TONIA CIANCIULLI - Executive Director
A talented soprano, Tonia graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Western Ontario and immediately began pursuing her love for music and opera. Since then, Tonia has had the opportunity to perform countless of roles with many companies such as Opera York, Toronto Opera Repertoire, Opera Mississauga, Sarnia Orchestra and Brampton Lyric Opera. In addition, Tonia has demonstrated her support and flair for the arts through special events planning. For four consecutive years, she produced the artistic event “Calling on Liberty,” which was held in a 5,000 square foot loft in the heart of Liberty Village. This truly unique experience provided a platform for Canadian artists to showcase their talent while gaining invaluable exposure aimed at exploring and exceeding creative goals. This well-attended cultural event drew large audiences to Toronto’s Liberty Village in support Canadian talent and local charities. |
KERRY STRATTON - Conductor and Music Director
A devotee of Eastern-European music and orchestras, in 2007 Maestro Stratton joined the ranks of renowned individuals to receive the Czech Republic's Gratias Agit Award for his significant contribution to promoting Czech culture. Maestro Stratton has conducted orchestras in Europe, North America and Asia. Among them are the Czech Philharmonic, Slovak State Philharmonic, Concert-Verein Orchestra of the famed Vienna Symphony, Prime Philharmonic in Korea, the Beijing Symphony in the Forbidden City, the National Symphony in Taiwan, Mexican State Symphony Orchestra, and many Canadian orchestras. He also served as Principal Guest Conductor with the Karlsbad Symphony of the Czech Republic. In January 2001, he became the first Canadian to conduct the St. Petersburg Camerata in the Hermitage Theatre. His recordings, on Dorian, Hungaraton, and other labels include the Moscow Symphony in music by Czech and Russian composers; Alan Hovhaness' Celestial Fantasy, with the Slovak Radio Orchestra, an all-Dvorak CD with the Prague Radio Orchestra, Liszt's De Profundis with the Hungarian State Symphony, and an all-Brahms CD with the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. Listeners to Toronto's Classical 96.3 FM know Maestro Stratton as host of Conductor's Choice. Local concert-goers also know him as Conductor and Music Director, since 1988, of the Toronto Philharmonia, which he developed into a professional ensemble. He also founded and conducts the Grand Salon, Canada's Palm Court Orchestra, which recreates the elegant salon era of the early 20th century, and launched the successful adult education course, A Little Night Music. Since 1992, he has been music director of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. Through his International Touring Productions, he has introduced Canadian audiences to such renowned orchestras as Budapest's Georg Solti Orchestra, the Vienna Concert-Verein, the Czech Philharmonic in 2007, and Orchestra Internationale d'Italia in 2008. After earning his conducting degree from McGill University, Maestro Stratton completed graduate studies at the Vienna Conservatory under Sir Charles Mackerras, the Academia Chigiana in Siena, Italy with Franco Ferrara, and L'École Pierre Monteux in Maine with Charles Bruck. |