Calvin Dyck has been concertmaster for the Vancouver Island Symphony in Nanaimo for 23 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 his doctorate (DMA) in Violin Performance at USC. He currently has about 25 students. Some of his former students are currently studying at universities across North America and Europe, and one is 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 his doctorate (DMA) in Violin Performance at USC. He currently has about 25 students. Some of his former students are currently studying at universities across North America and Europe, and one is 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 years, 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
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
Known throughout the Thompson Okanagan region as "Mr. Viola", Ashley grew up in North Vancouver and studied mainly at UBC and the Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik in Trossingen, Germany. He is principal and assistant principal violist of the Kamloops and Okanagan Symphony Orchestras respectively; and is the violist of the Sycamore String Quartet. Also a passionate teacher, he has helped many musicians of all ages harness their inner potential. In his free time he enjoys the great outdoors with his family, dabbles in mild adrenaline sports, and experiments with organic gardening.
Known throughout the Thompson Okanagan region as "Mr. Viola", Ashley grew up in North Vancouver and studied mainly at UBC and the Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik in Trossingen, Germany. He is principal and assistant principal violist of the Kamloops and Okanagan Symphony Orchestras respectively; and is the violist of the Sycamore String Quartet. Also a passionate teacher, he has helped many musicians of all ages harness their inner potential. In his free time he enjoys the great outdoors with his family, dabbles in mild adrenaline sports, and experiments with organic gardening.
