2024/25 Students
Our 2024/25 students attended a Victoria Baroque performance, January 2025.
Kaleena Ballentyne plays the baritone and is working with Scott McInnes.
Alina Carrie is a 10th grade student at Spectrum Community School. She enjoys theatre, academics and music. She has played the clarinet for six years and loves to challenge herself with difficult music. Alina has played clarinet in Concert band and soprano saxophone in Jazz band during her time at Colquitz Middle school, under the instruction of Kelly Montgomery. It is her second year in the Youth Mentorship Program, and she is looking forward to improving her musical aptitude.
Alina Carrie continues to work with Samuel He.
Nicola Clement plays the clarinet and is working with Marcella Barz.
Calder Huband has attended Colquitz Middle School for the past three years and will be going to Spectrum Community School beginning fall 2022. During his time at Colquitz, Calder has played trombone under the direction of Kelly Montgomery in Concert band and Jazz band. In May 2022, the marching band placed first in the Esquimalt Buccaneer days parade.
In addition to trombone, Calder has a passion for musical theatre. He performed in the Senior Choir with Caroline MacKenzie, and in his senior year at Colquitz, played a lead role in Newsies Jr. In the summer of 2022, Calder took part in the Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People musical theatre intensive, in a production of Side Show.
Calder likes science, he can solve a Rubik's cube, and won the Middle School SD61 Rube Goldberg Challenge in 2020. He's looking forward to starting High school in the fall and meeting all the new people.
Calder continues to work with Amaya Sydor.
In addition to trombone, Calder has a passion for musical theatre. He performed in the Senior Choir with Caroline MacKenzie, and in his senior year at Colquitz, played a lead role in Newsies Jr. In the summer of 2022, Calder took part in the Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People musical theatre intensive, in a production of Side Show.
Calder likes science, he can solve a Rubik's cube, and won the Middle School SD61 Rube Goldberg Challenge in 2020. He's looking forward to starting High school in the fall and meeting all the new people.
Calder continues to work with Amaya Sydor.
Makaio McKnight is a grade 11 student at Oak Bay Secondary School. Makaio has been fully immersed in his school’s music programs throughout his education. He has participated in elementary musicals, middle school and high school band and orchestra programs, Island Ukuleles district ukulele ensemble, and numerous choirs. As an instrumentalist, Makaio was selected as a member of the Canadian Junior Honour Concert Band in 2022 as a trombonist. As a vocalist, Makaio invests hours a week singing in, and assisting choirs. Singing in 4 concert choirs, 1 vocal jazz ensemble and 2 small ensembles, Makaio is an integral member of the Oak Bay High School Choral Program. Makaio is proud to have been selected as a singer in the auditioned BC Music Educators Honor Vocal Jazz Ensemble for the past two years. In addition to his singing, Makaio uses his orchestra training to accompany multiple vocal jazz ensembles and combos with his double bass.
Makaio’s musical pursuits carry over into the community where he is a member of Island Ukuleles, a small combo, and Victoria Alliance Church’s worship team. His musical versatility allows him to participate in small combos as a vocalist, an instrumentalist, or an accompanist. He is also actively involved in developing his leadership and teaching skills through volunteer work with Cedar Hill Middle School’s choral program. Most recently, Makaio has joined the Newcombe Singers as a tenor section leader for the season.
Makaio is excited to be a participant in the Youth Mentorship Program and is looking forward to further developing his skills as a vocalist under the direction of his mentor, Jan van der Hooft.
Makaio’s musical pursuits carry over into the community where he is a member of Island Ukuleles, a small combo, and Victoria Alliance Church’s worship team. His musical versatility allows him to participate in small combos as a vocalist, an instrumentalist, or an accompanist. He is also actively involved in developing his leadership and teaching skills through volunteer work with Cedar Hill Middle School’s choral program. Most recently, Makaio has joined the Newcombe Singers as a tenor section leader for the season.
Makaio is excited to be a participant in the Youth Mentorship Program and is looking forward to further developing his skills as a vocalist under the direction of his mentor, Jan van der Hooft.
Ellie Ryu is 14 years old and is a 9th grader at Mount Doug Secondary School. She plays the flute and has been learning it for about seven years. She is getting ready to enjoy both concert band and jazz band at school. She has been participating in the Junior Collegium Program at the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM) for two years and enjoys playing in ensembles with musicians of various instruments.
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She received the Adjudicator’s Choice Award at the 2023 GVPAF and completed her RCM Level 8 practical exam last month. She hopes to audition for the GVYO next year and looks forward to becoming a more mature musician through the Youth Mentorship Program.
Ellie is working with Mary Byrne.
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She received the Adjudicator’s Choice Award at the 2023 GVPAF and completed her RCM Level 8 practical exam last month. She hopes to audition for the GVYO next year and looks forward to becoming a more mature musician through the Youth Mentorship Program.
Ellie is working with Mary Byrne.
Jeff Zhang plays the alto saxophone and is working with Roy Styffe.