Co-Artistic Director:
Sharon Lee
Aptly pegged “a compact fireball” (La Scena Musicale), Sharon Lee gave her concerto debut at the age of ten. Sharon has served as Concertmaster and Contractor of the TCO since 2014, and is Music Director of the Korean Canadian Symphony Orchestra. As an orchestral musician, Sharon won her first job as Principal Second Violin of the Thunder Bay Symphony at 26. Invited to join the studio of the late Lorand Fenyves at age 16, Sharon performed at his memorial concert as his final pupil. Sharon is recipient of the Fenyves String Scholarship, and the Ontario Arts Council’s Orford String Quartet Award.
Co-Artistic Director:
Marcus Scholtes
Multi-talented artist Marcus Scholtes excels on both the violin and piano, performing frequently as a soloist on both instruments on the same concert program. Most recently, he was named Co-Artistic Director of the Toronto Concert Orchestra, and also serves as the Associate Concertmaster of Sinfonia Toronto, a Juno Award winning ensemble. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he graduated with a Doctor of Music degree, with Minors in Conducting and Music Education. Marcus is a former Concertmaster of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchester in Germany and has toured much of Europe with this ensemble, and is an original member of Aldeburgh Strings based in the UK which has recently recorded two CD’s, both released to critical acclaim in the UK and Germany. Most recently, he toured 10 cities in China with Sinfonia Toronto (2019). Outside of his musical interests he is a driving and automotive enthusiast. Please visit www.scholtes.ca for a complete biography and media.
Executive Director:
Kaija Corlazzoli
An experienced, creative and strategic senior arts leader. Kaija thrives working with organizations to improve capacity, develop partnerships and create organizational depth. She brings over 20 years of experience in diverse administrative roles and across various artistic disciplines. Kaija is also the Executive Director of Amici Chamber Ensemble and previously worked with Business for the Arts (National Awards Gala Producer), Theatrefront (Producer/ General Manager), Opera Atelier (Manager of Finance and Education), Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (Director of Marketing), Continuum Contemporary Music (Director of Marketing), Theatre Ontario (Strategic Planning and Fundraising Consultant), The Royal Ontario Museum Foundation, Young People’s Theatre and The Stratford Festival. She holds a degree in Arts Management from The University of Toronto.
Composer-in-Residence: Samuel Bisson
Originally from Ottawa, cellist Samuel Bisson is quickly distinguishing himself in Canada as a versatile soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. Currently based in Toronto, he performs frequently in the GTA and has performed and toured across Canada, the US, Austria and China. He has performed with renowned Canadian piano trio, the Gryphon Trio and performs regularly as part of the Passport Duo. Samuel has a special interest in new and unknown music and has an ease with a broad range of musical styles. He regularly performs premieres of new works and has been a guest of Toronto’s New Music Festival for two years. Beyond the boundaries of classical performance, Samuel is an active studio session musician and performer/arranger in a variety of music genres. Samuel is also a composer and has had many works performed by ensembles across the country.
Board of Directors
Chair | Janet Qi
Treasurer | Robert Grant
Director | Wojciech Okulicz
Director | Elizabeth Marwick-Stratton
Director | Cindy Zhang
Secretary | Nicole Tenn-Lyn (ex-officio)