work with children, both as a violin teacher and a children’s choir director. She is currently teaching with with the North York Suzuki School of Music.

In her research at the University of Toronto, Dr. Martyn focused on the life and career of the nineteenth-century Swedish violinist and composer Amanda Maier and received numerous awards for her work, including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and the Palmeson Graduate Fellowship in Violin. She has presented lecture-recitals about her research in Ottawa, Toronto, and Calgary, and in 2017 performed the Canadian premiere of Amanda Maier’s 1891 piano quartet. Dr. Martyn has contributed to the Library of Congress Performing Arts blog “In the Muse” and in 2024 she was interviewed about Amanda Maier on the BBC Radio 3 programme “Composer of the Wee

Violist and composer Patrick Horn took his first breaths in sunny California. After completing his Bachelor of Music at Rice University in Houston, he marched north to Chicago where he earned a Master of Music from Northwestern University. The weather in Chicago was still too balmy, so in 2001 he landed in Thunder Bay where he joined the TBSO viola section. The TBSO has premiered several of his compositions, some of which have been performed in orchestras across Canada. In 2018, his Tango for Strings was performed by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Patrick spends most summers in Oregon at the Britt Music Festival where he plays in the outdoor orchestra.  Patrick loves the Northwestern Ontario outdoors for hiking and running, and even the food! Those locally foraged morels wash down nicely with a good Niagara Pinot Noir.

Originally from Alberta, Natalie Friesen began the violin at age 6 and switched to the viola at the age of 14. She received her Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Jeffrey Irvine and Kirsten Doctor. She went on to complete her Master of Music from the University of Toronto, studying with Teng Li. Natalie has had the privilege of playing with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, and the Ontario Philharmonic. She recently completed training as a certified Suzuki Violin Teacher and enjoys teaching private violin and viola lessons. In addition to music, Natalie enjoys reading and leisurely walks.

Geena Salway hails from Regina, SK, and joined the TBSO viola section in 2019. Geena has previously performed in the viola sections of notable Canadian orchestras such as the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared as a soloist with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra in 2018. Geena has toured with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2014, 2015, 2017), and L’Orchestre de la Francophonie (2018). In addition, she has also performed in Italy and Slovenia with the International Music Festival of the Adriatic. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Music and Performance Diploma from the University of Ottawa, and a Performer’s A.R.C.T from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Geena loves cycling, hiking, and learning about bicycle repair!

Born and raised in Minnesota, Marc Palmquist has enjoyed an international career. After earning a Master’s of Music degree from the Manhattan and Juilliard Schools of Music in New York City, Marc was hired as the solo cellist for a major Broadway Musical: GiGi. During that time, he toured every major venue in North America. Marc has been broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR), Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), and CBC radio throughout his career. He has performed with renowned orchestras such as St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO), Minnesota Orchestra, Colorado Festival Orchestra (Boulder, CO), Met Opera & La Scala Orchestra (European tour), and the Florida Festival Orchestra (Central American tour).

Marc joined the TBSO as Principal Cello in 1985 and has appeared over a dozen times as a soloist with the orchestra, performing major concerti and important solos in the repertoire. Throughout his tenure, Marc has shared his varied administrative skills within the organization, including serving as Personnel Manager (1995-2005), Production Manager (1987-1989), Union Steward (1991-1994), Player’s Committee Member, Artistic Advisory Committee Member, and Music Director Search Committee Member. Marc enjoys working with his hands by fixing, building, and creating. In 2005, Marc built his own Solar house with his own two hands! This state-of-the-art home is energy net-zero and part of Ontario’s Micro-FIT green electricity production, which helps offset carbon-emitting electricity production. Marc and his partner Deb (Clarinetist) maintain their USA and Canadian residences and have raised four successful dual-citizens.

Julia is a cellist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and an active. As a solo cellist, she has given numerous recitals throughout Canada, Finland, Germany, Korea and the U.S. Her playing is described as powerful, passionate and emotional. As an orchestral musician she has performed throughout the US and Canada under the baton of Maestro Bramwell Tovey, Leonard Slatkin, Gemma New and Mario Venzago and many more. Equally versatile as a chamber musician, she has studied chamber music under members of the Beaux Arts Trio and the Fine Arts Quartet. Her work as a chamber musician was recognized at the Leonard Sorkin Institute of Chamber music at University of Wisconsin. She has performed alongside artists such Frans Helmerson, Mihaela Martin and Young-Chang Cho. She studied at McGill University under renowned Canadian cellist Elizabeth Dolin and at Indiana University where she was a student of the legendary cellist Janos Starker. A passionate educator, Julia specialized in String Pedagogy in teaching method for cello and worked at String Academy of Wisconsin in University of Wisconsin. She is a recipient of various grands and awards including a President’s Award from University of Wisconsin, Janos Starker Scholarship and Eva Heinitz Prize from Indiana University, Career Grant from Canada Council of the Arts, Artist Development Grant from FACTOR Canada. Julia has earned her doctorate in Cello Performance at the University of Toronto in November 2022.

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Kay Chen is a cellist at the University of Ottawa currently completing their second year of the Masters of Music in Performance program, having studied with Paul Marleyn. Having previously studied with Wolf Tormann at Queen’s University in Kingston, Kay is also a substitute player in the Kingston Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber and orchestral musician, they have given chamber performances at the University of Ottawa and the National Arts Centre this past year. Kay has also participated in summer festivals such as Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, PRISMA Festival, Orchestre de la Francophonie, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute. A graduate of both Computing and Music bachelor’s degrees from Queen’s University, Kay hopes to in the future freelance in both their areas of study. In their spare time, Kay enjoys playing squash,boardgames, drawing, and sampling beer from local breweries of where they travel to.

Born in Québec City, Martin Blanchet began his musical training on the violin and the piano before pursuing the double bass as his main instrument. During his studies at Conservatoire de Musique de Québec, he completed the Technique en Jazz et Pop degree, a Master’s degree in Classical Interpretation, and a second Master’s degree in Chamber Music. Martin joined the TBSO as Section Bass in 2007 before winning the Principal Bass position in 2009. Martin previously held the chair of Assistant Principal Bass in Orquestra do Algarve in Portugal. He also served as Principal Bass with the World Orchestra of the Jeunesses Musicales. He toured Europe three times, playing in amazing concert venues such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Royal Concertgebouw, and Saalbau Essen.

Martin has performed with notable ensembles such as La Orquesta de Extremadura de Badajoz in Spain, L’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, l’Opéra de Québec, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In summer 2009, he was invited to perform the Dittersdorf Double Bass Concerto in Pommersfelden, Germany. Martin has taught double bass at the Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy in Québec City and is presently Contract Lecturer at Lakehead University. Jazz music has also been a big part of Martin’s career, leading him to form the Martin Blanchet Jazz Quintet. Martin is the vocalist, bassist, and musical arranger for the quintet, creating and performing various shows, including Café Paris, Sharp Ninth, Manouche, and Mini-Café. Most recently, Martin has begun conducting and arranging music for an all-french choir with the association of Le Club Culturel Francophone de Thunder Bay.

Liesel Deppe was born in South Africa and received her undergraduate degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. A scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service enabled her to further her studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, Germany, where she obtained a Meisterklassendiplom. She spent one year with Alexa Still at the University of Colorado in Boulder, before moving to Canada where she obtained her M.Mus. degree from the University of Western Ontario. Liesel Deppe obtained the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in November 2011 from the University of Toronto where she studied with Leslie Newman. She has played with various ensembles and orchestras in South Africa, Europe, the United States and Canada. In the USA she was a member of the Central City Opera Company and the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, while also playing as a substitute with the Colorado Springs Orchestra. In 2002 and 2003 she was a member of the National Academy Orchestra, with whom she also performed as a soloist. During the 2006-2007 season she was awarded a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, which enabled her to study with various flutists in the United Kingdom and Europe. Liesel is a member of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and London Symphonia. She plays with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra as a substitute musician and has on occasion played with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra as well.  She was a sessional flute instructor at the University of Windsor between 2015 and 2021 and has taken up bookkeeping on the side.

Heather Kilborn hails from Nipigon, Ontario, and joined the TBSO in 2019 when her dear teacher Doris Dungan took a sabbatical from playing. She holds a Master of Music from Northwestern University in Illinois, and a Bachelor of Music from Wilfred Laurier University. Heather had her solo debut with the TBSO in 1995, and is grateful to be sitting in the chair that her teacher held for so many years. Heather loves running, painting, creating just about anything, renovating, drinking coffee, her newly acquired motorcycle, her three cats, and spending time with her wonderful bass-playing life partner!

Colleen Kennedy is originally from Comox, BC but grew up in Scarborough, ON. She has held the position of Principal Oboe of the TBSO since 1981. Colleen studied oboe performance with Harry Sargous at the University of Western Ontario and later with Robert Bloom at the Juilliard School in New York City. As an educator, Colleen works as a Sessional Lecturer at Lakehead University, teaching oboe and Woodwind Techniques. In addition to oboe reed making, Colleen loves running, sailing, hiking and making tasty macarons.

Gwendolyn Buttemer was born in Comox, British Columbia and joined the TBSO as Section Oboe in 2014. In February 2020, Gwen appeared as a soloist with the TBSO performing Antonio Vivaldi’s Oboe Concerto in D minor. 

Before moving to Thunder Bay, Gwen served as Principal Oboe of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra and performed regularly with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra and the Jeans n’ Classics Rock Symphony. She was also a member of the Toronto-based Blythwood Winds. She continues to be in demand as a freelance musician, most recently playing with the Des Moines Metro Opera for their 2023 festival season.

Gwen holds a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She was a member of the National Academy Orchestra in 2013 and 2014 and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 2009. 

When not on stage or at her reed desk, Gwen can be found cross-country skiing, mountain biking, or in her vegetable garden.

Anna Betuzzi is a Canadian oboe and English horn player currently based in Montreal. She held the position of Principal Oboe with the Victoria Symphony during their 2022-23 season, where she also served as oboe faculty at the University of Victoria. Anna has also performed with ensembles including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Kingston Symphony Orchestra. She holds a graduate Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Sarah Jeffrey, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria. In addition to performing, Anna is a dedicated music teacher, maintaining an active studio of oboe and piano students. Outside of music, Anna enjoys practicing yoga, reading, hiking, and spending time with her husband and two cats. She is excited to join the TBSO for the 2024-25 season!

Peter Shackleton is principal clarinetist of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and a member of Music in Common and INNERchamber. He has served as principal clarinetist of Orchestra London Canada, and has performed with Tafelmusik (on historical clarinet) and Les Violons du Roy, as well as with the Milwaukee Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Stratford Festival Orchestras. Peter is currently on the faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University and in the past has held teaching positions at Western University and Lakehead University. Awarded First Prize at the 27th CBC Radio Competition, he has performed as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, CBC Radio Orchestra (Vancouver), Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and Tafelmusik. Peter received his Honours Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University and a certificate in Chamber Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

E-Chen Hsu originates from Mississauga, Ontario, and joined the TBSO as Section Clarinet in 1999. She has appeared as a featured soloist with the TBSO on multiple occasions including, performing Il Convegno for two Clarinets by A. Poncielli with Peter Shackleton (2010 & 2017). An eager chamber musician, E-Chen has enjoyed playing unique chamber music with the Tamarack Woodwind Quintet and the Martin Blanchet Jazz Quintet for their show Café Paris “La vie en Rose.”

Since 2006, E-Chen has spent the summer months playing with the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra in Des Moines, Iowa. She has also played with ensembles such as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra. She holds a Hon. B. Mus. from Western University (UWO), and a Master of Music from Northwestern University. E-Chen is a faculty member at Lakehead University, where she teaches clarinet. E-Chen is passionate about supporting music education in the Thunder Bay school system, serving the TBSO’s Education Coordinator since 2017. When not playing music, E-Chen enjoys exploring the great outdoors and travelling the world with her husband Pat and son Kalen.

Originally from Toronto, Julie Shier has lived in London, Ontario since 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from York University and a Master of Music from the University of Michigan, as well as completing the Orchestral Training Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has been a member of Windsor Symphony Orchestra since 1992 as well as London Symphonia. She has also performed with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic, the National Ballet of Canada and has played in the pit orchestra for the Stratford Festival. Always expanding her musical horizons, Julie plays the baritone with the Kawartha Kavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps based in Lindsay, Ontario, and is learning the bagpipes. In her free time Julie enjoys baking, hiking and skiing.

Hailing from Kingston, Ontario, Aviner Hartwick began playing music at a young age. Encouraged by his family, he first dabbled in recorder, piano, and even accordion before settling on the bassoon. His first teacher, Katie Legere of the Kingston Symphony Orchestra, urged Aviner to pursue music. Upon his finishing high school, she sent him to Montreal where he studied at both McGill University and the Conservatoire de Musique with Martin Mangrum, Stéphane Lévesque, and Michael Sundell of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. An alumnus of the National Academy Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Aviner completed his studies in 2020 and set his sights on the world of professional music. Before accepting his position at the TBSO, he substituted with orchestras throughout Eastern Canada including his hometown Kingston Symphony Orchestra. Away from the bassoon, Aviner likes to spend his time enjoying movies, learning Japanese, and playing ping pong (he served as president of the McGill Table Tennis Club). Come say hello if you see him on the courts!

Janelle Wiebe was born in Winnipeg, MB, and joined the TBSO as Principal Horn in 2010. She received a Schulich scholarship at McGill University during her studies, where she obtained her Master of Music degree. She went on to earn an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2002, Janelle won first place in the brass category at the Canadian National Music Festival. A self-proclaimed foodie, Janelle enjoys cooking and can’t seem to learn enough about food, recipes, and culture.

Damian Rivers-Moore hails from Scarborough, Ontario, and joined the TBSO as Section Horn in 2002. In 2001, prior to coming to Thunder Bay, Damian served as First Horn in the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China. Damian has performed with major Canadian orchestras such as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Niagara Symphony Orchestra, National Academy Orchestra, and the String and Wind virtuosos of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. In 2005, he was a featured soloist playing Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto no. 1 with the Cathedral Bluffs Orchestra. 

Damian holds a Performance Diploma from the Glenn Gould Professional School in Toronto, where he studied with Christopher Gongos. Prior to this, he studied with Derek Conrod and John Milner at the University of Western Ontario and La Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal respectively. When not playing the horn, Damian loves getting lost in the woods around Thunder Bay, installing art at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, and playing music with his mom (on piano).

Samuel Hughes is a Winnipeg-born trumpeter, who joined the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra in 2018. He has performed with orchestras across Canada, including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He received a first-runner-up position in the semi-final round of the Winnipeg Women’s Musical Club’s 2023 McLellan Competition. Sam holds a bachelor’s of trumpet performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, studying with Joe Burgstaller, as well as an Artist’s Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto, where he studied with Andrew McCandless. Outside of the orchestra, Sam spends his summers working and training as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve.

Originally from Brazil, Matheus Moraes received his Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet from Rio de Janeiro Federal University, where he studied with David Alves, and moved to Canada in 2017 to further his music education. He has since received Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of British Columbia, under Larry Knopp and Dr. Robert Taylor. Prior to joining the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Matheus was an active freelancer in Canada and Brazil. He’s performed with some of Canada’s leading orchestras, such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Center Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de de Trois-Rivières, Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, Georgian Bay Symphony, and Surrey City Orchestra, as well as the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of the Rio de Janeiro City Theater and Opera. An active performer in chamber music groups, Matheus is Vice-Chair of the Vancouver Brass Collective, founding member of the Vancouver Brass Orchestra, and has performed with several chamber groups in British Columbia and Ontario. He has spent summers with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Institute, the National Arts Center Orchestra Mentorship Program, and the National Academy Orchestra, where he received the Most Valuable Player award in 2022. In his spare time, Matheus enjoys reading, playing video games, traveling, and learning history and languages.

Originally from Calgary, Erik Hongisto began studying the violin at the age of three. Realizing this was a huge mistake, he switched to piano two years later. However, it would not be until age 12 that Erik would discover the majesty of the trombone. Erik holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction from the University of Calgary and a Master of Music in Orchestral Performance from McGill University. His mentors have included James Scott, Peter Sullivan, and Peter Beaudry. While living in Montreal, Erik enjoyed performing with notable Canadian orchestras such as l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, L’Orchestre symphonique de Québec, and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, among others. Erik was a member of “Brass Theatre”—a brass and percussion group based in Bloomington, Indiana—and toured the United States, performing alongside the Canadian Brass. In addition to orchestral performances, Erik has explored other musical styles, performing aboard the ships of the Princess Cruises Line and sailing right around the world.

Erik has served as Principal Trombone in the TBSO since 2003, though he continues to perform periodically with other orchestras, from Calgary to Kuala Lumpur. For the 2016-2017 season, Erik took a leave of absence from the TBSO to accept a one-year appointment as Principal Trombone of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He is a founding member of Brass Northwest (est. 2011), a brass chamber music group that performs in and around Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. In addition to his position as Principal Trombone, Erik has been the TBSO’s Orchestra Personnel Manager since 2017. His non-musical interests range from scotch tasting to hiking scenic trails around Thunder Bay with his kids.

Originally from Montréal, Alexandre Nantel is a classical percussionist and has just completed a Certificat de stage de perfectionnement en musique (Postgraduate studies) specialized in orchestral excerpts with Corey Rae at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. He also holds a Bachelor of Music and a Music Artist Diploma of Master level from the same institution where he followed classes with Hugues Tremblay, Jacques Lavallée, André Dufour, Marie-Josée Simard, Catherine Meunier, Annie-Julie Caron and Nicholas Lapointe. During his studies, Alexandre played with many ensembles both as percussionist and timpanist, but as a soloist as well back in 2018 when he interpreted the Paul Creston’s Concertino for Marimba. Moreover, he played as part of masterclasses for renowned musicians such as Håkon Kartveit, timpanist of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Joseph Pereira, timpanist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and Philippe Spiessier, new music soloist. On the professional stage, Alexandre performed with various music groups such as l’Ensemble Volte, l’Orchestre Symphonique de la Côte-Nord, l’Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes, l’ECM+, Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra, Laval Symphony Orchestra, Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre Classique de Montréal and Montréal Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Andrew Gordon Bell in a percussionist based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he performs as a member of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Andrew studied at the University of Toronto and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Aiyun Huang and Charles Settle. Andrew has been fortunate to have performed under the baton of many esteemed conductors, including Andrei Feher, Tania Miller, Johannes Debus, Michael Francis, and Peter Oundjian. Andrew’s musical interests expand beyond the scope of orchestral music, as a member of the Technology and Performance Integration Research Lab he has actively explored creating and performing music which utilizes the cutting edge tools to create a new avenue for classical music. This culminated in the creation of the Aux-Cord Etudes, a series of pieces for auxiliary percussion and electronics, designed to teach students both the skills necessary to perform with live electronics, and how to increase technical facility on cymbals, tambourine, triangle and bass drum. Andrew was supported in this research by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and presented it at musical conferences. When not performing, Andrew can often be found cooking, or in the mosh pit of a local metal concert.

Paul is from Winnipeg and while this is his second season with the TBSO, his roots are in bands and theatre. If you’ve ever made the trip to Manitoba, you might have seen him perform at Rainbow Stage, MTC, the Fringe, or Winnipeg Studio Theatre. He spent 2022 at the Shaw Festival as music intern and played in the pit for a number of musicals and concerts that season. Musical theatre, like classical music, is a fundamentally collaborative art form, bringing together actors, musicians, costume and set designers, and so much more. It’s in this interdisciplinary collaboration that he finds the most joy and value in music-making.