Clark Bryan
Executive Director, Founder and Program Developer
Clark has had a long career as a music teacher and performer. He has given workshops and adjudicated music festivals coast to coast in Canada. He has also developed curriculum for two National Conservatories and written a book to help students become better learners entitled “Gateways to Learning and Memory”. Clark has a passion for helping young people reach their full potential in life and is dedicated to finding new ways to help them flourish. Launching the El Sistema Aeolian program was a natural outcome of Clark’s desire to give opportunities to all children and youth to enjoy music and find meaning in the journey.
Minerva Figueroa
El Sistema Aeolian Program Coordinator/Developer and Conductor/Teacher
Minerva was first involved with an El Sistema program in her native Mexico City, guiding children in their path to play their first orchestral pieces. She then moved to work with professional orchestras including Mexico’s National Symphony Orchestra. While being part of a team organizing concert seasons, tours, and recordings was a phenomenal experience, Minerva has a passion for education, children, good music, good food, and dreaming big: Everything that El Sistema Aeolian offers!
John Wiebe
El Sistema Aeolian Assistant Administrative Coordinator and Conductor/Teacher
John is thrilled to be part of the musical fabric in London, remaining in the city after undertaking graduate work at Western University. He performs frequently around Southwestern Ontario, maintains a private teaching studio, and has also enjoyed working with many of London’s young string players from various organization. Drawing on his experiences, he seeks to inspire the next generation of musicians at El Sistema Aeolian.
Rod Culham (Senior Choir)
Rod has spent much of his life devoted to teaching young people drama and music. Although currently a retired high school teacher, he hasn’t given up his passion for bringing music to students of all ages. He continues to conduct a variety of choirs in London and area. Rod believes that El Sistema Aeolian has breathed new life into his desire to use music and the voices of youth to bring change to the world.
Lisa Snow (Junior Choir)
Lisa Snow has been a music specialist and classroom educator for 25 years in the London area. Originally from Corner Brook, NF, she earned a Bachelor of Music, Honours (Music Education), Bachelor of Education, and Masters in Professional Education (Leadership) from Western University, as well as training in the Kodály method. She has taught voice privately, elementary music classes in the former Middlesex County School Board and the Thames Valley District School Board, and early music literacy skills with Forest City Talent Education and Amabile Choir’s Animato program. Lisa believes that good music education should be available to all children, and loves the appreciation and enthusiasm of the students in the El Sistema program. It gives her great joy to be part of the organization.
Behn Strople (Conductor/Teacher)
Behn is a passionate musician who has pursued this noble art for most of his life. His early involvement as a volunteer in El Sistema Aeolian was an opportunity for him to begin his musical career taking ownership of a method of education he believes to be a just pathway. Behn believes that the participants in El Sistema Aeolian build pride by pursuing excellence in their musical goals. He loves being part of a community of enthusiastic artists and musicians and feels rewarded by this environment. The knowledge that he is helping build an inclusive community is personally is of great personal satisfaction to him.
Jeff Komar (Conductor/Teacher)
Jeffrey Komar has taught with El Sistema Aeolian since January 2016, and he is also a graduate student in Viola Performance at Western University. He conducts the entry-level orchestra and junior choir, teaching music rudiments, foundational string instrument technique, and choral technique. Through his work he also cultivates in his students community-building skills such as confidence, thoughtfulness, and curiosity so that they do not simply play music, but rather they thrive through it.
Adrian Wright (Conductor/Teacher)
The major part of Adrian Wright’s work as a cellist was spent as a member of the National Orchestra of Wales in Cardiff, U.K. He had experience as a cello teacher in school and private studio settings He is currently a lecturer at the Don Wright Faculty of Music in the Music Education and the Performance Departments. Adrian has also a private studio, plays in a number of chamber and orchestral ensembles. Increasingly important to him is his work with the new and expanding El Sistema Aeolian program. Adrian received his training as a cellist from the Royal Academy of Music in London, U.K. and prior to that three years with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain had a considerable influence on the course of his life.
Queena Liu (Teacher)
Queen has just completed her first year of high school at Beale Secondary and teaches piano in the program. A former participant in the El Sistema Aeolian program, Queena loves music and visual art. She has completed her grade 10 piano with the highest honours and is preparing for her Associate Examination. Queena’s artwork has been featured in many exhibitions and she created a new logo for the Pearson School for the Arts. Queena also is a songwriter and performs in a band called “Populusque Romanus”.
