Orchestra

David Briskin at See the Music, Hear the Dance

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David Briskin, Music Director and Principal Conductor
Julian Pellicano, Conductor 

Violins
Aaron Schwebel, Concertmaster
Lynn Kuo, Assistant Concertmaster
Jamie Kruspe, Principal Second Violin
James Aylesworth
Dominique Laplante
Jennie Baccante
Sheldon Grabke
Xiao Grabke
Nancy Kershaw
Sonia Klimasko-Leheniuk
Csaba Koczó
Yakov Lerner
Jayne Maddison
Aya Miyagawa
Wendy Rogers
Joanna Zabrowarna
Paul Zevenhuizen

Violas
Sheila Jaffe, Principal
Joshua Greenlaw, Assistant Principal Viola
Emily Eng
Valerie Kuinka
Johann Lotter
Angela Rudden

Cellos
Maurizio Baccante, Principal
Marianne Pack, Assistant Principal Cello
Olga Laktionova
Andrew McIntosh
Elaine Thompson
Paul Widner

Basses
Tony Flynt, Principal
Jonathan Yeoh, Assistant Principal Bass
Samuel-San Vachon

Flutes
Leslie J. Allt, Principal
Maria Pelletier
Shelley Brown,  Piccolo 

Oboes
Mark Rogers, Principal
Karen Rotenberg
Lesley Young,  English Horn 

Clarinets
Max Christie, Principal
Emily Marlow
Gary Kidd,  Bass Clarinet 

Bassoons
Chia-Yu Hsu, Principal
Thomas Roy-Rochette

Horns
Jessie Brooks, Principal
Carlie Bigelow
Scott Wevers
Gary Pattison

Trumpets
Richard Sandals, Principal
Mark Dharmaratnam
Charles Watson

Trombones
David R. Pell, Principal 
David Archer

Tuba
Sasha Johnson, Principal

Harp
Clara Wang, Principal

Timpani
Andrew Rasmus, Principal

Percussion 
Kristofer Maddigan, Principal
Mark Mazur

Orchestra Personnel Manager and Music Administrator:
Raymond Tizzard

  • National Ballet Orchestra members.

    The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

  • Orchestra members in the pit.

    Members of the Orchestra in the orchestra pit. Photo by Bruce Zinger.

  • Orchestra members in the pit.

    Members of the Orchestra in the orchestra pit. Photo by Bruce Zinger.

  • David Briskin and Max Richter at an Orchestra rehearsal for MADDADDAM.

    Music Director David Briskin and composer Max Richter at an Orchestra rehearsal for MADDADDAM. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

  • Orchestra members at a rehearsal for MADDADDAM.

    Orchestra members at a rehearsal for MADDADDAM. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

  • Orchestra members at a rehearsal for MADDADDAM.

    Orchestra members at a rehearsal for MADDADDAM. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

Reviews

    • “The Orchestra, under David Briskin's direction, played composer Joby Talbot's score, complete with its moments of Danny Elfman-like moodiness, with commendable commitment.”

      Toronto Star

      Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

    • “Prokofiev was given his just desserts by conductor David Briskin and the ballet Orchestra. This production makes one very aware of the composer’s melancholy-tinged score, animated by choreography that captures the dark side.”

      The Globe and Mail

      Cinderella

    • “The Orchestra shines, doing its utmost under the baton of David Briskin to transform Minkus' score into a thing of memorable beauty”

      Toronto Star

      Don Quixote

    • “Canada is to be envied for its National Ballet, not only because of their fantastic dancers, but also because of its Orchestra.”

      Stuttgarter Zeitung, Germany

      Soldiers’ Mass

    • “A big shout-out to the National Ballet Orchestra and conductor David Briskin who performed superbly. Ratmansky’s choreography makes one listen to the music more keenly, and the orchestra joined with the dancers to give Prokofiev a grand airing.”

      Ludwig Van Toronto

      Romeo and Juliet

    Top Photo: David Briskin conducting The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra. Photo by Karolina Kuras.