The COC Orchestra
The COC Orchestra—the oldest opera orchestra in Canada—comprises more than 50 permanent instrumentalists and has received worldwide acclaim for its musical versatility and range of expression. Under German-born conductor Johannes Debus, who was appointed Music Director of the Canadian Opera Company in 2009, the orchestra continues to excel in a wide variety of repertoire, achieving “almost otherworldly perfection” (Globe and Mail).
-
Violins - Marie Bérard*, Concertmaster
- Aaron Schwebel, Associate Concertmaster
- Jamie Kruspe, Assistant Concertmaster
- Paul Zevenhuizen, Principal Second
- Csaba Koczó, Assistant Principal Second
- Anne Armstrong
- James Aylesworth
- Sandra Baron
- Bethany Bergman
- Terri Croft
- Elizabeth Johnston
- Nancy Kershaw
- Dominique Laplante
- Clara Lee
- Yakov Lerner
- Aya Miyagawa
- Louise Tardif
- Joanna Zabrowarna
*The Concertmaster's chair has been endowed in perpetuity by Joey and Toby Tanenbaum.Viola - Sheila Jaffé, Principal
- Joshua Greenlaw, Assistant Principal
- Carolyn Blackwell
- Catherine Gray
- Yosef Tamir
Cello - Leana Rutt, Associate Principal
- Paul Widner, Assistant Principal
- Maurizio Baccante
- Olga Laktionova
- Elaine Thompson
Bass - Tony Flynt, Principal
- Robert Speer, Assistant Principal
- Ben Heard
Woodwinds Flute
- Douglas Stewart, Principal
- Shelley Brown
- Shelley Brown
- Mark Rogers, Principal
- Lesley Young
- Lesley Young
- Dominic Desautels, Principal
- Colleen Cook
- Colleen Cook
- Eric Hall, Principal
- Lisa Chisholm
- Lisa Chisholm
Brass French Horn
- Scott Wevers, Principal
- Gary Pattison
- Bardhyl Gjevori
- Janet Anderson
- Robert Weymouth, Principal
- Robert Conquer, Principal
- Ian Cowie
- Daniel Hill, Principal
Timpani and Percussion Percussion
- Trevor Tureski, Principal
- Nicholas Stoup, Principal
Harp - Sarah Davidson, Principal
Personnel Manager and Library Personnel Manager
- Ian Cowie
- Wayne Vogan
- Ondrej Golias
-
Principal Cello—February 15, 2023
Bass Trombone—February 21, 2023
Music Director Johannes Debus and the COC Orchestra (2018), photo: Gaetz Photography