Core: Cvetozar Vutev Bio

Cvetozar Vutev First Violin Cvetozar Vutev is a violin player, teacher and conductor based in Kamloops, BC. He first joined the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra in 2006 as an extra musician. Then in 2009, he became a core player and regular member of the 1st violin...

Core: John Suderman Bio

John Suderman Second Violin John grew up in a family that strongly prioritized music and faith-based living. The last of five children, he started lessons on the piano, like his older siblings. At age 10, he took up the violin as a second instrument. Three years...

Core: Susan Schaffer Bio

Susan Schaffer Assistant Concertmaster Susan joined the OSO soon after graduating from UBC with her B.Mus. degree. In her first season, she played in both the 1st & 2nd violin sections as well as in the viola section, before winning the Assistant Concertmaster...

Core: Erin Macdonald Bio

Erin Macdonald Principal Viola Erin began her journey into classical music as a young child with a radio, a semi-circle of teddy bears and a chopstick. Staying up past bedtime to watch PBS concerts was insisted upon. Music lessons soon followed and Erin eventually...

Core: Sylvie Lange Bio

Sylvie Lange Viola Sylvie Lange was born in Vancouver. She is grateful for her first music lessons as a young child with her violinist grandfather. After completion of studies at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, she spent 25 years performing with the Canadian Opera...

Core: Ashley Kroecher Bio

Ashley Kroecher Viola Known affectionately throughout the Thompson Okanagan region as Mr. Viola, Ashley grew up in North Vancouver and moved to Kelowna in 2003. He holds degrees from UBC and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen, Germany. In addition to...

Core: Rachel Kristenson Bio

Rachel Kristenson Concertmaster Rachel Coltvet Kristenson is a professional violinist who celebrates both the brilliance and vulnerability of being human. Life for Rachel is full and messy and overwhelming and exquisite as a musician, partner to a wildfire-fighting...

Core: Martin Kratky Bio

Martin Krátký Cello Martin began weekly cello lessons at age 5 with the late Anne Vallentyne, walking over to her home at 7am before going to school. A graduate of the University of Toronto and Oberlin Conservatory, he was principal cellist of the Saskatoon Symphony...

Core: Narumi Higuchi Bio

Narumi Higuchi Second Violin Originally from Japan, Mrs Higuchi started studying violin at the age of 6. She moved to Toronto in 1997 to study with Jacques Israelievitch at the Royal Conservatory. After graduating, Mrs Higuchi held the position of 2nd Violin for the...

Core: Martine denBok Bio

Martine denBok Principal Second Violin Martine denBok is a classically trained professional violinist with a captivating stage presence and a spine-tingling tonal colour palette. A natural-born musician who began violin lessons at the age of three, denBok has...