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Guest Musicians
Nicolenco Trio
The Nicolenco String Trio is made up of siblings who love to make music together. Knowing each other really well and living together makes practicing a lot easier! Besides playing at weddings, retirement homes and church/community events they are also active members of the Abbotsford and Langley youth orchestras. In 2023, they had the privilege to play at the Provincial Music Festival in Penticton where they received second place in the chamber group category. They love being homeschooled, which allows them to focus on their passion of music. In the future, they would love to go on tour to share music selections from the heart, and attend chamber music workshops.
Alina
My name is Alina and I am 15 years old. I started studying violin at age 5 with Beth Nickel and have been studying with Dr. Calvin Dyck for the last three years. I am part of two orchestras, the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra and the Langley Youth Orchestra. I love to play the violin because it allows me to connect with people through music, make new friends and grow as a person by overcoming challenges. In my spare time, I love to read a good historical fiction book, sketch or work on my embroidery. My dream is to one day study at a music conservatory in Europe and have a career in violin performance as well as conducting.
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Elise
My name is Elise and I am 13 years old. I started to play the violin when I was 5 years old with Beth Nickel. I am currently studying with Dr. Calvin Dyck who has been an amazing inspiration for me and I enjoy playing in two youth orchestras. Last year, I had the honour of winning first place at the Provincial Music Festival for solo violin. Besides music, I also love to bake, watercolour and embroider. My hope is to pursue violin performance and pedagogy as a career and to study at a music conservatory in Europe. Violin has become a huge part of my life and I hope that I can inspire others to develop a love for music as well.
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Lukas
My name is Lukas and I am almost 11 years old. I have been playing the cello since I was 4. My first cello was a 1/8 size and now I play a 3/4 size. I like naming my cellos and my current cello’s name is Lubava. I chose to play the cello because it has a very nice and deep sound and it’s bigger than my sisters’ violins. My teacher is Joel Stobbe and I think he is fabulous because he teaches me lots of hard things. I also love to play in two orchestras. In my spare time I like building Lego, fishing and scootering. One of my dreams is to tour around the world with my cello one day!
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Ben Goheen
Cellist
Ben Goheen holds his Masters degree in Cello Performance from the University of British Columbia. Since his move from Ontario, he has enjoyed performing with several symphonies and ensembles, including: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, and Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra. He is also an active chamber musician and loves performing with a variety of smaller chamber ensembles throughout the Lower Mainland, including the Somerset Trio and Rose Gellert String Quartet (Langley Community Music School's quartet-in-residence).
In addition to performing, Ben is also the conductor of Surrey Symphony Society's Symphonic Strings, and enjoys a full schedule of cello students throughout the week. If he had to choose a second passion for life, his answer would be quick and easy: beach volleyball.
Andrew Greenwood
Baritone
Andrew Greenwood, a captivating baritone hailing from Vancouver, has been praised for his seductive and elegant vocal texture. Known for his focused and round sound, Andrew possesses a unique blend of power and creamy elegance that captivates audiences worldwide. With recent engagements spanning renowned theaters in Germany and Canada, he has proven himself as a versatile and sought-after performer.
His notable roles include Amonasro in Aida at the Stadttheater Hildesheim and Stadttheater Wolfsburg in Germany, Frank in Die Fledermaus for Vancouver Opera, Zuniga in Carmen, The Doctor in Samuel Barber's Vanessa for Pacific Opera Victoria, Rigoletto at Stadttheater Hildesheim, Prince Yamadori and The Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly for Vancouver Opera, and the title roles in Macbeth and Nabucco. He has also portrayed Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Germont in La Traviata for Opera Pro Cantanti in Vancouver, and the Emperor in Der Kaiser von Atlantis for City Opera Vancouver.
Andrew's Canadian credits extend to Pacific Opera Victoria, Burnaby Lyric Opera, UBC Opera, Opera Breve, Western Concert Opera, and Modern Baroque Opera. His versatility shines through his appearances as a concert and oratorio singer, performing in works such as Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, and various Requiems by Verdi, Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, and Duruflé. He has collaborated with prestigious organizations including the Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Island Symphony, and Festival Vancouver.
Andrew's international career includes notable performances at the Prague State Opera, where he debuted as Escamillo in Carmen and Germont in La Traviata. He also showcased his talent in Switzerland, with roles such as Marcello in La bohème for Opera Studio de Genève and The Ferryman in Benjamin Britten's Curlew River in Lausanne and Cuenca.
With his captivating stage presence and versatile vocal abilities, Andrew Greenwood continues to enchant audiences worldwide with his exceptional artistry and passion for the operatic repertoire.