Pierre-Paul PROVENCHER (bandonéon)

Born in Québec City, Pierre-Paul Provencher is the only Canadian to hold the diplomas of Brevet d'Exécution, Diplôme d'Exécution and the Diplôme Supérieur d'Exécution in concert accordion from the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He has performed in Canada and in France as soloist, chamber musician and with such orchestras as the Victoria Symphony Orchestra (B.C.), the Ensemble Instrumental Appassionata (Montreal) and l’Orchestre de Chambre de Hull (Gatineau), and others. His repertoire extends from Bach to Messiaen, and includes premieres of contemporary music, as well as his own compositions. Specializing in the music of Astor Piazzolla, he has participated in performances of Piazzolla’s opera, music for bandoneon and orchestra, tango nuevo quintet, bandoneon and string quartet, and solo bandoneon. He teaches harmony, counterpoint and solfège at the University of Ottawa. He is also the artistic director of Les Concerts Ponticello, a classical concert series in Gatineau. Mr. Provencher has received numerous grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the Canada Council.

Laurie ROSEWARNE (piano)

Laurie Rosewarne has a A.Mus. diploma in piano pedagogy from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music. She studied concert accordion at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and graduated with an ARCT in accordion pedagogy. She also holds a B.A. (Major in Music) from Carleton University. She is a founding member of Camerata Music, an Ottawa school of music, where she teaches piano, accordion and music theory. She teaches music history at the University of Ottawa. Laurie performs regularly as a concert accordionist (often as part of Duo Arcana), as well as a pianist.

Christian VACHON (violin)

Christian Vachon was born in Windsor, Ontario. He studied at the McGill University Conservatory in Montreal with Mauricio Fuks, then with Calvin Sieb at the University of Ottawa where he received a B.Mus. and the University's Silver Medal. He then completed graduate studies with Martin Beaver at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University where he received a M.Mus. and a Doctorate of Musical Arts. He has performed as soloist, chamber musician and concertmaster in Canada, the United States, Mexico, France, Austria, Taiwan, Spain and Singapore. Active also as an orchestral musician, Christian was concertmaster of the Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau, from 2007 to 2010. He also teaches privately.

Peter STORZENECKER (guitar)

Peter Storzenecker began his training in Sudbury and then studied at the University of Ottawa, completing a B.Mus. and M.Mus. in guitar performance with Patrick Roux and composition with Steven Gellman. As a classical guitarist Peter has performed for and studied with such guitarists as: Sergio and Odair Assad, Leo Brouwer, William Kanengiser, Ricardo Cobo, Norbert Kraft and Fabio Zanon. In 2003 he was a semi-finalist in the “Festival voix et guitares au monde”. He has composed many works for solo guitar and guitar ensemble, as well as film music. Currently Peter is completing a CD of his original compositions and improvisations. He is also finishing a CD with his gypsy jazz group Django Libre.

Marie-Christine DES ROSIERS (double-bass)

Marie-Christine Des Rosiers began her musical studies with the piano and then discovered, in high school, the double-bass, which immediately became her main musical interest. She studied double-bass at the University of Ottawa with David Currie, and graduated with a Master’s degree in music. She has performed in master classes for François Rabbath and Paul Ellison. Marie-Christine has been a member of various orchestras, including the University of Ottawa Orchestra, the Strings of Saint John's, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and the “Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne”. As well, she performs with various jazz ensembles.