The Ensemble
The Kensington Sinfonia was founded in 1988 by John Lowry, Associate Concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic, and freelance musicians. In 1993 Edmond Agopian was appointed Music Director of this unique professional ensemble in Calgary, and served until 2006 when the position was given to Donovan Seidle. In 2018 we welcomed Laura Reid as our fourth music director.
The Sinfonia's programs cover a wide range of chamber music and string orchestra repertoire, from the Baroque to present day. Since its inception, it has frequently commissioned works by Calgary composers, as well as presenting the Calgary premieres of many Canadian compositions. The Sinfonia has been frequently broadcast on both regional and national CBC Radio programs. Its debut recording "Views from the Americas", was recorded by CBC Radio. Having crossed the quarter-century mark, the Kensington Sinfonia continues to expand and innovate in its programming and its presentation.
The musical intimacy between players and the audience is extremely important in the Sinfonia's performances. It is with this in mind that the Sinfonia chooses to perform at the wonderfully intimate and acoustically satisfying St. Stephens Anglican Church. 2017 saw the addition of a new concert series, the Village Sessions, at the taproom in Village Brewery. These concerts pair the Kensington Sinfonia String Quartet with Alberta artists from various genres including: Astral Swans, Valiska, FOON YAP, Amy Nelson and many more.
Kensington Sinfonia strives to provide high quality, innovative classical music in Alberta with a focus on using local artists and creators. We are an audience-friendly ensemble that encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to experience classical music in a welcoming, relaxed setting. Community partnerships are important to us and we continue to seek new ways to connect with our community.
Andrea Case and Genevieve Micheletti, Artistic Directors
Andrea Case
Calgarian cellist Andrea Case is co-founder of the Lily String Quartet, a group that has completed multiple tours across Canada, performed for CBC Radio and released a jazz CD with HAT Trio. The group's hallmark is collaboration, something that Andrea holds as a principal vision in her own work. She plays with The Kensington Sinfonia and String Theory, was recently principal cellist of the Cambridge Philharmonic (UK) and enjoys performing at folk festivals across Western Canada with folk musicians like duo 100 Mile House. At home in a recording studio, Andrea has credits in the classical, pop, folk, jazz and film score genres. Andrea adjudicates regularly at festivals throughout Alberta and British Columbia and teaches at the Amici String Program and Mount Royal University. Andrea and her family have recently returned to her hometown of Calgary.
Genevieve Micheletti
Genevieve Micheletti joined the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 2017 as a member of the first violin section. Prior to joining the CPO, Genevieve was a fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami and has held positions with the Berkeley Symphony, Stockton Symphony, and Flint Symphony. A native of California, Genevieve made her solo debut with the Stockton Symphony as winner of the Manlio Silva Young Artists’ Competition.
Genevieve is a veteran of prestigious summer institutes including the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra. As a member of the Laurel Duet and Co Artistic Director of Kensington Sinfonia, she is a performer and proponent of new Canadian music. Genevieve received Bachelor Degrees in music and history at Rice University where she studied under the tutelage of Kathleen Winkler, and a Master of Music at the University of Michigan studying with Yehonatan Berick, Aaron Berofsky, and David Halen. When not performing, Genevieve enjoys hiking and reading Russian literature.
Board of Directors
Sarah Veenhoven - President
Eric Nyland - Vice-President
Kristina Wasylecko - Treasurer
Marc Yap - Secretary
Dylan Callaghan - Director
Keith Dundas - Director
Graham Paynter - Director
Concerto Competition
Our concerto competition will be held on May 1 and 2, 2027 at Mount Royal University, Calgary Alberta. Stay tuned for details!
Eligibility:
Applicants must be under 21 years of age.
The applicant’s piece of choice must be composed for the applicant’s instrument and string orchestra.
Applicants need to provide their own pianists.
Kensington Sinfonia congratulates 2023 Concerto Competition winners Laec Lorentzen and Jocelyn Zhou.
Previous winners:
2011: Osmond Chiu (viola), Emily Phernambucq (flute)
2012: Joshua Lee (cello)
2013: Trevor Mansell (oboe)
2014: Liam Pond (piano)
2015: Chris Fang (violin)
2016: Cameron Wong (oboe)
2017: Ephraim Chen (cello)
2018: Tilman Sandvoss (viola)
2019: Isabelle Robinson (violin) and Anna Stube (violin)
Past Members of the Ensemble
Kensington Sinfonia is proud of its nearly 30 years of presenting music in Calgary. Here we recognize past members and artistic contributors to the ensemble and thank them for their artistic contribution over the years.
Leader and Artistic Director
John Lowry, 1988-1993
Edmond Agopian, 1993-2006
Donovan Seidle, 2006-18
Laura Reid, 2018-
Violin
John Lowry
Stephanie Soltice
Robert Penner
Joan Barrett
Lise Boutin
Peter Visentin
Theresa Kraucunas
Patricia van der Sloot
Edmond Agopian
Fiona Carnie
Bonnie Louie
Karen Krout
Xiao Wing Wu
Jeffrey Plotnik
Steve Bryant
Laura Chenail
Anna Kozak
Stephanie Soltice-Johnson
Jan Amsel
Diane Lane
Andrea Neumann
Adriana Lebedovich
Emily Westell
Donovan Seidle
Brinna Brinkerhoff
Keiko Takahashi
Brigit Knecht
Steve Lubiarz
Minnie Kwon
Jeremy Gabbert
Clarinet
Steve Amsel
Joyce Colquhoun
Oboe
Jean Landa
David Sussman
Melody Braybrook
Cello
Pierre Tessier
Tom Mirhady
Tom Megee
Janet Kuschak
Peter Parthun
Laura Schlessinger
Karen Youngquist
Beth Root Sandvoss
Jeehoon Kim
Andrea Case
Nigel Boehm
Olena Kilchyk
David Morrissey
Kirill Kalmykov
Raphael Hoekman
Tom Megee
Contrabass
Laurie Meijer-Drees
Graeme Mudd
Patricia Bereti
Charles Garrett
Tyler Belluz
Matthew Heller
Bassoon
Stephen Franse
Michael Hope
Harp
Jennifer Swartz
Lori Gemmel
Trumpet
Gareth Jones
Saxophone
Clark Reid
Percussion
Robert Fenske
Glenn Price
Kyle Eustace
Viola
Nicholas Pulos
Johannes Gurth
Sue Jane Bryant
Arthur Bachmann
Carl Boychuck
Chris Sandvoss
Ron Komarniski
John Thompson
Dean O'Brian
Jay Gupta
Liza Scriggins
Michael Bursey
Bradley Ottesesn
Megan Singer
Marcin Swoboda
Keyboard
Peter Togni
Richard Troeger
Christine Azad
Janice Waite
Kathy Domain
Karen Neary
Charles Foreman
Colleen Athparia
Grace Moore
Neil Cockburn
Julia Haager
John Bouz
Horn
William Hopson
Laurie Matiation
Kurt Kellan
Heather Wootton
Flute
Genevieve Blanchard
Lauren Eselson
Gwen Klassen
Philippa Fullerton
Commissioned Composer
Arthur Bachmann
Allan G. Bell
Donovan Seidle
Nova Pon
Phil Hansen
Peter Togni
Soloist
John Lowry, violin
Genevieve Blanchard, flute
Richard Troeger, harpsichord
Marilyn Zweifel, soprano
Michael Hope, baritone
Robert Penner, violin
Tom Mirhady, cello
Edmond Agopian, violin
Patricia Van der Sloot, violin
Peter Parthun, cello
Janet Kuschak, cello
Arthur Bachmann, viola
Howard Engstrom, trumpet
David Sussman, english horn, oboe
Marilyn Engle, piano
Jeremy Brown, saxophone
Jennifer Swartz, harp
Janice Waite, piano
Charles Foreman, piano
Stephen Franse, bassoon
Paul Dornian, clarinet
U of C String Quartet
Edmond Agopian, violin
Olga Kotova, violin
Christofer Sandvoss, viola
Amanda Forsyth, cello
Donald Bell, baritone
Steve Amsel, clarinet
Amanda Forsyth, cello
Steve Bryant, violin
Laura Schlessinger, cello
Gwen Klassen, flute
Stephanie Soltice-Johnson, violin
Peter Parthun, cello
Vladimir Levtov, piano
Andrew Emig, trumpet
Xiau Ming Wu, violin
James Scott, trombone
Jan Amsel, violin
Bonnie Louie, violin
Jeehoon Kim, cello
Michelle Todd, soprano
Philippa Fullerton, flute
Gareth Jones, trumpet
Beth Root Sandvoss, cello
Victor Coelho, lute
Laurie Matiation, horn
Heather Wootton, horn
Lauren Eselson, flute
Tisha Murvihill, harp
Andrea Neumann, violin
Liza Scriggins, viola
Paul Grindlay, bass baritone
Boris Bonchev, horn
Diane Lane, violin
Jacqui Lynn Fidlar, soprano
Emily Westell, violin
Michael Michalak, trumpet
Donovan Seidle, violin
Voicescapes:
Julie Harris, soprano
Christina Jahn, soprano
Jerald Fast, tenor
Paul Grindley, baritone
Neil Cockburn, organ
Chellan Hoffman, harpsichord
Phil Hansen, cello
Kathleen van Mourik, piano
Andrea Kovago, mezzo-soprano
John Goulart, guitar
Brinna Brinkerhoff, violin
Jeff Neufeld, piano
Dean O'Brien, viola
John Thompson, viola
Sara Hahn, flute
Osmond Chiu, viola
Emily Phernambucq, flute
Adam Zinatelli, trumpet
Michael Hope, bassoon
Joshua Lee, cello
Amici String Programme
Rena Far, violin
Amy Toth, violin
Onyx Davidson, violin
Tom Megee, cello
Patricia Bereti Reid, contrabass
Stev Lubiarz, violin
Kirill Kalmykov, cello