Jonathan Der - violin
Jonathan Der, violinist, conductor, chamber musician and church organist, enjoys sharing music with the Lower Mainland communities. Although grew up from Toronto, he has been in the BC music scene for over 20 years now. Mr. Der dedicates many hours of his time to violin pedagogy for the past 25 years, emphasizing building strong technical foundation and creative musical expression. Today, quite a few of his students continue pursuing music as a career and many play in professional symphony orchestras. In the past 15 years, Mr. Jonathan has been an active adjudicator for many music festivals in BC, such as the Richmond Music Festival, BC Conservatory of Music Festival, and Pacific Northwest Music Festival. Mr. Der obtained his bachelor’s degree from McGill University and graduated with a master’s degree in Violin Performance and minor in con-ducting from Indiana University, Bloomington. Currently, he also holds the position of Associate Conductor and Chamber Music Director of the Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra and the Music Director /Organist at St. Anne’s Steveston Anglican Church. He was appointed the music director of Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra from 2018 to 2021.
Julie Begg - clarinet
Originally from Scotland, Julie began her musical training at Napier University in Edinburgh. Her education continued at Trinity College of Music, London where she studied clarinet and saxophone. She spent several years in London performing in chamber groups and orchestras before emigrating to Canada. Julie is busy freelance clarinetist playing regularly with Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, Lions Gate Sinfonia and as an extra with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Vancouver Opera. She is acting principal clarinet with Okanagan Symphony and second and bass with Kamloops Symphony. She performs regularly for Concerts in Care (Health Arts Society) and is a core member of the Erato Ensemble. Julie is a passionate educator and is in demand as a clinician working independently and for VSO Connects. She is on faculty at Vancouver Academy of Music and directs both the Rising Tide Community Band and Accidental Jazz Band in North Vancouver.
Brenda Fedoruk
Flutist Brenda Fedoruk is a passionate performer, teacher, mentor and a key player in Vancouver’s lively classical music scene. She’s at the centre of the most acclaimed ensembles in the city: Principal flute with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, a frequent performer with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and first-call for touring orchestras and chamber ensembles. She’s at home in the recording studio, exploring avant-garde repertoire with Vancouver’s renowned Turning Point Ensemble and regularly working on Disney film scoring sessions. Brenda considers herself equal parts musician and educator. She maintains a busy private studio and draws students from across the country to her classes at UBC, Douglas College, Capilano University, and the Vancouver Academy of Music. Many of her students occupy principal positions with major Canadian orchestras, teach in the public school system and carry on her legacy as private instructors. At the heart of her career is the joy of making music with others – a life grounded in collaboration, artistic excellence and a commitment to the healthy “musical ecology” of the community
Helena Jung - cello
Helena Jung has had a diverse career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, and teacher in lower Mainland, B.C. Helena received her B. Mus and M. Mus in Seoul, Korea, and has performed with the Jeunesses Musical World Orchestra, the Seoul Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Gyeonggi Provincial Philharmonic Orchestra as the principal cellist. As well, she has participated in various musical programs, such as the Ratzeburger Sommer Akademie Festival in Germany and the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. She has appeared as a soloist with the Seoul Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ewha University Symphony Orchestra, the Gyeonggi Provincial Philharmonic Orchestra in Korea, and the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra. Locally, she has been invited as a performer and faculty to Concerts Denman, Lulu Performing Arts, Quadra Chamber Music Festival, and CYMC. Helena is a member of the BC Registered Teachers Music Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Furthermore, she has held her own cello recital series; “Cellobration” and her students' concerts “Hello, Cello!” since 2007. The founded “Hello Strings” with string teachers based in the Comox Valley to build a local community of string players. From 2018 to 2025, Helena Jung served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra, leading the ensemble through memorable performances and deepening the community’s love for orchestral music. After completing this chapter, she relocated to Ladner, where she now continues her musical journey, sharing her passion and expertise within a new community.
Ronald Sat - piano
Extolled as “an excellent pianist” by the Washington Post, Ronald Sat has performed recitals in notable venues across the United States including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Centre and National Gallery of Art. His foreign engagements have taken him to Puerto Rico, Iceland, Portugal, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Macau. Mr. Sat earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from Cleveland Institute of Music, Master of Music from Eastman School of Music and Bachelor of Music from University of British Columbia. A recipient of the Chamber Music America/WQXR Record Award, he co-founded the Solstice Music Festival in New York City in 2004, presenting three successful seasons in Lower Manhattan. Mr. Sat has served on the faculty of Centenery College of Louisiana and University of Texas Pan American. He is a Steinway artist and director of the Pacific Chamber Music Academy.
Szu-Wen Wang
Praised for her “incandescent intonation” and “taste, restrain and good vocal control” (Opera Canada), soprano Szu-Wen Wang has received acclaimed reviews for her performances. A versatile musician, Szu-Wen has performed with Vancouver Opera, Vancouver City Opera, Vancouver Island Opera, Pacific Chamber Music Academy, the Postmodern Camerata, and the Handel Society of Music. She is excited to take part in the Schubertiade Salon Series. Szu-Wen is currently a member of the Vancouver Opera Chorus and is also a passionate voice teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice Performance from the Taipei National University of the Arts, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.