Author: Communications

Announcing SPO’s new Concertmaster

Meet Alex Toskov

Far from a stranger to SPO, the orchestra is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Toskov as Concertmaster. Alex will be taking over the vacant Concertmaster’s chair in fall 2024, leading the orchestra into our 45th anniversary season. Alex is well known to our audience as the Music Director and founder of the Odin Quartet who have been our Ensemble in Residence for several years. As the resident ensemble, the Odin Quartet have headlined many of our chamber concerts annually as well as being valued collaborators on our New Generation Composer Program, our recent Songs of Hope Project, and many other New Music, chamber music and music education projects.

Learn more about Alex.

Learn more

Curious about what a concert master does? Here’s an amusing and informative article.

Alex Toskov, Concertmaster

ALEX TOSKOV serves as Concertmaster of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and is Music Director of the Odin Quartet which he established in 2015. The Odin Quartet has performed at Music Toronto, Music Niagara and Luminato festivals. The Quartet is maintaining a busy artistic schedule, premiering new music, as well as recording. Alex has also been a member of the first violin section of Sinfonia Toronto since 202 and has lead the orchestra on a few occasions including a gala concert in Roy Thomson Hall in June 2016. Alex toured South America in 2018 and China in 2019 with Sinfonia Toronto.

Recently, Mr. Toskov has appeared as the concertmaster of Toronto Mozart Players, Toronto Artist Symphony, Toronto Philharmonic, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Scarborough Philharmonic, Casa Loma Symphony, principal of Toronto Concert Orchestra, and has recorded various soundtracks for CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries. He also performed with Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Air Canada Centre), Diana Krall (Massey Hall), Josh Groban (Sony Centre), Il Divo (Queen Elisabeth Theatre), Evanescence (Budweiser Stage), and Owen Pallett (Massey Hall). Alex participated at St. Gallen Festival in Austria 2004, Stavanger Chamber Music Festival in Norway 2009, and Colours of Music Festival 2012 & 2013. In October 2010 he was invited to perform as a soloist on a gala concert hosted by cellist YoYo Ma in prestigious Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Toskov performed as a soloist with Serbian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He was a concertmaster of Bayreuth Festival Orchestra in 2006, German-Scandinavian Youth Philharmonic 2009 and was a member of Santiago de Chile Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007/2008. During his studies in Norway 2008-2010, Alex was regularly playing with Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra.

Alex was the winner of The Glenn Gould School Chamber Music Competition 2011, is a recipient of various scholarships such as Norwegian Government scholarship, The Royal Conservatory full tuition scholarship, and Serbian Fund for highly gifted students. Alex took violin lessons with some of the greatest violin pedagogues and soloists such as Pierre Amoyal (Lausanne), Ruben Aharonian (Borodin Quartet Moscow), Isaac Shuldman (Oslo), Michael Frischenschlager (Vienna), Joel Smirnoff (New York), James Boyd (London). Mr. Toskov graduated violin at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia. In 2003/04 he was a student at the University of Music in Vienna, Austria with Professor Ernst Kovacic. In June 2010 he received a title Master of Music Performance at Agder University in Norway. Alex received his Artist Diploma in June 2013 from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory in Toronto, where he studied with Atis Bankas on violin and Steven Dann, on viola.

Mr. Toskov speaks English, Spanish, Russian, German, Norwegian and Serbian.

Ivanna Scovino Angel, Patron and Volunteer Manager

Ivanna is a dedicated arts administration professional currently serving as Patron & Volunteer Manager at the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO). Her multifaceted role involves overseeing volunteer engagement and spearheading Patron engagement through the box-office and individual giving initiatives, reflecting her deep commitment to the arts and community service.

Born into a family that nurtured her passion for music from a young age, Ivanna found music to be a constant source of comfort and inspiration. This lifelong love for music has been a driving force in her career and personal endeavors. She believes in the transformative power of music and strives to share its benefits with others through her work at the SPO. Ivanna’s goal is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and solace that music can provide.

Ivanna is not only passionate about the arts but also actively creates and immerses herself in music. Her daily life is imbued with melodies, and she finds profound meaning in both listening to and creating music. Her artistic journey began at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she spent over a decade studying Composition, Piano, Classical Guitar, Mezzo Soprano-Alto Voice, and Tenor Saxophone. These diverse skills have equipped her with a deep understanding of music’s many facets.

Beyond her musical pursuits, Ivanna is also dedicated to helping others through her passion for music. She aspires to become a Music Therapist, using her talents to heal and inspire. Currently, she is furthering her education in Psychology through the Transitional Year Programme at the University of Toronto, St. George Campus, where she aims to integrate her musical expertise with psychological principles to better support individuals’ mental health and well-being.

Ivanna’s professional background is rich and varied. Her experience includes working as a Talent Placement Specialist at LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics North America, where she honed her skills in recruitment, training, and community engagement. She has also held roles such as Sales Floor Leader, In-Store Trainer, Talent Specialist, Community Engagement Coordinator, Health & Safety Specialist, Sales Ambassador, and Production Assistant, showcasing her versatility and ability to thrive in diverse environments.

Ivanna’s dedication to community service is evident in her volunteer work with the SPO, where she served as a Volunteer & Assistant for several years. Her efforts in recruitment, onboarding, and training of volunteers significantly contributed to the organization’s success.

Fluent in English and Spanish, with basic proficiency in French and Italian, Ivanna’s communication skills are as diverse as her musical talents. She holds various certifications, including Standard First Aid CPR/AED and Health & Safety training, underscoring her commitment to professional excellence and safety.

In her current role at the SPO, Ivanna seeks to extend the benefits offered by music to all who will listen, with the hope that they too can experience the transformative power of music. Her journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication to the arts and her belief in music’s ability to move and heal the world.

Thomas Torok, piano

Celebrated for his imaginative playing and virtuosic stage presence, young Canadian pianistThomas Torok has already established himself as one of Canada’s brightest upcoming talents.The award winning artist has earned international recognition for his musicianship as a finalist in the MostArts Piano Competition 2014, and the New York International Piano Competition 2016, as well as being a silver medalist in the Vienna International Music Competition 2019. Most recently, Thomas was a finalist in the first ever series of Classicalia, a new televised competition aimed at promoting the best young classical artists across the globe.

Already performing in such esteemed venues around the world such as Carnegie Hall and the Wiener Konzerthaus, recent performance engagements have taken him to renowned Canadian venues such as Toronto’s Koerner Hall and the Canadian Opera Company’s Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre. Thomas made his orchestral debut as a soloist at age fifteen, and has since then performed together with several orchestras including the Academy Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto Concert Orchestra, the Huronia Symphony, as well as the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, to name a few.

With his recent orchestral engagements, Thomas has collaborated and studied with some of Canada’s most preeminent conductors including Claudio Vena, Earl Lee, Oliver Balaburski, Ivars Taurins, Kerry Stratton and Jennifer Tung. Thomas’s performances have been broadcast on numerous radio and television stations across Canada and the United States, including WRTI Philadelphia, PBS SoCal, The New Classical 102.9 FM, and Yamaha Canada’s “Going Solo” podcast.

Born in Hungary in 1998 and raised in a culture where the love for music and the performing arts was predominant, Thomas began piano lessons at the age of six. After he and his family immigrated to Canada, Thomas began his formal musical education at the The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Young Artists Academy (Phil and Eli Taylor Academy for Young Artists) with renowned pianist Li Wang. He completed his Bachelors degree in 2022 at the Glenn Gould School studying with James Anagnoson, one of Canada’s most sought after pedagogues.

As an avid soloist in the international masterclass scene, Thomas has played for and studied with several world-renowned artists such as Stephen Hough, Emanuel Ax, Ronan O’Hora, John O’Connor, Andre Laplante, Marc Durand, Stephen Prutsman, Anton Nel, and John Perry. Additional summer studies have taken place at the Miami International Piano Festival, and the Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy at the Curtis Institute of Music. As a current full scholarship student, Thomas is pursuing his Artist Diploma at the Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School.

Mitsuko Fernandes

Mitsuko Fernandes is a grade 11 student at the University of Toronto Schools. Despite a wide variety of interests, music is one of her main passions: she has played piano for over twelve years, and viola for six. She started composing from a young age, submitting early compositions to competitions just a few years after beginning piano. However, her love for composing was reignited in 9th grade after writing a song for a project in her music class. Her composition style is versatile, ranging from melancholy singer-songwriter to impressionist chamber music. She has played in multiple orchestras and chamber music ensembles, has held lead roles in multiple musicals, and is currently the lead singer of a band. She is currently studying piano with JUNO Award-winning pianist Angela Park and hopes to pursue music and composition in the future.

Leela Gilday, singer/songwriter

A passionate singer/songwriter and soulful performer, Leela Gilday has a voice that comes straight from the heart. Confessing her stories to her audiences with a gutsy voice and open stage presence, Gilday weaves her experiences as a northerner, a member of the Dene nation, and a traveler into a beautiful world that transports the
listener.

If you’re from the North, Leela’s music is home. If you’ve never been, it will take you there. Born and raised in the Northwest Territories, she writes about the people and the land that created her. The power in her voice conveys the depth of her feelings of love and life in a rugged environment and vibrant culture, as if it comes straight from
that earth. Leela’s family is from Délįne on the shore of Great Bear Lake and her rich vocals dance across the rhythmic beats of traditional Dene drumming as smoothly as a bass line onstage the largest venues in the country. And she has played them all. Leela has toured festivals and concert halls with her four-piece band through every province and territory in Canada. She has played in the United States, Greenland,
Australia, New Zealand and several countries in Europe.

Her live shows are where she connects with fans who have followed her on a 20-year career and where new fans are born. She reaches into their hearts and feels the energy of every person in front of her as she guides them on a journey through song and experience. She believes music has an inexplicable effect on people. It is a place where she can share light and dark and the most vulnerable moments, with a clarity and genuine purpose that reassures her listeners through every word. She is a storyteller, and through this, reflects the world onto itself.Five years after her last album was released—five years of growth, healing and head-down work—Leela’s fifth album was released September 6 2019. It is more raw, more intimate and more Leela than anything you’ve heard from her before. Since then it has garnered a Canadian Folk Music

Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians visit Scarborough

When we were contacted by the US Consulate about a potential to assist with an Outreach event by members of the world-famous Philadelphia Orchestra, we knew we had to try to make it happen in Scarborough. Planning time was really short but there’s a lot of “can do” attitude at the SPO and we knew that the community would really benefit. A few Zoom meetings later and there was a busy couple of days set up for our visitors. They met with Sistema community music students, coached and performed at Sir Oliver Mowat C.I. and then joined us on stage for a free public concert in a full to capacity house.

What a whirlwind!

Ronald Royer, composer

With numerous performances, commissions and commercial recordings, Ronald Royer is a prominent Canadian composer who strives to connect with audiences. Justin O’Dell of The Clarinet magazine writes: “Ronald Royer’s music is beautifully appealing and communicative”, while Stanley Fefferman of Showtimemagazine.ca contributes, “These masterful and witty pieces live up to Royer’s reputation for music that is both entertaining and imaginative.”

His concert music has been performed by more than 70 orchestras, including the international iPalpiti Orchestra in Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, USA), Sinfonia Finlandia (Finland), Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic), Athens La Camerata (Greece), Joensuu City Orchestra (Finland), and Members of the Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra (Germany). Canadian performances have included the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Orchestra London, Niagara Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony and Symphony New Brunswick. The Ontario Festival Symphony Orchestra performed his composition Exuberance on tour in China (available on YouTube). He has served as the composer-in-residence for Sinfonia Toronto, Mississauga Symphony (supported by the Canada Council for the Arts), Toronto Sinfonietta, Scarborough Philharmonic and the Brantford Symphony.

His music has been performed by such notables as French flute soloist and conductor, Patrick Gallois, Hungarian viola soloist and former Principal Violist of the Berlin Philharmonic Máté Szűcs, Canadian cellist Shauna Rolston, Canadian/Argentinian pianist Alexander Panizza, as well as ensembles such as the Gryphon Trio, St. Lawrence Quartet, and The Elmer Iseler Singers.

Mr. Royer has worked in film and theatre, and this includes (with co-composer Kevin Lau) the score for Gooby, starring Robbie Coltrane and Eugene Levy. He composed music for the theatrical production (and commercial recording) of The Storyteller’s Bag. He was commissioned to write a work for Canada Day celebrations at Niagara Falls. His work, Water and Light for live orchestra with fireworks was heard on July 1, 2006 by over 20,000 people.

Mr. Royer’s music is featured on 15 commercial recordings, with 6 on the Cambria Master Recordings label (distributed by Naxos). He has consistently received positive and enthusiastic reviews for his music. Performers on recordings include the Los Angeles Studio Orchestra (Jorge Mester, conductor), Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic, (Tomas Koutnik), iPalpiti Orchestra (Eduard Schmieder), Sinfonia Toronto (Ronald Royer), 13 Strings of Ottawa (Simon Streatfeild), Toronto Sinfonietta (Matthew Jaskiewicz), Odin Quartet, HornPipes Duo, Chamber Music Society of Mississauga, Triofus, flutists Louise DiTullio and Nora Shulman, oboist Sarah Jeffrey, clarinets Tibi Cziger, Kaye Royer and Jerome Summers, violinists Conrad Chow and Aaron Schwebel, cellists Coenraad Bloemendal, Yves Dharamraj and Simon Fryer, trumpeters Brunette Dillon, Barton Woomert and Steven Woomert, hornist Gabriel Radford, and pianists Aaron Dou, Rachel Kerr and Lydia Wong. His commercial recordings and live performance recordings are regularly heard on radio, including the CBC and The New Classical FM in Canada and a number of NPR stations in the USA.

Born in Los Angeles into a family of professional musicians, he began his career as a cellist, performing with such ensembles as the Toronto Symphony, Utah Symphony, Pacific Symphony, and American Ballet Theatre Orchestra, as well as working in the Motion Picture and Television Industry in Los Angeles during the 1980’s. Having been inspired by working with a number of concert and film composers, Mr. Royer began serious studies in composition in the 1990’s, receiving a master’s degree in composition from the University of Toronto in 1997. His principal composition teachers were Alexander Rapoport, Walter Buczynski and Lothar Klein. Mr. Royer has received commissioning grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, the Laidlaw Foundation and more. He is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre.

In addition to composing, Mr. Royer is presently serving as the music director and conductor of the Scarborough Philharmonic and has guest conducted a number of orchestras. For 21 years, he worked as an Instructor of Music for the University of Toronto Schools. He continues to teach private lessons and be an advocate for music education. Mr. Royer is married to clarinetist Kaye Royer and has composed several works for her.

Meet the Songs of Hope Composers

Shreya Jha, composer

Shreya Jha is a composer, lyricist, playwright, educator, and medical student at the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine. She previously completed dual Bachelors degrees in neuroscience and music composition at the University of Toronto. She is keenly interested in music composition, musical theatre, music education, and interdisciplinary research.

Shreya’s first musical Statistics (book, music, and lyrics) premiered at the U of T’s Drama Festival in February 2019. It then went on to be win the Adams Prize for Musical Theatre at the Toronto Fringe Festival. It made its Fringe debut in 2022. Statistics was shortlisted for the Playwrights’ Guild of Canada’s Robert Beardsley Award and appeared in the 2021 shortlisted play bundle.

Shreya’s second musical Connections was premiered in November 2019. LUV, written as a collaboration, debuted as a cast Album in 2020-2021. 18 Palace Road debuted in fall 2021.

Shreya made her professional compositional debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in April 2021. Her piece, Just Tango With Me will be performed at an upcoming concert (TBD) The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra has performed her pieces String Sonata Op. 8 Mvt 4 – Allegro Vivace, Adversity, Spring in the Step, Forgetting and her arrangement of a traditional Inuit song, This Child. In March 2017 and 2018, the Gryphon Trio premiered her pieces Vexation and Two Left Feet at their Trinity College coffeehouse. The Bold City Contemporary Ensemble selected her piece Journey Through A Daydream for programming in their 2017-2018 season. The Can-Am Trio will premiere her piece Tributes in an upcoming season.

Shreya continuously explores the intersections between music and science, including education and research. She developed a composition program at Sistema Toronto and remains an involved artist. She also works with the Music and Cognition Lab at the University of Toronto Mississauga, the Behavioural Cardiology Research Unit at Toronto General Hospital, and the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance in conjunction with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Shreya received her Associate of the Royal Conservatory (ARCT) in piano performance with honours in June 2016. She is an active violist and violinist and has played with both the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra.