London Symphonia and the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University are pleased to announce the five exceptional students who have been appointed to the London Symphonia Fellowship program with Western University for the orchestra’s 2023-24 artistic season.
Chia-Hsuan Chen is a violinist from Taiwan. She is an accomplished soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. Her early experiences in music education and her unwavering dedication led her to excel in national and international competitions. Her passion for music propelled her to study abroad at the University of Western Ontario, where she is pursuing a master's degree in music. Her exceptional talent has been recognized through various awards and achievements. Taiwan National Student Competition of Music (2020) - Merit Award; National Taiwan University Concerto Competition (2021) - Judges' Award; Maritsa Brookes Concerto Competition (2022) - Final Round Participant.
Born in Camagüey, Cuba, violinist Yanet Campbell Secades is an accomplished soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Her skilled and sensitive playing has enabled her to perform in some of the most important venues in Cuba, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. In 2015, she won the first prize at Cuba’s prestigious Unión de Artistas y Escritores Cubanos competition, and in 2019 she was awarded 2nd prize, in the strings category, within the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals’ National Competition.
Yanet has performed in major international music festivals such as the Rheingau Musik Festival in Germany and the Mozartwoche in Austria. She received a Master of Music from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an Artist Diploma from The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Currently, Yanet is pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Western Ontario, under the tutelage of Professor Annette Barbara Vogel. Her past mentors include her own father, Sydney Campbell and violinists Nancy Dahn, Erika Raum and Paul Kantor.
Tasman Tantasawat is a violist from Thailand currently studying the Master in Music Performance degree program under the guidance of Sharon Wei. Tasman came to Canada in 2014 and spent most of his time in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in music performance from Dalhousie University. He is currently in his first year of DMA program at the University of Western Ontario.
Tasman was the principal violist for the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra for two years, and he was awarded winner of the Concerto Night competition, subsequently performing with Dalhousie Symphony orchestra as a soloist in 2021. Tasman has performed in multiple music festivals, most recently participating in the Scotia Festival of Music 2022 in Halifax. He was accepted into the renowned National Youth Orchestra of Canada for their 2022 and 2023 tour, where he performed in multiple cities across Ontario, Quebec and east Canada.
Eve Thompson is currently completing her Bachelor of Music with an Honours in performance at Western University. Having received the Gordon Jeffery Endowment for Strings, she currently studies with Professor Thomas Wiebe. Her experience ranges from Baroque, contemporary, solo, and orchestral performance. Born and raised in London Ontario, she has been a member of multiple local programs, including London Youth Symphony, Forest City String School, and Young Artists Pre-College Academy. In 2019 she was awarded first place in the Kiwanis Solo Bach Competition in London and second place in the Kiwanis Solo Provincial Competition. As a current member of London Arts Council’s London Arts Live Program, she puts on various solo and chamber concert series around the core of London, continuing to collaborate with various artists from a variety of disciplines. This summer, she studied at the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute where she furthered her techniques on the Baroque cello; she continues to be involved in the Early Music Studio at Western. She hopes that this Fellowship will allow her to gain some professional experience in an orchestral setting, expanding her adaptability as a cellist.
Ellis Yuen-Rapati is a 29 year old London-based violist. He began his musical education on violin at the age of four under the guidance of Yvonne DeRoller in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After deciding to pursue a career in music, Yuen-Rapati has had the privilege to study at McGill University (BMUS, GDP), at The Royal Conservatory of Music (ADP), and is currently completing his master's in viola performance at Western. Through his studies at McGill, RCM, Western, and various summer programs, including six years as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, he has had the pleasure of working with prominent musicians including Professors Steven Dann, Sharon Wei, André Roy, Maestros Micheal Francis, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, The Gryphon Trio and Cho-Liang Lin. Music has taken Yuen-Rapati all across Canada, from his hometown in Dartmouth, Nova-Scotia, to up north in Iqaluit, Nunavut. He has had the opportunity to perform at the Konzerthaus in Berlin, Usher Hall in Edinburgh and Ruinas do Carmo in Lisbon. Yuen-Rapati is currently living in London and substitutes for the Thunder Bay Symphony and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Yuen-Rapati is also the newly appointed violist of the Listeso quartet which performs in London under the Candlelight concert series.
*Returning Fellows, originally appointed 2022-23.
Created in 2022, the Fellowship program provides five full-time Western string students considering a career as a professional orchestral musician with a rich package of professional training, performance experience and mentoring, starting with a highly competitive audition process that mirrors the established practice of professional orchestral auditions. The initiative is funded by the Western Strategic Priorities Fund.
“We are thrilled that our music majors have this uniquely experiential opportunity to work with the very talented musicians of London Symphonia,” said Don Wright Faculty of Music Dean Michael Kim. “This gives our students directly relevant professional experience and training as they prepare to transition to lives as performers and educators in our community.”
“All the musicians are delighted to welcome this new cohort of Fellows to join us for the 2023-24 season,” said Andrew Chung, Artistic Producer, London Symphonia. “Last year, the Fellows brought a wonderful energy to the stage.
“Taking an individual's years of training and performing and applying them to a truly professional context is a vital next step in the development of these accomplished young musicians.”
With five Fellowship positions available each season, all candidates undertake a rigorous, professional-style audition process.
“There simply is no substitute for the experience of preparing and performing the required material on audition day,” said Chung. “The audition involves learning about how one reacts under pressure, and through our audition process we have the opportunity to give helpful feedback so that each player can grow and develop their resiliency in a competitive environment.”
Paired with London Symphonia Mentors who share tips about how best to prepare for concerts, the Fellows will perform with the orchestra in four concert programs in the 2023-24 season:
October 14, 2023. Beethoven Symphony No. 9. Matthias Maute conducting.
January 27, 2024. Janina Fialkowska Plays Chopin. Rei Hotoda conducting.
February 24, 2024. Beau Dixon, Freedom: The Spirit and Legacy of Black Music. Scott Harrison conducting.
April 6, 2024. A Bohemian Life: Debussy, Scott Good, Dvorak Symphony No. 8. Tania Miller conducting.
Following a highly competitive audition process, we welcomed five emerging musicians to join London Symphonia for concerts, beginning December 2022.
“…congratulations to our winners, and to all of the students who auditioned! The standard was high and choosing winners was sometimes very difficult. The entire Audition Committee is both impressed and excited about these wonderful young musicians! They will bring inspiration and energy to our entire orchestra.”
Joe Lanza
Concertmaster, London Symphonia
Director, Western Early Music Studio
A cellist from Victoria B.C., Ethan Allers’ seventeen year career has been shaped by the instruction of various teachers across Canada, including John Kadz, Yuri Hooker and Brian Yoon. He has collaborated with many artists including Canadian composer Vincent Ho as well as National Arts Centre Orchestra principals Yosuke Kawasaki, Joel Quarrington, Jethro Marks, and David Marks, for a performance of Strauss’ Metamorphosen.
During his undergraduate degree, Ethan won the University of Ottawa concerto competition and performed the Elgar Cello Concerto with the University Orchestra conducted by John-Philippe Tremblay. He has also had the pleasure of performing at the NAC’s Fourth Stage uOttawa concert series with various chamber groups and as a solo artist. Under the tutelage of Paul Marleyn, Ethan most recently completed his Master’s of Music at the University of Ottawa. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at Western University studying under Tom Wiebe.
Meika Sonntag is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Western Ontario. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in viola performance under the tutelage of Professor Sharon Wei. Meika is originally from Regina Saskatchewan and began her musical studies at the age of three. Her history of orchestral work includes two years as a utility violist with the Regina Symphony Orchestra as well as performances alongside many talented musicians such as Michael Bublé and the 2Cellos. She greatly enjoys performing chamber music and was awarded first place in the chamber music portion of the National Music Festival with the Fiearro String Quartet in 2018.
Patricio Flores is a multifaceted musician who engages in solo, chamber, and orchestral playing, as well as performance research and education. He has performed as a member of various prestigious performing organizations, such as Magisterra Soloists, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Patricio is the recipient of several performing prizes, such as the Thomastik-Infeld Outstanding String Player Award and the Kiwanis Foundation Award. His passion for sharing music has led him to co-create and perform in the Toca Chamber Collective, with his main administrative role being to organize performance logistics. Having begun his violin studies at the age of 8 with Sebastian Kwapisz, Patricio is currently studying with Annette-Barbara Vogel at Western University as a recipient of the Gordon Jeffery Endowment.
Tasman Tantasawat is a violist from Thailand currently studying the Master in Music Performance degree program under the guidance of Sharon Wei. Tasman came to Canada in 2014 and spent most of his time in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in music performance from Dalhousie University. He is currently in his first year of DMA program at the University of Western Ontario.
Tasman was the principal violist for the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra for two years, and he was awarded winner of the Concerto Night competition, subsequently performing with Dalhousie Symphony orchestra as a soloist in 2021. Tasman has performed in multiple music festivals, most recently participating in the Scotia Festival of Music 2022 in Halifax. He was accepted into the renowned National Youth Orchestra of Canada for their 2022 and 2023 tour, where he performed in multiple cities across Ontario, Quebec and east Canada.
Born in Camagüey, Cuba, violinist Yanet Campbell Secades is an accomplished soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Her skilled and sensitive playing has enabled her to perform in some of the most important venues in Cuba, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. In 2015, she won the first prize at Cuba’s prestigious Unión de Artistas y Escritores Cubanos competition, and in 2019 she was awarded 2nd prize, in the strings category, within the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals’ National Competition.
Yanet has performed in major international music festivals such as the Rheingau Musik Festival in Germany and the Mozartwoche in Austria. She received a Master of Music from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an Artist Diploma from The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Currently, Yanet is pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Western Ontario, under the tutelage of Professor Annette Barbara Vogel. Her past mentors include her own father, Sydney Campbell and violinists Nancy Dahn, Erika Raum and Paul Kantor.
