Pine Trees and Blue Sky

Dec 6, 2025   8:00 pm

Saturday, December 6th at 8pm
St. George’s Grange Park
30 Stephanie Street, Toronto

Curated by Artistic Producer Roan Ma
Featuring Roan Ma, violin, and guest artist Stef Van Vynckt, harp

Musicians
Leslie Newman, flute / piccolo
Anthony Thompson, clarinet
Christian Sharpe, bassoon
Jeffrey Leung, soprano saxophone
Gregory Oh, piano
Ryan Scott, percussion
Carol Lynn Fujino, violin
Clara Nguyen-Tran, viola
Paul Widner, cello
Brian Current, conductor

This concert features an extended Continuum ensemble in a performance of Marcos Balter’s Violin Concerto, as well as a new piece for violin and harp by Canadian composer Jessica Ackerley inspired by the connections and complexities of friendship. The program also includes works by Anna Höstman, Toshio Hosokawa, and Haotian Yu.

Marcos Balter (BR) Violin Concerto
Toshio Hosokawa (JP) Landscape II 
Haotian Yu (CA) Ritual IIIb** 
Anna Höstman (CA) Pine Trees and Blue Sky
Jessica Ackerley (CA) A World In Us*

* World Premiere, Continuum Commission
** Created a part of Continuum’s HATCH 2019 mentorship program

 

Tonight’s Musicians

Roan Ma, violin

Roan Ma is a multi-faceted musician passionate about creating space within the classical music world where diverse voices are represented. Her work focuses on rediscovering music and musicians obscured by time and social constrictions, as well as challenging the conventions of classical violin through contemporary repertoire. Her recent research explores the intersections of race, culture, gender, and other identities within music.

Roan received her BM and MM degrees in violin performance from the Manhattan School of Music, graduating from her Masters with the Hugo Kortschak Commencement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chamber Music. She then received her Master of Music Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. During her decade-long tenure in New York City, Roan performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, and the United Nations Headquarters. She also worked at Manhattan School of Music’s Orto Center for Recording Arts and Distance Learning as both a Recording Engineer and as the Recording Arts Manager. Currently, Roan is pursuing a DMA in violin performance at the University of Toronto studying under Jonathan Crow and Mark Fewer.

Recent accomplishments include a performance as soloist with University of Toronto’s Contemporary Music Ensemble in Giacinto Scelsi’s violin concerto, Anahit. In summer 2023, Roan attended IRCAM’s ManiFeste in Paris and was also selected to participate in Continuum Contemporary Music’s 2023 HATCH mentorship program, performing at the Toronto Summer Music Festival, BIGLAKE Festival, and Ottawa Chamberfest. During summer 2024, she was a Fellow at Bang on a Can’s Summer Festival, where she performed alongside the Bang on a Can All-Stars at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. In summer 2025, she performed with the Kronos Quartet at the Next Festival for Emerging Artists and was also selected to attend the Darmstadt Summer Course in Germany.

Roan also leads an active academic life in addition to her performance career. Her doctoral research at the University of Toronto concentrates on music for violin and electronics from a pedagogical and performance perspective.

Stef Van Vynckt, harp

Stef Van Vynckt is a Belgian harpist whose artistry pushes the expressive boundaries of the harp, from delicate textures to bold, abrasive sounds and raw, punk-infused energy. His collaborations with innovative voices in new music—including Dai Fujikura, Leilehua Lanzilotti, Jason Eckardt, Christopher Cerrone, Alexander Schubert, and Elena Rykova—continue to redefine contemporary harp music. Performing with ensembles like Ensemble Modern and at renowned venues and festivals such as the Berliner Philharmonie (DE), the Elbphilharmonie (DE), Bang on a Can’s Long Play Festival in New York (US), LOUD Weekend at MASS MoCA, Classical:NEXT, Darmstädter Ferienkurse (DE), Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (CA), Avaloch Farm Music Institute (US) and cresc… Biennale für aktuelle Musik (DE), Stef brings a fearless, explorative spirit to every project. He is founder of the up-and-coming chamber music ensemble Extended Music Collective and co-founded Inland Ocean in 2022, an international cooperative of performance artists.

Leslie Newman, flute / piccolo

Leslie is the principal flute with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, a post she has held since 2008. As guest principal flute, she has played with the Hallé Orchestra under Kent Nagano, the Bournemouth Symphony, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra and Esprit. She has toured through Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Europe and the U.S. with Sir Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

As soloist, Leslie has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Toronto and the Montreal Chamber Orchestra. She has presented recitals across the UK, with numerous BBC Radio 3 broadcasts, including two live recital broadcasts from the world-famous Wigmore Hall, and throughout Canada, including Jeunesses Musicales and Debut Atlantic tours and numerous national and regional CBC broadcasts. Other notable recital engagements include at the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C., the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series in Chicago, Taipei’s National Concert Hall and the National Museum in Bogotá, Colombia. Festival appearances include Banff, Belle-Ile (France), Bogotá, Salzburg, Sorrento, Sweetwater, the Stratford International Flute Festival (UK), Ottawa’s Chamberfest and the Oregon Bach Festival.

Leslie lives in Toronto and teaches at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music.

Anthony Thompson, clarinet

As a freelance clarinetist, Anthony Thompson performs with many Toronto-based ensembles. As an orchestral musician, Anthony has appeared with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, and the Esprit Orchestra.

Anthony has a deep passion for contemporary music, performing regularly with many of Canada’s premier new music ensembles. He has toured across Canada and parts of Asia with Soundstreams, Continuum Contemporary Music, and the Thin Edge New Music Collective.

In addition to his performance career, Anthony has a large private teaching studio. Away from the clarinet, he enjoys spending time with his family, practicing yoga, and triathlon training.

Christian Sharpe, bassoon

Jeffrey Leung, soprano saxophone

Canadian saxophonist JEFFREY LEUNG is a renowned international performer and celebrated educator. He tours extensively with The Moanin’ Frogs saxophone sextet, performs with Newfound Chamber Winds, and has held positions as Assistant Professor at Queen’s University and Associate Director of theInternational Saxophone Academy.

Hailed as “a truly modern virtuoso” (Roydon Tse, composer), Jeffrey has appeared with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and Continuum Contemporary Music. He has commissioned and premiered over thirty new works for the saxophone and is featured on recordings with people|places|records, Sly Pup Productions, Tonsehen, and Parma Recordings.

To learn more, visit www.jeffreyjfleung.com

Carol Lynn Fujino, violin

Carol Lynn Fujino joined the TSO in 1991 and made her solo début with the Orchestra two years later, playing in Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins. Prior to her joining the TSO, Carol served as Assistant Concertmaster for the National Ballet of Canada orchestra.

Carol has concertized throughout North America, Europe and Asia. She has also been heard on CBC Radio as a soloist with Esprit Orchestra and is an active chamber musician, performing regularly as a member of the Accordes String Quartet and Continuum Contemporary Ensemble.

Aside from playing in the violin section, Carol’s duties also involve keeping her colleagues well caffeinated backstage. She also enjoys spending great amounts of time discussing and making baked goods.

Clara Nguen-Tran, viola

Paul Widner, cello

An active cellist in Toronto, Paul Widner is resident cellist of several contemporary music ensembles, including Continuum Contemporary Music and Arraymusic. He is also principal cellist of the Esprit Orchestra and performs regularly with New Music Concerts.

He has toured throughout Canada and Europe with these groups and appears on several recordings of contemporary Canadian music.

Paul is also the assistant principal cellist of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and performs with the Amadeus Ensemble and the National Ballet Orchestra.

Gregory Oh, piano

Gregory Oh tends to wander the genres, appearing in places from the legendary Berlin techno club Berghain to Lincoln Centre. He conducted RUR A Torrent of Light (Nicole Lizée/Nic Billon) for which he received the 2022 Dora Mavor Moore award for Outstanding Musical Direction, as well as The Cave (Tomson Highway/John Millard) and Bearing (Michael Greyeyes/Signal Theatre) for the Luminato Festival, and the recording Ride the Wind with Roscoe Mitchell and the Montreal-Toronto Jazz Orchestra. On piano he premiered Scott Good’s Hands of Orlac with the London Symphonia and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, toured Rwanda and the UK with Neema Bickersteth and Century Song (Volcano), and was featured as conductor and pianist at the Shanghai New Music Festival. He has worked with hundreds of composers including Steve Reich, Phillip Glass, Kaija Saariaho and Jörg Widmann. He teaches at the University of Toronto and NYO Canada and programs Summer Music in the Garden at Harbourfront Centre.

Ryan Scott, percussion

Dr. Ryan Scott (he, him) has performed extensively as a marimba and multi-percussion soloist in contemporary music festivals in Europe, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, the UK and The Netherlands. He has also performed as guest soloist in over 25 different percussion concerti with the Esprit Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, The Hyogo Performing Arts Centre Orchestra, The Austin Symphony and numerous other orchestras and chamber ensembles across North America.

Ryan is a stalwart figure in the Toronto contemporary music community and has performed in over 400 world premieres. In addition to his work as a regular guest artist with NEXUS, Principal Percussionist of the Esprit Orchestra and Percussionist in the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra since 1996, he is also a sought-after chamber musician and teacher. A core member of Continuum Contemporary Music (founded 1985), he also serves the organization as Artistic Director.

Brian Current, conductor