2024/2025 PROGRAM
Hello loyal (and lovely) Township Classics fans
WELCOME to the 10th anniversary season!
There are 5 chamber music concerts for you to attend - each one featuring prominent members of the performing arts scene on the Island. 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.
October 27, 2024 - Joanna Hood, Amy Laing and Christi Meyers play the monumental Goldberg Variations by JS Bach in a transcription for string trio. Robert Holliston will host and provide musical demonstrations from the piano.
November 24, 2024 - Samuel He, Maria Wang and Kimberley-Ann Bartczak perform two clarinet trios: Beethoven: Trio, op.11, and the Trio, op.44 of Louise Farrenc, who became the first female keyboard professor at the Paris Conservatory in 1842.
January 26, 2025 - TC founder Gwen Thompson-Robinow returns with her dear colleagues, Joanna Hood, and Robert Holliston to play music for one, for two and for three! Works include Mozart’s Duo, K423, and Pleyel: Grand Duo no. 1, op. 69.
February 23, 2025 - Soprano Anna van der Hooft and Robert Holliston will present a recital featuring two sublime song cycles: Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben, op.42 and Strauss’ Schlichte Weisen. Anna’s husband, tenor Jan van der Hooft, will join her for some duets.
March 23, 2025 - Victoria Baroque is back and will perform a program titled “In the Library of a Princess”, featuring music of Bach, Telemann, Handel, and Princess Anna Amalia. This music was all part of the Princess’ collection, who played flute, violin and keyboard and was one of the greatest arts patrons and influencers of her day.
All concerts are Sunday evenings at 7pm, doors open at 6:30. Bar is open!
CFB Esquimalt 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).
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
Samuel Shanbo He was born in 1994 in Victoria BC and began piano at age 6 and clarinet at age 11. He is the winner of the 2017 BC Provincial Festival for senior woodwinds, a prize winner with the Vancouver Westcoast Musical Society, and has been awarded a number of honors and scholarships, most notably the prestigious British Columbia Graduate Scholarship. A full-time professional musician, Samuel is a member of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.
As a diverse musician, Samuel has attended festivals such as Domaine Forget, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute, and the Beijing International Music Festival Academy, and has performed in masterclasses for such musicians as Yehuda Gilad, Keith Adam Lipson, and Carlos Ferreira. Samuel holds a masters degree from the University of British Columbia, and his primary teachers include Patricia Kostek, Jose Franch-Ballester, and Eric Abramovitz.
As a diverse musician, Samuel has attended festivals such as Domaine Forget, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute, and the Beijing International Music Festival Academy, and has performed in masterclasses for such musicians as Yehuda Gilad, Keith Adam Lipson, and Carlos Ferreira. Samuel holds a masters degree from the University of British Columbia, and his primary teachers include Patricia Kostek, Jose Franch-Ballester, and Eric Abramovitz.
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.
As an organist and harpsichordist, Christina Hutten has presented recitals in Canada, the United States, and Europe, including performances in concert series hosted by the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, the Hooglandsekerk in Leiden, Early Music Vancouver, Early Music Society of the Islands, the Universities of British Columbia and Calgary, and others. She performs regularly with Pacific Baroque Orchestra and Victoria Baroque and has appeared as concerto soloist with the Vetta Chamber Ensemble, the Okanagan Symphony, the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, and the Arizona State University Chamber Orchestra.
Christina is also an enthusiastic teacher, who coordinates the early music ensembles at the University of British Columbia, is the artistic director of the Summer Intensive Program in Baroque Music at the Victoria Conservatory, and has given masterclasses and workshops at institutions including the Brandon University, the University of Manitoba, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada’s National Music Centre in Calgary, and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. Funded by a generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, she pursued private organ studies in Europe. Christina obtained a master’s degree in Organ Performance from Arizona State University and an Advanced Certificate in Harpsichord Performance from the University of Toronto.
Christina is also an enthusiastic teacher, who coordinates the early music ensembles at the University of British Columbia, is the artistic director of the Summer Intensive Program in Baroque Music at the Victoria Conservatory, and has given masterclasses and workshops at institutions including the Brandon University, the University of Manitoba, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada’s National Music Centre in Calgary, and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. Funded by a generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, she pursued private organ studies in Europe. Christina obtained a master’s degree in Organ Performance from Arizona State University and an Advanced Certificate in Harpsichord Performance from the University of Toronto.
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.
Versatile Canadian violinist Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith grew up in Nanaimo, BC. She began her violin studies at age 5 with an inspiring teacher which led her to a career as a professional violinist. In over a decade of performing with many Toronto ensembles, Elyssa most cherished her time with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, which inspired her to pursue a specialty in early music. In 2016, Elyssa returned to her island roots, and settled in Victoria to be closer to family. Excited to pursue new opportunities, she was warmly welcomed by her west coast colleagues and now holds permanent positions in local early music ensembles Victoria Baroque and Pacific Baroque Orchestra (Vancouver).
In addition to performing, Elyssa is an enthusiastic and passionate educator and has been involved in teaching, coaching and program development for over 20 years. As an educator in Toronto, Elyssa was the Director of the Strings program at the Kingsway Conservatory of Music, as well as the assistant strings teacher at Havergal College Senior School. Elyssa has been on faculty at the Victoria Baroque Summer Academy since its inception in 2016 and has been invited as a guest coach to the Collegium Ensemble at the University of Victoria. In 2018, Elyssa became the coordinator of the Junior Summer String Academy at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and in 2022, founded the Victoria Baroque Youth Orchestra. Most recently, Elyssa moved to the Cowichan Valley and is excited to be starting a new studio up island, the Cowichan String Academy.
In addition to performing, Elyssa is an enthusiastic and passionate educator and has been involved in teaching, coaching and program development for over 20 years. As an educator in Toronto, Elyssa was the Director of the Strings program at the Kingsway Conservatory of Music, as well as the assistant strings teacher at Havergal College Senior School. Elyssa has been on faculty at the Victoria Baroque Summer Academy since its inception in 2016 and has been invited as a guest coach to the Collegium Ensemble at the University of Victoria. In 2018, Elyssa became the coordinator of the Junior Summer String Academy at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and in 2022, founded the Victoria Baroque Youth Orchestra. Most recently, Elyssa moved to the Cowichan Valley and is excited to be starting a new studio up island, the Cowichan String Academy.
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.
Katrina Russell has a diverse performance background as a bassoonist, with repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary music, and from orchestral playing to solo appearances. Prior to moving to Vancouver Island, she lived in Britain, and as a specialist in historical performance, she played and recorded with many of the foremost period instrument ensembles in Britain and Europe. As a member of these groups Katrina has toured widely, appearing at many leading festivals around the world from Perth (Australia), to Mostly Mozart (Lincoln Center, New York), and the BBC Proms. On modern bassoon she has appeared with groups ranging from The London Chamber Orchestra (UK), to the New York Philomusica, and the Vancouver Symphony, Victoria Symphony, and other Canadian orchestras. The past number of years have seen her appear with various West Coast period instrument ensembles, including Early Music Vancouver, Victoria Baroque, and The Pacific Baroque Orchestra.
Katrina is also active as a teacher: she is the bassoon instructor at the University of Victoria, the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, Victoria Conservatory Summer Baroque Academy, and teaches at the University of British Columbia as part of the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme in association with Early Music Vancouver.
Katrina is also active as a teacher: she is the bassoon instructor at the University of Victoria, the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, Victoria Conservatory Summer Baroque Academy, and teaches at the University of British Columbia as part of the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme in association with Early Music Vancouver.
Finnish-born Soile Stratkauskas moved to Victoria, BC, in 2010 and has since established herself as the leading baroque flutist on the Canadian West Coast. She is a member of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and regularly performs in Early Music Vancouver’s concerts. Soile completed her undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and gained her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK, where she studied early flutes with Lisa Beznosiuk. Soile has performed with many prominent period instrument orchestras in the UK, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Gabrieli Consort and Players, and has toured in Europe with these groups. Soile is the founder and artistic director of the Victoria Baroque, which, in addition to maintaining its own series, has given guest performances for Early Music Vancouver, Early Music Society of the Islands, ArtSpring, and the Cowichan Symphony Society. Soile teaches baroque flute at the University of British Columbia as part of Early Music Vancouver’s Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme and is the artistic director of the Summer Baroque Intensive Programme at the Victoria Conservatory of Music supported by EMV and Victoria Baroque.
"[Possessing] a lovely voice, artistry in spades and a delightful stage presence" (Music in Victoria), soprano Anna van der Hooft has been recognized for her work in concert and opera, performing repertoire from Bach to Boechler. Anna is a graduate of the UBC Opera Bachelors of Music Program, completing her Masters at UVic in Voice Performance.
Anna has performed a wide variety of opera and musical theatre roles. A few highlights include The Young Night in Ithaca, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Noémie in Cendrillon, Belle in Beauty's Beast, Papagena in The Magic Flute, Hero in Beatrice and Benedict, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and Tracey in Blisskrieg.
Most recently Anna performed the role of Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre. “Anna van der Hooft plays Jane as a doll-like automaton with spooky black contact lenses. What made her performance truly stand out, however, was her robust soprano…The poignant Ballad of Jane Doe was dispatched with clarion brio and a needle-sharp sense of pitch.” (Times Colonist)
Anna van der Hooft is on faculty at Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People and is also the Digital Communications and Project Coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia.
Anna has performed a wide variety of opera and musical theatre roles. A few highlights include The Young Night in Ithaca, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Noémie in Cendrillon, Belle in Beauty's Beast, Papagena in The Magic Flute, Hero in Beatrice and Benedict, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and Tracey in Blisskrieg.
Most recently Anna performed the role of Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone with Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre. “Anna van der Hooft plays Jane as a doll-like automaton with spooky black contact lenses. What made her performance truly stand out, however, was her robust soprano…The poignant Ballad of Jane Doe was dispatched with clarion brio and a needle-sharp sense of pitch.” (Times Colonist)
Anna van der Hooft is on faculty at Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People and is also the Digital Communications and Project Coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia.
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.
Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Maria (Yun-Hsuan) Wang is a versatile cellist and music teacher. Maria began her musical journey with the piano and later switched to the cello at age 13. In 2008, she received a full tuition scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at West Virginia University, USA. Maria relocated to Victoria with her family in 2012 and continued studying cello for a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance at the University of Victoria with Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, the cellist of the renowned Lafayette String Quartet.
Maria is a dedicated cello instructor, string teacher, and ensemble director at various institutions on Vancouver Island, including Brentwood College School, Harmony Project Sooke, and Victoria Conservatory of Music. Aside from teaching, Maria actively performs with orchestral ensembles and music productions. She has been the principal cellist of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra since 2018. She also enjoys collaborating with colleagues, playing contemporary arrangements as the founding cellist of the Breakwater Quartet and performing in many local music productions.
Maria is a dedicated cello instructor, string teacher, and ensemble director at various institutions on Vancouver Island, including Brentwood College School, Harmony Project Sooke, and Victoria Conservatory of Music. Aside from teaching, Maria actively performs with orchestral ensembles and music productions. She has been the principal cellist of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra since 2018. She also enjoys collaborating with colleagues, playing contemporary arrangements as the founding cellist of the Breakwater Quartet and performing in many local music productions.
Past Performances: