Connie Gitlin has served as Principal Clarinet with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra since 1984, a position that she has held with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Chamber Orchestra, Sante Fe Opera Orchestra and Colorado Philharmonic. An avid performer of chamber music, Ms Gitlin is a regular performer at the summer chamber series Music on the Red and a guest performer on numerous other chamber music series, which have included collaborations with Tracy Dahl, Edith Wiens and Henrietta Schellenberg. Ms Gitlin has appeared as a soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and Musique Baroque Orchestra performing the works of Mozart, Rossini, Copland and Molter among others. Her solo recitals include an appearance as a guest artist at the International Clarinet Congress in Cincinnati, Ohio. Much in demand as a teacher of clarinet, Ms Gitlin currently serves as Instructor of Clarinet at both Brandon University and the University of Manitoba as well as maintaining a private teaching studio.

Mark Rudoff has served as Principal Cello of the Calgary Philharmonic and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestras, and performed as a member of ensembles including the Saskatoon Sinfonietta, Parkland Ensemble, Music Project, and the Riverside Quartet. He has appeared with orchestras and in solo recitals across Canada, and has been a guest artist at the Winnipeg Symphony's New Music Festival, Mountainview Festival of Song, and Prairie Festival of New Music. Mark holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan. Mark is currently Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at Brandon University, principal cello of the Brandon Chamber Players and Conductor of the Brandon University Orchestra, and Conductor of the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra.

A native of the farming community near Ninga, Manitoba, Lawrence Jones was for many years a member of the faculty of the School of Music at Brandon University. From 1987 to 1992 he served as Dean. Although recently retired, he continues his association with Brandon University as teacher and pianist. Dr. Jones completed degrees at the Universities of Manitoba, Yale, and Iowa. Among his teachers were Lorne Watson, Filmer Hubble, Adele Marcus, and John Simms. As a recitalist he has performed in centres across Canada, and appeared repeatedly on CBC Radio, both as soloist and as partner with renowned Canadian violinist, Francis Chaplin. An examiner for Conservatory Canada, Dr. Jones has adjudicated at festivals throughout the west, including Calgary, Victoria, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

Penelope Clarke has been Principal Flute of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra since 1978. After completing her studies at the University of Toronto with Louis Moyse and Robert Aitken she toured North America with the Canadian Opera Company for two years. As a member of the TBSO, Ms Clarke has performed most of the standard concerto repertoire for flute. The most recent was a performance of the Ibert flute concerto in October 2002 in celebration of her Silver Anniversary season with the orchestra. Ms Clarke is a Sessional Lecturer of Flute and Music Rudiments at Lakehead University and she maintains a private studio teaching flute.

Madonna Douglas holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Bachelor of Education Degree from Lakehead University and a Licentiate in Performance Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music where she studied with Eduard Minevich, Victor Danchenko and Jascha Milkis. She has been a member of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra since 1993. As well as an orchestral musician, she is an active chamber musician, private violin teacher, and most recently, violin instructor at the Lakehead University Department of Music.

Barbara Finch has been with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra as Second Bassoon since 1998, and has served as Principal Bassoonist for the 2002-2003 season. A native of British Columbia, Barbara completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance at the University of Victoria and a Master of Music in Orchestral Training at McGill University. She has performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Victoria Symphony, Okanagan Symphony, National Academy Orchestra, as well as many chamber ensembles including Consortium Aurora Borealis, Concentus Corvinus, and the Prevailing Winds.

Born in Comox, British Columbia, Colleen Gibson began playing the oboe in high school and studied with Harry Sargous in Toronto. She continued her musical studies at the University of Western Ontario where she graduated with the Alumni Gold Medal. She has also studied at the Juilliard School in New York and at the Philadelphia College for the Performing Arts with Robert Bloom. Colleen is presently Principal Oboe with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. As a Sessional Lecturer at Lakehead University, Colleen has taught oboe, woodwind literature, woodwind techniques, and ensemble classes.

George Holborn studied in Detroit with Roma Riddell, and in Toronto with Madame Irene Jessner and John Coveart. He is a music graduate of the University of Toronto, and the University of Windsor. George is currently a wildlife biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, specializing in song birds, and a teacher of voice both at the Lakehead University Department of Music and privately. On numerous occasions, George has appeared as a featured artist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra in major symphonic and operatic works. He has been a soloist with the Consortium Aurora Borealis, in concerts of Elizabethan, Spanish Renaissance, and Baroque music, and more recently in recitals of German Lieder.

Catherine Jillings has been Principal Violist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra since 1983. Cathy studied with Jaroslav Karlovsky, Rivka Golani and Elman Lowe at universities in Victoria, Toronto and Regina. Cathy has played chamber music at TBSO Festivals, at Lakehead University and with the Harbour String Quartet. She has performed as a soloist in recital and with the TBSO. She has taught viola privately and at Lakehead University. This is her third year performing with New Music North.

Derek Oger received his Honours Bachelor of Music degree from Lakehead University in 1998. After studying with Heather Morrison, Derek continued his studies with Peter Longworth of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Helmut Brauss of Victoria, and Boris Zarankin of Toronto. Derek divides his time between performing and teaching. In addition to serving as accompanist to the Thunder Bay Children's Chorus, he works regularly with singers, performing in both chamber and solo recital, and has performed as an extra with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Derek has lectured in music pedagogy at Lakehead University, and serves on Conservatory Canada's Board of Examiners.

Cliff Ojala is a graduate of the Tri-Service School of Music in Esquimalt, BC. He has also studied at Berklee College. He was part of the infamous Hasty Pudding Club Production of A Boy Called Beowolf which toured New York and Bermuda. Since retiring after 28 years as an Instrumental Itinerate Music Instructor with the Lakehead Catholic School Board, Cliff has been a sessional lecturer for saxophone and clarinet at Lakehead University where he also directs the Jazz Ensemble. Recently Cliff, Marg Peele, John Scaffeo and world renowned bassoonist, Ernest Zukerman, toured throughout Northwest Ontario to 18 schools, performing concerts for over 4000 students and adults.

Cai Yu is a professional cellist who has won many competition awards. He has a Master degree in Music from University of Victoria. He has held principal cellist positions and has been active as a soloist with various orchestras in Canada and abroad. He has been an active chamber musician for more than twenty years in both the Orient and the West. He has also taught at a number of Music Schools, Music Camps and Universities including Lakehead University. Apart from being a musician, Yu Cai is also a computer networking specialist.