Carmen Bruno, violoncello

Carmen began her study of the cello at the age of four. She has been a member of the Junior Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, and currently holds the seat of principal cellist in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra. Carmen has received numerous scholarships and awards for her participation in the Canadian Music Competition and the Kiwanis Music Festival. She has enjoyed summer studies in Quebec and Alberta and has been a participant in master classes with Canadian cellists Amanda Forsyth and Denise Djokic. Carmen currently studies cello with Margaret Munro-Tobolovska, a cellist in the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and piano with Sister Kathleen Devlin.

Sarah Burnell, violin/Celtic fiddle

Sarah began her studies of classical violin and celtic fiddle with Nancy Eadie. She has attended the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St. Ann's, Cape Breton and the Celtic College in Goderich, Ontario, working with such musicians as Jerry Holland and Scotland's Brian MacNeil. In 2003 and 2004, Sarah participated in the Young Performers Program at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, where she was mentored by April Verch and Shannon Johnson (of the celtic band The McDades). Sarah will be a featured performer at the upcoming North American Gathering of the Associated Clan MacLeod, scheduled for 2008, in Ottawa. She studies at McGill University with Richard Roberts.

Shasta Ellenbogen, viola

Shasta began playing the viola under the instruction of Yvrose Philippe-Auguste at the age of 12, and later studied with NACO associate principal violist Jethro Marks. She has been a member of the Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra, the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, the Junior Thirteen Strings, and l'Orchestre de la salle, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, with leading positions in each. Shasta has attended Le Domaine Forget Summer Music Academy and the Morningside Music Bridge Summer Program, and has performed as a soloist with l'Orchestre de la Salle, the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra and the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra. She attended Pinchas Zukerman's Junior Young Artist's Program in the summer of 2004. This year, Shasta was a winner of the Prinses Christina Concours in Holland, and the Vic Pomer prize in the National Arts Centre Orchestra's Bursary Competition. She will be a member of the Britten-Pears Orchestra for the Aldeburgh Festival in England. Shasta studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory with Nobuko Imai from 2005-2007, and now attends the Guildhall School in London, England.

Won-Hee began playing the violin at a young age, taught by the late Mr. Pomer. She has held leading positions in both the Ottawa Youth Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She has attended sessions at Le Domaine Forget Summer Music Academy where she participated in many masterclasses. Won-Hee currently plays viola in the University of Ottawa Orchestra, and violin in the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. She took part in Pinchas Zukerman's Junior Young Artists Program in 2005 where she studied viola with Steven Dann and Patinka Kopec. Won-Hee is currently studying violin at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN).

Ian began his musical studies on the violin, and made the change to viola at the age of 16, taught by Sonya Probst. Former member of the Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra, led by Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and Capital Brassworks trombonist Angus Armstrong, Ian has held the seat of principal viola in both the Canterbury High School String Ensemble and the Greely Players Orchestra, led by John Pohran. He was a winner of one of the four 2005 Greely Players Bursaries. Ian is currently studying music performance at the University of Western Ontario, in London, ON.

Mathieu began playing the piano at the age of eight, and has since completed his Performer's Associateship with the Royal Conservatory of Music with First Class Honours. He has been a provincial finalist in the Ontario Registered Music Teacher's Association (ORMTA) Competition and the Ottawa Kiwanis Music Festival, and a national finalist in the Canadian Music Competition. Mathieu performed Mozart's "Jeunehomme" Concerto with the Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de l'Ontario français in 2001, and was also invited to perform at the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival in St. John's, Newfoundland in August 2004. He studied at the Orford Arts Centre over the past two sessions, under the tutelage of Henri Brassard in 2004, and Jean Saulnier and Richard Raymond in 2005. Mathieu is currently studying psychology at the University of Ottawa.