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Our Musicians

The Vancouver Island Symphony is a professional Canadian orchestra – one of only two on Vancouver Island. The VIS presents an annual season of world-class orchestral performances at the beautiful harbour setting of Nanaimo’s Port Theatre. In addition the VIS performs Symphony at the Sid, a series of three concerts at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay and a series of three concerts at Campbell River’s Tidemark Theatre.

By attracting professional musicians and soloists from across the country, offering special education and community concerts and programming, and engaging active volunteers and donors, the VIS serves as a creative asset to the many communities of the growing Central Island area. Its wide-reaching audience and commitment to education are helping to Keep Music Live and foster the next generation of audiences and performers.

The Vancouver Island Symphony values the continued support it receives from its patrons through tickets sales and donations. Buy a ticket and join us in Keeping Music Live on the Island! 2024-2025 marks the Symphony’s 30th Anniversary Season!

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Cosette Justo Valdés

The Joyce Clarke
Honourary Conductor’s Podium

FIRST VIOLIN

Calvin Dyck Concertmaster

Eveline O’Rourke
Honourary Concertmaster Chair

Alana Lopez Assistant Concertmaster
Erin Dorfer

SECOND VIOLIN

Samuel Tsui Principal
Ji In Kim, Second Principal
James Mark
Llowyn Ball

VIOLA

Manti Poon Principal

Betty St. Jean Memorial Chair

Guyonne Le Louarn
Sevilya Hendrickx

CELLO

Hannah Addario-Berry Principal

Judy Fraser Memorial Chair

Alexandra Lee Assistant Cello
Laine Longton

DOUBLE BASS

Mark Beaty Principal
Michael Vaughan

FLUTE

Paolo Bortolussi Principal
 Emily Nagelbach

OBOE

Geronimo Mendoza Principal

Dr. Marjorie S. Holmes Memorial Chair

Vacant

CLARINET

Christopher Lee Principal
Krystal Morrison

BASSOON

Anthony Averay, Principal
Olivia Martin

FRENCH HORN

Andrew Clark, Principal

Carl Saarinen Memorial Chair

Vacant
Karen Hough
Heather Walker

TRUMPET

Stevan Paranosic Principal
 Mark D'Angelo

BASS TROMBONE

Scott MacInnes Principal

TUBA

Eric Morton, Principal

PERCUSSION

Jonathan Bernard Principal

TIMPANI

Nicole Arendt Principal

HARP

Lani Krantz Principal

Send Every Grade 4 Student to a VIS Concert
Help transform young lives through the power of music

Your donation can be the catalyst for transforming lives through the power of music.
Help us send every Grade 4 student to a VIS concert designed specifically for them.
The VIS Music Education program builds music appreciation and participation in
over 2,500 nine and  ten year old children each year.
Let’s welcome the symphony audiences of the future together!

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Calvin Dyck
Concertmaster

 

 

Calvin Dyck has been concertmaster for the Vancouver Island Symphony for 23 years. He is Artistic Director for Oceanside Classical Concerts in Parksville, and he is the director of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra.  Calvin has performed in over 15 countries, and is in demand as a producer, teacher, conductor and adjudicator. He has his own production company called Songs Strings and Steps Events Ltd, and is managing the family Christmas tree farm in Mission.

Although a college aptitude test recommended a career as a tug boat captain, Calvin completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance at the University of Southern California with minors in music education, choral conducting, and music history. He currently has about 25 students.

Calvin has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to the community.  He has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities by Trinity Western University.

Alana Lopez
Assistant Concertmaster

 

 

Alana Lopez is the Associate Concertmaster of the Vancouver Island Symphony and has been a member of the orchestra for the past 15 years. She completed her studies in Violin Performance at the University of British Columbia in 2007, studying with Andrew Dawes, Jasper Wood and Nancy DiNovo. Alana is passionate about small ensemble and orchestral performance, and has worked with many of the leading talents in Canada. Alana has performed on stage with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. In 2016 Alana cofounded the Somerset Trio and has been performing regularly for various chamber music series and home concerts across the lower mainland. This ensemble aims to connect with audiences through dynamic programmes, pairing legendary classical works for piano trio along with their own arrangements of familiar folk, pop and rock songs. When she is not performing, Alana is busy teaching violin as well as raising two young daughters.</p

Samuel Tsui
Principal Second Violin

Born in Hong Kong, Samuel Tsui began learning the violin at the age of 5. He attained both his Bachelors and Masters degrees specializing in violin performance under the tutelage of Jasper Wood at the University of British Columbia. Post-graduation, he further developed his abilities under the mentoring of Akira Nagai. He regularly coaches string sectionals for the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra, Surrey Youth Symphony Orchestra the Richmond Delta Youth Symphony Orchestra. During the summer, he serves as a faculty member of the Music, Meadows and Mountains retreat in Washington, USA. He has also adjudicated for the junior, intermediate and senior instrumental divisions of the Richmond Music School Scholarship Competition and the String Festival of Central Valley Academy of Music. Samuel currently performs as the principal second violinist of the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, and is a member of the first violin section in the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, Canada West Chamber Orchestra, and the Willingdon Church Orchestra. He also served as the personnel manager and a first violinist of the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra. Samuel has become a well sought-after violinist in western Canada and has worked with notable artists including Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, and Mary J. Blige.

James Mark
Second Violin

 

 

James Mark was born and raised in Nanaimo and completed his undergraduate degree in music at York University. James earned his Masters degree in violin performance and composition at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) where he went on to become a faculty member teaching theory and musicianship. Currently, James is a Professor of Music in the music department at Vancouver Island University. He teaches many core courses at VIU but is most excited about growing the music technology offerings that currently include: Introduction to Home Recording, Studio Recording, Digital Music Notation and History of Film Music. James is also a core member of the Vancouver Island Symphony. He has been performing with the symphony since its inception and played the first two seasons as an advanced student before embarking on his formal music education. James returned to Nanaimo in 2006 becoming a core member and has been performing ever since. In addition to his performance career, James is continually working as an arranger and composer. James has been the arranger, musical director, and violinist for the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular since its inception in 2007.

Manti Poon
Principal Viola

After moving to Vancouver, Manti Poon furthered his studies in viola performance with Professor David Harding at the University of British Columbia on full scholarship. Since then he has become a much sought-after musician in British Columbia as a soloist, orchestral musician and chamber music collaborator.

Apart from holding the position of principal violist with the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, he also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Vancouver Orchestra. Mr. Poon is a member of the Vancouver String Quartet and had also collaborated with the members of the Pacific Rim, the Rose Gellert, the Koerner, the Borealis, the Purcell and the Emerson String Quartets.

Mr. Poon had served on faculty at the Douglas College, the Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the Vancouver Academy of Music and the VSO School of Music. Outstanding students from his private studio are offered scholarships to study at Universities of British Columbia, Toronto, Ottawa, McGill, Colburn, Juilliard and Curtis Schools of Music. Mr. Poon is the associate conductor with the Intermediate Strings at the Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra. He also coached and conducted the Vancouver, the Surrey, the Vancouver Academy, and the Coquitlam Youth Orchestras. He was the Chamber Music Director of the Surrey Youth Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Poon was on faculty at UBC String Music Camp, Courtney Youth Music Camp, Quiring Chamber Music Camp, VAM Sea to Sky Chamber Music Camp and MMM Camp in Washington State.

Mr. Poon performs on a fine viola by Marino Capicchioni and a rare celebration Tubbs viola bow on loan to him by Josh Dean Rare Violins. (jrareviolins.com) This is the 23rd season Mr. Poon is performing with the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra.

Guyonne Le Louarn
Viola

Born in France in 1975, Guyonne Le Louarn began her violin studies at the Rennes’ CNR. She moved to Nantes at 16, switched to viola and went on to study chamber music, theory, history of music, orchestral work and conducting in Nantes under J.Rehak and  simultaneously studied at CSParis earning multiple gold medals, and diplomas in all disciplines. Meanwhile earning a degree in Early Music Performance with D.Cuiller in Nantes.

In 1998, she won the Paris Interschool competition summa cum laude and was a finalist at the National Viola Competition in Epernay in 1999.

In 2000, Guyonne moved to Toulouse in the CEMS’ soloist program, receiving the “Aida foundation scholarship for Young Musicians”. She was also principal viola of the CEMS’s chamber orchestra performing extensively as far as Oman.

She studied with J.Coupé, D.Binder, T.Adamopoulos†, D.Mujica, B.Godhoff† and D.Vann and performed in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Ireland, Oman, the US and Canada

 In 2001, Guyonne moved to Victoria, joined the VIS, and received her AVCM in viola and violin, followed by a specialization in chamber music coaching,

Since her arrival in Canada, she has held several teaching positions in violin, viola and chamber music in the GVPA and Cowichan Valley and earned her RCM teacher certification for all levels in both viola and violin.

She is the founder and director of Maggie Music LLP, in Victoria and is the Strings section head of the GVPAF, the assistant principal viola of the VIS, a chamber musician and a freelance recitalist.

Sevilya Hendrickx
Viola

Sevilya Hendrickx-Rai was born into a musical family. Both of her parents are classical musicians and Sevilya learned classical music and arts at a very young age. She received her professional education in two very culturally active yet different countries. The Russian Federation gave Sevilya a traditional education in the best sense and connections with world- renowned artists. In The Netherlands, she explored the baroque style as well as contemporary music and many other diverse ways of playing. Sevilya earned her master’s degree with distinction from The Royal Conservatory in The Netherlands. She performed with many Dutch professional orchestras. At the beginning of Sevilya’s study at the conservatory, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Yannick Nézet Séguin, invited her to join the tour to France. She also performed as guest principal viola at North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra as well as South Netherlands Philharmonic. At a young age, Sevilya impressively became a member of the Hague Philharmonic Orchestra. She performed in numerous most known concert halls such as Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Théâtre de Champs-Elysees in Paris, Philharmonie de Paris, The Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, St. Petersburg Philharmonia etc. Sevilya settled with her family in Canada in beautiful British Columbia a few years ago. Here she has been active as a performer and educator. In 2019, Sevilya became a member of the Vancouver Island Symphony. Sevilya has also been the artistic director of the Vancouver Island Conservatory of Music & Arts since 2021. She leads the school towards an innovative music and arts education where everyone receives a customized learning experience. In 2022, she performed as a guest principal viola of the Vancouver Opera. Throughout her professional career, she has gained a lot of connections with conductors and artists from all over the world. Aside from her music career, Sevilya has always been intrigued by different languages and cultures. Momentarily she studies Chinese Language and Culture at Vancouver Island University.

Hannah Anddario-Berry
VIS Principal Cellist

Canadian cellist Hannah Addario-Berry has been delighting music lovers around the world for over a decade. Specializing in chamber music and solo repertoire, Hannah is passionately committed to performing music by living composers. Along with her exquisite cello playing, Hannah’s warmth and engaging presentation style enable listeners to forge a deeper connection with music.

In 2015, Hannah created Scordatura, an innovative project combining Zoltán Kodály’s monumental Sonata for Solo Cello with a series of newly commissioned works, all of which share a unique altered tuning of the cello. Scordatura celebrated the centenary of Kodály’s Sonata and explored a new sound space for solo cello. Hannah performed the program in 25 cities around the US and Canada and recorded Scordatura in early 2016. Her previous album, Lady in the East, features music for solo cello by the Canadian composer Stephen Brown and was reviewed by Gramophone Magazine in October 2014.

An avid and versatile chamber musician, Hannah has been a core member of ensembles such as the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. She has been invited to play at festivals such as Other Minds and Switchboard Music in San Francisco, Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival in northern California, and Music By The Sea in British Columbia. From 2006-2010 Hannah was cellist with the renowned Del Sol String Quartet, during which time the quartet performed more than 50 world premieres and recorded two highly acclaimed albums, Ring of Fire: Music from the Pacific Rim and First Life: String Quartets of Marc Blitzstein.

Hannah lives with her partner and their two children in North Vancouver, Canada, where she enjoys gardening, woodworking, hiking, and her other career as a full spectrum doula.

Alexandra Lee
Associate Principal Cello

 

 

Alexandra Lee is proud to be Associate Principal Cello of the Vancouver Island Symphony. She and her family are thrilled to be residents of Nanaimo. Before moving to the island, Alexandra enjoyed many years performing in Ontario, leading projects in a variety of areas, including orchestral, chamber music, and solo, and across a variety of genres. Some highlights include a long-term position as Principal Cello with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, a founding member of the Silver Birch String Quartet, creator of bilingual children’s programming Contes d’un violoncelle, and working with great Canadian artists such as Scott St John, Peter Longworth, and Tanya Tagaq. Her ongoing passion for musical pedagogy has led to a full studio of promising cello students of all ages at Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, where she teaches in English and French. Other interests include mountain biking, painting, poetry, and gardening – possible to do all yearlong on the island! Alexandra performs on a 1996 cello by Hratch Armenious. www.alexandralee.ca

Laine Longton
Cello (3rd seat)

 

 

Laine Longton began playing cello at the age of 5.  From Victoria, BC, Laine holds a BMus in Cello Performance from the University of Victoria where she studied with Lafayette String quartet cellist Pamela Highbaugh Aloni.  Laine went on to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she studied with acclaimed soloist Dmitry Kouzov and received her MMus in Literature and Performance. She has also studied with Eric Wilson (UBC) and Gail O’Riordan.  Laine studied cello in Europe where she took lessons with Martin Rommel, Guido Schiffen, and violinist Dénes Zsigmondy.  She is a core member of the Vancouver Island Symphony, plays as an extra cellist with Vancouver Opera, and freelances around Vancouver and the lower mainland in orchestras and musical theatre.  Laine enjoys performing everything from Schoenberg to Sondheim.

In high school Laine was a member of piano trio “Two + One” which came in second at the National Music Festival.  She was also a member of clarinet trio “Trio Dolce” which regularly toured and performed throughout BC for several years.

Laine is also an artist who specializes in abstract expressionism with oil paint and polyurethane. She lives in Vancouver, BC.

Laine has been a member of the Vancouver Island Symphony since 2014.

Mark Beaty
Principal Bass

 

For the last 20 years Mark Beaty has had the pleasure of serving as principal bass for the Vancouver Island Symphony. He currently lives with his family in Vancouver and performs regularly with the VSO, Vancouver Opera and the Victoria Symphony. Mark began studying cello at the age of six but switched to double bass in high school, an opportunity made possible by the Vancouver School Board strings program. After completing his music degree at the University of Victoria, he moved to Havana, Cuba where he studied music and dance at the National Arts Institute (ISA). Returning to Canada, he formed the ensemble La Candela, which formed a mainstay of the west coast salsa scene. Mark has been the longtime bassist for The Be Good Tanyas, recording the JUNO nominated “Hello Love” album, and touring internationally. He twice served as musical director for Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach (The Tempest, 2008, 2014). He has performed across Europe and North America and has recorded for the BBC, Radio Netherlands, NPR and, one of his favourites, Stuart McLean’s The Vinyl Café on CBC radio. Mark holds degrees from UVic, UBC and SFU. For three years he taught music and youth leadership at the United World College in Metchosin, B.C. He now teaches at Douglas College and Saint James Music Academy in Vancouver.

Paolo Bortolussi
Principal Flute

 

Raised in Halifax, NS, Paolo Bortolussi has performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. As a specialist in contemporary music, Paolo is the flutist and co-artistic director of the Nu:BC Collective, a new music ensemble in residence at the University of British Columbia. To date he has premiered over one hundred and fifty solo, chamber, and orchestral works. Currently principal flutist with the Vancouver Island Symphony, Paolo has appeared as soloist on multiple occasions with the VIS, the Albany (NY) Symphony Orchestra and the Turning Point Ensemble, and has premiered concerti written for him by Jocelyn Morlock, Aaron Gervais, and Dorothy Chang. Paolo is on the music faculty of the University of British Columbia, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Trinity Western University. He holds a BMus degree in performance from the University of Ottawa as well as Masters and Doctoral degrees from Indiana University.

Emily Nagelbach
Flute

 

Emily Nagelbach is proud to hold the position of 2nd flute/piccolo with the Vancouver Island Symphony since 2006.  She is also principal flute with the Palm Court Orchestra and Head of the Winds & Brass Department at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.   As a freelance musician, she has performed with a variety of regional ensembles, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Opera Victoria. Emily holds an AVCM from the Royal Conservatory of Music, a B.Mus. in Performance and Theory from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a M.Mus. in Performance from the University of British Columbia, studying with Dr. Amy Hamilton, Lorna McGhee, and Camille Churchfield.  Prior to entering university, Emily studied with her friend and mentor, Dr. Mary Byrne.  As a soloist and chamber musician, Emily has won numerous competitions, including the Vancouver Friends of Chamber Music Competition and the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition.  Emily has been broadcast on CBC Radio as guest principal flute with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and has recorded for the Canadian Music Centre.  She is also a member of the Continuum Consort with which she toured South Korea and performs regularly on the West Coast of BC.

Geronimo Mendoza
Principal Oboe

Whether performing La Boheme with the Vancouver Opera, Le Sacre du printemps with the Vancouver Symphony, collaborating with ethnical performers from various latitudes with the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra or exploring the most avant-garde trends with the Vancouver New Music ensemble, oboist Geronimo Mendoza can be found on stage collaborating with virtually every ensemble of the Canadian West Coast. A formerly member of the Mexico City Philharmonic, with which he toured Europe, Asia and North America, he now calls the Vancouver Island Symphony his musical home. Before leaving his native land, Mexico, to establish with his family in British Columbia, he  attended various international music festivals working with world-celebrated artists, and was recipient of numerous awards and grants from the Mexican Arts Council as a solo artist and chamber musician.

Christopher Lee
Principal Clarinet

 

Clarinetist, Christopher Lee completed his Master’s degree at Juilliard School where he received Bachelor’s degree on Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship and Eve Lyndlemarch Scholarship. He has studied with renowned clarinetist Charles Neidich and Ayako Oshima at The Juilliard School. Christopher has won the first and grand prizes at many competitions such as Korean Clarinet Competition, Vancouver Burnaby Clef Society Competition, “VAM” Competition, Korean Young Artist Competition and more. He was invited to perform and received the certificate at the 5th Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition in Odense, Denmark that only opens every 4 years. Christopher had been appointed as a principal clarinet of National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Canada, Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra and “VAM” Symphony Orchestra while giving out concerts tour in 12 different cities in North America. For his outstanding musicality, he was selected for “Award of Excellence” with $5,000 scholarship in NYOC. He has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras including Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Pilgrim Orchestra, The Korean Clarinet Orchestra and VYSO. He had been invited again to perform with VSO for the annual concert at the Deer Lake Park in Canada and with The Korean Clarinet Orchestra at Seoul Art Center in South Korea. In 2010, he had become as an executive director of “First Steps Benefit Concert Series” in Vancouver, which has raised approximately $30,000 per concert a year since 2009 at their annual concert benefiting the children in North Korea.

Christopher is currently principal clarinet of Vancouver Island Symphony and occasionally performs with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Victoria Symphony Orchestra. He is also devoted to teaching and conducting, he joined the clarinet faculty of Vancouver Academy of Music since 2014 and he is the music director of “Jubilate Clarinet Ensemble” and “Vancouver Korean Presbyterian Church’s Choir”.

Krystal Morrison
Clarinet

 

Krystal Morrison holds the position of 2nd clarinet with the Vancouver Island Symphony. Her career has taken her across North America where she has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the symphonies of Victoria, Kamloops, North Bay, and Okanagan, as well as tango orchestras and military bands. Despite the trials of the current pandemic, she is looking forward to the opportunity to perform more chamber music with her colleagues of the VIS. Krystal holds degrees from McGill’s Schulich School of Music (Bachelor of Music) and the University of Ottawa (Master of Music), where she studied with Alain Desgagné, Kimball Sykes and Sean Rice. She has also benefited from coachings and master classes with artists such as Yehuda Gilad, Jose Franch-Ballester, Guy Yehuda, Michael Lowenstern (Bass Clarinet), and Hector Del Curto (Bandoneon). Krystal is also grateful for additional training experiences at the Orford Art Centre, and as a member with the Canadian Forces—which took her across the country as well as to Washington, D.C. and Oslo, Norway. When not playing clarinet, Krystal can be found running, swimming, or biking the hills of New Westminster.

Olivia Martin
Bassoon

 

A life-long resident of the West Coast, Olivia Martin holds the unique honour of being the first bassoonist ever to get her start in Ucluelet, BC. Based in Vancouver, she is a busy freelance musician, working with many ensembles throughout the province. Olivia has held the position of Principal Bassoonist in the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra since 2002 and 2nd Bassoon with the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra since 1999. A graduate of the University of Victoria, she performs regularly on both bassoon and contrabassoon with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the Lions Gate Sinfonia and the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. Olivia is also a founding member of the Vancouver-based chamber group Cascadia Reed Quintet. She has toured with the Vancouver Symphony on their 2008 Asia-Pacific Tour as well as with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. As a soloist, she has performed with the KSO, most notably with Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto KV 191 and the Concerto for Bassoon and Marimba by Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich. In 2011 she appeared as an alumnus guest artist with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, performing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante KV297b. In the non-classical world, Olivia’s unique bassoon sound can be heard on the albums Live in Paris by Jamie Drouin and Huzzah! by the Ford Pier Vengeance Trio.

Karen Hough
French Horn

 

Karen Hough was born in Nanaimo as were 3 previous generations of her family, and raised in Victoria. She earned her Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Victoria. She went on to study at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto in the Orchestral Training Programme. She received her Master of Music from Yale University and was the first horn player ever to receive Yale’s prestigious Artist Diploma. She spent a year as Artist in Residence at The Banff Centre. Summer Music Festivals she attended include Courtney Youth Music Camp, the Blossom Festival at Kent State University, Aspen and the LA Philharmonic Institute with guest conductors Simon Rattle and John Williams. After a career as an orchestral and chamber musician in Toronto, Karen returned to the west coast. She served in the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, as well as joining the Vancouver Island Symphony. She is also an avid chamber musician, playing in such groups as the West Coast Chamber Players, Windsong Woodwind quintet, and Ensemble Pacifica. She cnn be found in the pit of many musical theatre productions.

Heather Walker
French Horn

 

 

Heather Walker has been playing horn with the Vancouver Island Symphony for over 20 years, and is happy to call Nanaimo “home”. In addition to playing with the VISO, Heather is a core member of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and an active freelancer in British Columbia. She has also played horn for orchestras in Quebec and Mexico, with the Canadian Armed Forces. She has enjoyed playing with many chamber music groups, and for special events such as the 2010 Olympic opening ceremonies and Adele’s 2016 Vancouver shows.

Heather studied music at U.B.C., and at the Quebec Conservatory of Music. Other training courses included summer programs at the Banff School of the Arts, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Pommersfelden (Germany), and more.

When not performing music, Heather teaches the Alexander Technique, a unique tool for re-education of movement patterns and habits. She completed a three year training course to a world-wide standard in 2006, and has been teaching workshops and private lessons since then. She enjoys being outdoors and active, from hiking and biking to being a member of the Nanaimo master’s swim club. She has also worked for such institutions as the Vancouver Island University and Canadian Blood Services.

Stevan Paranosic
Principal Trumpet

 

Stevan Paranosic is the Principal Trumpet of the Vancouver Island Symphony. Previously he performed as Acting 2nd Trumpet with the Victoria Symphony for 7 seasons and has appeared with trumpet sections of the Vancouver, Kamloops, Prince George, and Okanagan Symphony orchestras. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Windsor and a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia. A big fan of brass chamber music performance, Stevan is active as a member, arranger and organizer of many brass groups. He is a core member of the Festive Brass quartet, which performs at The Butchart Gardens every Christmas season. The Festive Brass was featured with the Vancouver Island Symphony on their very popular Brassy Christmas seasonal show in 2014 & 2017. Stevan has been a private trumpet instructor for over 15 years and loves teaching all ages of students from beginners to more advanced. Inspired to ‘pay it forward’ to the next generation, Stevan returned to university to complete a Bachelors of Education and recently started work as a BC certified teacher. He is a dedicated music educator, devoted father and he admits he is an amusingly eccentric maestro of Christmas music madness.

Mark D'Angelo
Principal Trumpet

 

Mark D’Angelo, a native of North Vancouver, holds a Master of Music Degree from the University of McGill in Montreal.  Mark is currently Principal Trumpet with the Kamloops Symphony, and Second Trumpet with the Vancouver Island Symphony.  He has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver New Music, Victoria Symphony, Turning Point Ensemble, CBC Radio Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony, and the American Brass Quintet as an Aspen Music Festival Fellowship recipient. Mark has performed with Ben Hepner, Grammy winner Lila Downs, Lara St. John, and Tony Award winner Idena Menzel.  In 2017 Mark performed the British Columbia premiere of John Estacio’s Concerto for Trumpet with the Kamloops Symphony.  Mark currently holds the position of director of instrumental ensembles at Douglas College, trumpet instructor at Capilano University, Trinity Western University, and is a Stomvi Performing Artist.

Scott MacInnes
Principal Bass Trombone

 

Scott MacInnes received his MMus from the University of Victoria (11) and his BMus at the University of Toronto (05). Scott moved to Victoria after winning a one-year bass trombone position with the Victoria Symphony for the 2005/6 season. The following year Scott secured the position of Principal Bass Trombone with the Vancouver Island Symphony. Scott is an extremely active chamber musician both as a member of the Pinnacle Brass Quintet and iTromboni. Demonstrating his great versatility Scott can also been seen playing jazz, pop and rock around Victoria, as well as in most of the musical theater pits. As an instructor Scott teaches privately as well as at the University of Victoria where he teaches chamber music, a pep band and private instruction. Scott also holds the position of Artistic Director for both the Meridiem Wind Orchestra and the BC Brass Collective.

Jonathan Bernard
Principal Percussion

 

Juno nominated percussionist Jonathan Bernard has been performing with the Vancouver Island Symphony since 1997. Jonathan combines his background in western percussion with a fascination for Asian and Andalusian traditions to create a unique sound palette incorporating a myriad of instruments, techniques and styles. Jonathan’s interests span genres from orchestral music, to new music, and intercultural music. Having premiered over 100 chamber works, Jonathan has performed with the Vancouver, Victoria, CBC Radio Orchestras, and is principal percussionist with the Vancouver Island Symphony. He is a member of Turning Point Ensemble, Orchid Ensemble, Sound of Dragon Ensemble, Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, Sounds Global Ensemble, Lalun, and Naadaleela. Jonathan performed as soloist in Tan Dun’s Water Concerto with the VISO and Jin Zhang’s No Rush at Taipei’s National Concert Hall. Jonathan studied percussion at the University of Ottawa and the University of British Columbia. He has studied traditional and contemporary Chinese percussion in Beijing, China; Arabic percussion in Cairo, Egypt; Flamenco Compas in Spain; and Carnatic rhythm in South India, with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and British Columbia Arts Council.  Jonathan’s interest in non-western musics has led him to incorporate these diverse traditions and instruments in diverse settings and ensembles. Jonathan has toured throughout North America, Europe, Taiwan, and Japan. His numerous nominations and awards include a Juno nomination and Best Producer nomination for the International Independent Music Awards for his recordings with the Orchid Ensemble.

Nicole Arendt
Principal Timpani

 

 

Nicole Arendt is as strong and flexible as a percussionist and composer as she is as an Iyengar Yoga teacher. She’s been a drummer in an all-girl original pop band, a Baroque timpanist in early music ensembles, a soundscape creator for modern dance, a marimba and piano player in new music presentations, and an orchestral timpanist and percussionist who delights in getting to play at the most dramatic parts of the music. She holds an MMus from the University of Victoria and a BMus from the University of Alberta where she studied percussion performance and composition. Nicole has been the Principal Timpanist of the Vancouver Island Symphony since 2007 and is thrilled to be able to do one of her favourite things in the world for such great audiences. She is an alumni of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and a freelance timpanist and percussionist in a variety of orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout BC, including the Victoria Symphony, the Okanagan Symphony, and the Vertical Orchestra. Nicole is co-director of Brave New Band which features her work as a composer, improviser, and marimba player.

Lani Krantz
Principal Harp

Lani Krantz is Principal Harpist with the Vancouver Island Symphony, and plays as an extra the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Vancouver Opera. She has performed with artists such as Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Johnny Mathis, Carly Rae Jepsen. As soloist, Lani has performed the Mozart Concerto with Lionsgate Sinfonia and flutist, Carol Dymond and in 2019, William Alwyn’s beautiful Lyra Angelica for harp and string orchestra with the Vancouver Island Symphony.

Lani is a member of the acclaimed, Winter Harp and in 2019 added the role of their Assistant Producer. Lani’s collaboration with Erhu player, Rong Jun and composer, Jin Zhang has been showcased in many events; most notably, the Sound of Dragon Festival and the 2011 World Harp Congress. Lani is heard on the soundtracks for Space Buddies, Super Buddies, the Canadian attraction Fly over Canada and on singer Appollonia Vanova’s CD, Lullabies.

Lani is a harp instructor at the Vancouver Symphony School of Music and is currently Secretary of the WCHS/BC Chapter of the American Harp Society. In 2016 she added ‘Mom’ to her list of titles and is excitedly joining her little boy on his own musical journey!

www.lanikrantz.com

www.winterharp.com

www.vsoschoolofmusic.ca

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