Meet The Orchestra

Music Director

Otto Tausk

Otto Tausk

ALAN AND GWENDOLINE PYATT PODIUM
‘The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conjured up clouds of fluid, silky sounds of all dynamic ranges.…
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RBC Assistant Conductor

David Bui

David Bui

Marsha & George Taylor Chair
David Bui is a 1st prize winner of the Ionel Perlea International Conducting Competition 2021…
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First Violins

Nicholas Wright

Nicholas Wright

Ron and Ardelle Cliff Chair
Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Wright  is a native of England. His engagements as…
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Timothy Steeves

Timothy Steeves

William and Irene McEwen Chair
Canadian violinist Timothy Steeves has performed throughout North America and Europe as a soloist, chamber…
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David Lakirovich

David Lakirovich

Robert G. and Suzanne Brodie Chair
David Lakirovich was born in Brisbane, Australia, and started his violin studies at the age…
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Jae-Won Bang

Jae-Won Bang

Violinist Jae-Won Bang received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Violin Performance from the…
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Xue Feng Wei

Xue Feng Wei

After an unexpected encounter with fate, Xue Feng started studying at the China Central Conservatory…
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Rebecca Whitling

Rebecca Whitling

Mrs. Cheng Koon Lee Chair
Rebecca Whitling has been a member of the first violin section of the VSO since…
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Yi Zhou

Yi Zhou

Yi Zhou began her violin studies at the age of 6 in Mainland China. After…
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Second Violins

Karen Gerbrecht +

Karen Gerbrecht +

Jim and Edith le Nobel Chair
Karen began playing the violin at the age of three, influenced by four generations of…
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Manuel Lok

Manuel Lok

Manuel Lok is a Canadian violinist born and raised in Toronto. He earned his bachelor’s…
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Ann Okagaito

Ann Okagaito

A Toronto native, Ann Okagaito started studying violin with the Suzuki method at the Royal…
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Ashley Plaut

Ashley Plaut

Violinist Ashley Plaut maintains an active schedule as both orchestral player and chamber musician. Formerly…
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Violas

Hung-Wei Huang

Hung-Wei Huang

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, violist Hung-Wei Huang joined the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as Principal Viola…
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Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown

Andrew James Brown is the Associate Principal Violist Emeritus of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and…
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Emilie Grimes

Emilie Grimes

Emilie Grimes has been an active orchestral and chamber musician since she first began playing…
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Matthew Davies

Matthew Davies

Estelle and Michael Jacobson Chair
Originally from Chilliwack, B.C.,  Matthew Davies has been described as a "thoughtful, deeply honest, and communicative musician",…
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Angela Schneider

Angela Schneider

Professors Mr. and Mrs. Ngou Kang Chair
Born in Montreal to German parents, Angela grew up surrounded by classical music – her…
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Cellos

Henry Shapard

Henry Shapard

Nezhat Khosrowshahi, OBC and Hassan Khosrowshahi, CM, OBC Chair
Henry Shapard is the Principal Cello of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, appointed by VSO Music…
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Janet Steinberg

Janet Steinberg

Originally from San Francisco, Janet Steinberg moved to Canada and joined the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra…
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Zoltan Rozsnyai

Zoltan Rozsnyai

Zoltan Rozsnyai was born into a musical family. Both his parents and grandparents were professional…
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Natasha Boyko

Natasha Boyko

Mary and Gordon Christopher Chair
Natasha Boyko received her Doctorate Degree with Honours from the Kiev State Conservatory in 1978.…
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Luke Kim

Luke Kim

Dr. Malcolm Hayes and Lester Soo Chair
A member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Vancouver Cello Quartet, Luke Wook-Young Kim…
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Cristian Márkos

Cristian Márkos

Tim Wyman and Susan Gabe Chair
Romanian-Canadian cellist Cristian Márkos has been a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 1999.…
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Jonathan Lo

Jonathan Lo

Gerhard and Ariane Bruendl Chair
Canadian cellist Jonathan Lo has performed throughout North America and Europe as a soloist and…
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Albert Seo

Albert Seo

Albert Seo is a Canadian cellist born and raised in Vancouver, BC. He began his…
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Christopher Chan

Christopher Chan

Christopher Josin Chan joined the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra cello section in 2024. Originally from Toronto,…
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Basses

Dylan Palmer

Dylan Palmer

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dylan Palmer joined the Vancouver Symphony as Principal Double Bass…
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Noah Reitman

Noah Reitman

Born in Los Angeles, California, Noah Reitman discovered classical music and the double bass in…
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David Brown

David Brown

Bassist David Brown has been a member of Vancouver's professional music community for thirty years.…
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Jesse Lu *

Jesse Lu *

Jesse Lu is a bassist with experience playing in symphonies across North America, including the…
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Flutes

Christie Reside

Christie Reside

Ron and Ardelle Cliff Chair
Christie Reside has been the Principal Flute of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 2004. Originally…
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Rosanne Wieringa

Rosanne Wieringa

Michael and Estelle Jacobson Chair
Rosanne began playing the flute at the age of twelve and, after graduating from high…
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Dakota Martin *

Dakota Martin *

Originally from Perth Ontario, Dakota Martin enjoys a multifaceted career performing regularly across Canada, Europe…
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Piccolo

Dakota Martin *

Dakota Martin *

Hermann and Erika Stölting Chair
Originally from Perth Ontario, Dakota Martin enjoys a multifaceted career performing regularly across Canada, Europe…
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Oboes

Joo Bin Yi

Joo Bin Yi

WAYNE AND LESLIE ANN INGRAM CHAIR
A native of South Korea, Joo Bin Yi earned his Bachelor and Master of Music…
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Karin Walsh

Karin Walsh

Paul Moritz Chair
Karin Walsh has played Second Oboe in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 2006. From 2006-2008…
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Mayu Isom *

Mayu Isom *

Mayu Isom is joining the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as Acting Assistant Principal Oboe and English…
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English Horn

Mayu Isom *

Mayu Isom *

In Memory of John S. Hodge
Mayu Isom is joining the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as Acting Assistant Principal Oboe and English…
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Clarinets

Jeanette Jonquil

Jeanette Jonquil

Robert G. and Suzanne Brodie Chair
Jeanette Jonquil has been the principal clarinetist in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 2005. She…
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Michelle Goddard

Michelle Goddard

Taryn Brodie Chair
Michelle joined the Vancouver Symphony in 2017 as the 2nd/Eb clarinetist after a successful audition…
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Bass Clarinet

E-Flat Clarinet

Bassoons

Julia Lockhart

Julia Lockhart

A native of Calgary, Julia gained her first professional experience at age sixteen, playing as…
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Thalia Navas *

Thalia Navas *

Thalia Navas joins the Vancouver Symphony as Second Bassoon for the 2023/24 season. Most recently,…
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Sophie Dansereau

Sophie Dansereau

Born in Sorel-Tracy, Sophie Dansereau obtained the \"Prix avec Grande Distinction à l'unanimité\" in bassoon…
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Contrabassoon

Sophie Dansereau

Sophie Dansereau

Born in Sorel-Tracy, Sophie Dansereau obtained the \"Prix avec Grande Distinction à l'unanimité\" in bassoon…
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French Horn

Alexander Wide

Alexander Wide

WERNER AND HELGA HÖING CHAIR
Alexander Wide is a recent addition to the VSO, joining as Principal Horn in September…
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Holly Bryan *

Holly Bryan *

Holly Bryan is thrilled to join the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra horn section in an acting…
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William Loveless

William Loveless

WINSLOW AND BETSY BENNETT CHAIR
Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, William has traveled around the world performing on tour…
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Andrew Mee

Andrew Mee

Andrew Mee was thrilled to join the horn section of the Vancouver Symphony in 2012.…
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Trumpet

Larry Knopp

Larry Knopp

Larry Knopp began his career as Acting Principal Trumpet of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at…
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Vincent Vohradsky

Vincent Vohradsky

In 2011 Vincent Vohradsky became the second trumpet with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his…
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Marcus Goddard

Marcus Goddard

Marcus Goddard is an award-winning composer and internationally respected trumpet player whose music has touched…
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Trombones

Andrew Poirier

Andrew Poirier

Andrew Poirier hails from Lewisporte, Newfoundland and began his musical studies in the Salvation Army.…
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Ethan Shrier *

Ethan Shrier *

Ethan Shrier, a native of Potomac, MD, joined the Vancouver Symphony as acting Second Trombone…
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Bass Trombone

Ilan Morgenstern +

Ilan Morgenstern +

Arthur H. Willms Family Chair
Ilan began his musical studies at the municipal youth conservatory in his hometown of Rehovot,…
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Griffin Cutaiar *

Griffin Cutaiar *

Originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, bass trombonist Griffin Cutaiar is currently serving as acting bass…
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Tuba

Timpani

Aaron McDonald

Aaron McDonald

Aaron McDonald is Principal Timpanist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Lake Tahoe Summerfest…
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Zach Masri

Zach Masri

Zach is the Assistant Principal Timpanist/Section Percussionist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining…
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Percussion

Vern Griffiths

Vern Griffiths

Martha Lou Henley Chair
Vern Griffiths is a dynamic and versatile performer who joined the Vancouver Symphony as Principal…
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Harp

Piano

Grace Huang *

Grace Huang *

Jemini Foundation Chair
Praised by the Yorkshire Post for her “blend of power, delicacy and seductive swagger,” pianist Grace Huang…
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