Performers Bio's
Jonathan Alter
Pianist
Jonathan Alter is a first-year student at The Glenn Gould School in the studio of John O'Conor. He has achieved significant success at the local, national, and international levels. He was awarded the First Prize and the Judges Distinction Award by the American Protege International Piano Competition in New York, returning by invitation to perform at their Summer Gala at the historic Isaac Stern Auditorium/Pearlman Stage of Carnegie Hall. Later that year, Jonathan was invited to play at the Megaron Concert Hall in Athens after winning the Muse International Music Competition. He performed for Steinway and Sons at the Toronto Auto Show and at Gala concerts for the CCC Piano and Strings Competition and North Music Festival. He recently played at the Royal Occasion, honouring James Temerty, Eugene Levy, and Jackie Richardson's contribution to the arts. This year Jonathan made his orchestral debut with the North York Concert Orchestra in December 2022, performing Mozart's 20th piano concerto under the baton of Maestro Rafael Luz. In 2023, Jonathan won first place at the Canadian Music Competition for chamber music with violinist Ophir Strumpf, and last month won 2nd place in The Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition in Koerner Hall with mezzo-soprano Jessica Lyublinksy. Recently, he was selected as one of the semi-finalists in the Kauffman International Junior Piano Competition in New York, where he will compete later this year.
Jonathan is also a conductor, studying with Maestro Simon Rivard. Last year, he founded the Toronto Young Artists Orchestra, made up of students from The Glenn Gould School and the University of Toronto. He is the apprentice conductor of Exultate Chamber Singers and Cantabile Chamber Singers, where he works with their music director Cheryl Chung.
He is a recent graduate from the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists, where he studied with Drs. Michael Berkovsky, Jeanie Chung, and Benjamin Smith. He is also a graduate of the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig.
Eilat Assif
Mezzo-Soprano
Eilat Assif is a multifaceted artist and aspiring therapist dedicated to fostering personal growth and well-being. She obtained a Bachelor's degree in Music with a voice specialization from Queen's University, where her passion for music and performance flourished. Eilat has graced numerous stages, showcasing her talent in iconic productions such as Into the Woods, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Fiddler on the Roof. Notably, she portrayed Witch 2 in Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals and emotive performances.
Arushi Das
Mezzo-Soprano
Arushi Das is a Toronto-based mezzo-soprano in her second year of a Bachelor of Music in voice performance at the University of Toronto, studying under Frédérique Vézina. She started her studies in piano at 4, and voice lessons at 11. During the 2022-2023 season, Das was the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the York Chamber Ensemble. In a choral setting, she has sung with groups like the Ontario Youth Choir, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and University of Toronto MacMillan Singers. When she is not singing herself, she loves to teach music lessons!
Oleksandra Fedyshyn
Violin
Oleksandra Fedyshyn is a Toronto based violinist, composer and educator. She’s got a Master’s degree from The Lviv National Music Academy, M. Lysenko (Lviv Conservatory, Ukraine). Oleksandra performed as a member of symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles in Europe, including INSO Lviv Orchestra and Leopolis Orchestra. As a composer, she was awarded as the laureate of The International Pianists and Composers Competition “Farbotony” and Young Composers International Competition “Gradus ad Parnassum”. Her compositions were performed at the Lviv International Contemporary Music Festival “Contrasts”, The eight International Youth Music Forum (Kyiv, Ukraine), Youth Music Festival “Music of Millennium”. She participated in the 21st IMCM Summer Course for Young Composers, in Warsaw, Poland. Her scores could be seen at the library of The Gaudeamus Foundation (the Netherlands).
In Toronto Oleksandra performs as a member of music ensembles, orchestras and participates in music projects including performances at Trinity-ST. Paul’s United Church, Living Arts Centre, Richmond Hill Centre for The Performing Arts, Markham Jazz Festival, Koerner Hall, Soundstream, Casa Loma, Gallery 345, Tag Tv, Glenn Gould Studio, CBC.ca Eglinton St., George’s United Church, OAPN Showcase (USA), etc. She composes music for chamber ensembles, bands, short films, music arrangements and songwriting.
Elizabeth Gilerovitch
Soprano
Elizabeth Gilerovitch is a Classical vocalist and pianist. Elizabeth is currently pursuing her Bachelor degree at the University of Toronto, studying Classical Voice Performance, in the studio of Monica Whicher. Elizabeth graduated from The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists, Senior Voice program and Etobicoke School of the Arts, Music Theatre program in 2022. She completed her RCM ARCT in piano performance, and she has numerous years of collaborative piano experience, performing with strings and voice musicians. She regularly takes part in music festivals, competitions, charity concerts, and recitals and been awarded on numerous occasions for her accomplishments in both piano and vocal performances.
Tina Jia
Flute
Tina Jia is a Canadian-raised Chinese flutist, studying for a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of renowned flutist Susan Hoeppner. Tina has won numerous flute competitions at music festivals such as the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, she has recently been awarded the Kiwanis Club of Kingsway Humber Foundation award and the Walter Sinclair Memorial Award. During her time at the University of Toronto, she has also been awarded the Fairways Concert Scholarship. Tina’s recent performances include playing for Joanna G’froerer and Susan Hoeppner during their Eastern Canada masterclass tour, a Canadian premier of Jude B. Roldan’s Missa Virtutum (a collaboration between the Toronto Children’s Chorus and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra), and 2 solo recitals as part of the TSYO and Kingsway Church partnership and a fourth-year recital as fulfilment of her Bachelor of Music in Performance at UofT. Upcoming performances include side-by-side concerts with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and an exchange with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. Tina is also an active member of the Chinese Music Club where she serves a role as an accompanist for live stages.
Lucas Kalechstein
Baritone
Lucas is a first year Vocal Performance major at U of T. He has competed for multiple years in the Canadian Music Competition, coming in first place in the national final in 2022. He is currently a member of the Concreamus and Pax Christi Chorale choirs. Lucas has performed professionally since the age of 10. In addition to his vocal studies he has been a voice actor on several animated series with the most current being Bakugan. Lucas is honoured to be performing in this concert honouring Jewish composers
Jessica Lui
Pianist
Canadian pianist Jessica Lui began her musical endeavours at the age of 6. Following a rekindling of her passion for piano in 2020, she received a Bachelor of Music with Distinction in Piano Performance from the University of Calgary under the tutelage of Dr. Lana Henchell. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Toronto under the guidance of Dr. Midori Koga. Experienced in collaborative performance, Jessica has showcased her talents alongside chamber ensembles, instrumentalists, and vocalists. She furthered her musical education through enriching experiences at the Orford Musique Academy and the Orford Musique Artist Residency. Additionally, she has also participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Andre Laplante, John O’Conor, Ronan O’Hora, and others. She is the recipient of the U of T Music Fellowship Award. From the University of Calgary, she has been the recipient of several awards and scholarships, including the Yvonne Johnston Award and the Carr Prize. Driven by her fervour for music education and inspired by her mentors, Jessica maintains a private studio in Toronto. Beyond her musical pursuits, Jessica enjoys hiking and crocheting during her leisure time.
Jessica Lyublinsky
Mezzo-Soprano
Toronto-based mezzo-soprano Jessica Lyublinsky has had a passion for music from a young age. At 21 years old, she has achieved success in various competitions and has been praised by industry professionals for the depth of her voice, dramatic timbre, and extensive vocal range. Jessica has secured several scholarships and grants at various festivals and competitions and has already begun making international debuts. Jessica is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree at The Glenn Gould School (GGS) at the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) in Toronto, Canada, with a four year, full-tuition scholarship. There, she studies under Canadian operatic soprano and Chair-in-Voice studies at the GGS, Adrianne Pieczonka, and Rachael Kerr, a pianist and répétiteur at GGS and the COC. In the 2023/24 season, Jessica and her piano-voice duo partner, Jonathan Alter, had the opportunity to perform in Koerner Hall at the GGS Chamber Competition finals, in which they took second place in the duo-category with their group, Duo Tikvah (Hebrew for "hope"). In this same season, Jessica performed the role of Mère Jeanne in Poulenc’s Dialogue des Carmélites (Koerner Hall) with the Glenn Gould School opera company. In the 2021/22 season, Jessica performed in the ensemble in Handel’s Rinaldo with the GGS opera. At GGS, Jessica has had the opportunity to perform as a soloist and in multiple chamber groups, as well as work with Canadian and international artists in masterclass. In 2023, Jessica made her European debut when she was invited to perform the role of “La Zia Principessa” in Saluzzo Opera Academy’s (SOA) production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica under the baton of Kevin Class. Jessica was invited to SOA on full scholarship with a living stipend. In 2019, at sixteen, Jessica had her operatic debut where she performed in a performance of “Ride of The Valkyries” (Schwertleite) from Wagner’s Die Walküre under the baton of Laura Jackson, with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra on the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater stage as a part of the Reno Arts Town Festival. Since 2018, Jessica has been a student at The Dolora Zajick Institute for Young Dramatic Voices, where she has worked with world-renowned teachers and coaches from major opera houses and conservatories in the United States and Europe. Jessica’s other professional experience includes, singing in Heneck Kon’s Yiddish opera, Bas Sheve (ensemble) with Ashkenaz Festival Toronto. Jessica has performed 2 seasons with the Mandel philharmonic singing, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (rehearsal soloist, 2023), Orff’s Carmina Burana and Borodin’s The Polovtsian Dance from Prince Igor (ensemble) with the Mandel Philharmonic; as well as Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy," (ensemble) and more, with the Toronto Korean Canadian Choir.
Megan O'Donnell
Soprano
Megan O’Donnell has known all her life that music would be her future. Currently in her second year of studying Voice Performance under Mark Daboll at the University of Toronto, she has spent the last 15 years following this passion. At the age of 5, she discovered her love for piano and classical voice. No stranger to the stage, she continues to perform in hundreds of local, provincial and international music festival classes, competitions and musicals. In May 2019, Megan realized a life-long dream to be honored as winner of the Senior Rose Bowl at the Barrie Music Festival. Megan has been blessed to be part of the cast in dozens of musicals and a soloist in many concerts. Some of her favourite credits include “The Road Home”, “Sticks and Stones”, “God Bless Us Everyone”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “Canadian Opera Company Senior Youth Summer Ensemble”. Megan was blessed to receive the Arthur Redsell Scholarship upon her entrance to the University of Toronto, and since has also received the DSEF Direct Sellers Education Foundation scholarship. Megan has completed private studies in grade 10 classical voice and grade 10 RCM piano. She has also trained in musical theatre, basic dance, and improv. For the 9th year now, Megan continues her thriving professional entertainment business as Snow Princess Anna. Even as a baby, Megan loved music. She started by making music on baby pianos, and soon graduated to fully staged shows in the living room, and then onwards to performing in Broadway-scale musicals at her church (Emmanuel Baptist Church in Barrie). Needless to say Megan has a deeply rooted passion for telling stories through song. She would sincerely like to thank all of those who have encouraged her along the way and help shape her to be the young performer she is today.
Mariya Orlenko
Pianist
Ukrainian-Canadian pianist Mariya Orlenko is pursuing her Masters of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Lydia Wong. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree at the Glenn Gould School, where she studied with John Perry and David Louie, and was the proud recipient of The Ihnatowycz Emerging Artist Scholarship. Growing up in Vancouver, Mariya studied with Marina Navrotski, Donna Fishwick, and Ian Parker.
Mariya received the Grand Prize in the Canadian Music Competition, and has won top prizes in the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition and the OSM Manulife Competition. Most recently, she was one of the winners of The Hnatyshyn Foundation Ukraine-Heritage, Spirit and Future Grant (2022). In 2016, she was a quarterfinalist in the Arthur Rubinstein International Youth Piano Competition in Beijing, and in 2017, she was a semifinalist at the Aarhus International Piano Competition. Mariya has performed with orchestras across North America, including Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, Virginia Waring Festival Orchestra, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, North York Concert Orchestra, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, and Kindred Spirits Orchestra. Mariya was the recipient of the Royal Conservatory Provincial and National Gold Medals in 2013 and 2017. She performed a recital as a part of the COC Free Concert Series in 2017, and in the Beethoven Extravaganza Concert as a part of the Concerts at 100 Series in 2020. Mariya was a keyboardist in the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in the 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20 seasons. In 2020, Mariya was the proud recipient of The Hnatyshyn Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship.
Mariya has performed for world-renowned artists including Yoheved Kaplinsky, Robert McDonald, Leon Fleisher, Dang Tai Sun, John O’Conor, Sara Davis Buechner, Andre LaPlante, Idith Zvi, Ian Fountain, and Ori Shihor.
Katya poplyansky
Violinist
Katya Poplyansky has studied at the Glenn Gould School, Guildhall School and Curtis Institute. She has participated in festivals in Canada, the USA and Europe and received prizes in numerous competitions, including the Award for Best Performance of a Commissioned Work at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition in 2018. In 2022, she was appointed Concertmaster of the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and is the first violinist of the Isabel String Quartet at Queen's University. She has also served as guest concertmaster with Les Violons du Roy. Katya is now pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto, studying with Jonathan Crow.
May Sadan
Soprano
Soprano May Sadan has a passion for singing and performing. She was born in Rehovot, Israel and was drawn to music from a very young age, beginning private singing lessons at 6 years old. May discovered her love for classical music while singing in her high school choir for the first time at age 15, and shortly after, began studying classical voice and piano with her former teacher, Heather Faris. In 2021, May completed her Level 9 RCM Practical Voice Exam, achieving First Class Honours with Distinction.
May has performed in numerous concerts and recitals. Her most recent performances include the University of Toronto's 2023 Voice Studies Welcome & Showcase, UofT's Die Schöne Müllerin Project, and the SNATS Canadian Art Song Showcase in 2024. In addition, May played the part of
'Gretel' in Summer Opera Lyric Theatre's 2022 production of Hansel and Gretel.
May has made many achievements over the course of her time in University. In 2023, she was the recipient of the University of Toronto Pinchas Ziegel Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to a very promising vocal student going into their second year of the Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance degree, based on academic excellence and potential. In recent years, May has found success by performing in voice festivals.
In 2021, she was awarded the 1st place title in the 2021 NATS Ontario Vocal Showcase and placed 2nd overall in the 1st year university category at the2022 NATS Great Lakes Region Virtual Student Auditions.
May graduated from Huron Heights Secondary school with Honours and an Arts Huron Music diploma in 2021. She currently studies with teacher Frédérique Vézina at the University of Toronto, where she is in her second year of pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance degree.
Vikram Srinivas
Baritone
Vikram Srinivas, a student of the arts, began his vocal training at the age of 6. A member of the Gleesical program, he studied with Kyra Millan and Cathy Nosaty, developing the skills needed to sing, act, and perform. In addition to his musical education, Vikramhas over 13 years of dance training in Kathak and Bollywood, under the tutelage of Srt. Puja Amin with Sanskriti Arts. In 2017, he began formal training in Classical Voice with Kyra Millan. A former member Canadian Children’s Opera Company, Vikram had his first opportunity to perform in an opera as the Queen of hearts in Errol Gay’s Alice In Wonderland. In addition, he is a graduate of the Claude Watson Secondary Arts Program, majoring in voice, and a student of Kelsey Taylor. Today, Vikram is a student at the University of Toronto in his first year of Voice Performance, a student of Dr. Darryl Edwards, pursuing a career as a professional Opera Singer.
Eyal Stopnicki
Tenor
Eyal Stopnicki (born 2003 in Toronto, ON) is a Toronto-based Tenor who is currently pursuing a BM in Vocal Performance at the University of Toronto, and the founder/artistic director of Jewish Voices in Music. He started his singing journey at the age of 9 when he joined the VIVA! Youth Choir. Later on, he attended Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts where he studied Musical theatre under the mentorship of Ann Merriam. He was a student of Kyra Millan before attending McGill University where he studied with John MacMaster. He decided to move to the University of Toronto where he currently studies with Darryl Edwards and expects to graduate in 2026. He has performed with COSA Canada in their production of The Pirates of Penzance, and the Historical Performance department’s production of Dido and Aeneas.
Daniel Temnik
Violinist
Daniel Temnik is an Israeli-Canadian award-winning violinist who is quickly gaining recognition as one of Canada's leading musical artists and educators. Praised by both audiences and musicians for his radiant tone, commanding technique, and musical depth, Mr. Temnik has extensive experience performing as a soloist and chamber musician in North America, Asia, and Europe.
An exceptionally avid musician, Mr. Temnik’s professional engagements stem extensively in violin performance, taking him to various corners of the globe. He is a recipient of numerous awards, scholarships and diplomas in national and international violin competitions which include the Canadian Music Competition, AFAF Golden Strings of America, Paganini International Violin Competition, Schoenfeld International Music Competition, Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition and the Henri Marteau International Violin Competition. As a soloist, he has concertized in such notable venues as Carnegie Hall, Koerner Hall, Teatro Carlo Felice, Wigmore Hall and the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center. Within the past three years he has been the honoured recipient of the Catherine Royce Anderson Memorial Grant, John Montague Memorial Grant, Sika & Chris Dafeff Violin Bursary and the Benjamin Steinberg Music Legacy Award.
Mr. Temnik studied with distinguished concert violinists and internationally renowned pedagogues Barry Shiffman and Victor Danchenko at The Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto. His previous instruments include a 1734 Pietro Guarneri of Venice, 1785 Lorenzo Storioni and the 1740 ex-Sándor Végh Guarneri del Gesu on loan from Florian Leonhard. He currently performs on a 1770 Nicolò Gagliano. With his exceptional talent, vast experience, and passion for music, Mr. Temnik is sure to continue making significant contributions to the Canadian musical landscape.
Dasha Tereshchenko
Mezzo-Soprano
Dasha Tereshchenko is a Canadian Mezzo Soprano, studying for a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Soprano Nathalie Paulin. Dasha has been a member of the University of Toronto’s opera ensemble since 2022, and has sung in numerous operas including Offenbach’s Monsieur Choufleuri, Arthur Benjamin’s A Tale of Tale of Two Cities, and most recently, Massenet’s Cendrillon where she understudied the role of Madame de la Haltière. Dasha’s solo opera performances include 3rd Lady in Die Zauberflöte (Opera by Request), Fanny Price in Mansfield Park (Opera Nuova), and 1st Witch in Dido and Aeneas (Theatre of Early Music).
Alina Tigelman
Soprano
Alina Tigelman is a 22-year-old soprano, currently completing her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. Prior to post-secondary education, Tigelman was an integral part of the Vocal ARTS Mackenzie Program all throughout high school and played multiple lead characters in their yearly musical productions. She is currently studying with the wonderful Elizabeth McDonald, and for the past two years, has been apart of many of UofT’s Opera productions as an undergraduate opera chorus member. Tigelman‘s dedication to her unique emotional performances makes her the “one-to-watch” in anything she participates in.
Taline Yeramian
Messo-Soprano
Taline Yeremian is a mezzo-soprano currently in her fourth year at the University of Toronto where she is studying classical voice performance, where she will graduate this year. She studies with Monica Whicher, coaches with Suzy Smith and is also in the opera undergraduate program under the direction of Sandra Horst. Throughout the year, Taline takes as many performance and singing opportunities as she is able to in and out of school. She is always open to learning new styles of singing in any language. She has sung repertoire in Italian, German, French, Spanish, Latin, Armenian and more. She is always open to improving her technical and character work in everything she does and if possible, she tries to incorporate her cultural music of Armenian repertoire into her solo performances. In June 2023, Taline made her main role operatic debut in Edmonton at the summer intensive program “Nuova Vocal Arts” in a production of “Mansfield Park” by Jonathan Dove; where she was cast as Fanny Price. She is able to adjust to new directing styles and use them to learn and grow in her performances. Taline is looking forward to many more performance opportunities in opera and classical music, working with different companies around the world.
Kelsey Zhong
Piano
Kelsey Zhong is a Toronto-based pianist originally from Vancouver. Throughout her musical journey, she developed an astonishing amount of performance experiences, ranging from small salon style in the city to world renowned grand concert halls. A graduate of the University of British Columbia and now a student of Master’s in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Toronto, her passion for piano performance only grows stronger each day.
Through studying with renowned pianists such as Rada Bukhman, Dave McCoy, Mark Anderson, Lydia Wong, Daniel Shapiro and Sara Davis Buchener, Kelsey is inspired to seek after great opportunities that can build her into a stronger player than she already is. It is through this mindset that she is often invited to perform concerts at local and provincial events. During the pandemic hardship, Kelsey was invited by Capilano University to perform an online concert as she was granted the first prize of the CapU Music Competition. In addition, Kelsey is recipient of many great scholarships, some of which include the Norah Mansell Music Scholarship, and the Alice & Armen Matheson Scholarship. Aside from her outstanding performance achievements, she is also passionate about participating in competitions. Kelsey has won awards at both national and international competitions, such as the Russian Concerto Competition and Crescendo International Competition. As a prize winner of the Crescendo Competition, Kelsey was invited to perform at the Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Aside from piano performance, Kelsey is also passionate about music teaching. Under the tutelage of Mark Anderson and Mindori Koga, she has written numerous papers and conducted several studies related to piano pedagogy to help create a well-rounded teaching system for the next generation. Guitar and cello are the two instruments that Kelsey often plays during her free time to strengthen her musical skills. Aside from music, Kelsey can be seen exploring the city of Toronto with her friends, or going on a hike with her family in Vancouver.
Jordan Abramson
Composer
Jordan is a Toronto based composer who recently completed his fourth year of a bachelor of music program at the University of Toronto with a major in composition and minor in biology. He currently studies composition with Gary Kulesha and has previously studied with other renowned composers, Kevin Lau and Larysa Kuzmenko. In the summer of 2022, Jordan was accepted into the EAMA summer music institute in Paris for the submission of his String Quartet no. 1: “To Fly Through Dark Clouds,” and in the summer of 2023, was accepted into the Vienna Summer Music Festival where he studied composition this last July. He has had several world premieres including his composition, “Rondo for Chamber Orchestra: ‘Russian,” at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, and his, “Sonata for Cello and Piano,” by the PHACE ensemble at the Palais Ehrbar in Vienna. He has also worked with the internationally renowned soloist Irvin Arditti who premiered his “Ideé Fixe” for solo violin at the Sal Brahms in Vienna. This fall, Jordan will begin a Master’s degree in music composition at the Manhattan School of Music, and has received the conservatory’s prestigious President’s Award. Jordan has been awarded the Ben McPeek Scholarship, the France-Canada Cultural Exchange Experience France Award, the Glenn Gould Memorial Scholarship, and he is a two time recipient of the Arthur Plettner Scholarship.