Simon Rivard is one of the most sought-after conductors on the Canadian music scene, as demonstrated by his recent appointments as Music Director of both the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and Edmonton Opera.
The 2025/26 season marks the beginning of Rivard’s tenure with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, where he will lead Haydn’s Creation, among other programming. With Edmonton Opera, he leads the world premiere of Cusson & Vavrek’s Indians on Vacation, a new opera based on a novel by Thomas King, and Wagner’s Siegfried. Additionally, Simon débuts with the Lapland Chamber Orchestra (Finland), in a world premiere by one of today’s leading composers, Kalevi Aho. This season also sees Rivard on the podium with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre classique de Montréal, and Orchestre symphonique du Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, among others.
Rivard has conducted orchestras across North America and Europe, such as Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Toronto Summer Music Festival Orchestra, Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (Switzerland), and the Göteborgs Symfoniker (Sweden). Recently, he made his début with Opéra de Montréal in Puccini’s La bohème.
He has collaborated with artists such as Barbara Hannigan, Kerson Leong, Daniel Lozakovich, Matt Haimovitz, Charles Richard-Hamelin, and Julie Boulianne, among others. In 2022, he was a finalist of the Princess Astrid International Music Competition of the Trondheim Symfoniorkester (Norway). He continues to share his love of contemporary music programming through collaborations with The Happenstancers (Canada), performing works by Unsuk Chin, Steve Reich, Matthew Ricketts, and Nahre Sol.
From 2018 to 2022, he was the Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where he was mentored by Gustavo Gimeno and Sir Andrew Davis. He has assisted and been a cover conductor for world-class artists such as Gianandra Noseda, Sir Donald Runnicles, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, John Storgårds, Barbara Hannigan, and Eun-sun Kim. From 2018 through 2024, he was the Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Between 2020 and 2022, he served as the Associate Conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
He is an alumni of Equilibrium Young Artists (2019-2023), Barbara Hannigan’s mentorship program for early-career professional musicians. In 2018, he was invited to participate in the first Conducting Mentorship Program at the Verbier Festival Academy (Switzerland). In addition to receiving a Special Prize, he was subsequently reinvited to coach the 2022 Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra.
Born in Montréal, Rivard studied violin performance and orchestral conducting at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and McGill University. He has been mentored by Raffi Armenian, Alexis Hauser, Guillaume Bourgogne, and Jean-Sébastien Vallée, among others.
(Current as of JUNE 2025. No modifications allowed. For more information, contact Morgan Reid at Dean Artists: morgan@deanartists.com)
Hugh joined the NSO as CEO in September of 2016 and has led the organization through an expansion of programs and concerts as well as a rebranding. Prior to joining the NSO, Hugh worked in communications with the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and in marketing with Stratos.
In his private life, Hugh is active in the arts community as a member of Newman Sound Men’s Choir and is on the board of directors of Shallaway. He is also an active volunteer at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Hugh and his wife Valerie live in St. John’s, and are the proud parents of Claire, Emmajane, and Anthony who are all actively involved in music.
Jennifer Brennan began her career as a music teacher in Happy Valley Goose Bay. After 34 lovely years, Jennifer retired from teaching in 2017 to join the NSO administrative team as Education and Community Outreach Coordinator.
She has sung as a soloist and chorister, and spent 10 years directing a church choir at St. Teresa’s Parish. A former Board member for the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra (now Calos), Jennifer currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival where she is Festival Volunteer Coordinator.
In her spare time, Jennifer loves to travel and take long walks with her husband, Bob. They have two sons Timothy and Mark, who are both wonderful musicians.
Maria joined the NSO as Marketing & Development Manager in June of 2023 after being a longtime volunteer of the NSO since 2014. Prior to joining the NSO, Maria worked with many clients in the non-profit, government, and tech sector at a local marketing agency in St. Johns.
In her private life, Maria volunteers as co-chair of the Youth Engagement Working Group with the City of St. John’s as they oversee the implementation of the Youth Engagement Strategy and provide ongoing advice and guidance on how to best engage youth on City matters.
A native of St. John’s, NL, violinist Dominic Greene completed a Master of Music degree in violin performance at the University of Toronto, in the studio of Erika Raum. While in Toronto, Dominic performed with various ensembles, including the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, University of Toronto Baroque Ensemble and the Sneak Peek Orchestra. During his final year of study at U of T, Dominic was privileged to have been given the opportunity to play as concertmaster of the University of Toronto Symphony, Opera and Baroque Orchestras, under the direction of Uri Mayer, Sandra Horst and Ivars Taurins, respectively. His time at U of T also gave him the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with Jonathan Crow, Jeanne Lamon, David Stewart, Tim Ying and Marie Berard. In addition, Dominic has been an active freelance performer and teacher across the Greater Toronto Area.
Prior to his studies in Toronto, Dominic attended Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance with Nancy Dahn. During his time at Memorial, Dominic played violin and viola with the Memorial University Chamber Orchestra, assuming roles of concertmaster and principal viola, and was a regular member of the first violin section of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, sitting as assistant concertmaster for the 2011-2012 season. During his studies at Memorial, Dominic was the inaugural recipient of the Dorothy and David Peters Scholarship for Music Performance at Memorial University. He has participated in summer music programs, including the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival, the Scotia Festival of Music, the Orford Festival and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. Dominic is also a regular member of the orchestra for the Opera on the Avalon Festival in St. John’s, for which he has played as concertmaster.
Dominic is currently the assistant concertmaster and personnel manager of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and serves as a string coach for the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra, of which he is the former assistant concertmaster. He also enjoys a dynamic teaching career, maintaining a busy private violin studio, and is an active instructor with the Suzuki Talent Education Program of St. John’s. In addition to orchestral performance and teaching, Dominic enjoys freelancing around the city of St. John’s and surrounding areas, and can be seen performing as half of the Saltwater Strings Duo, along with friend and colleague, Brett Vey. Saltwater Strings performs in a variety of styles including folk, pop, rock and jazz.
Steve Power has been involved in the St. John’s music industry for over 20 years. He has performed with a variety bands and musicians all over the province. He has been onstage with the NSO many times including singing the songs of Michael Bublé and has performed backup vocals for shows featuring Jody Richardson, Kelly-Ann Evans and Mark Murphy. Steve is also regularly featured with “BS Entertainment” performing shows all across the island with Sandy Morris and Brian Way. When Steve is not onstage, he can often be found behind the scenes in particular, as the Production Manager of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. His love of computers and technology has fueled his interest in everything from lighting and sound, to photography and video editing.
Jenny Griffioen is a pianist and teacher based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Originally from Guelph, Ontario, she moved to Newfoundland to study music at Memorial University. She completed a Bachelor of Music in piano performance with Kristina Szutor, and a Master of Music in piano performance and pedagogy with Tim Steeves. Since graduating, Jenny has been working as a collaborative pianist and per-course instructor at MUN, as well as teaching privately and freelancing in the wider community. She enjoys performing with musicians at all levels, from the youngest children in the Suzuki string program to university music students and professional musicians. Jenny’s role in the NSO began as an orchestral keyboard player and has now expanded to include work behind the scenes in the orchestra library.
In 2015, Janet retired from a long career in the trust and estate world. While she has always found time to volunteer, she knew it would not be difficult to find interesting and rewarding things to do with my time in retirement! Volunteer groups she has been involved with in recent years include being a part of the Juno’s, NL Folk Festival, The Brier, Tuckamore Festival, the Anglican Cathedral, Choral NL, and the NSO.
Jess is the owner of ethree Consulting, an organizational effectiveness consultancy that specializes in helping organisations handle the ‘tough people stuff’ like developing strategy and culture, leading change, increasing engagement levels, driving workforce performance, improving leadership skills and more. With a background in business, HR and neuroscience, Jess leads the ethree team helping companies engage, enable and empower their people. In 2019 Jess started a second business, ethree Online that develops and delivers custom online and virtual training for all sizes of organization.
Hailing from Great Britain, Jess has lived and worked in 4 countries. She moved to Canada in 2005 and settled in Newfoundland in 2007. She lives in Torbay with her partner, Mike, two stepchildren, Liam and Logan and dog, Molly. Jess has been a supporter of the NSO for many years and is particularly passionate about the new opportunities that digital performances and online technology create for the orchestra.
Michelle’s love of music began at the age of 10 when she begged her parents for piano lessons. This set her on a path which led her to Memorial University where she completed a Bachelor of Music (Piano). She subsequently pursued a legal career, earning her degree from Dalhousie Law School, and now serves as Director of Compliance at Intact Financial Corporation.
Michelle is delighted to merge her musical roots with her professional expertise as a board member of the NSO. She lives in Logy Bay with her husband, Gary, and their three children.
Tom’s family has been associated with the NSO since the 1960’s. Tom sees the NSO as the core organization for arts in Newfoundland and Labrador – this makes contributing by serving on the board even more valuable. In his day job, he is President of Wedgwood Insurance in St. John’s and Chief Operating Office of the Magnes Group in Oakville, Ontario. He resides in St. John’s with his wife Lori and Maltese, Scottie.
Doug lives in St. John’s with his wife Elizabeth who is a member of the PCNSO. Doug is a lawyer practising as Counsel with Cox & Palmer where he works primarily in corporate and taxation law. He is also a Bencher of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and is currently a director of the St. John’s Board of Trade. Since 2013, Doug has also been a public representative on the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals.
Robert Thompson comes from long years of experience at senior levels of the provincial public service, having served with Government of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1983 to 2013. Robert held several Deputy Minister positions, including Natural Resources, Health and Community Services and Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and from 2003-2007 and 2010-2013 Robert was Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet. Between 2013 and 2023 Robert was CEO and Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, where he was responsible for contract negotiations between the physicians of the province and the provincial government and for advocating on behalf of the medical profession for improved health policy and services. Robert is a graduate of Memorial University (political science), with graduate studies in public administration at York University and in business administration at Memorial. Amongst Robert’s numerous Board involvements was his time as Board Chair of Shallaway and his Board tenure with Growing the Voices.
Heather came to the board through her involvement with the Philharmonic Choir with whom she has sung since 1996. She served as NSO Chair from 2013 to 2017. She also served as Executive Producer of the NSO Gala from 2006 to 2017. She is a strong supporter of many arts organizations and in 2012 was named NL Arts Council Patron of the Arts.
Andrea Rose enjoys an active role in the ongoing development of music and music education at local, national, and international levels as a musician, educator, researcher, and organizational leader. Andrea holds undergraduate degrees in music and music education from Memorial University, and a Masters in Music and PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Andrea was a music educator for ten years at Holy Heart High School in St. John’s, and since 1990 a professor of music education at Memorial University. Recently retired, Andrea continues much of her work at Memorial University in her role as Honorary Research Professor. She has been the recipient of several awards including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, MUN President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, and the designation of 3M National Teaching Fellow by the Canadian Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She was recently awarded the Canadian Music Educators’ Professional Award as Honorary Life Member.
Andrea performed as a violinist with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia for over 30 years. She has served in leadership roles with a variety of organizations including the International Society for Music Education, Canadian Music Educators’ Association, Debut Atlantic, Action Canada, and Teach for Canada. She is currently Director of Higher Learning with The Canadian Music Educators’ Association. A past Artistic Director of FESTIVAL 500 Choral Festival and founding Director of The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposia, Andrea is the Co-Founder/Director of The Singing Network (TSN), an international collective of individuals and organizations interested in singing and song. The TSN creates and hosts musical, educational, and scholarly events locally and around the world.
Andrea is delighted to be serving on the NSO Board of Directors to support and help grow this amazing and important organization in Newfoundland and Labrador… and beyond!
Alana Walsh-Giovannini received her early education in Montreal and North Carolina and returned to her birthplace of St. John’s to attend Memorial University where she received an undergraduate degree in Psychology and further studied Guidance and Counselling under the Masters of Educational Psychology program. Alana spent 30 years working on the Burin Peninsula in various capacities of educational psychology and guidance. She is past president of School Counsellors of NL (SCAN) and previous director for NL of Canadian Guidance and Counselling Association (CGCA). She has co chaired two national conferences in St . John’s during her tenure as director for CGCA. Alana has served on the Burin Peninsula Health Care Board and, chaired the Burin Peninsula Heritage Run Tourism Board, St. Lawrence Heritage Society and chaired numerous youth leadership events and high school theatre. Currently, Alana is co-chair of Belles With Balls NL, a registered not for profit charity that has raised over $200, 000 for Ovarian Cancer Research and Education in NL, a community partnership with Memorial University.
Alana’s passions include her family, theatre, music and travel. Alana and her husband Bob have three fabulous children and are proud grandparents to 6 amazing grandchildren.
Jing Xia is a professional guzheng artist and ethnomusicologist based in Newfoundland, Canada. Born and raised in Hunan, China, Xia started to study the guzheng at six years old and has degrees in Music Performance (B.A.), Arts Management (M.A.), and Ethnomusicology (Ph.D.). Xia is the winner of the 2022 MusicNL Award “Rising Star of the Year,” the 2022 Artist in Residence at Lawnya Vawnya, and the winner of the 2023 ECMA Award “Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year.”
Xia’s music has no boundaries. As a performer of all styles, her musical journey on the guzheng has encompassed a wide range of musical genres from Chinese traditional/folk music to intercultural ensembles, fusion bands, improvisation, and beyond. Xia has played with various musicians and musical groups, including guzheng virtuoso Mei Han, the trad-rock band Shanneyganock, and Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra. In 2018, she world premiered The Congruent Place, in collaboration with the Regina-based composer Clinton Ackerman at the Sound Symposium XIX. In January 2023, Xia world-premiered Jubilant Entanglements, a guzheng concerto by well-known composer Andrew Staniland with Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. Xia has been active in the music scenes in North America and performed in diverse musical events, including Newfoundland Folk Festival, Nashville Chinese New Year Festival, and Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Moving her tradition into the future, Xia funded the Light Wind Ensemble, a pioneer Chinese ensemble in Newfoundland, and XIA-3, a fusion experimental band, with a repertoire ranging from Chinese classics to post-rock music.
As an educator and scholar, Xia has been teaching music for more than a decade and has given informative lectures, workshops, and performances at universities and conferences around the world. Her research focuses on the diasporic experience of professional Chinese instrumentalists and their intercultural and transnational music-making in North America. Xia has worked in many cultural organizations, including the Currently Arts Society (Vancouver), the Research Centre for the Study of Music, Media, and Place (St. John’s), We Care Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (St. John’s), the Center for Chinese Music and Culture (Murfreesboro), and the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (Washington D.C.).
Growing up in St. John’s, playing piano and clarinet, Aimee benefitted from the local arts community and knows the importance of organizations like the NSO to our province. Aimee has had many special evenings over the years both in the audience, and on the stage, at the Arts and Culture Centre and at D.F. Cook.
Aimee graduated from Memorial with a Bachelor of Music degree, and went on to study law at the University of Toronto and public health at the University of British Columbia. Aimee is legal counsel and health policy analyst with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association.
Robert Decker is a well-known and respected member of the Newfoundland and Labrador business community. Initially working as an environmental specialist in the Oil and Gas sector, Robert transitioned approximately ten years into the Real Estate industry, and he is now a Principal of the Moore Decker Dunn team at ReMax Infinity, one of the leading real estate concerns in Newfoundland and Labrador and Atlantic Canada. Robert’s previous Board work has seen him serve with Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club, Young Adult Cancer Canada and Stella’s Circle.
Jennifer Massey may be familiar to some of you already as she and her spouse and children are frequent attendees at NSO concerts. Jennifer is a Partner in the St. John’s office of KBRS, and Leader of the KBRS Executive Search Practice in Newfoundland and Labrador, focusing primarily on the post-secondary education sector. Prior to joining KBRS, Jennifer was Associate Vice-President of Western University, and previously held senior leadership positions at Queen’s University, Baylor University and Memorial University, where she was Dean of Student Life. She holds a Ph.D. (Geography) from Queen’s University, and degrees in that same discipline from University of Illinois – Urbana and King’s College London, as well as professional certificates in Business Management and Leadership from Western University.
DUNCAN FITZPATRICK is President of Hibernia Management & Development Company Limited. Originally from Corner Brook, and now residing in St. John’s, Duncan received his B.Eng. from Dalhousie University and his M.B.A. from the University of Florida. His work career saw him assume positions of increasing responsibility and leadership with Imperial Oil, leading to his appointment as President of HMDC in January of this year. Duncan is an avid golfer and downhill skier, as well as a certified open water diver, and in 2002 was the Senior Rose Bowl Winner at the Corner Brook Rotary Music Festival, his instrument being the Tuba.
BETH PORTER is a Tax Partner with Noseworthy Chapman Chartered Professional Accountants, the largest independent accounting firm in Newfoundland and Labrador. Beth is from St. John’s, and she earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree with Memorial University and subsequently obtained her designations as a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner. In 2025, Beth was elected as a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador (FCPA), recognizing her outstanding career achievements and contributions to the profession. Beth has previously served on the Board of Directors for many organizations including the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland & Labrador (CPANL), the CPA Atlantic School of Business, Safety Services NL, the Newfoundland Science Centre, and is past-President of DFK Canada, a national association of independent accounting firms.
Beth currently lives in Conception Bay South with her three daughters. While Beth does not claim any natural musical talent of her own, like most Newfoundlanders she grew up surrounded by music and in her spare time she loves attending performances and concerts of all genres and is a regular attendee at NSO concerts.
ANDRII SHYSHKIN is a new Canadian, having arrived in Canada in 2022, and is now a permanent resident of Canada. He is originally from Romny, Ukraine. Andrii is a graduate in Music of the Sumy College of Music and Art and of Kharkiv National University of Arts, and is a qualified performer, accompanist and teacher. Andrii has worked at music schools in Ukraine, China, Germany and the United Arab Emirates in these areas of specialty, and he served on the jury of an international piano competition at the University of Wanchang, China, where he also served as accompanist in the vocal competition and Concertmaster for the university orchestra. Andrii is active in the music community in St. John’s, both as a performer and as a music teacher.
ELEANOR SWANSON was the Director of Health Promotion and Wellness for the Province prior to her retirement. Eleanor has extensive experience in the volunteer sector, notably her long service with Memorial University Board of Regents (Vice-Chair), Lady Cove Women’s Choir (Chair), the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (Vice-Chair) and the Community Services Council (Director), amongst many other community and professional involvements. Eleanor, a long-time supporter of the NSO, will frequently be seen at performances throughout the season.
CHARLIE BYRNE is Senior Director of Public Affairs with m5 Public Affairs, part of the m5 Group of Companies, the largest marketing firm in Atlantic Canada. In his position, Charlie oversees management of all the Company’s accounts in Newfoundland and Labrador, providing strategic communications counsel and government relations advice. Charlie served formerly as a special assistant to the federal Minister of Natural Resources, and holds a B.B.A. from Memorial University and a Master of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University. Charlie has been involved in other volunteer activity in the community, including with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern NL and The Fluvarium, where he currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Fluvarium Board of Directors.
Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, pianist and musicologist Glenn Colton holds degrees in music from Memorial University (B.Mus.), McMaster University (M.A., Music Criticism) and the University of Victoria (Ph.D., Musicology). From 1998 to 2023, he served as a music professor at Lakehead University, including 10 years as Chair of the Department of Music and a 2-year term as President of the Canadian University Music Society. As a university teacher, he has cherished the opportunity to mentor students of music history and taken special joy in instilling in students the richness and diversity of Canada’s musical traditions.
His research has focused on aspects of music in Canada, with an emphasis on the musical traditions of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2007, he co-edited (with Dr. Beverley Diamond of Memorial University) a special issue of the journal Newfoundland and Labrador Studies devoted to music, while his book Newfoundland Rhapsody: Frederick R. Emerson and the Musical Culture of the Island was published by McGill-Queen’s University Press in 2014. Other published contributions include articles in the Canadian University Music Review, the International Alliance for Women in Music Journal, The Phenomenon of Singing, The Newfoundland Quarterly, and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada (including a 2013 article on the NSO).
One of the most rewarding outcomes of the Newfoundland Rhapsody project was partnering with Maestro Marc David to facilitate the long-awaited world premiere of Emerson’s Newfoundland Rhapsody for orchestra (a piece composed for the NSO and harpist Carla Emerson Furlong) as part of the orchestra’s 2015-16 Masterworks Series.
In 2023, he moved back to St. John’s as an emeritus professor and has immersed himself in the Newfoundland music scene ever since. His most recent project is a forthcoming book on the Newfoundland folk song collections of Maud Karpeles (co-authored with Dr. Anna Kearney Guigné of Memorial University).
Glenn is delighted to serve on the NSO Board in support of an incredible group of musicians and an organization that continues to be a dynamic presence in the cultural life of the province.
PHILIP HARRINGTON is the Director of Group Operations with NSB-Omega, a technical staffing and consultancy firm originating from Newfoundland and Labrador. NSB-Omega works with companies in the energy sector across the Americas and globally alongside its partner Omega365. In his role, Philip focuses on managing recruitment teams, client relationships, business development and supporting executive leadership. NSB-Omega has long been a supporter and sponsor of the NSO. Through this sponsorship, Philip has gained insight and appreciation of the contributions the NSO makes to the local arts and greater community as a whole. He looks forward to supporting and helping the NSO continue its outreach throughout the province. Philip holds an BA and MBA from Memorial University. He resides in St. John’s with his wife and two daughters.
Simon Rivard is one of the most sought-after conductors on the Canadian music scene, as demonstrated by his recent appointments as Music Director of both the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and Edmonton Opera.
The 2025/26 season marks the beginning of Rivard’s tenure with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, where he will lead Haydn’s Creation, among other programming. With Edmonton Opera, he leads the world premiere of Cusson & Vavrek’s Indians on Vacation, a new opera based on a novel by Thomas King, and Wagner’s Siegfried. Additionally, Simon débuts with the Lapland Chamber Orchestra (Finland), in a world premiere by one of today’s leading composers, Kalevi Aho. This season also sees Rivard on the podium with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre classique de Montréal, and Orchestre symphonique du Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, among others.
Rivard has conducted orchestras across North America and Europe, such as Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Toronto Summer Music Festival Orchestra, Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (Switzerland), and the Göteborgs Symfoniker (Sweden). Recently, he made his début with Opéra de Montréal in Puccini’s La bohème.
He has collaborated with artists such as Barbara Hannigan, Kerson Leong, Daniel Lozakovich, Matt Haimovitz, Charles Richard-Hamelin, and Julie Boulianne, among others. In 2022, he was a finalist of the Princess Astrid International Music Competition of the Trondheim Symfoniorkester (Norway). He continues to share his love of contemporary music programming through collaborations with The Happenstancers (Canada), performing works by Unsuk Chin, Steve Reich, Matthew Ricketts, and Nahre Sol.
From 2018 to 2022, he was the Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where he was mentored by Gustavo Gimeno and Sir Andrew Davis. He has assisted and been a cover conductor for world-class artists such as Gianandra Noseda, Sir Donald Runnicles, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, John Storgårds, Barbara Hannigan, and Eun-sun Kim. From 2018 through 2024, he was the Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Between 2020 and 2022, he served as the Associate Conductor of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
He is an alumni of Equilibrium Young Artists (2019-2023), Barbara Hannigan’s mentorship program for early-career professional musicians. In 2018, he was invited to participate in the first Conducting Mentorship Program at the Verbier Festival Academy (Switzerland). In addition to receiving a Special Prize, he was subsequently reinvited to coach the 2022 Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra.
Born in Montréal, Rivard studied violin performance and orchestral conducting at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and McGill University. He has been mentored by Raffi Armenian, Alexis Hauser, Guillaume Bourgogne, and Jean-Sébastien Vallée, among others.
(Current as of JUNE 2025. No modifications allowed. For more information, contact Morgan Reid at Dean Artists: morgan@deanartists.com)
Karen Bulmer is a versatile tuba player, educator, and writer. She is active as a tuba soloist and improviser and has performed her original one-woman show, Girl Meets Tuba, which chronicles her on-again off-again relationship with the tuba, in venues across Canada. Her radio piece, Joined at the Lip, which first aired on CBC’s Outfront in 2001, continues to be featured at radio festivals around the world, most recently at the Copenhagen Radio Cinema. Karen has presented at the annual inter-disciplinary ideaCity conference in Toronto and has recorded and performed with some of the finest classical, folk, and pop artists in Newfoundland.
In recent years, Karen’s research and creative interests have expanded to include the exploration of various mind-body practices and their particular relevance to musicians. Her unique Mind/Body Tools for Musicians program combines mindfulness with movement and self-regulation strategies to help musicians access a greater sense of their innate capacity for expression, presence, and resilience. Karen is also the creator and host of the Music, Mind, and Movement Podcast, a show that explores holistic approaches to music training and performance through in-depth conversations with educators, health professionals, somatic practitioners, and more. To listen to the podcast or to find out more about Karen’s work, including tips and tools to implement in your own practice, visit her website: www.musicmindandmovement.com
Karen holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts from the University of Western Ontario, a Professional Studies Diploma from the HARID Conservatory, and both a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from Yale University. Karen trained in meditation facilitation under the mentorship of Michael Stone and is a certified yoga instructor with additional training in biomechanics, anatomy, and movement for trauma.
Amanda sings with the soprano section of the Philharmonic Choir of the NSO. She is the current chair of the PCNSO Executive. She lives in Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s with her partner Carter and their dog Larry. Amanda is a Senior Program and Policy Development Specialist with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation.
