2026/27 PROGRAM
Join us for the new season beginning on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Hello loyal (and lovely) Township Classics fans
WELCOME to the 12th season of TOWNSHIP CLASSICS!
There are 5 chamber music concerts for you to attend - each one featuring prominent members of the performing arts scene in Victoria and beyond. We have 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.
WELCOME to the 12th season of TOWNSHIP CLASSICS!
There are 5 chamber music concerts for you to attend - each one featuring prominent members of the performing arts scene in Victoria and beyond. We have 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.
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September 27, 2026 - TC opens its season with audience favourites, Victoria Baroque, who will perform a concert of music by J.S. Bach. Playing on early instruments, featured are sonatas for flute and piccolo cello, and the English Suite in D for solo harpsichord. Come hear masterful playing by Soile Stratkauskas, flute, Christina Mahler on cello, and Christina Hutten, harpsichord. |
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November 29, 2026 - Mozart’s beloved Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola provides the centrepiece for TC2. Christi Meyers and Joanna Hood are accompanied by a young string quartet from the UVIC Chamber Music class. The quartet will also perform a piece, to be announced at a later date. |
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January 31, 2027 - Township Classics is delighted to present outstanding Canadian performers, Sarah Hagen, piano, and Ben Butterfield, tenor. They perform lieder and solo piano works by Schumann, Chaminade, and Randy Newman. Sarah and Ben bring great musicmaking and a delightful rapport filled with humour. |
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March 14, 2027 - TC4 promises a wonderful evening of clarinet trios deftly performed by Juyong You, clarinet, Natasha Galitzine, viola, and Jany Lu, piano. These young(er) performers are valuable contributors to Victoria’s large pool of musical talent. Don’t miss this! |
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April 25, 2027 - The final concert of the TC season is one to anticipate. Jeremy Potts and Christi Meyers, violins, Joanna Hood, viola, Amy Laing, cello, and Robert Holliston, piano, play the monumental and treasured Piano Quintet, op. 34 by Johannes Brahms. |
All concerts are Sunday evenings at 7pm, doors open at 6:30. Bar is open!
CFB Esquimalt Wardroom is at 1586 Esquimalt Road, and there is lots of free parking available.
Single tickets are $30 (cash or cheque) at the Sharkz Store (#110-525 Head St.) or online at Eventbrite.ca.
NB! Cheques need to be made out “Township Community Arts Council” with “Township Classics” in the subject line.
Purchase all 5 concerts and save! Subscriptions are available for $125 either online or at Sharkz.
Email [email protected] to receive the online promo code or to arrange payment by e-transfer.
Looking forward to welcoming you!
Christi Meyers & Joanna Hood
Artistic Directors
PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES
Christi Meyers is the current Co-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 since 2001. She was Assistant Concertmaster of the Victoria Symphony for 24 years, and appeared as soloist with the orchestra playing concerti by Mozart, Part, Vivaldi, Haydn, and Bach along with numerous solos in her frequent role as acting concertmaster.
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, has a private studio, 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.
Christi has recently taken a right turn in her professional life and is currently enrolled at Capilano University in their Music Therapy program. She is looking forward to using her musical skills in a more intentional, intimate, and purposeful way to foster connection and healing.
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 since 2001. She was Assistant Concertmaster of the Victoria Symphony for 24 years, and appeared as soloist with the orchestra playing concerti by Mozart, Part, Vivaldi, Haydn, and Bach along with numerous solos in her frequent role as acting concertmaster.
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, has a private studio, 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.
Christi has recently taken a right turn in her professional life and is currently enrolled at Capilano University in their Music Therapy program. She is looking forward to using her musical skills in a more intentional, intimate, and purposeful way to foster connection and healing.
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.
Co-Artistic Director and Violist Joanna Hood is an avid chamber musician in both modern and period styles, and has a passion for the music of our time. For thirty-seven years she was the violist and founding member of the Lafayette String Quartet. Formed in 1986 in Detroit, Michigan, the Quartet became Artists-in-Residence at the University of Victoria in 1991.
She was also a founding member of two New York based historically informed performance groups, The Loma Mar Quartet, founded in 1997 and the DNA Quintet formed in 2008. With these two groups she recorded two CDs of newly discovered chamber works of Domenico Dragonetti. The first recording won the prestigious Classical Recording Foundation Award in 2009.
She was the principal violist with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and performs with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Victoria Baroque, and has performed with Pacific Music Works, Oregon Bach Festival, The Serenade Orchestra, Opera Lafayette, and the Seattle Bach Festival Orchestra.
Hood studied at the San Francisco Conservatory with Isadore Tinkleman, and was an associate instructor at Indiana University during her studies with Abraham Skernick and baroque violinist Stanley Ritchie.
Joanna is an Associate Professor at the University of Victoria where she teaches viola and chamber music, contemporary music and co-leads the baroque orchestra. She plays on a viola made in 1754 by Edmond Aireton. Joanna has recorded for the EMI, Tzadik, Dorian, Centrediscs(CBC), AdLar, and Vervue, and Centaur labels.
She was also a founding member of two New York based historically informed performance groups, The Loma Mar Quartet, founded in 1997 and the DNA Quintet formed in 2008. With these two groups she recorded two CDs of newly discovered chamber works of Domenico Dragonetti. The first recording won the prestigious Classical Recording Foundation Award in 2009.
She was the principal violist with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and performs with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Victoria Baroque, and has performed with Pacific Music Works, Oregon Bach Festival, The Serenade Orchestra, Opera Lafayette, and the Seattle Bach Festival Orchestra.
Hood studied at the San Francisco Conservatory with Isadore Tinkleman, and was an associate instructor at Indiana University during her studies with Abraham Skernick and baroque violinist Stanley Ritchie.
Joanna is an Associate Professor at the University of Victoria where she teaches viola and chamber music, contemporary music and co-leads the baroque orchestra. She plays on a viola made in 1754 by Edmond Aireton. Joanna has recorded for the EMI, Tzadik, Dorian, Centrediscs(CBC), AdLar, and Vervue, and Centaur labels.
Praised by The New York Times as “clarion-voiced and vibrant”, Benjamin Butterfield has performed throughout North America and Europe as well as in the Middle East, Asia, New Zealand and Ukraine. Recent engagements include the role of the Lamplighter in "The Little Prince" with Pacific Opera Victoria, Messiaen’s "La mort du nombre" with Barbara Hannigan and “Messiah" at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa under Jaen-Sébastien Vallée. Career highlights include Stankovysh's "Kiddish Requiem" at the Kyiv Opera with the Frankfurt Symphony, Stravinsky’s, “Perséphone" in Naples and Greece with film actress Isabella Rossellini, and performances at Carnegie Hall and The Royal Albert Hall in London. Head of Voice for the School of Music at UVic Prof. Butterfield also mentors young singers in summer programs at Orford Musique (Quebec), Opera Nuova (Edmonton), Sicily Music Festival and Competition (Italy) and is Co-Director of the Ukrainian Art Song Institute (Toronto). In 2019 he received a Ruby Award from Opera Canada in recognition of his contributions as a tenor and pedagogue and was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He has recorded for CBC Records, Koch International and Analekta and can be heard on CBC Radio.
Born and raised in Victoria, Natasha Galitzine graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City with her Bachelor’s in Music Performance in 2016, studying under Samuel Rhodes and Misha Amory, and then went on to complete a masters degree at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas in 2019 where she studied with Ivo van der Werff. Natasha has had the privilege of performing in many great halls across North America, including Carnegie Hall in New York and Koerner Hall in Toronto. She has attended numerous summer music festivals across the continent including Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California and Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill, Maine. In 2017, she served as principal viola of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, when the orchestra toured extensively around the country for Canada’s 150th anniversary. Beginning in 2018, Natasha had the opportunity to perform chamber music with Lincoln Center Stage on Holland America Line cruise ships around the world for a few years. Currently, Natasha is thrilled to be playing regularly as a substitute musician with the Victoria Symphony, as well as performing with local group Cascadia Strings. She also serves as Program Coordinator of the Gary Karr Young Artist Program Academy at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
A classical pianist with a wry wit, Sarah Hagen enjoys a rich and diverse concertising life as both soloist and humorist. Her extensive touring has taken her across Canada, throughout Europe, Japan, the United States, including twice to New York City’s Carnegie Hall. Highlights of recent seasons include solo sets at Tønder Festival in Denmark, Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), Mariposa Folk Festival, EXPO Osaka, and tours throughout Sweden, the UK, and the USA. Her most recent recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations was described by Whole Note magazine as “something to absolutely die for” and was the recipient of two Music PEI awards and two ECMA nominations. To accompany the recording, Sarah created 32 original pieces of artwork to reflect the spirit of each movement. The exhibit, entitled “Oneness,” explores the complex and surprising wonders of a collective global isolation.
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.
Organist and harpsichordist Christina Hutten is the artistic director of Victoria Baroque and of the Summer Intensive Program in Baroque Music hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Christina is a passionate teacher, who believes that the study of early music provides rich opportunities to nurture curiosity and to develop a wide variety of musical skills. She coordinates the early music ensembles at the University of British Columbia and teaches at a variety of workshops, including the Canadian Renaissance Music Summer Schools. Christina has presented recitals in Canada, the United States, and Europe. She performs regularly with Pacific Baroque Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony and on the series of Early Music Vancouver. She has appeared as concerto soloist with the Vetta Chamber Ensemble and the Okanagan Symphony. Funded by a generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, she pursued private organ studies in Europe, studying with François Espinasse, Bernard Winsemius and Francesco Cera. Christina obtained a master’s degree in Organ Performance from Arizona State University under Kimberly Marshall and an Advanced Certificate in Harpsichord Performance from the University of Toronto under Charlotte Nediger.
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.
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.
Jany Lu is a keyboard faculty at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, collaborative pianist with the Young Artist’s Collegium Program, and a frequent collaborator with members of the Victoria Symphony and University of Victoria. Recent appearances include Emerging Artists Alumni Series at UVic, Carnival of Our Animals with the Victoria Symphony, Chemanius Classical Concert Series, and Odyssey with the Pacific Opera.
Dutch cellist Christina Mahler immigrated to Canada in 1981 to serve as principalcellist of the Tafelmusik Orchestra, a position she held until June of 2019. Reviews often praise her rich sound, energetic playing, and insightful musicianship. Christina has played and recorded numerous concertos with Tafelmusik, including works by Boccherini, Haydn, Vivaldi, C.P.E. Bach, and Leonardo Leo. She is very fortunate to own a beautiful baroque cello made by José Contreras, the “Stradivarius” of Spain.
Christina is a very devoted and gifted teacher, and students have come from around the world to study with her, not only through the Tafelmusik Summer and Winter Institutes, but also at the University of Toronto and in her private studio. After 38 years as principal cellist of Tafelmusik, Christina has moved to Victoria where she is focusing on chamber music, teaching and pursuing her hobbies, such as pottery.
Christina is a very devoted and gifted teacher, and students have come from around the world to study with her, not only through the Tafelmusik Summer and Winter Institutes, but also at the University of Toronto and in her private studio. After 38 years as principal cellist of Tafelmusik, Christina has moved to Victoria where she is focusing on chamber music, teaching and pursuing her hobbies, such as pottery.
Jeremy Potts is a versatile violinist and educator whose performances have spanned concert halls, lively bars, prisons, and beyond. A three-time JUNO nominee, he has recorded award-winning albums across genres including classical, jazz, and video game soundtracks. Jeremy has collaborated with some of today’s most accomplished composers and toured with Music in the American Wild, a septet that premiered commissioned works in U.S. National Parks during the centennial celebration. Dedicated to promoting underrepresented Canadian composers, Jeremy spent five years as a member of the Ton Beau String Quartet, where he actively sought out and programmed their works. As an avid orchestral musician, he is a member of the Victoria Symphony violin section and has previously performed with the National Ballet of Canada, Canadian Opera Company, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony, Galiano String Ensemble, and New York City’s Shattered Glass Ensemble. Always in pursuit of new musical inspiration, Jeremy has recently started writing and recording with his bluegrass/country project, the Skookumchuck String Band. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Victoria and a Masters Degree in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. In 2023, Jeremy returned to his Vancouver Island roots and is currently based in Victoria.
Finnish-born Soile Stratkauskas loves the conversational and warm nature of baroque music and period instruments, which led her to specialise in early flutes. Soile performs regularly as soloist and principal flutist with the Vancouver-based Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and local ensemble, Victoria Baroque, which she founded in 2011. Soile gained her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and while living in the UK, she performed and toured with many prominent period instrument orchestras, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Gabrieli Consort and Players. Soile is passionate about creating opportunities for sharing music in the community. She teaches baroque flute at the University of British Columbia and the VCM Baroque Summer Intensive Program, and is the Education and Outreach Officer with the Victoria Symphony. Outside music, Soile enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, Vilma, and husband, David.
Juyong You is originally from Seoul, South Korea. An avid orchestral musician, Juyong has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the Vancouver Island Symphony. She is currently a member of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy. Juyong has performed throughout the globe at prestigious venues such as the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as in Germany, South Korea, Japan, China, and Canada. Past summer activities include Music from Angel Fire, Aspen Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, and Sarasota Music Festival. A devoted educator, Juyong has enjoyed working with clarinet students of all different ages, and she currently serves as a clarinet instructor at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. She was a teaching Assistant at the University of Texas at Austin and taught non-major clarinet lessons. Juyong earned an undergraduate degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, a master’s degree from Rice University, and a doctorate degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She studied with Michael Rusinek, Mark Nuccio, Jonathan Gunn, and Donald Montanaro. During her free time, Juyong enjoys spending time with her gigantic goldendoodle puppy Benny Goodboy.
Past Performances: