Staff & Board - Kawartha Youth Orchestra

THE KYO TEAM

We are proud to showcase the talent that makes Kawartha Youth Orchestra a premier music education organization.

Take a moment to learn more about our incredible team!

Orchestral Ensembles

UPBEAT! Downtown

Operational & Support Staff

Board of Directors

Orchestral Ensembles

Lead Conductor

COMING SOON!

Martin Gladman

SKYO Percussion Conductor

IKYO Percussion Instructor

Martin Gladman is a percussionist and multi-instrumental musician holding an Honours Degree in Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University. Martin has worked supporting music programs in schools and community groups from St. Catharines to Owen Sound, including work as a drum teacher with Waterloo Music. While residing in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, he performed with groups including the Wellington Winds, Royal City Big Band, Kitchener Waterloo Community Orchestra, Cana Brava Latin Band, as well as pop bands including Used Parts and Omega.

In 2006 Martin returned to WLU, and continued on to University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Education, where he graduated with Honours and won the Music Award. After his studies, Martin relocated to Northumberland and worked as an elementary music teacher for the Durham District School Board. Martin spent over a decade bringing the joy of music to students, running programs involving concert band, ukulele, recorder, voice, and hand drums. He also performed with local groups including the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra and the L’il Big Band, as well as pop performances with the Hilltop Project and as a solo acoustic artist.

IKYO Conductor

Coming Soon!

Saskia Tomkins

Strings Instructor, Beginner Lessons & JKYO

UPBEAT Senior Instructor- Viola

Saskia Tomkins is a master musician of Violin/Fiddle Viola, Cello and Nyckelharpa. She is classically trained with a folk background and a B.A.hons. in Music (Jazz), and she won All Britain Champion Irish Fiddler.

Over the years, Saskia has worked with many musicians, including: Jimmy Bowskill, The Chieftains, Kim Doolittle, Tim Edey, Tim Garland, “Jabbour”, Robb Johnson, Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Ron Korb, James McKenty, Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker), David Newland, Donald Quan, “Sin E” Ted Staunton , “Sultans of String”, Miranda Sykes, “Uriah Heep”, Lotus Wight (Sam Allison), Ken Whiteley, “Al-pha-X” and Astrid Young, her husband Steáfán Hannigan and son Oisín Hannigan, and a plethora of other amazing musicians, actors and dancers!

Her theatre work includes: Originating the “Celtic-ifying” of the broadway hit “Come From Away”; The English Shakespeare Company and Michael Bogdanov; 4th Line Theatre, Ontario; Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London UK;

Saskia’s current personal projects include Steáfán & Saskia with Steáfán Hannigan, the instrumental jazz/roots duo 2ish, with Brandon Scott Besharah; the Celtic crossover group Cáirdeas and the jazz trio Marsala and the Imports. She frequently plays with Sultans of String and in the Maple Leaf Jug Band. Saskia is principal 2nd violin for Quinte Symphony Orchestra, and also teaches privately from her home near Cobourg, Ontario. and runs workshops at festivals.

Rachel Duketow

Strings Instructor, IKYO
UPBEAT Senior Instructor- Violin

Rachel has been playing violin since she was four years old, and is proficient in both violin and piano. Rachel has completed multiple music theory, violin and piano exams through the Royal Conservatory of Music, and won the Level 8 String Solo Concert Group last season with the Kiwanis Music Festival. She continues to work toward higher musical goals every year.

Over the years, Rachel has performed both classical and Celtic music concerts with her family, Rhythm and Grace Music – Duketow, across Canada. With her family, Rachel has had opportunities to take part in three seasons of a musical children’s series with Salt + Light Media.

Sally Wolf

Flute Instructor

Sally joins the KYO staff as flute and recorder teacher having a well established studio practice in Peterborough, ON. She received her Performance Diploma on flute from the Royal
Conservatory in the Hague, the Netherlands. While in the Hague she also studied Baroque
Flute and learned Recorder and has, over the years, led an Early Music Ensemble, coached
Chamber Music ensembles and taught flute for Cammac/LakeField Music; and currently
teaches Flute at Lakefield College. In 2014 she was awarded the outstanding teacher award
from the Peterborough Registered Music Teachers. Her students have gone on professionally in music, as well as participated as amateur music lovers in many of Peterborough’s flourishing Bands and Orchestras.

Age Smies

Trumpet Instructor

Age (Aga) Smies, is a very experienced orchestra and band conductor and musician.

With degrees in performance, conducting, education and mediation, he either permed or conducted some of the finest bands and orchestras in Europe and Canada.

Many of his students became professional musicians and teachers. He promises that his love of music is contagious, so you better beware!