Michael Jones, Executive Director

Michael Jones, Executive Director

In 2024, Michael Jones retired as CEO of SK Arts, the provincial arts funder for the province of Saskatchewan, where he oversaw almost $10 million in support to artists annually. His tenure at SK Arts saw a rebuilding of the relationships between the agency, the government, and the arts community. Prior to his move to Regina, he ran the performing arts program for the Metcalf Foundation, one of the largest private family foundations in Canada providing strategic support in the arts. He has also held senior administrative posts at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (now Dance Arts Institute), Arraymusic, the Muki Baum Association, and Choirs Ontario. He holds BMus and MA (music) degrees from Western University and has certification in public sector governance from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

Since leaving SK Arts, Michael has established a sole proprietorship arts management firm based in Toronto, under which he provides cluster management services to small arts companies. In addition to his role at the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael is the Editorial Director for Opera Canada magazine and has completed short-term contracts for Arts Consultants Canada and SK Arts.

In 2022, his leadership in the arts sector was recognized when he was named one of the first 70 recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan).

As an artist, Michael’s career has focused on theatre, primarily working as a director or music director for organizations like Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Drayton Entertainment, The Red Barn Theatre, Theatre Scarborough, Theatre Sheridan, and Victoria Playhouse Petrolia. Some of his favourite credits include Amadeus (director), Falsettos (director/music director), and Next to Normal (director/music director).

Daniel Mehdizadeh, Communications and Audience Development Coordinator

Holding a doctorate in composition from the University of Toronto,  Daniel Mehdizadeh has been a valued member of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra for a number of years.  While serving as our composer-in-residence, he pioneered a year-long podcast series that delighted our audience during the loneliest year of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Daniel’s facility with digital communications has led to his leading role in managing the orchestra’s social channels where he keeps our audience informed on orchestra and community music events.  Daniel also assists Music Director Ron Royer in coordinating the New Generation Composer Program.

 Based in the Greater Toronto Area, he currently serves as the music and choir director at Stouffville United Church, following his successful tenure as composer-in-residence for the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) from 2020 to 2023. With a global musical influence, Mehdizadeh’s works have garnered widespread recognition, with performances and appearances in prestigious festival series across Europe and North America. His compositions have been featured on CBC and Classical Jukebox Radio and have been featured on albums released by Akashic Classics, distributed by the Universal Group.


For more information visit https://www.danielmehdizadeh.com/

Ted Runcie, Community Outreach Coordinator

Ted Runcie, Community Outreach Coordinator

Born in Jamaica, growing up in Scarborough, Ted is a graduate of MacGill University in composition and conducting.

Having served for two years as SPO’s Composer-in-Residence, Ted has also been invaluable in forging connections with the Scarborough Community, resulting in an invitation from the SPO to formally act as SPO’s Community Outreach Coordinator starting in the 2024-2025 orchestra season. 

During his tenure as Composer-in-Residence, Ted was a contributor to the Songs of Hope project in 2023-2024, and has been working on a chamber work based on the Tales of Anansi. Over the years Runcie has composed a varied body of work including chamber music, solo instrumental works, choral works, art songs and symphonic works. He plans to write a series of operas on Caribbean subjects as well as to continue writing his series of ‘sinfoniettas’ based on Jamaican history.

His Jamaica Quartets No. 1 & 2 have been recorded by SPO’s ensemble-in-residence, the Odin Quartet.

 

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, Operations 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.

Jacob Clewell, Outreach Coordinator

Jacob Clewell, Outreach Coordinator

American violinist/violist Jacob Clewell stands in the vanguard of musicians of his generation. Gold Medalist of the 2017 Vancouver International Music Competition, he leads a multifaceted career as a soloist, recitalist, chamber player, and educator.

Standout moments from recent performance activities include solo and chamber performances at the Scotia Festival, Green Lake Chamber Music Festival, Le Domaine Forget, Lake District Summer Music, Northern Lights Festival de Febrero in Ajijic, Mexico, and Festival Pablo Casals in Prades, France. Jacob has appeared alongside members of the Escher, Emerson, Endellion, Cypress, and Penderecki quartets, Gryphon Trio, Berlin Philharmonic, Seattle and Toronto Symphonies, and with pianists Pedja Muzijevic and Andrew Armstrong. Alongside his duo partner, pianist Sasha Bult-Ito (The Ezra Duo), he has appeared as a guest artist with numerous orchestras and chamber series, toured in the US and Canada, and performed in Toronto’s Koerner Hall, Weill Recital Hall in New York, and as a guest at a G7 Summit event held at the Royal Ontario Museum.

As an outspoken advocate for outreach in classical music, Jacob has presented outreach events everywhere from schools and retirement communities to a federal prison. He is the outreach coordinator for the Scarborough Philharmonic and Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival, and has led performances and educational events at Toronto’s Baycrest Hospital, the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, and Toronto Public Library.

Jacob holds degrees from the Cornish College of the Arts, Stony Brook University, and The Glenn Gould School, and earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto, where he was a teaching assistant in violin, viola, and chamber music. He is Co-Artistic Director and Artist-Faculty of Viola at the annual Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival in Florida, and directs the Mosbacher Salon Collective in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is currently a violist with the JUNO-winning chamber orchestra Sinfonia Toronto, and serves as principal second violin with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, where he is also a member of the NextGen Performance Program.

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Special Thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for support of a two year Outreach program, funded through the Resilient Communities Program