Calvin Dyck has been concertmaster for the Vancouver Island Symphony in Nanaimo for 20 years, and is also the director for the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra. Calvin has played concerts in over 15 countries, and is in demand as a producer, teacher, conductor and adjudicator.
Although a college aptitude test recommended a career as a tug boat captain, Calvin finished a DMA in Violin Performance as USC. He currently has about 25 students. Some of his former students are currently studying at universities across Canada, and one is now a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
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.
Although a college aptitude test recommended a career as a tug boat captain, Calvin finished a DMA in Violin Performance as USC. He currently has about 25 students. Some of his former students are currently studying at universities across Canada, and one is now a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
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.
Joel Stobbe studied cello in Munich, Germany for seven year, and returned to Canada to become a founding member of the Borealis String Quartet (2002 - 2005). He has furthered both his teaching and solo careers by taking a position at the Langley Community Music School as coordinator for advanced programs and he currently is the Artistic Director of the Surrey Youth Orchestra.
John Suderman completed his Bachelor of Music Degree and Certification of teaching music in public schools at the UBC in 1982 and has taught music ever since. John is a core member of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and he teaches violin in Kelowna and Penticton.
Sandra Wilmot is a Kelowna-based freelance violinist, educator, piano accompanist, clinician, journalist, and award-winning composer. She plays regularly with both the Okanagan and Kamloops Symphony Orchestras and maintains a large studio of private students and string ensembles at the Kelowna Community Music School, and the Kamloops Symphony Music School. She has played professionally with various other orchestras across Canada, including the Saskatoon Symphony, and has attended many prominent orchestral and early music intensive summer programs. Sandra has also worked extensively as a classroom music teacher and has taught at various summer music camps throughout the B.C. Interior. Sandra is a graduate of the University of British Columbia.
Guest Faculty
Rosemary Thomson, Music Director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is a highly skilled musician experienced in conducting a wide variety of repertoire with an innovative audience presentation, Rosemary Thomson is currently in her twelfth season as Music Director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. Under her leadership the orchestra has blossomed and OSO audiences have grown to unprecedented levels. She has also led the OSO in creating multiple outreach and education programs throughout the valley.
Ms. Thomson came to the Okanagan from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, where she was Resident Conductor and Chorus Master. For four seasons she was Assistant Conductor to Richard Bradshaw for the Canadian Opera Company, working on such productions as Billy Budd, Der Fliegende Hollander, and Othello. She also served as Conductor in Residence for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchesta, where she conducted rehearsals and concerts on all series including the New Music Festival and worked closely with Maestro Bramwell Tovey. For fourteen seasons she conducted Toronto’s new music ensemble Continuum and can be heard on their debut CD, Continuum 1.
Ms. Thomson has been active as a guest conductor and has led a number of Canadian orchestras including those of Vancouver, Kingston, Toronto, Thunder Bay and Victoria. Operatically, she has conducted Opera Nuova (Edmonton), Highlands Opera (Haliburton, Ontario), Opera Garden (Aberdeen, Scotland) and UBC Opera. Ms. Thomson has recently conducted workshops for Calgary Opera and Handel’s Messiah with Regina Symphony.
Ms. Thomson came to the Okanagan from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, where she was Resident Conductor and Chorus Master. For four seasons she was Assistant Conductor to Richard Bradshaw for the Canadian Opera Company, working on such productions as Billy Budd, Der Fliegende Hollander, and Othello. She also served as Conductor in Residence for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchesta, where she conducted rehearsals and concerts on all series including the New Music Festival and worked closely with Maestro Bramwell Tovey. For fourteen seasons she conducted Toronto’s new music ensemble Continuum and can be heard on their debut CD, Continuum 1.
Ms. Thomson has been active as a guest conductor and has led a number of Canadian orchestras including those of Vancouver, Kingston, Toronto, Thunder Bay and Victoria. Operatically, she has conducted Opera Nuova (Edmonton), Highlands Opera (Haliburton, Ontario), Opera Garden (Aberdeen, Scotland) and UBC Opera. Ms. Thomson has recently conducted workshops for Calgary Opera and Handel’s Messiah with Regina Symphony.
Martin Krátký
Despite being encouraged in high school to pursue the study of theoretical physics, Martin Krátký chose instead a career in cello performance, and graduated with degrees from the University of Toronto and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Currently principal cello of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra and second chair in the Okanagan Symphony, he is also in demand as a teacher, chamber musician, soloist, and cabin builder.
Despite being encouraged in high school to pursue the study of theoretical physics, Martin Krátký chose instead a career in cello performance, and graduated with degrees from the University of Toronto and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Currently principal cello of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra and second chair in the Okanagan Symphony, he is also in demand as a teacher, chamber musician, soloist, and cabin builder.
Ashley Kroecher
Ashley Kroecher grew up in North Vancouver. After completing a B.A. in general arts at UBC Vancouver, he spent 5 years in one of Germany’s national conservatories (Trossingen Musik Hochschule). He is Principal violist of both the Kamloops and Okanagan symphony orchestras, teaches privately out of his home, and is active throughout the region as a chamber musician. In his free time he dabbles in adrenaline sports, enjoys camping and hiking with his family, and reads everything from cartoons to classics.
Ashley Kroecher grew up in North Vancouver. After completing a B.A. in general arts at UBC Vancouver, he spent 5 years in one of Germany’s national conservatories (Trossingen Musik Hochschule). He is Principal violist of both the Kamloops and Okanagan symphony orchestras, teaches privately out of his home, and is active throughout the region as a chamber musician. In his free time he dabbles in adrenaline sports, enjoys camping and hiking with his family, and reads everything from cartoons to classics.
