Tre Gatte

Clarinetist Ginny Scarfino is a native of Kitchener-Waterloo and began playing clarinet in high school. While working toward a Computer Science degree at University of Waterloo, she began taking private lessons with former K-W Symphony principal Victor Sawa and studied with him for 18 years. A fellow musician in a chamber music quartet she played in had an extra bassoon, so she borrowed it to give it a whirl. She loved it! After Victor Sawa left K-W, she decided to study bassoon with former K-W Symphony principal, Cedric Coleman, and 20+ years later is still doing so! After a 33 year career in IT with Mutual Life/Sun Life/IBM, she retired in 2013, and decided to add piano lessons as well, with long-time Beckett School teacher Terry Kroetsch. She is very active in the musical community, playing Principal Bassoon in Arcady, The Wellington Wind Symphony, The Waterloo Chamber Players, and Sinfonia Ancaster; Second Bassoon in the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra; and Principal Clarinet in the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra. She performs annually on both clarinet and bassoon in the Noon Hour Concert series put on by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Kitchener. For hobbies, she loves to knit, especially socks, and loves to put together jigsaw puzzles, the bigger the better!

Cellist Cynthia Steele completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. During her fourth year, she had the opportunity to travel to Holland to spend a term at the Utrecht Conservatory of Music. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Cynthia went on to earn a Master's degree in Cello Performance from the University of Victoria. Cynthia has a passion for chamber music and is celebrating her 10th season as Principal Cellist of the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra. She is also Assistant Principal Cellist of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. Cynthia has also studied Baroque cello and enjoys working in Baroque ensembles and playing continuo. She performs and records frequently, often covering a wide range of styles from classical to contemporary and pop/rock. Cynthia has taught for over 20 years, and has run her private studio in Kitchener for 14 years, teaching students of all ages and levels. She also teaches cello at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. She is thrilled to be able to run her monthly Cello Orchestra program once again. Cynthia shares her home with her husband, guitarist Tom Steele, her daughter, a beautiful golden retriever, two rescued cats, a bearded dragon, and backyard chickens. If she could, she would sneak a horse in too.

Pianist Michelle Kyle (née Hunchak) began playing at age four, and at 11 began playing professionally for Ukrainian dance groups in Ottawa. Studying with Garth Beckett at Wilfrid Laurier University, she completed Licentiate and Fellowship diplomas in piano performance from Trinity College of Music, London, England. Studying with Tom Plaunt at McGill University, she earned a Master of Music degree in piano performance. Michelle has been music director and pianist for professional musical theatre productions and church organist/pianist/choir director in several provinces. She was co-founder and artistic director of the Heliconian Choir and Orchestra in Toronto and Joyful Voices choir in Listowel. Michelle has performed as a pianist and cellist for special events throughout Ontario for decades. She also completed degrees in law at Osgoode Hall and adult education at Brock University; has been a lawyer, web developer at a major bank, and certified rock climbing instructor; and now teaches adult literacy in Woodstock. She is Principal Cellist of the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra and plays with the Waterloo Chamber Players. She lives in rural Princeton with her husband and many cats and chickens and enjoys swimming, cycling, Duolingo and puzzles.