Workshop Leaders and Programmes 2024/25

Many thanks to our Program Director, Christine McClymont, who is planning an exciting program for 2024/25.

September 15: Vincent Lauzer

Hailed for his athletic and virtuoso playing and for his sensitive interpretations, recorder player Vincent Lauzer leads an active career as a performer, artistic director, and teacher. He is the artistic director of the Lamèque International Baroque Music Festival, the youth development program coordinator for Arion Baroque Orchestra, and the co-artistic director of the Montreal Baroque Festival.

Winner of several prizes in national and international competitions, he is a member of Flûte Alors!, Pallade Musica and Ensemble La Cigale and regularly performs as a soloist with Arion Baroque Orchestra, La Bande Montréal Baroque, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and Les Violons du Roy. He has played in various series and festivals in Canada and in the United States as well as in Mexico, France, Germany, Spain and Belgium.

October 20: Jonathan Wong 

Jonathan Wong is a conductor, performer, and educator based in the Greater Toronto Area. His wide-ranging work in concert, opera, and musical theatre contexts is unified by a love for music’s communicative power and its ability to build communities in an inimitable way.

As a conductor, he is Music Director and Conductor of the Strings Attached Orchestra, Conductor of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra, and instructor of conducting at Tyndale University. He also enjoys a diverse concert and teaching career as a keyboardist (modern and historical), clarinettist, singer, and occasional percussionist.

November 10: Anne Massicotte 

Anne Massicotte was first a clarinetist, and toured for Jeunesses Musicales. She taught as an Orff specialist in elementary schools, and developed award-winning children’s choirs. As a recorder player, she performed with Ensemble Anonymus and Acta Recorder Quartet. She taught at CAMMAC Music Centre for 35 years. She now enjoys teaching recorder privately, and sings with Mostly Madrigals.

December 8:  Femke Bergsma 

Femke Bergsma is a regular and welcome visitor to Toronto who has led TEMPO workshops many times. She studied recorder at the Utrecht Conservatory in Holland and is also a viol player. She established he multi-instrument career in Montreal, performing with les Boréades and Les Idées Heureuses. She has a special interest in medieval music. And she teaches regularly at CAMMAC’s musical summer camp.

January 12:  Avery MacLean 

Avery MacLean completed her B.Mus. in Early Music Performance and Literature at McGill University, a post-graduate Certificate in Performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague (Holland), and an MA in Music Criticism at McMaster University. She is a member of ACTA Recorder Quartet and has made guest appearances with the Les Violons du Roi, Aradia, Mississauga Symphony, Toronto Philharmonic, Toronto Masque Theatre, Toronto Consort, Scaramella Concerts, North Wind Concerts and many other groups across Ontario. Avery can be heard on Naxos, Classical Kids and several private label recordings, and she has been featured on CBC and CJRT radio, CBC and BRAVO! Television, as well as several film soundtracks. She works as the Director, Research IT and Enterprise Data Architecture at The Hospital for Sick Children’s Research Institute, supporting Canada’s top research scientists, many of whom are accomplished musicians.

February 9: Colin Savage

Colin Savage was the principal clarinetist with the Mississauga Orchestra for 30 years and excels on the recorder. He has toured Japan and played with Opera Atelier, Canadian Opera Company, Apollo’s Fire, Les Boréades, Tafelmusik and the Toronto Consort. Besides pursuing his photographic interests, Colin is an enthusiastic member of Ensemble Polaris, a Northern crossover band who play accordion, mandolin, Swedish pipes, recorders, bouzouki, musical saws, and more. They have made five recordings, and enjoy a successful concert life.

March 23 (note change of date):  Hooman Tootoonchian 

Hooman's musical journey began with the piano, and he soon discovered a passion for teaching. Embracing the Orff method, he joyfully shared music with children. Co-founding Rhythmitica, an online music academy, Hooman envisions using music as a bridge to unite cultures and create a harmonious world. With a diverse academic background and a love for Persian, baroque, and early music, he continuously enriches his expertise, leaving a profound impact on aspiring musicians and learners globally.

You can find more details through his profile: https://www.rhythmitica.com/music-instructor/Hooman-Tootoonchian

April 13:  Felix Deak (please note the start time for this workshop will be 1:45, and workshop will end at 4:15) 

A native Torontonian, Felix Deak is now best known as a cellist and viola da gamba player. He started his career at age two and a half, studying the Suzuki method and playing the cello. Besides early music he enjoys anything with a good beat, like ska, punk, reggae, and hip hop. A much-admired freelance musician, Felix performs and tours regularly in Canada and Europe with Tafelmusik and Les Voix Humaines, based in Montreal. Over 25 years ago, he formed the Baroque ensemble with the cool name, “I Furiosi”.   Felix adds that when he’s not making music or cooking, he’s making memories with his dog, Scout.

May 11:  Stephane Potvin 

Stephane is the Founder and Artistic Director of MusiKay, a group of musicians and singers who specialize in Renaissance and Baroque choral music. Born in Quebec, Stephane is now based in Hamilton. He has toured throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

June 8 : TEMPO Fundraising Tea  - All welcome!