Clark Bryan
Director
Clark Bryan, BMus’90, Mmus’92 is an award-winning concert pianist and has performed internationally, recorded 14 CDs and has been featured on radio and television. As a teacher, Bryan has taught thousands of students, adjudicated more than 70 music festivals coast to coast in Canada, given dozens of workshops and written a book, “Gateways to Learning and Memory”.
In 2004, he founded The Aeolian Performing Arts Centre. Today, this historic and legendary Centre is recognized as a beacon for arts and culture in Ontario and regularly hosts musical artists of many genres and is prized for the gift of intimacy and acoustics it provides to both audiences and performers.
Bryan believes that everyone should have universal access to music, art and culture. Because of this belief, he launched El Sistema Aeolian in 2011. This free, UNESCO award-winning program has offered more than a thousand children and youth an opportunity to experience the joy of a rich musical education. “Music is one of the powerful tools we have for social change today,” he says. In all his roles at El Sistema – teacher, administrator and executive, he displays a progressive, social-justice mindset. Whether incorporating mindfulness exercises with music lessons or arranging for ensembles to perform with celebrity musicians such as Ashley MacIsaac, The Canadian Brass or Stephan Moccio, he is consistently researching and applying new ways to make music education more engaging.
Other activities have included co-founded two new programs. Pride Men’s Chorus London, a choir open to men of all backgrounds and identities and Rebelheart Collective, a conductor-less chamber orchestra that offers mentorship to young apprentices and offers free tickets to every concert.
Bryan was awarded Musical Personality of the Year (2005) and won a Jack Richardson Award for Community Contribution (2011). In 2017, Mr. Bryan was given the Western Alumni Award of Merit and inducted into the Don Wright Faculty of Music Wall of Fame. In 2018, Clark was recognized with a Canada 150 Award through the House of Commons for his contributions to community and the nation. In 2022, Clark won Best Classical Solo Musician at Forest City London Music Awards.
Bryan continues to extend his reach into the community about the power and joy of music study by giving a TED talk, engaging in community activism and speaking regularly at events, on radio and television as well as opening The Aeolian’s Education Campus.
Darren Sigesmund
Program Coordinator
Darren Sigesmund is an award-winning trombonist and composer. He has released five recordings as bandleader featuring his compositions with his jazz ensembles. He has received a 2010 JUNO nomination and a Galaxie Rising Star award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Darren has toured nationally and overseas, and has written several classical commissions. He holds a doctorate from the University of Toronto in Jazz Performance. Darren has given dozens of workshops and has taught jazz and classical piano at the Humber College Community Music Program. With a strong belief in the importance of music education, Darren aspires to help provide meaningful opportunities for the youth at El Sistema Aeolian.
Lesley Andrew
Junior & Glee Choir Director
Known for her extraordinary vocal range and versatility in many genres of music, Ms. Andrew often “switches hats,” performing as the soprano soloist for one engagement and as the alto soloist for the next – from opera to show tunes, oratorio to jazz.
Immediately following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Andrew began an extended tenure with the Stratford Festival, performing in productions including The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Twelfth Night, Cyrano De Bergerac, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Music Man and Patience. Other theatrical performances include Menotti’s The Telephone and Hopkin’s Three’s Company at the Guelph Spring Festival (featuring and directed by Ms. Andrew). Most recently, Ms. Andrew directed La Boheme (Southern Ontario Lyric Opera), receiving rave reviews as “SOLO’s best production yet!” for her creative direction and use of space.
Ms. Andrew has made special guest television appearances on The Tonight Show, Oprah Winfrey, To Tell the Truth, Donny & Marie, The Comedy Network, YTV, Regis & Kathy Lee and many more. A popular motivational speaker, Ms. Andrew is engaged across Canada by Educators, Universities, Corporations, Service Clubs and Student Organizations.
Maja Nicole Zbogar
Senior Choir Director
Maja is an avid performer, teacher and collaborator. She holds a degree in Piano Performance at Western University, where she studied with Stéphan Sylvestre. During her time at Western, Maja had the opportunities to perform as a solo and collaborative pianist in addition to being a chorister in the Western University Singers choir. In April of 2024, she was a winner of the Young-Ja Park piano competition where she placed 3rd. Maja has a passion for making music with others, especially within the choral setting. In addition to performing, she has been teaching piano
Bruce Hoadley
Winds and Brass Teacher/Conductor
Part of our teaching staff since 2017, Bruce Hoadley brings to El Sistema Aeolian a diverse wealth of musical experience. Bruce has been a professional trombonist with the Victoria Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic, as well as a music educator with over thirty years of experience in all levels from K to 12. Through the years, Bruce has conducted numerous award winning concert bands & jazz ensembles, and has been a music conference clinician in both the USA & Canada. He has enjoyed playing and singing with the Pacific Opera in Victoria, and now sings with the Big Bandemic Big Band right here in London. Bruce’s primary teaching responsibilities for El Sistema Aeolian are the Winds & Brass students, but he also conducts and orchestrates music for our Full Symphonic Orchestra.
Maria Gonzalez-Iraheta
Violin/Viola Teacher/Conductor
Iraheta’s roots are firmly planted in the vibrant El Sistema in Venezuela. Since then, she has grown as a chamber musician with the President’s International String Quartet, a prestigious full Scholarship opportunity to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in music at Western Illinois University. As a viola instructor Gonzalez-Iraheta has taught in El Sistema, Venezuela; Tocar y Luchar Music Program in Bogotá, Colombia, worked with private students and recently taught in the community program of Whispering River Orchestra in Parry Sound, Ontario. Maria has participated in ensembles across the Americas including Orquesta Sinfonica de Falcon, Orquesta Filarmonica de Caracas, Bogota Chamber Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, Galesburg Symphony Orchestra among others. As a winner of the 2020 WIU Concerto Competition she performed the Hoffmeister Viola Concerto under the baton of Dr. Kenny Lee in spring 2021. She is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Viola Performance at Western University in London, Ontario.
susan millar boldissar
Cello Teacher/Conductor
Susan Millar Boldissar holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she was recipient of both the Dean’s Merit Award and the International Conservatory Student Award. She earned her Master of Music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she was recipient of the coveted Eva Heinitz Award, and served as Associate Instructor of Violoncello as well as Teaching Assistant to Professor Eric Kim. Susan received her pedagogical training for stringed instrument instruction through completion of the minor cognate string pedagogy program at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Ms. Boldissar was the founding director of the Mount Carmel Academy Chamber Orchestra and Instrumental Ensemble program, served as Instructor of Chamber Music for the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestras, and director of the Homer Plessy strings program, serving kids who might not otherwise have had exposure to strings and classical music. Since moving back to London, Ontario, Susan has given back to the local music and education community in which she was raised. She has volunteered her time, teaching workshops and masterclasses at several local schools and organizations. Susan served as conductor, music arranger for Young Artists Pre-College Academy; was the founding conductor of Young Artists Orchestra, and graciously donated her time and talents as temporary co-director of YAPCA. Additionally, Susan has served as interim conductor for Forest City String School, donating her time and talents transcribing/arranging music for that organization as well.
She has held positions of Instructor of Violoncello with the Young Artist’s Academy, the Endangered Instrument Project in New Orleans, as well as Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts, all whilst maintaining a private teaching studio.
In addition to her classical foundation, Ms. Boldissar boasts a mastery of improvisational music, use of looping and effects pedals, performance on the Morin Khuur (Mongolian Cello), the stroh cello (a cello with a brass bell from 1915), use of extended and experimental techniques, and has used her ability to compose and arrange music fitting the unique specifics of instrumentation in her teaching.
Susan has performed across the U.S. and Canada as a soloist, chamber musician and with orchestras. Solo performances include The Jeffery Concerts in London Ontario, Bach Around the Clock festival in New Orleans, the faculty guest recital series at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, chamber music performances in the San Francisco Bay area, Instant Opus improvised music series with Lori Goldston (of Nirvana), in New Orleans.
Solo performances with orchestra include performances with the National Academy Orchestra, as Susan was the winner of the NAO concerto competition in 2008. Ms. Boldissar has performed in many orchestras including the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and was principal cellist of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic during her tenure at Indiana University.
Vladyslav horbanovskyi
Cello/ Double Bass Teacher
My name is Vladyslav Horbanovskyi, and I am delighted to work at the music school, where I can share my passion for music with children. I was born in the beautiful city of Kharkiv, where my musical journey began.
My musical education started at the conservatory where I graduated in 2024. I had the honor of playing in the youth symphony orchestra “Slobozhansky,” as well as working at the Kharkiv Regional Philharmonic. My musical career also reached an international level, and I had the opportunity to collaborate with the Lviv Philharmonic in the INSO-Lviv (Lviv International Symphony Orchestra), touring in many European countries and performing in prominent concert halls.
My goal as a teacher is to inspire children with music and develop their skills and talents. I also believe it is important to instill in children a sense of politeness, discipline, and the value of teamwork. I am confident that my lessons will not only teach your children to play an instrument but also develop skills that will be useful to them in the future.
