Nathan Jacklin is from Regina, Saskatchewan, and is currently a Music Education major at the University of Victoria. He has studied cello with Cameron Lowe and Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni. Nathan also sings in various choirs, as well as playing both the piano and bassoon.

Instrument(s)/Subject(s): Violin
Music Styles: Classical, Fiddle
Levels: Beginners to Advanced

Julie Kennedy is a graduate of the University of Victoria’s Bachelor of Music Performance program and has been playing violin for 15 years. Julie was the concertmaster of the 2007 National Youth Orchestra of Canada and was awarded the Stephen Sitarski Leadership Scholarship for demonstration of outstanding leadership in the orchestra. In 2008, she was concertmaster of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently, Julie plays as an extra musician with the Victoria Symphony and the highly acclaimed Galiano Ensemble of Victoria. She also performs regularly around Victoria with her sister, Carli, as a member of their duo, “The Kennedys”.

Julie enjoys writing her own music, as well as singing and playing piano. Julie has over seven years of teaching experience in a variety of styles, including classical, jazz, and fiddle. Visit her website at http://www.cjkennedy.com

Instrument(s)/Subject(s): Violin
Music Styles: Classical Violin/Suzuki Method/Playing by ear
Levels: Beginners to Advanced

Born and raised in Victoria, Chloe McConchie (nee Kohut) began violin lessons at the age of 3.  In 1999 she obtained her Bachelors of Music Degree in performance at the University of Victoria and later completed an Artist Diploma in Toronto at the Glenn Gould School of Music at the R.C.M.  Chloe’s principal teachers were: Frona Colquhoun, Yasuko Eastman, Ann Elliott-Goldschmid and  Lorand Fenyves. She also studied in Europe with Denes Zsigmondy.

As a soloist Chloe has played with several orchestras. She performed Mendelssohn’s violin concerto with the Cowichan Consort, and Prokofiev’s violin concerto with the University of Victoria orchestra. On two occasions she joined her sister Mieka to perform Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and later with the Victoria Symphony.

In addition to solo appearances Chloe plays on occasion with the Victoria Symphony and has played with the Palm Court Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony and Okanagan Symphony.

In 2006 Chloe pursued her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher and completed her Bachelor’s of Education Degree in Calgary. Since then she has been teaching in the Calgary, Abbotsford, Langley and now Victoria school districts. Chloe enjoys inspiring her students to achieve excellence in lessons that are engaging, focused and fun.  Chloe divides her time teaching in Victoria schools, teaching violin at Larsen Music and freelancing as a violinist in Victoria.

Dougal McLean comes from a musical family. His mother was an elementary school music teacher of 20 years in Prince George, BC. His earliest memories are sitting in his mothers lap at the piano, riding her hands and picking out harmonies at age 3. Soon after, Dougal began playing the violin. Most recently, Dougal studied under Toni Stanick, one of the finest instructors in Western Canada, and at age 27, has already enjoyed many accomplishments in music. Playing professionally as a soloist with numerous popular Canadian artists has led Dougal on to the very best stages in BC including the Royal Theatre, the Orpheum, Macphearson Theatre, and the Commodore Ballroom. Dougal has trained in a wide variety of classical violin techniques including Suzuki and RCM, is well versed in fiddle styles, and is trained in supplementary musical techniques such as Orff and Solfege. In addition to the Violin, Dougal plays the mandolin, guitar, and loves to sing. When not playing music, Dougal's favorite hobby is flying; he is a transport Canada certified pilot.