A native of Montreal, Victor received his Licentiate of Music, Bachelor of Music, and Concert Diploma in Clarinet Performance from McGill University. His studies have taken him to the New England Conservatory of Music (Boston) and the Pierre Monteux School for Advanced Conductors (Maine). While a member of the New England Ragtime Ensemble, Victor won a Grammy and was invited to perform at the White House. In addition to his duties in Sudbury, Victor is Resident Conductor of The Regina Symphony Orchestra and spends much of his ‘free time’ guest conducting with orchestras across the country and internationally.

Robert Lemay has received many commissions to write music for renowned musicians throughout the world, and his music has been performed in Canada, the United States, Japan, Europe (France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain and Belgium), and in South America (Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela). Among his recent honors is the second prize from the Prix Luxembourg 2007, the second prize from the Kazimierz Serocki10th International Composers’ Competition 2006, an international orchestra contest organized by the Polish Society for Contemporary Music and the Polish Radio Orchestra. Other international prizes include first prize from the 2004 Harelbeke Muziekstad Wind Ensemble Competition in Belgium for his piece, Ramallah, for saxophone alto and wind ensemble. Some of Lemay’s music is published by notable publishers, Éditions Jobert and Éditions Fuzeau, in France.

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.

Jamie Arrowsmith joined the Cambrian Music Faculty in 2005 after an illustrious career as a chamber musician. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Kent State University, and has participated in the Hartt School of Music’s Artist Diploma Program, where he was also adjunct professor of viola in the school’s Community Education Division. Mr. Arrowsmith has studied and performed with many world renowned string quartets and chamber musicians, and has appeared at many leading festivals, including the BRAVO! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Strings in the Mountains Chamber Music Festival. He has won numerous first prize awards as a chamber musician, including the Coleman Chamber Music Competition, the MTNA Chamber Music Competition and the Green Lake String Quartet Competition. He has performed throughout the United States and Canada as a chamber musician and soloist, and has represented Canada at the World Orchestra Festival in Japan. Jamie is currently head of the string department at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario and is the music director of the Sudbury Youth Orchestra. He is also in high demand across the country as a string adjudicator and clinician.

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.

Brenda returns to the Symphony this season in the role of woodwind coordinator. Brenda moved to Sudbury with the family in 1983 and she has been involved with the Symphony since her arrival. A most talented clarinetist, Brenda has served as the woodwind section leader and orchestra representative on the Symphony’s Board of Directors. The Ministry of Culture and Communications has twice recognized and awarded Brenda for her outstanding dedication and leadership within the Symphony. She has studied at the University of Western Ontario in London and the Banff School of Fine Arts. While living in southern Ontario, Brenda worked for the Peel Board of Education as a music specialist and played with the Mississauga Symphony. Brenda has been a member of the music faculty at Cambrian College for many years, and her services as adjudicator at music festivals are always in demand. As proof of her versatility, Brenda has made several cameo appearances in the percussion section of the orchestra.

Jim hails from North Bay but he has lived in Sudbury since 1991. Jim began his musical career with piano lessons while in elementary school. When he reached high school, he thought he would attempt to learn the French Horn. He so enjoyed this new instrument that he performed in musicals and concerts throughout his high school career. His teachers encouraged Jim to pursue his studies in music; however, Jim had another calling, namely, physiotherapy. Jim has been a physiotherapist at the Sudbury Regional Hospital since 1987. Jim relishes the opportunity to perform with the other volunteer musicians of the S.S.O. He is a genuinely dedicated volunteer musician and an accomplished player.

Blair has been a member of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra since 1989 and has held the position of principle trombonist for the past three seasons.  He performed in Sudbury Theatre Centre's musical productions of Ain't Misbehavin' and Cabaret. Blair teaches privately and has been twice honoured by the Ontario government for his volunteer efforts in the community.  In addition to lending his talents to many studio recordings, Blair also plays in popular groups such as: the Northern Brass Choir, Back in A Flash, and The Smokers.  Blair is an honours graduate from Laurentian University, having studied trombone under Dr. C. Leonard.  Blair is eager to embark on another exciting season with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra!