Keith Dyrda, Born and raised in Winnipeg, MB, Keith Dyrda is a celebrated trombonist and music educator who has performed in numerous countries around the world, spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. He is a member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Keith’s musical education began on the violin at age 5 when he became an avid student of the celebrated Suzuki Method, which served as the catalyst and foundation for the many years of studies that followed. Keith’s performance career began when, at age 21, he replaced founding member Gene Watts as the trombonist of Canadian Brass. He has since performed with Chicago’s Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, Music of the Baroque, and Philharmonic Orchestra. With the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Keith has appeared both in the low brass section and as a soloist, having been named grand prizewinner of the OSM’s 2008 Standard Life Competition. He also appeared as a soloist with the World Peace Orchestra for Korea in Seoul, KR having been nationally televised there in 2013. Keith also spent 5 years as a member of the All-Star Brass, a quintet that performed and recorded extensively at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Keith was nominated for a Juno Award in Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble for his contribution to Canadian Brass’ 2012 album “Brahms on Brass”. He was also the first prizewinner of the International Trombone Festival’s 2009 Robert Marsteller Competition (Denmark) and the 2009 Alessi Seminar Solo Competition (New Mexico). Keith holds a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music and Master of Music degree from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music.
Keith is Vincent Bach performing artist and has conducted the Youth Strings since 2019.
Born in Winnipeg, Andrea Bell holds Bachelor Degrees in Music and Education from the University of Manitoba and a Masters Degree in Cello Performance from the University of British Columbia. Andrea is the founding member and cellist of the Rembrandt String Quartet. A passionate music educator, Ms. Bell is the Director of the String Orchestra Program at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate. She maintains a large and vibrant private cello studio and is the Director of the “Mini-Rosie” program at the Rosamunde Summer Music Academy. Andrea has taught cello, conducted youth and adult amateur orchestras and adjudicated music festivals across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and in Australia. Andrea is the Conductor of the Winnipeg Mennonite Community Orchestra and 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.