2023/2024 PROGRAM
Hello loyal (and lovely) Township Classics fans,
WELCOME to the 2023/24 season
There are 5 chamber music concerts for you to attend - each one featuring prominent members of the performing arts scene on the Island and Lower Mainland. I’ve sought to put together a wonderful variety of music and combinations of instruments and voices for your listening pleasure as you enjoy your favourite beverage in the relaxed and intimate surroundings of the Wardroom on CFB Esquimalt. Township Classics proceeds continue to provide the majority of funding for the Youth Mentorship Program.
September 24, 2023 - Joanna Hood, Amy Laing and Christi Meyers return to play a varied program including Beethoven’s Trio, op 9, no 3, a beautiful Intermezzo by Kodaly, and 2 of Purcell’s quirky Fantasias, Z.732 & 733.
October 22, 2023 - The Odyssey Quartet will perform Schubert’s Quartet in G Minor (posthumous), the vivacious Romanian Dances by Bartok, and 3 evocative transcriptions of Latin Songs by Golijov.
November 26, 2023 - TC founder Gwen Thompson-Robinow returns with her dear colleagues Lee Duckles, Joanna Hood, and Robert Holliston to play Brahms’ Piano Quartet no. 2 in A Major, op 26.
January 28, 2024 - Jan van der Hooft and Kimberley Ann Bartczak perform a recital featuring the music of Copland, and Christi Meyers will play Korngold’s Much Ado About Nothing suite.
March 3, 2024 - Victoria Symphony trumpeter, David Michaux joins Kimberley Ann Bartczak and Christi Meyers to play Brahms’ beloved Horn Trio, op 40, and the delightful Trio for Trumpet, Violin and Piano by E. Ewazen.
All concerts are Sunday evenings at 7pm, doors open at 6:30. Bar is open!
Wardroom: 1586 Esquimalt Rd. Lots of free parking available.
Single tickets are $25 (cash or cheque) at The Sharkz Store (#110-525 Head St.) or online at eventbrite.ca (township community arts council).
*NEW* this year
Purchase all 5 concerts and save! Subscriptions are available for $110.
Please email [email protected] to arrange for purchase and/or promo code.
Hope to see you!
Christi Meyers, Artistic Director
WELCOME to the 2023/24 season
There are 5 chamber music concerts for you to attend - each one featuring prominent members of the performing arts scene on the Island and Lower Mainland. I’ve sought to put together a wonderful variety of music and combinations of instruments and voices for your listening pleasure as you enjoy your favourite beverage in the relaxed and intimate surroundings of the Wardroom on CFB Esquimalt. Township Classics proceeds continue to provide the majority of funding for the Youth Mentorship Program.
September 24, 2023 - Joanna Hood, Amy Laing and Christi Meyers return to play a varied program including Beethoven’s Trio, op 9, no 3, a beautiful Intermezzo by Kodaly, and 2 of Purcell’s quirky Fantasias, Z.732 & 733.
October 22, 2023 - The Odyssey Quartet will perform Schubert’s Quartet in G Minor (posthumous), the vivacious Romanian Dances by Bartok, and 3 evocative transcriptions of Latin Songs by Golijov.
November 26, 2023 - TC founder Gwen Thompson-Robinow returns with her dear colleagues Lee Duckles, Joanna Hood, and Robert Holliston to play Brahms’ Piano Quartet no. 2 in A Major, op 26.
January 28, 2024 - Jan van der Hooft and Kimberley Ann Bartczak perform a recital featuring the music of Copland, and Christi Meyers will play Korngold’s Much Ado About Nothing suite.
March 3, 2024 - Victoria Symphony trumpeter, David Michaux joins Kimberley Ann Bartczak and Christi Meyers to play Brahms’ beloved Horn Trio, op 40, and the delightful Trio for Trumpet, Violin and Piano by E. Ewazen.
All concerts are Sunday evenings at 7pm, doors open at 6:30. Bar is open!
Wardroom: 1586 Esquimalt Rd. Lots of free parking available.
Single tickets are $25 (cash or cheque) at The Sharkz Store (#110-525 Head St.) or online at eventbrite.ca (township community arts council).
*NEW* this year
Purchase all 5 concerts and save! Subscriptions are available for $110.
Please email [email protected] to arrange for purchase and/or promo code.
Hope to see you!
Christi Meyers, Artistic Director
Performer information:
Christi Meyers is the current Artistic Director of the Township Classics.
An accomplished performer on both modern and baroque violin, Christi Meyers has played a prominent role in the musical life of Victoria for more than 20 years. She has been Assistant Concertmaster of the Victoria Symphony since 2001, and has appeared frequently as soloist with the orchestra, most recently twice in 2022, playing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for Ballet Victoria, and Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 2 & 5.
She is a founding member of the period performance ensemble, Victoria Baroque, is a member of Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and annually plays in chamber music concerts for Early Music Vancouver. She has also been the first violinist of the Odyssey String Quartet since its inception in 2002.
In 2011, while on sabbatical in the Netherlands, she was Assistant Concertmaster of Sinfonia Rotterdam (NL) and a member of European Camerata (UK).
Over the past 3 decades Christi has played in major halls all over Canada, and in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Columbia, Mexico, and the USA. She has shared the stage with artists ranging from Michael Buble to Pavarotti to Yo-Yo Ma.
A dedicated educator, she has been on faculty at the University of Victoria, the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and had a long association as a violin coach with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra.
In 2021 she became the Artistic Director of Township Classics, an Esquimalt based chamber music concert series that funds the Youth Mentorship Program, an initiative providing scholarships, mentoring, and concert opportunities for talented musical teens from the public school system in the greater Victoria area.
Born in Montreal and raised in northern Alberta, Christi holds music performance degrees from McGill and Western Universities, under the tutelage of Gwen Thompson-Robinow and Sonia Jelinkova.
She is married to a great guy, and is the mom of two university students (!) and one ginger cat with attitude.
An accomplished performer on both modern and baroque violin, Christi Meyers has played a prominent role in the musical life of Victoria for more than 20 years. She has been Assistant Concertmaster of the Victoria Symphony since 2001, and has appeared frequently as soloist with the orchestra, most recently twice in 2022, playing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for Ballet Victoria, and Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 2 & 5.
She is a founding member of the period performance ensemble, Victoria Baroque, is a member of Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and annually plays in chamber music concerts for Early Music Vancouver. She has also been the first violinist of the Odyssey String Quartet since its inception in 2002.
In 2011, while on sabbatical in the Netherlands, she was Assistant Concertmaster of Sinfonia Rotterdam (NL) and a member of European Camerata (UK).
Over the past 3 decades Christi has played in major halls all over Canada, and in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Columbia, Mexico, and the USA. She has shared the stage with artists ranging from Michael Buble to Pavarotti to Yo-Yo Ma.
A dedicated educator, she has been on faculty at the University of Victoria, the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and had a long association as a violin coach with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra.
In 2021 she became the Artistic Director of Township Classics, an Esquimalt based chamber music concert series that funds the Youth Mentorship Program, an initiative providing scholarships, mentoring, and concert opportunities for talented musical teens from the public school system in the greater Victoria area.
Born in Montreal and raised in northern Alberta, Christi holds music performance degrees from McGill and Western Universities, under the tutelage of Gwen Thompson-Robinow and Sonia Jelinkova.
She is married to a great guy, and is the mom of two university students (!) and one ginger cat with attitude.
Gwen Thompson-Robinow, Canadian violinist and member of the Order of Canada, has enjoyed a more than fifty- year career as performer, educator, teacher, and coach. She has nurtured young musicians in her role as professor of violin at Western University, the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Academy of Music, the University of Manitoba, the University of Victoria, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She has performed, taught and mentored at summer festivals and string and chamber music workshops across Canada and in the United States. She has acted as concertmaster of Orchestra London, the CBC Chamber Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Victoria Symphony, as well as leading the Baroque Strings of Vancouver. She has recorded for CBC radio and television, both as soloist and chamber player.
Her signature group, “Viveza”, released five internationally highly acclaimed CDs. Viveza toured throughout Canada, the United States, and Korea.
Her interest in and commitment to new music led her to commission Vancouver composer Stephen Chatman to write a work for violin and cello, “From Pent-up Aching Rivers”, which had its premiere in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall.
Since moving to Esquimalt B.C. Ms. Thompson-Robinow has continued performing, giving master classes and workshops, as well as mentoring a select number of talented violinists. As a founding board member of the Township Community Arts Council, she created “Township Classics”, a series earmarked to raise funds for a Youth Mentorship Program. It is an innovative program that provides young instrumentalists and singers with opportunities to broaden their musical experience.
Ms. Thompson-Robinow’s highly successful book, “The Embodied Violinist: Teaching Violin with Passion and Practicality” is a distillation of violinistic techniques and musical philosophies which she inherited from her teachers and mentors, focused and refined through her own experience. The book continues to be a reliable resource be teachers who want to build their teaching on a compelling historical foundation.
Ms. Thompson-Robinow is supported in her efforts and passions by her husband, Dr. Oliver Robinow and their two adult children Richard and Elizabeth.
Her signature group, “Viveza”, released five internationally highly acclaimed CDs. Viveza toured throughout Canada, the United States, and Korea.
Her interest in and commitment to new music led her to commission Vancouver composer Stephen Chatman to write a work for violin and cello, “From Pent-up Aching Rivers”, which had its premiere in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall.
Since moving to Esquimalt B.C. Ms. Thompson-Robinow has continued performing, giving master classes and workshops, as well as mentoring a select number of talented violinists. As a founding board member of the Township Community Arts Council, she created “Township Classics”, a series earmarked to raise funds for a Youth Mentorship Program. It is an innovative program that provides young instrumentalists and singers with opportunities to broaden their musical experience.
Ms. Thompson-Robinow’s highly successful book, “The Embodied Violinist: Teaching Violin with Passion and Practicality” is a distillation of violinistic techniques and musical philosophies which she inherited from her teachers and mentors, focused and refined through her own experience. The book continues to be a reliable resource be teachers who want to build their teaching on a compelling historical foundation.
Ms. Thompson-Robinow is supported in her efforts and passions by her husband, Dr. Oliver Robinow and their two adult children Richard and Elizabeth.
A native of Montreal, Kimberley-Ann Bartczak is a conductor, pianist and vocal coach. Currently the Principal Coach and Accompanist at Pacific Opera Victoria, and recently appointed the Recital Choir Director at Victoria Children’s Chorus, she was Associate Artistic Director for Manitoba Underground Opera, Resident Conductor and Repetiteur at Calgary Opera, was on staff at Opera on the Avalon, and an alumna of Vancouver Opera's Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program.
ecent appearances include: Music Director for the world premiere of Veronika Krausas' Ghost Opera at Calgary Opera and Sokolovic/Bartok’s Svadba/Bluebeard’s Castle double bill at Manitoba Underground Opera, and principal coach for Mozart’s Così fan Tutte at Pacific Opera Victoria. She is an active performer, having performed and conducted coast to coast across Canada as well as in the United States, Mexico and Europe. She also teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and is a regular vocal coach at University of Victoria
ecent appearances include: Music Director for the world premiere of Veronika Krausas' Ghost Opera at Calgary Opera and Sokolovic/Bartok’s Svadba/Bluebeard’s Castle double bill at Manitoba Underground Opera, and principal coach for Mozart’s Così fan Tutte at Pacific Opera Victoria. She is an active performer, having performed and conducted coast to coast across Canada as well as in the United States, Mexico and Europe. She also teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and is a regular vocal coach at University of Victoria
Lee Duckles, formerly the Principal Cellist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, received his early training in the San Francisco Bay Area. An active soloist and chamber musician, he has performed in festivals in BC, Ontario, Alaska, Washington, California, Colorado, and South Korea.
For 35 summers, he was a regular performer and Principal at the Cabrillo Music Festival of Contemporary Music in California. In Vancouver, Mr. Duckles has enjoyed an association with the Vancouver Academy of Music, The University of British Columbia, the Vancouver New Music Society – (a founding director and performer), the Masterpiece Music Series, and The Vancouver Chamber Players.
He has recorded for the CBC, both as a performer and arranger, the Musical Heritage Society of America, Heliodor, Polydor Records, and most recently, Skylark Records, with the salon music ensemble, Viveza.
He is currently a Co-Director of the Vancouver Chamber Players, a member of the Vancouver Cello Quartet, and President of the Vancouver Cello Club.
For 35 summers, he was a regular performer and Principal at the Cabrillo Music Festival of Contemporary Music in California. In Vancouver, Mr. Duckles has enjoyed an association with the Vancouver Academy of Music, The University of British Columbia, the Vancouver New Music Society – (a founding director and performer), the Masterpiece Music Series, and The Vancouver Chamber Players.
He has recorded for the CBC, both as a performer and arranger, the Musical Heritage Society of America, Heliodor, Polydor Records, and most recently, Skylark Records, with the salon music ensemble, Viveza.
He is currently a Co-Director of the Vancouver Chamber Players, a member of the Vancouver Cello Quartet, and President of the Vancouver Cello Club.
Joanna Hood plays with Canada’s Lafayette String Quartet, the only all-female ensemble in the world to comprise of the four original members for more thirty years. As Artist-in-Residence at the University of Victoria, in Victoria, BC, she teaches viola and chamber music.
She also performs with Victoria's Galiano Ensemble, as well as the Loma Mar Quartet, Serenade Orchestra, and Orchestra of St. Luke's (in New York City). She has collaborated with and made arrangements for Sir Paul McCartney. Her EMI recording with the Loma Mar Quartet entitled Working Classical, orchestral and chamber music by Paul McCartney, was the number one selling classical album world wide. As a frequent collaborator with Canada’s Suddenly Dance Theatre, her original musical scores have been featured in NATURE ECSTASY, a silent film made for composers; the 24 min dance film OPIUM (Bravo!/Artv); SDT’s Bravo!FACT AISLING - We Saw a Vision; and the recent SKY EVENT, for SDT’s 2008 Tour to South Korea.
Also a baroque violist, Joanna frequently performs with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and has worked with Pacific Music Works, the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Victoria Baroque Players, the Eugene Bach Festival.
She is the co-founder of the SALT Festival of New Music, and is a founding member of the Tsilumos Ensemble. Dedicated to the music of our time, Tsilumos has commissioned and premiered works of Canadian, and international composers.
Joanna was a student of Isadore Tinkleman, Abraham Skernick, and Stanley Ritchie, and (with the Lafayette Quartet), Rostaslav Dubinsky, and the Cleveland String Quartet.
She also performs with Victoria's Galiano Ensemble, as well as the Loma Mar Quartet, Serenade Orchestra, and Orchestra of St. Luke's (in New York City). She has collaborated with and made arrangements for Sir Paul McCartney. Her EMI recording with the Loma Mar Quartet entitled Working Classical, orchestral and chamber music by Paul McCartney, was the number one selling classical album world wide. As a frequent collaborator with Canada’s Suddenly Dance Theatre, her original musical scores have been featured in NATURE ECSTASY, a silent film made for composers; the 24 min dance film OPIUM (Bravo!/Artv); SDT’s Bravo!FACT AISLING - We Saw a Vision; and the recent SKY EVENT, for SDT’s 2008 Tour to South Korea.
Also a baroque violist, Joanna frequently performs with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and has worked with Pacific Music Works, the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Victoria Baroque Players, the Eugene Bach Festival.
She is the co-founder of the SALT Festival of New Music, and is a founding member of the Tsilumos Ensemble. Dedicated to the music of our time, Tsilumos has commissioned and premiered works of Canadian, and international composers.
Joanna was a student of Isadore Tinkleman, Abraham Skernick, and Stanley Ritchie, and (with the Lafayette Quartet), Rostaslav Dubinsky, and the Cleveland String Quartet.
Robert Holliston studied at the Victoria Conservatory of Music under Robin Wood and Winifred Scott Wood, and at the University of British Columbia under Robert Rogers. He has performed in collaboration with many artists in a wide variety of repertoire throughout Canada and the USA, England, New Zealand and Australia, and has been heard frequently on CBC-Radio. Robert has recorded CDs with the popular salon ensemble Viveza, trombonist Ian McDougall, tenor Ken Lavigne, Tom Holliston, Show Business Giants, and members of the Hornby Island Ensemble.
Robert has collaborated with many of Canada's leading singers and instrumentalists, and has participated in such festivals as Juneau Jazz and Classics, Parry Sound, Caraquette, Adelaide, and the Ottawa, Sitka and Orcas Island Chamber Music festivals. During the past few seasons, Robert has been a featured concerto soloist with the Sidney Classical and Victoria Symphony Orchestras. He is currently Head of the Keyboard Department at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, where he also teaches music history and serves as vocal coach.
A popular public speaker, Robert has given pre-performance lectures for Pacific Opera Victoria since 1993 and, through UVic’s Continuing Studies program, has led several cultural tours to New York and Santa Fe; he is also POV’s Curator of Public Engagement and the host of the company’s new outreach series INSIDE OPERA.
Robert has collaborated with many of Canada's leading singers and instrumentalists, and has participated in such festivals as Juneau Jazz and Classics, Parry Sound, Caraquette, Adelaide, and the Ottawa, Sitka and Orcas Island Chamber Music festivals. During the past few seasons, Robert has been a featured concerto soloist with the Sidney Classical and Victoria Symphony Orchestras. He is currently Head of the Keyboard Department at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, where he also teaches music history and serves as vocal coach.
A popular public speaker, Robert has given pre-performance lectures for Pacific Opera Victoria since 1993 and, through UVic’s Continuing Studies program, has led several cultural tours to New York and Santa Fe; he is also POV’s Curator of Public Engagement and the host of the company’s new outreach series INSIDE OPERA.
Amy Laing, cellist, is originally from Nanaimo B.C. Amy earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton Florida, and her Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Prior to the shakeup of 2020, Amy was enjoying her first season as Principal cellist in the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario. She played regularly with the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, the Windsor Symphony, Niagara Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, and also held a six-month contract with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax. In 2011/12 Amy served as
acting principal cello in the Victoria Symphony and taught at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and again joined the orchestra playing principal cello for the second part of their 2016 season.
Amy is an active chamber musician, and was a member of the Madawaska String Quartet,
specializing in the performance and cultivation of contemporary works. Amy has also been the
solo cellist in numerous major musical theatre productions, most recently “Hamilton”.
Beyond the strictly classical music genre Amy has worked with Toronto’s Art of Time Ensemble, SoulPepper Theatre Company, Toronto Dance Theatre, the Stratford Festival and Music in the Barns. She has performed or recorded with leading artists including Stevie Wonder, Blue Rodeo, Jesse Cook, The Barenaked Ladies, Jim Cuddy, Steven Page, Sarah Slean, Molly Johnson, Royal Wood, Amelia Curran, Donovan Woods, and played a Canadian tour with Blue Rodeo including a performance in the JUNO’s.
Amy has played in music festivals around the world including the Spoleto Festivals in Italy and
in Charleston, The National Orchestral Institute, the Banff Arts Festival, Musica Nel Chiostro in
Tuscany, Cork Opera Festival Ireland, COSI festival in Italy, the Northern Lights Festival in Ajijic, Mexico, Festival of Sound in Parry Sound, the Phil Dwyer Music Festival in Qualicum BC, Salt Spring Chamber Music Festival, Tafelmusik’s Winter Institute, and also toured China with her cello quartet.
Amy is happy to call Vancouver Island home once again and is thrilled to be joining the faculty
of the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Amy plays on a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume cello.
Prior to the shakeup of 2020, Amy was enjoying her first season as Principal cellist in the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario. She played regularly with the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, the Windsor Symphony, Niagara Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, and also held a six-month contract with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax. In 2011/12 Amy served as
acting principal cello in the Victoria Symphony and taught at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and again joined the orchestra playing principal cello for the second part of their 2016 season.
Amy is an active chamber musician, and was a member of the Madawaska String Quartet,
specializing in the performance and cultivation of contemporary works. Amy has also been the
solo cellist in numerous major musical theatre productions, most recently “Hamilton”.
Beyond the strictly classical music genre Amy has worked with Toronto’s Art of Time Ensemble, SoulPepper Theatre Company, Toronto Dance Theatre, the Stratford Festival and Music in the Barns. She has performed or recorded with leading artists including Stevie Wonder, Blue Rodeo, Jesse Cook, The Barenaked Ladies, Jim Cuddy, Steven Page, Sarah Slean, Molly Johnson, Royal Wood, Amelia Curran, Donovan Woods, and played a Canadian tour with Blue Rodeo including a performance in the JUNO’s.
Amy has played in music festivals around the world including the Spoleto Festivals in Italy and
in Charleston, The National Orchestral Institute, the Banff Arts Festival, Musica Nel Chiostro in
Tuscany, Cork Opera Festival Ireland, COSI festival in Italy, the Northern Lights Festival in Ajijic, Mexico, Festival of Sound in Parry Sound, the Phil Dwyer Music Festival in Qualicum BC, Salt Spring Chamber Music Festival, Tafelmusik’s Winter Institute, and also toured China with her cello quartet.
Amy is happy to call Vancouver Island home once again and is thrilled to be joining the faculty
of the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Amy plays on a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume cello.
Born and raised in Victoria, David Michaux has been a member of the Victoria Symphony since 2001 and performed as Acting Principal Trumpet for over five seasons. Previously, he held the positions of Principal Trumpet with the Thunder Bay and Okanagan Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and as guest Principal Trumpet with the CBC Radio Orchestra. On baroque trumpet, he has performed with Victoria Baroque, Ensemble Caprice, and Pacific Baroque Festival. During the 2004-05 season he was a substitute member of the trumpet section of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and has performed regularly with the VSO for over twenty-five years. He was also involved in recording music for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and 1994 Commonwealth Games. He has performed as a soloist with the Victoria, Thunder Bay, and Okanagan symphonies.
David attended the University of Victoria (B.Mus), the University of British Columbia (M.Mus) and he is an alumnus of both the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the Aspen Music Festival. His teachers were Vincent Cichowicz, Larry Knopp, and Louis Ranger. He has taught at the University of Victoria, Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific.
David attended the University of Victoria (B.Mus), the University of British Columbia (M.Mus) and he is an alumnus of both the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the Aspen Music Festival. His teachers were Vincent Cichowicz, Larry Knopp, and Louis Ranger. He has taught at the University of Victoria, Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific.
Dedicated to the simple enjoyment of performing music together and sharing their passion with live audiences, Odyssey String Quartet has delivered engrossing and engaging concerts since its founding in 2002. With an extensive and varied repertoire that is grounded in string quartet classics, the quartet captivates audiences by delving - each and every show - into such popular styles as tango, swing, jazz, rock & roll, pop rock, ragtime, the American Songbook, and even television theme songs. OSQ has created a dedicated and loyal following in Victoria, British Columbia.
In the course of their careers as chamber musicians, Odyssey members have gathered a wealth of experience with concerts across Canada, the US, Asia, Europe, and South America. Notable highlights include appearances at the Adelaide, Aspen, Banff, Boston Early Music, Edinburgh Fringe, Evian, Gergiev and Ottawa Chamber Music Festivals, in addition to the PAN New Music, Salle Bourgie, Tanglewood, Verbier, and d’Auvers sur Oise festivals.
OSQ members have performed concerts with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, played string quartets for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and toured with such groups as Aventa Ensemble, the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, Continuum Consort, European Camerata, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Sinfonia Rotterdam, Via Salzburg, and Victoria Baroque.
Connecting profoundly with audiences in and around Victoria BC, Odyssey maintains an active schedule as the string quartet in residence at The Butchart Gardens and as regular guests at both Esquimalt’s Township Classics and Victoria Symphony Music in the Summer concert series. OSQ annually shares music with the wider community at free outdoor venues such as Centennial Square, Beacon Hill Park, and City of Victoria pop up concerts.
Odyssey musicians Christi Meyers and Tori Gould, violins, Kay Cochran, viola, and Alasdair Money, cello, pursue busy professional careers, playing in the Victoria Symphony, teaching, and collaborating with several of Victoria’s prominent chamber music groups.
Honouring the crucial importance of music education, and in recognition of the OSQ players’ own training in public school music programs, the quartet enjoys bringing concerts and masterclasses to young people through the Victoria Symphony’s school music outreach programs.
In the course of their careers as chamber musicians, Odyssey members have gathered a wealth of experience with concerts across Canada, the US, Asia, Europe, and South America. Notable highlights include appearances at the Adelaide, Aspen, Banff, Boston Early Music, Edinburgh Fringe, Evian, Gergiev and Ottawa Chamber Music Festivals, in addition to the PAN New Music, Salle Bourgie, Tanglewood, Verbier, and d’Auvers sur Oise festivals.
OSQ members have performed concerts with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, played string quartets for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and toured with such groups as Aventa Ensemble, the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, Continuum Consort, European Camerata, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Sinfonia Rotterdam, Via Salzburg, and Victoria Baroque.
Connecting profoundly with audiences in and around Victoria BC, Odyssey maintains an active schedule as the string quartet in residence at The Butchart Gardens and as regular guests at both Esquimalt’s Township Classics and Victoria Symphony Music in the Summer concert series. OSQ annually shares music with the wider community at free outdoor venues such as Centennial Square, Beacon Hill Park, and City of Victoria pop up concerts.
Odyssey musicians Christi Meyers and Tori Gould, violins, Kay Cochran, viola, and Alasdair Money, cello, pursue busy professional careers, playing in the Victoria Symphony, teaching, and collaborating with several of Victoria’s prominent chamber music groups.
Honouring the crucial importance of music education, and in recognition of the OSQ players’ own training in public school music programs, the quartet enjoys bringing concerts and masterclasses to young people through the Victoria Symphony’s school music outreach programs.
Canadian lyric tenor Jan van der Hooft has been described as “a rare breed, comfortable with high tessitura, and showing an exciting lyricism in the sound.”
Although it was cut short, the 2019-20 season included several notable performances. Jan made debuts with both Pacific Opera Victoria (Il Trittico and Missing) and Vancouver Opera (Flight of the Hummingbird), as well as the Victoria Civic Orchestra (Messiah), and the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.
Mr. van der Hooft is an alumnus of the Calgary Young Artist program (’17-’19) and holds degrees from the Schulich School of Music (MMus.) and the University of Manitoba’s Desautel Faculty of Music (BMus., Post Bacc. Mus.).
During the pandemic pause, Jan was awarded the 2020 Joe Boxer Memorial Fund bursary award (Flight of the Hummingbird), and has been building a side career as a freelance photographer.
So far the 22/23 season has included performances with the Victoria Philharmonic, as the Archangel Uriel in Hayden’s Creation, as well as The St. Barnabas Scholars, who presented a special ‘Leçon des Tenebres’ service by François Couperin, as part of the church’s Holy Week celebrations.
Jan and his wife, Soprano Anna van der Hooft, live, work and teach in Victoria, BC.
Although it was cut short, the 2019-20 season included several notable performances. Jan made debuts with both Pacific Opera Victoria (Il Trittico and Missing) and Vancouver Opera (Flight of the Hummingbird), as well as the Victoria Civic Orchestra (Messiah), and the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.
Mr. van der Hooft is an alumnus of the Calgary Young Artist program (’17-’19) and holds degrees from the Schulich School of Music (MMus.) and the University of Manitoba’s Desautel Faculty of Music (BMus., Post Bacc. Mus.).
During the pandemic pause, Jan was awarded the 2020 Joe Boxer Memorial Fund bursary award (Flight of the Hummingbird), and has been building a side career as a freelance photographer.
So far the 22/23 season has included performances with the Victoria Philharmonic, as the Archangel Uriel in Hayden’s Creation, as well as The St. Barnabas Scholars, who presented a special ‘Leçon des Tenebres’ service by François Couperin, as part of the church’s Holy Week celebrations.
Jan and his wife, Soprano Anna van der Hooft, live, work and teach in Victoria, BC.
Past Performances: