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 was a featured performer at the North American Gathering of the Associated Clan MacLeod, held in summer 2008, in Ottawa. She studies at McGill University with Richard Roberts.

Paul Casey, violin/viola

Paul began his studies in violin at the age of six with John Gomez (former concertmaster of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra) and in 2003 took up the viola with David Goldblatt. As a soloist and chamber musician, Paul participated for many years in the Kiwanis Music Festival, often winning gold. He has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, and principal violist of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra. Paul currently plays in the University of Ottawa Orchestra and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and is the strings coach of the Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra. He holds a Baccalaureate in Music Performance from the University of Ottawa, where he studied violin with David Stewart and viola with Rennie Regehr. Paul is currently completing his Masters degree with Mauricio Fuks at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN).

Siobhan Deshauer, violin

Siobhan began playing the violin at the age of five, taught by Grace Bruno. She has performed regularly at concerts held by the Young String Performers Foundation and the Ottawa West Junior Music Club. In 2002 Siobhan placed first provincially in the Kiwanis Music Festival, and has twice been a national finalist in the Canadian Music Competition (2002 and 2004). She was the first place winner for her performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto in the 2005 Ottawa Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, and winner of the 2007 Ottawa Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition with Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No.1. Siobhan has been the concertmaster of both the Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra, and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra. She has performed in masterclasses for violinists Mauricio Fuks and David Zafer, among others, and was part of Pinchas Zukerman's Junior Young Artist's Program in 2005, where she worked with NACO violinist Elaine Klimasko. Siobhan has studied with Grace Bruno, Paule Prefontaine David Zafer and David Stewart, and is currently completing her undergraduate degree with Mauricio Fuks at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN).

Emilie Grimes, viola

Emilie began her musical studies on the violin before also taking up the viola. She has played principal viola in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra (led by former Ottawa Symphony Orchestra concertmaster and University of Ottawa professor John Gomez), the Junior Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra and l'Orchestre de l'Université de Montréal. Emilie was a member of the Schleswig-Holstein Orchstra in 2009 and is currently a substitute violist for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Emilie attended the Encore School for Strings (Cleveland, Ohio) in 2007, the Sarasota Music Festival (Florida) in 2008, the NAC Summer Music Institute (Ottawa, Ontario) in 2009 and the Domaine Forget Chamber Music program (St. Irenée, Québec) in 2010. She was a member of the Alaya String Quartet from 2008-2009. Principal violist of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 2006, Emilie won one of the NYOC's five Leadership Scholarships in 2010. She won second prize in the National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary Competition in May 2010. Emilie holds a Bachelors degree in Viola Performance from l'Université de Montréal, where she studied with Montreal Symphony Orchestra principal violist Neil Gripp. She is currently completing her Masters degree at the Juilliard School in New York, under the tutelage of Micheal Tree. Emilie plays a viola made by luthier Guy Harrison. (Photo courtesy of Jackie Iannotti.)

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.