Ottawa Suzuki Strings Alumni
Ethan Balakrishnan
Teacher: Rosemarie and Elaine Klimasko
Years studying music: 15+
Still plays instrument: Every day
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
Post Secondary Education:
Current Occupation:
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Olivier Brandts-Longtin
Teacher: Kit Barham
Years studying music: 15+ Years
Still plays instrument: Weekly
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
Community Orchestra
Post Secondary Education:
MD(c), HBSc
Current Occupation:
Medical Student
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
I learned a lot about perseverance, dedication, and teamwork. I think practicing and developing these skills through violin has helped prepare me for my academic pursuits, but it has also given me a creative outlet. I enjoy being able to play for myself or friends and family and am very grateful I was able to have all the experiences I did through music.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Traveling through China with Stellae Boreales – exploring such a diverse country while being able to share our music with a great group of people
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
I’ve gotten quite fond of rock climbing, but school still takes up most of my time
Laurent Cote
Teacher: Rosemarie Klimasko, Elaine Klimasko
Years studying music: 13 Years
Still plays instrument: A few times per year
Post Secondary Education:
A.B.; PhD
Current Occupation:
Postdoc (in mathematics)
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Music, and OSS in particular, was a big part of my life growing up, so it’s hard to pinpoint one particular thing. I think that their experience of performing in public *a lot* was extremely useful to me. I was usually very nervous before each performance, and I think that this was very useful training. Nowadays, I often have to give public talks/lectures. Unlike some of my colleagues, I don’t find this particularly hard or scary. I think this is partly (maybe mostly) because I had the experience of performing violin in public so many times.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Probably the trip to NYC (I had never been there before, and it was also my last year in the program).
Charlotte Deacon
Teacher: Rosemarie Klimasko
Years studying music: 12 Years
Still plays instrument: Rarely, I should pull it out more!
Post Secondary Education
Honour’s Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University (completed), currently at McMaster University studying medicine
Current Occupation
Medical Student
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Playing with OSS taught me about teamwork and the value of discipline, while of course being a lot of fun
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Any of the tours we went on with Stellae Boreales!
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Rowing – I represented Canada at the Under23 World Championships in 2019
Jack Donohue
Teacher: Adam Cicchillitti
Years studying music: 13 Years
Still plays instrument: 3 times a week
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
On my own, for my own betterment/enjoyment
Post Secondary Education:
Bachelors in Philosophy (Currently Studying)
Current Occupation:
Full-Time Student
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Teamwork, Determination, Creativity
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Met my best friend through the Guitar Program G#
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Literature writing/reading
Felix Hu
Teacher: Rosemario Klimasko, Lance Elbeck
Years studying music: 15+
Still plays instrument: Usually weekly with a university orchestra
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
With the McMaster Symphony Orchestra!
Post Secondary Education:
Bachelor’s (Health Sciences) at McMaster
Current Occupation:
Undergraduate Student
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
OSS has helped me greatly to gain confidence in performance abilities that span from musical performances to presentations and public speaking. I’ve made lifelong friends and made many new connections, thanks to group rehearsals and performances here! It’s given me lifelong memories and opportunities to do things that I never imagined I’d do. My time with everyone at OSS taught me to love music, and thanks to that, I have a hobby that I can enjoy for life.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Meeting so many talented people in group rehearsals and becoming great friends with them! Also, getting the opportunity to travel to China and Argentina and being able to visit all the cultural sites and theatres!
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Singing; I perform in my faculty musical!
Alisa Klebanov
Teacher: Rosemarie Klimasko, Elaine Klimasko
Years studying music: 15+
Still plays instrument: Every day
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
Orchestra
Post Secondary Education:
Bachelor in Music from the University of Ottawa
Current Occupation:
Section violist at Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Ottawa Suzuki Strings was an excellent first step in my development as a professional musician.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
My lessons with my private teachers!
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Holly Laurenzio
Teacher: Rosemary Klimasko
Years studying music: 14
Still plays instrument: I am no longer focused on my musical training, but I love that I can always have music as a hobby and as something that brings me joy. I play my violin every few months when I hear a beautiful song that inspires me to make music.
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
n/a
Post Secondary Education:
I completed a Bachelor of Global and International Studies at Carleton University in 2019, and I am current completing a Master’s of Global Development at Queen’s University.
Current Occupation:
Teaching Assistant at Queen’s University
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
My years of studying violin have shaped me into an organized, efficient, and diligent worker. The discipline instilled in me from being a musician has impacted every aspect of my education and career. I am abundantly grateful for the musical training I received and for Ottawa Suzuki Strings for being an outlet for my creativity. In the past few years, I started teaching violin to beginners and it has brought me so much joy to watch young learners be inspired by the music that once inspired me! I believe firmly in the Suzuki ideology that “everyone can play music” and that those who do have a special gift that makes the world a more beautiful place.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
As a member of Stellae Boreales, I was able to participate in three international music tours, Washington D.C. (2012); Cuba (2013); Minneapolis (2014). I have such fond memories of performing in Cuba and playing along side Cuban musicians. Sharing music across the world and communicating through music despite language barriers was a very special experience. Every single rehearsal, lesson, and performance will remain as a cherished memory for years to come.
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
I have taught myself guitar in the last year as a ‘pandemic hobby’ and have always dreamed of learning cello and saxophone, so hopefully that is still to come!
Jaewon Seo
Teacher: Kit Barham, Rosemarie Klimasko
Years studying music: 15+
Still plays instrument: Everyday
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
In orchestra and chamber ensembles
Post Secondary Education:
BM-Cleveland Institute of Music, MM- Rice University
Current Occupation:
Violinist
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Performance opportunities and experiences.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Spending quality time with friends and colleagues.
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Playing tennis.
Shanti Sivarulrasa
Teacher: Sara Mastrangelo, Karoly Sziladi Sr. and Christopher Barham
Years studying music: 15+
Still plays instrument: Every day
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
I am in my second year of the Bachelor of Music program at Dalhousie University on a four-year Fountain Performing Arts Scholarship. I am planning to do my concentration in music composition. I study violin with Leonardo Perez and serve as the Assistant Concertmaster of the Dalhousie Symphony Orchestra.
Post Secondary Education:
BMus
Current Occupation:
Beginning in September 2022, I will be a violin teacher with the Scotia Suzuki School of Music in Halifax.
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Taking part in violin groups such as Fine Tuners and Stellae Boreales helped me to develop my ensemble skills and learn how to lead a group.
Teacher: Kit Barham
Years studying music: 15+
Still plays instrument: 2-3 times a week
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
Community orchestras, teaching
Post Secondary Education:
Bachelor in Humanities and Biology, Carleton University; will be starting a master’s degree in Political Economy at Carleton in the fall
Current Occupation:
Student
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Learning the violin with Suzuki helped to teach me discipline and teamwork, skills that are applicable to just about any future endeavour. They gave me a sense of commitment and of contributing to a greater whole that has served me well. Suzuki violin training has also provided me with ways to have fun and to meet others in the future, through community orchestras and other musical groups.
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Since leaving OSS, alongside the violin, over the past few years I have also tried a couple of other musical instruments, including the bagpipes and the harp.
Alexandra Telford
Teacher: Rosemarie and Elaine Klimasko
Years studying music: 13
Still plays instrument: Rarely (unfortunately!)
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
n/a
Post Secondary Education:
BArch & MArch
Current Occupation:
Masters Student
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Being taught the importance of repetition, practice and hard work has helped me prepare for many other challenges in my life.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
There were some very special memories made during all of the Stellae Boreales trips I was fortunate enough to be a part of, memories both of places and the amazing people I was able to get to know.
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
Ever since leaving regular music participation in 2013, that time and effort has been put into the sport of track and field. I am still competing regularly and am currently specializing in the 400m and 400m hurdles.
Eric T
Teacher: Kit Barham, Rosemarie Klimasko
Years studying music: 15+
Still plays instrument: N/A
If still actively pursuing music, in what environment do you continue to play?:
I wish I did
Post Secondary Education:
Bachelor in Arts Honours Economics, Master in Financial Economics
Current Occupation:
Investment Management
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
It helped me to learn about grit and dedication. Practicing is not easy but learning to spend time and energy into one thing is important, tough and worth the pain for the long term gain.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
Our Stellae Borealis trip to Iceland and the Monday evening group practices
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
I have learned Piano and Drums.
Jerry Wang
Teacher: Kit Barham, Elaine Klimasko
Years studying music: 12
Still plays instrument: Sadly, never (not since 2018 – I was going to join a community orchestra in 2020 just prior to the pandemic, but unfortunately that fell through)
Post Secondary Education:
BSc, MSc, PhD Candidate (In progress)
Current Occupation:
Graduate Student – PhD
How did your studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings help you grow as an individual and prepare you for future challenges and endeavors?
Although I am not pursuing a career in music, my time with OSS fostered my enjoyment of playing in an ensemble and collaborating with others. OSS group lessons and Stellae Boreales were my first exposure to ensembles. Thanks to how much I enjoyed that experience, I’ve pursued many opportunities to play in different ensembles, and have made many great memories and lifelong friends during and after my studies with OSS.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time with Ottawa Suzuki Strings?
A few: Making a comically large pot of cucumber soup at a retreat (that was unfortunately not great but somehow a few people ate) A ‘chicken’-filled night with two friends at the same retreat All the trips I went on (New York, Washington, especially Iceland)
Have you explored a new skill or hobby, either recreationally or professionally, since leaving the Ottawa Suzuki Strings program?
I have gotten into recreational bouldering/rock climbing since I no longer need to be super careful with my hands.
