Karin Klassen, a native of Winnipeg, is both a violinist and a music educator. Karin holds Bachelor degrees in Arts, Music and Education as well as Associate and Licentiate diplomas in violin performance.
As a violinist, she played with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for eighteen years. She has served as the resident violin instructor at the Canadian Mennonite University. Now she plays the violin as a freelance musician for solo, orchestra or ensemble performances. She is a member of the Allegro String Quartet. Karin also adjudicates at festival and scholarship competitions throughout Manitoba. She is an ongoing faculty member of the International Music Camp, having worked as both orchestra conductor and violin instructor to students and adults. In 2009 she received a Distinguished Service Award for her long-term involvement with the camp. The summer of 2002 saw her traveling to Taiwan to teach and conduct young aspiring string players at the Cantai Music Festival.
As a music educator, Karin taught elementary music at Dalhousie School for twenty-one years, before retiring from the Pembina Trails School Division in June of 2014. Throughout her teaching career, her extracurricular recorder, handbells, drumming and Orff groups performed for the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In 2006 Karin was the recipient of the Morna-June Morrow Award for Excellence in Music Education in Manitoba. In 2010 she spent a wonderful year abroad, teaching music on exchange in Australia. A recent highlight for her was collaboration between her school and Canadian Astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield from the International Space Station in 2013. In the past she has volunteered on numerous committees, been a member on the MMEA board and served as the Manitoba Orff Chapter president. Karin has recently accepted a position as Faculty Advisor to education teacher candidates at the University of Manitoba.
Karin has conducted the Youth Strings since 2003.
Born in Winnipeg, Andrea Bell holds a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba, and a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of British Columbia.
Andrea is the manager and cellist of the Rembrandt String Quartet, performing for concerts, weddings and events in Winnipeg. A dedicated music educator, Ms. Bell is the Director of the String Orchestras program at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate and maintains a large private cello studio. Andrea is the Director of the “Mini-Rosie” program for young children at the Rosamunde Summer Music Academy, and is the Conductor of the Winnipeg Youth Concert Orchestra. In June 2016, Andrea was invited by the Australian String Teacher’s Association to teach and perform in Perth, Australia. In the fall of 2017, Andrea was the Guest Conductor of the Winnipeg Pops Orchestra and Brandon Community Orchestra Joint Workshop concert.
Andrea has conducted the Youth Concert Orchestra since 1997.
Daniel Scholz enjoys a versatile career as an orchestral performer, chamber musician, teacher and conductor.
A native of Regina, Daniel studied at the University of Regina, McGill University and the University of British Columbia. He was a prize-winner at the Lionel Tertis Viola competition, the most prestigious event of its kind, held on the Isle of Mann. Mr. Scholz is the Principal Viola of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and is a member of the Winnipeg Chamber Music Society, and the Rembrandt String Quartet.
As a solo artist, Daniel has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Musikbarock, the Okanagan Symphony and the Vancouver Chamber Players. Daniel has also toured Europe with the Nordic Symphony as Guest Principal Viola.
Highly sought after as a teacher, Mr. Scholz is an instructor at the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Mennonite University, as well as the conductor of the Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra. He has performed and taught at many of Canada’s major festivals and is a faculty member of the University of Manitoba Summer Chamber Music Program and the Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival.
Mr. Scholz has commissioned new works by Bramwell Tovey, David Scott, T. Patrick Carrabré and Jim Hiscott. Mr. Scholz plays a viola designed by Gerald Stanick and made by Alan Balmforth of Seattle.
Daniel has conducted the Youth Symphony Orchestra since 2005.