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.
John Wiebe
Coordinator, El Sistema Aeolian
Instructor, Senior Strings (Ionians) and Orchestra Conductor
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.
Jeff Komar
Instructor, Junior & Beginner Strings (Phrygian & Dorian)
Jeffrey Komar holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University, where he studies viola performance. He has performed professionally as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Southern Ontario and Eastern Canada. Jeff joined the teaching faculty of El Sistema Aeolian in January of 2016, and has since overseen the entry-level string ensembles, as well as the Junior Choir. A passionate music educator, Jeff is also also teaches at the Forest City String School, and he has given Masterclasses in chamber music at the Young Artists Pre-College Academy at Western University. In his spare time, he enjoys drinking coffee, cooking, and listening to podcasts.
Sonya Nanos
Instructor, Cello
Canadian cellist Sonya Nanos charms audiences with her impassioned, imaginative playing. She has been featured in the Walleye and Chronicle Journal and broadcast nationally on CBC Radio. She has recorded Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and the complete symphonies of Brahms for Analekta and
StudiOF, an album of Canadian works with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and Gryphon Trio (JUNO nominated 2019), and she can be heard as a soloist with the Lynn Philharmonia playing Paul Reale’s string orchestra music.
As an active chamber musician and recitalist, Sonya has performed around the world, including concerts in Loja and Vilcabamba, Ecuador, the Melbourne Conservatorium in Australia, Suk Hall and Dvořák Hall in Prague, and the Lumina and Consortium Aurora Borealis series in Thunder Bay.
After several years with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Sonya is happy to return home to southwestern Ontario as a member of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared with the Orlando Philharmonic, Orchestra London (now London Symphonia), Orchestre de la Francophonie and the National Academy Orchestra. She has also performed as a backing musician with touring orchestras for Michael Buble and Andrea Bocelli.
Bruce Hoadley
Instructor, Winds & Brass and Orchestra Conductor
Proud to join our teaching staff in 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.Bruce is excited to be a part of the development of full orchestra opportunities for the wonderful students of El Sistema Aeolian.
Tyson Moxley
Instructor, Violin & Viola
Tyson began playing violin at the age of 15 and is a very active freelance musician working out of the London and Sarnia area. Current concert master of the First St. Andrews Strings and a proud member of the London Community Orchestra, London Promenade Orchestras, Mozaique String Quartet, guest musician for Pride Men’s Chorus London and guest performer at Knox Presbyterian Church. He enjoys teaching students of all ages and musical backgrounds. He studied under Connie Van Goozen of Sarnia and Clara Jungmin Lee of Toronto. He is trained in Fiddle playing but his passion is for Classical and Baroque styles. His approach to teaching is in a fun and playful manner, supporting students in feeling confident and he encourages individual interpretation to find their unique sound.
Kelly Larochette
Instructor, Violin & Viola
Kelly Larochette is an educator and violinist residing in London, Ontario. She is a proud student of the Suzuki method and holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts degree from Western University. During her four years at Western, she studied under violinists Mel Martin and Dr. Robert Skelton. In addition to studying the Suzuki Violin method, Kelly has also obtained her Grade 10 RCM certification in piano.
As an educator, Kelly has taught at London’s CTEC program and the Suzuki Academy of Music. Her Suzuki training has included courses led by Paule Barsalou, Karen Kimmett, and Edmund Sprunger. Kelly’s personal mentors have included violinist Laurie Mitchell and flutist Kenichi Ueda.
Currently, Kelly runs her studio privately alongside performing with various local ensembles. She also writes, arranges and records as a session musician for grassroots artists across Canada. She has appeared on national radio programs such as ‘Q’ hosted by Jann Arden and ‘The Strombo Show’ hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos.
