Additional Performers

Come hear these wonderful artists at our concerts on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon!


Michelle Ash

Michelle Ash is an Ottawa based trumpet player. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, she left the East Coast to study at the University of Western Ontario, where she completed a Bachelor of Music and an Artist Diploma in Trumpet Performance. 

Michelle first joined the Canadian Forces as a Primary Reservist, performing with the Band of the Ceremonial Guard. Since moving to Ottawa and joining the Regular Force, she has been a member of The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces, which provides professional musical support for Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence events throughout the National Capital Region. 


Emily Bellman

Stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Emily became a full-time musician with the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy in 2017. A member of the Canadian Armed Forces since 2011, she has had many opportunities to perform across Canada and internationally in the United Stated, Bermuda, France, Belgium and New Zealand, including the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium as the first female Canadian trumpet player to participate in the Last Post Ceremony. Emily has performed with various orchestras such as the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the National Academy Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Emily‘s formal training includes a Bachelor of music with honours in music education from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters of music performance at the University of Ottawa under the tutelage of Karen Donnelly. Emily is currently the trumpet instructor with the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University.


Audray Boivin-Laframboise

After beginning her studies at the Conservatoire de Gatineau in 2002, Audray Boivin-Laframboise transferred to the Conservatoire de musique de Québec in the fall of 2009. Under the tutelage of Mr. Angus Armstrong, Mr. Nick Atkinson and Mr. Lance Nagels she is the first woman to be awarded the Conservatory Prize for specialising in tuba in 2011.  Audray also holds with great pride the Conservatory Prize for Chamber Music in 2012 as well as a Masters in Interpretation (University Laval-2013). 

Over the years, Audray has had the opportunity to work with several great tuba masters including Roger Bobo, Øystein Baadsvik, Gene Pokorny, Greg Irvine, Rex Martin, Carol Jantsch and Douglas Hunt.  In addition, she has participated in several musical programs, including Domaine Forget, Pierre-Monteux School, the ITEC 2019-2020, ScotiaFest, amongst others. Having a big interest for orchestral repertoire, she also obtained an orchestral excerpts diploma from the CMQ in 2013.

To add to her fulfilled freelance career she began her career with the Canadian Armed Forces in 2014 with the Voltigeurs de Québec and is now a full time tuba player for The Central Band based in Ottawa. You can watch her playing with various ensembles for the province of Québec and in the NCR such as the Gatineau Symphony Orchestra, TuBas de Page Tuba Quartet, B.L.U.S.H. Collective and soon to come the Tuba and Euphonium choir of Québec.


Jessie Brooks, French Horn

Jessie has held the position of Principal Horn of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra as well as Principal Horn of the National Ballet of Canada since 2017. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University in 1999 while studying with James Sommerville. She went on to complete her Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois in 2002.

Prior to her current positions, Jessie played Third Horn in the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra from 2011-2016 and was the Principal Horn of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra from 2003-2009.

Jessie has been a regular substitute with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 2009 and the Canadian Opera Company since 2015. She has enjoyed playing in many Ed Mirvish Productions over the years: Spamalot, Billy Elliot, Cats, Little House on the Prairie, Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, as well as shows at the Stratford Festival: Man of La Mancha, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, Crazy for You, and most recently, Billy Elliot.

Jessie maintains an active teaching studio in the Toronto area and has been a guest mentor at the National Academy Orchestra.


Marie-Sonja Cotineau, French Horn

Marie-Sonja Cotineau was appointed 3rd horn of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in 2017 and is an active freelancer in the Toronto region.  Formerly 4th horn of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, she has performed regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, among many other orchestras across Canada and the United States, including on natural horn with Ensemble Caprice.

Marie-Sonja has performed throughout Canada, South America, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and Asia on tours of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, the McGill brass ensemble, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra respectively.

A native of Montreal, Marie-Sonja holds a Master’s degree in horn performance from McGill University where she was a student of John Zirbel.  Prior to that, she studied at Conservatoire de Musique de Québec with Julie-Anne Drolet, and Guy Carmichael.  She has been a fellow of the Aspen Music Festival, the Spoleto USA Music Festival, the Domaine Forget International Music and Dance Academy, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and the Youth Orchestra of the Americas.


Jill Dawe, Trumpet

Jill is a trumpet player and music educator living in St. John's, Newfoundland. She holds Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees and Master of Music Education degree from Memorial University. Jill teaches middle school instrumental, choral and classroom music with the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District in the St. John's metro area. Believing that everyone is deserving of a musical education, Jill is working hard to reach students with diverse learning needs in her school communities. She also maintains a private trumpet studio of young trumpeters. She has played second trumpet in the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra since 2018 and is a founding member of Saltwater Brass.


Madeleine Doyon-Robitaille, Trombone

Madeleine recently obtained a position as trombonist with the Orchestre Métropolitain under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, she is also principal trombone with the Laval Symphony Orchestra since 2015. Originally from Quebec City, she earned diplomas from the Conservatoire de musique de Québec and Montréal and is also a graduate of the renowned Rice University. Madeleine has performed with numerous ensembles such as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy and as a guest artist at the Bolivia Chamber Music Society. Since 2018, Madeleine has been a musician in the klezmer ensemble, Oktopus. Furthermore, this artist is a founding member of the folk group Éli Doyon et la Tempête. In addition to her musical activities, Madeleine is also involved as a teacher at Collège Notre-Dame.


Emily Dunsmore, French Horn

Originally from Hamilton, ON, Emily holds the position of Principal Horn of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra since 2014 and is a founding member of Saltwater Brass. Emily is active in the music community in St. John’s, having performed with Opera on the Avalon, Atlantic Light Theatre, and various chamber and jazz ensembles. Prior to her move to St. John’s, Emily was an active freelance musician in the Toronto area, Montreal, and Ottawa. She performed with the Hamilton Philharmonic, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Trois Rivieres, and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins, Wicked, Billy Elliot, Phantom of the Opera, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Evita.


Vanessa Fralick, Trombone

Vanessa Fralick joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Associate Principal Trombone in 2013. Prior to her current position, Ms. Fralick played three seasons as Acting Associate Principal Trombone of the St. Louis Symphony. She won her first orchestral position with the San Antonio Symphony in 2009, while pursuing her Master’s degree at The Juilliard School. Ms. Fralick completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, studying with Jeffrey Hall and Gordon Wolfe, and also spent one year at McGill University. She has performed with major orchestras in the Netherlands, San Francisco, Montreal, Boston, Malaysia, Utah, and Jacksonville. She played two summers in the prestigious Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. An active educator, Vanessa is on faculty at the University of Toronto and Southampton Summer Music Camp, and has coached the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Vanessa also performs frequently as a soloist, most recently as a guest artist at ITF 2019 in Indiana, Trombonanza 2017 in Argentina, ITF 2016 in New York and at the 2015 American Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C. She has won first prize in several major competitions, including the 2012 Elora Festival Competition, 2011 Montreal Symphony Concerto Competition and 2010 Susan Slaughter International Solo Brass Competition, where she also performed as a guest artist at the International Women’s Brass Conference. In 2009 she won concerto competitions both at Juilliard and at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California.

While in the United States Vanessa received two generous grants from the Canada Council of the Arts. She is an alumna of the National Youth Orchestra and National Academy Orchestra of Canada, and also occasionally plays alongside her brass-playing parents in the Niagara Symphony Orchestra in her hometown of St. Catharines, ON. She is also a core member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s premiere beach volleyball team, the Gustav Bahlers.

In 2013, during her time as a member of the Trombones of the St. Louis Symphony, Vanessa recorded a full length album of trombone quartets entitled Fleur de Lis. More currently, she is a founding member of the Canadian Trombone Quartet.


Luise Heyerhoff, Trumpet

Trumpeter Luise Heyerhoff is an active presence in the music scene in Toronto and Southern Ontario. She regularly performs with groups such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and Hamilton Philharmonic.

In the fall of 2016, Luise performed as part of Adele’s North American tour in Montreal and Toronto. She has also performed with the Hamilton-based band The Arkells at the Juno Awards.

Luise teaches lessons to students of all ages and levels. She teaches out of her home, and she is also the trumpet instructor at Royal St. George’s College and Branksome Hall in Toronto.

Luise attended the Boston Conservatory receiving a Graduate Performance Diploma and a Performance Certificate in Orchestral Studies. She completed a Performance Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her principal teachers have included Steve Emery, James Gardiner, Andrew McCandless, and Ben Wright.


Carina Lam, Euphonium

As the first Canadian euphoniumist to study at the Royal Northern College of Music, Carina Lam attained her Master’s degree in Euphonium Performance under the tutelage of world-renowned soloist, Steven Mead. Carina completed her Honours Bachelor degree in Music Education at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, after which she received a Bachelor in Education at the University of Toronto. Carina strives to continue to develop as a musician and to share her passion for music with others. During her time in Manchester UK, Carina performed in several ensembles including the Fairey Brass Band, Pemberton Old Wigan Brass Band, and the Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Band. While at the RNCM, Carina won the Terence Nagle Prize in the RNCM Solo Competition performing a piece that she commissioned, which was published shortly after it was premiered.

Upon returning to Canada, Carina presented at the International Women’s Brass Conference in 2017 and has been featured as a soloist in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Band, the Wilfrid Laurier University Wind Orchestra, Pemberton Old Wigan Brass Band, Weston Silver Band, Markham Concert Band, and Southampton Summer Music Festival Winds. Currently, Carina performs throughout the Greater Toronto Area, as a member of the Euba Quartet, and the Hannaford Street Silver Band. She is the Director of Music of the 7th Toronto Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery Band, the founder of the Toronto Tuba Euphonium Symposium (TOTES) and is a Buffet Crampon/Besson Artist as well as a LeFreQue Artist.


Andrea MacDougall

Andrea MacDougall has been a dedicated member of the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces since 2005. Currently holding the rank of sergeant, she consistently showcases her musical talents as a performer in various capacities, including the concert band, parade band, brass quintet, and fanfare team. Notable achievements in her career include participating in two tours of Latvia in support of Op Reassurance and contributing to the unveiling of the restored Vimy Memorial. In addition to her commitments with the Central Band, Andrea occasionally shares  her musical abilities with the National Arts Center Orchestra and other ensembles within the National Capital Region.


Gillian MacKay, Conductor

Gillian MacKay is Professor of Music of the University of Toronto, where she conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting.   She has conducted honour ensembles throughout Canada and internationally, and serves as Associate Conductor of the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra.  Dr. MacKay has adjudicated and guest conducted in Canada, the USA, Asia and in the UK. Known for her earlier research into the relationship between conducting and mime, Gillian is currently exploring the application of acting and clown in the development of expressivity and character in conducting gesture.  She leads the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium each July, and has been the guest instructor at other symposia in Canada and abroad.

Born in Prince Edward Island, Gillian grew up in southern Alberta, and earned degrees and diplomas from University of Lethbridge, University of Calgary, McGill University, and Northwestern University.


Sheila MacMillan, Bass Trombone

Sheila MacMillan is a Bass Trombonist from Cayley, AB. In high school she found out that being a full time musician in the Canadian Armed Forces was a possible career choice. This set her on a path to try to achieve that goal. She holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Victoria (2011) and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music (2013). While living in Victoria and Toronto she performed with various professional orchestras and chamber ensembles. 

Sheila joined the Primary Reserves in 2009 working with 5th (BC) Field Artillery Regiment RCA, The Band of the Ceremonial Guard, and The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. She successfully auditioned for the Regular Force in 2016 and was posted to the Royal Canadian Air Force Band in Winnipeg, MB. In 2021 Sheila was posted to the Royal Canadian Artillery Band in Edmonton, AB. 

Some highlights of Sheila's military career include performing the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace, playing on Juno Beach for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, and going to work everyday to play music with her outstanding colleagues. 


Anita McAlister, Trumpet

Anita McAlister received a BMus in Performance from the University of Toronto and a MMus in Solo Performance and Literature from the University of Western Ontario. An active freelancer in the Toronto area, Anita has an interesting and varied career performing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and National Ballet Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra. Anita is a member of the Esprit Orchestra, the ARRAYMUSIC Ensemble and the Hannaford Street Silver Band, and has been a contracted member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and the Stratford Festival. She has toured as Principal Trumpet of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra, and performed with a number of theatre productions such as Phantom of the Opera.

As a student, Anita studied with the Canadian Brass in Banff and went on to be a member of the Great Lakes Brass Quintet, the Composers Brass, and for many years performed with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Brass Quintet. As a soloist, Anita won the National Competitive Festival of Music at age 18, and has since performed as a soloist with a number of orchestras and in recital.

Anita has taught at Interprovincial Music Camp, the Scarborough Board of Education Music Camp, the Mount Allison Summer Music Program, and is on faculty at the National Music Camp of Canada. Anita is an active adjudicator and clinician, has taught for the Royal Conservatory, was on trumpet faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University for eleven years, and is presently on faculty at the University of Toronto as Acting Brass Chair, teaching trumpet and orchestral studies, coaching chamber music and teaching music education classes. Dedicated to the development of brass education, Anita is the Director of the Hannaford Youth Program and conducts the Junior, Community and Youth Bands.


Ashley Patoine, Percussion

Ashley Patoine is a percussionist in the Toronto area. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Ashley moved to Toronto to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto, where she studied with Beverley Johnston and Mark Duggan. Ashley stayed on at U of T to complete a Master of Teaching degree, and has now called Toronto home for 10 years.

In 2014, a last-minute summer job as a tour guide and snare drummer at Fort Henry in Kingston, ON, sparked Ashley’s passion for rudimental snare drumming. After three seasons there and two as lead snare drummer, Ashley’s love for marching snare drum inspired her to join the Canadian Armed Forces as a musician. Ashley has been a serving member of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada since 2017, and has enjoyed the challenge of various military courses and two domestic deployments in addition to putting her percussion and bass skills to use across a wide variety of genres for engagements within Canada and abroad. 

Ashley also performs regularly with the Weston Silver Band, where she has especially enjoyed several first and second place band finishes at the North American Brass Band Championships, as well as first place in the percussion ensemble and second place in the percussion solo categories.

When she is not performing, Ashley can generally either be found outdoors hiking or camping, or being perpetually disappointed by the Toronto Maple Leafs and/or Saskatchewan Roughriders.


Elizabeth Raum, Composer

Elizabeth Raum's works have been heard throughout North America, Europe, South America, China, Japan, and Russia. She has also written for film and video and has won numerous awards for the her scores in this genre. She has been commissioned by such prestigious organizations as the Winnipeg Ballet, the Calgary Philharmonic, Symphony Nova Scotia, the Nexus Percussion Ensemble, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, and the Odin String Quartet, and others too numerous to list. Her opera, The Garden of Alice, has recently been filmed by the Pacific Opera Victoria with Tracy Dahl singing the lead role. Her works have been featured on over 50 commercial CDs including how bodies leave ecstatic marks which was the winning entry for Best Classical Composition for the 2008 Western Music Award. She is presently writing an opera, Sortilegio for a company in Montreal.

She was awarded the Canadian Composer Award in 2013 by the Canadian Band Association, has three times received the award for Best Musical Score by the Saskatchewan Film and Video Showcase Awards and won in the Best Classical Composition category for the Western Canadian Music Awards as well as being nominated in the same class two additional times. She has also been presented with the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) and in 2010 received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. In 2004 she was given an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters From Mt. St. Vincent University in Halifax Nova Scotia. Ms. Raum is included in the New Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the New Grove’s Dictionary of Opera, and the New Grove’s Dictionary of Women Composers as well as numerous other publications.

Raum was composer-in-residence for the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (2019 - 2020) and Orchestra Toronto (2021-2023).


Rebecca Hennessy Quintet

Rebecca Hennessy Quintet is an engaging and fun jazz ensemble that features original music by trumpeter Rebecca Hennessy. This music is inspired by jazz, the tradition of New Orleans brass bands, blues and roots music. The other musicians in the ensemble include: Emily Ferrell on trombone, Tania Gill on piano, Lauren Falls on upright bass and Ethan Ardelli on drums. The musicians of this ensemble are world-class musicians and Juno-nominated, world touring bandleaders themselves. More importantly, these folks are all friends and collaborators who will use these songs as a jumping off point to a great adventure. If you’re interested in doing some pre-listening to some of the repertoire they will be playing check out Rebecca Hennessy’s Fog Brass Band album “Two Calls” as well as on Way North’s albums: “New Dreams, Old Stories”,“Fearless and Kind” and “Kings County”. 


Laura Savage, Percussion

Laura Savage splits her music career between performing and teaching. She is the drum instructor at Royal St. George’s College and owns the Mill House School of Music in East Toronto. 

As a freelance performer she has appeared with numerous ensembles and artists, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared in many festivals and events including the Toronto International Film Festival, the Canadian National Exhibition, Luminato, the Northern Lights Festival, and at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. As a band leader and freelancer Laura performs regularly with The Jessica Lovejoys, the Regimental Band of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, DFM Bassoon Quartet.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto.


Cathy Stone, Trombone

A freelance musician for over 25 years, Cathy Stone, B.Mus (University of Saskatchewan) M.Mus (University of Toronto), has served as an extra or substitute trombonist with all of the major orchestras in southern Ontario, including the National Ballet Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, Hamilton Philharmonic and the Stratford Festival Orchestra. She also performs regularly on baritone with the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Formerly, she was a tenured member of the Albany Symphony Orchestra in central New York, and a founding member of the Trillium Brass Quintet, which performed dynamic concerts, education shows and choir collaborations across Ontario and the United States for over 20 years. Cathy serves as a low brass specialist for several private schools and arts-focused public high schools, and maintains a private teaching studio. Cathy is a sessional lecturer in the Music Education department at the University of Toronto. She lives in Toronto with her two sons. 


Katie Sullivan, Trumpet

Katie Sullivan is an active performer and educator living in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  Katie holds conjoint degrees in Music and Music Education as well as a master degree in trumpet Performance and Pedagogy from Memorial University of Newfoundland.  Ms. Sullivan has been teaching instrumental music with the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District since 1995. A member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra since 1993, Katie was appointed principal trumpet in 2004.  In addition to her extensive orchestral experience, Katie also has a vast amount of experience as a chamber musician and solo performer, including a provincial tour of Newfoundland with Jens Lindemann and the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra -  Sinfonia performing Vivaldi Concerto for 2 Trumpets in September 2003 as well as a solo performance with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra – Sinfonia in January 2016. Ms. Sullivan also has a private trumpet studio and sings with the award winning choir, Lady Cove, Women’s Choir.


Catherine Tansley, Tuba

Catherine is a counsellor, musician and educator based in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Music, in which she studied Tuba with Ken Knowles and a Bachelor of Music Education from Memorial University. In 2014 she completed a Master of Education (Counselling Psychology) from Memorial University. Catherine worked as a music teacher for 15 years with the Newfoundland English School District, and now works as a high school counsellor. Catherine also runs a private counselling practice in St. John’s, NL. She has been a member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra for the last 7 years as Principal Tubist.


Rachel Thomas, Trombone

Raised in a musical family, Toronto-born Rachel Thomas graduated from the University of Toronto as a student of Gordon Sweeney. After being awarded a Canada Council grant to study with Joseph Alessi in New York City, she joined the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony as second trombone, where she has performed for over 25 seasons. In addition, Rachel was a regular extra with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for over twenty years, including two tours to Europe, several to Carnegie Hall, and can be heard on two Finlandia recordings.   

During her tenure with the KWS, Rachel continues to be a highly sought-after freelancer. She has performed with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra as Acting Principal and participated in the International Women’s Brass Conference performing with the Monarch Brass Ensemble. Among a myriad of freelance gigs, Rachel can be heard on an episode of the hit show Murdoch Mysteries and made a brief(!) appearance in the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy.

Rachel is on the faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University where she teaches private lessons, coaches chamber brass and conducts the WLU Trombone Choir.


Trash Panda

Only having hit the streets in June 2022, Trash Panda Brass is a new and exciting voice in the Toronto brass band scene. Having quickly gained a large following, Trash Panda Brass has appeared on the cover of the Whole Note magazine; performed at TD Jazz Fest, and Small World Festival; and recorded their first EP, all within the first year of conception. Their home however, will always be on the streets where they are “retooling the art of busking into a kindof amazing outdoor ambush” - The Whole Note

In an effort to bring music and joy to as wide an audience as possible, they regularly play at community events, festivals and educational workshops and can still be seen playing on the streets of Toronto. With all arranging done by members of the band, Trash Panda is known for their upbeat and fun loving tunes, paying homage to quintessential queer hits and icons. Trash Panda Brass is proud to be here and queer!


University of Toronto Trombone Choir

The University of Toronto Trombone Choir is a well established ensemble at the Faculty of Music that brings together trombone students from all disciplines and degree programs to perform both original works and arrangements. Our goal is to bring an awareness for the beauty of this unique ensemble to the broader community, particularly through student outreach, and to perform concerts of diverse, dynamic works from many genres of music with an emphasis on living composers. The trombone choir has been led by Toronto Symphony trombonist Vanessa Fralick since 2015.