Violinist Christian Robinson has recently completed his undergraduate performance degree at the University of Toronto, in the studio of Mark Skazinetsky. Functioning as both Associate Concertmaster as well as Concertmaster of the University Orchestra, Christian has earned praise from audiences and critics alike for his energetic, vibrant performances on violin and viola. He has twice been a member of the National Academy Orchestra, Canada’s foremost training orchestra for young musicians, under the direction of Boris Brott.

His chamber music activities have seen him perform in feature concerts at many of Canada’s premier festivals, including the Guelph Spring Festival, Festival of the Sound, and most recently the Banff Summer Arts Festival, collaborating with artists such as Rob McCosh, Gary Kulesha, Edgar Meyer, and Marc Durand. Christian is a recipient of the Felix Galimir Award, the University of Toronto’s highest award for chamber music performance.

Christian is also a tireless advocate for new music, having been involved in numerous premiers of pieces by both emerging and established Toronto-area composers. His new music performances have been broadcast nationally on CBC Radio, and his collaborations include work with Earshot Concerts at the Music Gallery, as well as with Soundstreams Canada for CBC Toronto. Christian was appointed Principal Second Violin of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra in January 2004, and is presently now the esteemed Concertmaster. Along with Principal ‘cellist Alexandra Lee, he is co-artistic director of Silver Birch Concerts, a vibrant new series bringing some of Canada’s most exciting young performers to the Sudbury area.

Alexandra Lee graduated in the spring of 2003 from the University of Toronto, under the guidance of her teacher Simon Fryer. Within the University, she acted as principal cellist in both of the University of Toronto’s orchestras, and was a key member of the University of Toronto’s Contemporary Music Ensemble, under the direction of Canadian composer and conductor Gary Kulesha. As cellist of the popular Downtown Quartet, she was a winner of the Felix Galimir Award, receiving the highest honour the University can bestow for excellence in chamber music. The Downtown Quartet also had the pleasure of touring parts of Ontario and Quebec, and participated in the Stanford Chamber Music Festival by invitation of the St. Lawrence String Quartet. Soon after the completion of her formal studies, Alexandra Lee then won a position in the National Academy Orchestra under the baton of Boris Brott.

Interacting closely with the composition scene, Ms Lee has premiered several pieces, including a cello concerto “Unapproachable Light” written for her by Nicholas Akers. She has also participated in concerts with Earshot and the new music organizations Soundstreams, NuMus and Continuum. Ms Lee is currently the principal cellist of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and teacher at the budding Sudbury Symphony Conservatory of Music.

Chonghua Chen graduated from the Glen Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, under the guidance of Professor Steve Dann. Ms. Chen was honoured with first prize in the prestigious Chinese Music Competitions held in Shanghai and is a founding member of the Floating World Chamber Ensemble. Ms. Chen has worked with such distinguished musicians as Nobuko Imai, as well as playing with Pinchas Zukerman at Music Bridge, Calgary. Ms. Chen is currently Principal Violin II of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, instructor for the Sudbury Symphony Conservatory of Music and a member of the Symphony Chamber Ensemble and the Silver Birch String Quartet. Ms. Chen is currently accepting new students.

Violist William Best recently completed his undergraduate performance degree at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, studying with the Toronto Symphony’s Kent Teeple, and Dan Blackman. At the Faculty of Music William served as principal of the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Opera Orchestra, Baroque String Ensemble and Contemporary Music Ensemble. William has played with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the National Academy Orchestra, under Boris Brott. William is currently Principal Viola of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, instructor at the Sudbury Symphony Conservatory of Music and a member of the Sudbury Symphony Chamber Ensemble and Silver Birch String Quartet. Mr. Best is currently accepting new students.