My Items
I'm a title. Click here to edit me.
2023 Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Grant Recognition
In 2023, Music4life String Orchestra was thrilled to receive the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation through their Resilient Communities Fund grant stream. With a substantial grant of $30.5K from the OTF, the orchestra was able to facilitate collaboration with industry experts to develop a comprehensive 3-5 year strategic plan. This strategic initiative, which concludes February 2024, aimed to enhance our organizational resilience, allowing us to move forward with new strategies and plans, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future for our musical endeavors. We are so grateful for the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and to our industry experts, Finley & Associates Ltd., for helping us deliver on our goal.
We are thrilled to announcement the appointment of Kathryn Knowles and Donovan Seidle to our Board o
We are thrilled to announce the appointments of Kathryn Knowles, accomplished composer, cellist and active conductor of Music4life String Orchestra, AND Donovan Seidle, Assistant Concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, to our board of directors. Kathryn Knowles is a composer, cellist, and writer based in Toronto, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of International Business from Queen’s University, as well as a Master in Music Composition from the University of Toronto where she was awarded the Joseph Armand Bombardier Canadian Graduate Scholarship. Her works have been played in workshops by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the New Orford String Quartet, and the Penderecki String Quartet, and she received honourable mention in the Writer’s Digest 89th Annual Writing Competition for her poem, Beyond the Black Horizon’s Crease, and her short story, Lester’s Bird Feeder. Her piece Biarc was commissioned by Accordion and Clarinet Duo, Joseph Petric and Martin Carpentier, and will be premiered in December 2020. In addition to her work as a composer and writer, Kathryn is the General Manager of the Canadian League of Composers, and a Centre Director with Sistema Toronto. Kathryn is a strong advocate for the accessibility of music and art in today’s society and she values the constant pursuit and celebration of knowledge. (www.kathryn-knowles.com) Donovan Seidle is an accomplished composer, arranger, orchestrator, violinist, teacher and coach. He holds a BMus in Performance and Composition from the University of Calgary and a MMus in Performance from Northwestern University. Since 2003, he has served as one of the three concertmasters of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, which has included soloing and new works commissions. Donovan is an active participant in the municipal artistic community, participating regularly in chamber ensembles and multi-disciplinary projects outside of the orchestra, including having been the Artistic Director of Calgary's own Kensington Sinfonia for 13 years. He travels to contribute with the I Musici Chamber Orchestra of Montreal, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Past projects have included the inaugural YouTube Symphony Orchestra project at Carnegie Hall, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, amongst numerous recording sessions, summer festivals and guest-solo spots locally and internationally. (www.donovanseidle.com)
Private Music Lessons
Our organization employs highly-skilled string music teachers and music professionals as part of our practicing and performing orchestra. Our music teachers have studied, taught and performed all across Canada and on the international stage. Each professional brings years of performance and teaching experience to the table and are experts in mentoring/coaching individuals of all ages and all skill levels. If you're looking for private music lessons in violin, viola, cello, double bass or piano, our professional teachers are available in the Durham Region and the GTA. Music lesson rates vary. Reach out to any one of our professional and skilled M4L-affiliated music teachers for private music lessons.
Save the Date 'Saturday May 9th, 2020'
Music4Life String Orchestra presents Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead, a benefit concert in collaboration with Boys & Girls Club of Durham, featuring the Juno and multi-CFMA award winning Canadian Fiddle Foursome "The Fretless"! Doors open at 2:00 show starts at 2:30pm. Reception and Silent Auction to follow the performance
We are thrilled to welcome Olivia Wan-Ting Yang as our Violin 1 Principal/Section Lead!
We are thrilled to welcome Olivia Wan-Ting Yang as our Violin 1 Principal/Section Lead! Ms. Olivia Wan-Ting Yang graduated from Tung Hai University Music Faculty in Taiwan with an honorary bachelor's degree in Violin. She received her master’s degree from Taipei University of the Arts in Taiwan. In 2009, she won the Emerging Young Artists Concerto Competition and performed Dvorak Violin Concerto in A minor with Taipei University of the Arts Orchestra as a soloist. In 2011, she was invited to Hawaii to perform various compositions by a Taiwanese composer, Kuo Zhi Yuan's composition. In 2016, she was invited by HoHaiYan Arts located in Germany and performed at Vienna Haus Hofmannsthal, Munich Gasteig Kleiner Konzertsaal, Leipzig Alte Borse, Hamberg Laeiszhalle Studio E, and Konzerthaus Berlin. Locally, in 2018-2019, Olivia was concertmaster for University of Toronto’s Hart House Orchestra and is currently an active member of Orchestra Toronto. Olivia has been teaching music for the past 10 years. She is a passionate violin teacher who deeply believes music can enrich a student’s life by building up discipline and widening their vision. Under the direction of Kathryn Knowles, music director and conductor of Music4Life String Orchestra, and concert master, Patrick Wang, Olivia will lead the violin 1 section of our performing orchestra.
