2025/26 Students
Alina Carrie is 15 years old and in 11th grade at Spectrum Community School. She plays clarinet in the Youth Mentorship Program as well as in school. Reading and listening to music are her favourite hobbies, aside from playing her instrument. She is looking forward to attending concerts and improving her abilities in her third year of the Youth Mentorship Program. Her future plans involve music and more music.
Her mentor is Samuel He of the Naden Band.
Nicola Clement is a grade 10 student at Victoria high school. She enjoys sports, listening to music, and of course playing it too. She participates in the schools choir, Junior band, Senior band, and pit orchestra. She has been playing bass clarinet, her main instrument, for almost 4 years. This is her second year in the program and is looking forward to another year of working hard and learning new techniques!
Her mentor is Marcella Barz.
Meet Matthew Holland. He is in grade 9 at Reynolds Secondary School in the French Immersion track, participating in several musical ensembles. Matthew has been playing piano since he was 4 years old and is currently working on the grade 8 level of the Toronto Conservatory. Matthew has played the violin since grade 5 and continued through his time at Cedar Hill Middle School where he also joined the choir. Matthew has also played trombone for two years. In his spare time, he likes to listen to music, read books, watch movies and go outside.
With this program, Matthew looks to gain confidence in performing in front of people and experience different ways in which he could potentially use his abilities to share music with others.
In the future Matthew would like to be involved with something where he can use his hands. Mathew likes the idea of being involved with sharing music with others in some fashion. He would also enjoy building something in the physical world.
Matthew will be mentored by Robert Holliston.
With this program, Matthew looks to gain confidence in performing in front of people and experience different ways in which he could potentially use his abilities to share music with others.
In the future Matthew would like to be involved with something where he can use his hands. Mathew likes the idea of being involved with sharing music with others in some fashion. He would also enjoy building something in the physical world.
Matthew will be mentored by Robert Holliston.
My name is Lucas Lin, and I am a grade 11 student at Lambrick Park Secondary School. This is my 5th year playing trumpet. The trumpet has become my voice and my passion. Through the YMP program, I am eager not only to refine my trumpet technique but also to grow as a musician - learning how to bring emotion, energy, and storytelling into every note I play. What excites me most about this program is the chance to make music alongside others who share the same dedication and love for it. I look forward to the rehearsals, the performances, and the friendships that will come from making music together. My dream is to one day become both a skilled performer and be a trumpet teacher.
Lucas will be mentored by Steve Donegan of the Naden Band.
Penelope McMillan is a grade 9 student at Reynolds Secondary school. She enjoys listening to music, as well as playing it. In her spare time, she dances both ballet, and contemporary. Over the past 3 years, she has been in her school's concert band, full orchestra, choir, and show choir, and joined Reynolds jazz band just this year. She is just starting her fourth year playing clarinet, and it’s something she’s come to enjoy very much.
She is looking forward to all this program has to offer, and working with her mentor, Melissa Goodchild.
My name is Bryss Montibon, I am a 10th Grader in Spectrum Community School and I play the French Horn. I first started with an alto saxophone in 2023 at Colquitz Middle School, and I have had the interest in playing the French Horn since December 2024. I enjoy playing in concert band, jazz band, and even decided to play for the cadet program for 848 RCACS. I am looking forward to learning as much as I can and making use of the amazing program. My future goal is to enjoy what the music world has to offer and have fun playing.
Bryss will be mentored by Sam McNally of UVic.
Alex Schroeder is an 11th grade student at Spectrum High School. He has been involved with music since elementary school, first joining choir and strings, then from middle school onwards joining every available ensemble. He loves music deeply, striving to take every opportunity to try out a new style of music, deepen his knowledge of music theory, or to learn a new instrument. Throughout his years of music, Alex has studied violin, viola, cello, double bass, bass guitar, guitar, trombone, flute and oboe. This is his first year as part of the Youth Mentorship Program, and he is looking forward to improving his tone and developing his skills as an oboe player.
Alex will be studying with Michelle Feng.
Shawn Sparks is a student in Grade 11 at Spectrum Community School. His endeavors with the drums first began in Colquitz Middle School’s Jazz Band program, and since then, he has continued to play the drums throughout his schooling career. In addition to the drums, he also dabbles with other instruments like the piano and guitar. Shawn enjoys being outdoors, spending time with loved ones, and learning new things. In Grade 10, he won the Sandy King Most Outstanding Jr. Jazz award. Now in his 5th year of playing the drums, he plans on vastly improving his skills with the help of the Youth Mentorship Program. He hopes to someday achieve his goal of gigging as a professional drummer while he studies in post-secondary.
Shawn will be mentored by Murray Creed of Drum Groove Studios.
Caleb Taylor is going into grade nine as of fall 2025 at Reynolds Secondary. He has played piano since he was nine, and oboe since he was eleven. Last year, Caleb was a part of band, orchestra and jazz band at Cedar Hill Middle School. He hopes to continue playing with the Reynolds band/ensembles as he transitions into high school. Caleb also has a love for composing, constantly coming up with new ideas and projects on his keyboard at home.
Caleb will be mentored by Russell Bajer of the VSO.
Hello, my name is Cleo van Popering and I am a French Immersion student in Grade 9 at Reynolds Secondary School! I am a fun and engaging teen who loves to read, sing & dance, create art and handmade cards, and cuddle with my dog. I am keen to build my leadership skills and be involved in my community. However my favourite thing to do is sing! Singing fills me up with so much joy and I love being able to share that joy with the people around me! I am very thankful to have the opportunity to be in the Youth Mentorship program and I’m excited to see how I can learn and grow to become a better singer and an even better person!
Cleo will be mentored by Anne Grimm.