Martin MacDonald, Music Director
Martin MacDonald is one of Canada’s most dynamic and outstanding conductors and has been awarded both the Heinz Unger Award and the Jean-Marie Beaudet Award for orchestral conducting.
In January 2022, Martin was named Music Director of the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Most recently, Martin was named Artistic Partner of the Brott Music Festival based in Hamilton, Ontario, where he will conduct several programs throughout the 2024 summer and fall seasons. Martin has guest conducted extensively across Canada, having worked with the orchestras of Toronto, National Arts Centre, Vancouver, Victoria, Kamloops, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Niagara, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.
He has served as a cover and guest conductor for the National Ballet of Canada and several productions, and he has worked with the Minnesota Ballet, Atlantic Ballet, and Halifax Dance.
Martin has recorded extensively for the CBC and for several commercial recordings. Most notably, Martin has served as Resident Conductor, Associate Conductor, and a regular guest conductor of Symphony Nova Scotia since 2008, with over 200 performances in a diverse range of programs and artists. Previously, Martin served as Associate Conductor of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and has participated in several international conducting workshops and competitions. Recently, Martin has led several live orchestras to film productions and has produced orchestral and opera livestreams and recordings for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Against the Grain Theatre.
Martin has a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from McGill University. At McGill, he studied conducting with Alexis Hauser, served as assistant conductor to the McGill Symphony Orchestra, and worked 4 5 with both Opera McGill and the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble as well as several other orchestral and chamber music activities. Martin has a Bachelor’s degree in Cello from Memorial University. Martin further studied conducting with Bernhard Gueller, Boris Brott, and Michael Jinbo and in workshops with Kenneth Kiesler, Gustav Meier, Jorma Panula, and Johannes Schlaefli. Martin’s conducting activities have been generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. As a cellist, Martin has performed extensively with many orchestras and chamber music ensembles throughout Canada. Cape Breton-born Martin is the youngest of twelve children and has a diverse musical background with a strong Celtic music tradition, including extensive touring and performing with members of his family throughout Europe and North America. Martin resides in Toronto, Ontario, with his wife, Kristen and their daughter, Frances.
The Orchestra
The Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra brings to life the power, emotion and dynamism of the classical symphonic repertoire for an engaged audience of supportive listeners. Its members are drawn from the local community and it champions the performance of some of the greatest music ever written to inspire new and existing audiences. Cathedral Bluffs is proud of its long-standing role in the development of young artists and furthering the musical growth of its members. Founded in 1985, Cathedral Bluffs is one of Toronto’s leading community orchestras. Cathedral Bluffs is known for its musicianship, diverse repertoire, and engaging programs. Cathedral Bluffs presents a dynamic six-concert subscription series, along with a variety of additional performances in the community.

The Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra is a registered charitable organization that rehearses and performs in a fully accessible venue. Cathedral Bluffs is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage participation from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity.
Musicians
Strings
VIOLIN 1
Alexander Gangurean – Concertmaster
Laura Brownell
Dana Bultje
David Colpitts
Clive Davis
Andrea Dickinson
Pamella Fell +
Wendy Frey
Kirsten Hambleton
Lois Robinson
VIOLIN 2
Clare Pellerin, Principal
Emily Misura** – Acting Principal
Rod Gonzaga
Natali Jamal
Susan Ross
Wendy Seravalle-Smith
Cathy Tubb
Nicole Yoshimura
VIOLA
Valentina Ceaicovscaia* – Principal
Carol Burton
Anna Heath
Kunihiro Ito
Leise Warner
Eve Wyatt
CELLO
Oleg Volkov* – Principal
Ivan Chu
Barbara Dickson
Shonagh McVean +
Michael Remenyi
David Rodrigo
Mary Kay Winter
CONTRABASS
Stephen Haynes* – Principal
Maximos Farmakidis
David Harvey
Kerry Johnston
Ernie Mee
Michael Penafiel
Tim Hendrickson, President
Murray Finkelstein, Past President
Christine Fong, Vice President
David King, Treasurer
Shonagh McVean, Secretary
Pamella Fell
Elizabeth Day
Woodwinds
FLUTE/PICCOLO
Christine Fong, Principal +
Rana Mireskandari
OBOE
Murray Finkelstein, Principal
Cristina Sewerin, Alternate Principal
Andre Manivong
CLARINET
Elizabeth Day, Principal +
Kathy Liddle
BASSOON
Tom Kelimbet
Marybeth Garofalo
Dorothy Ward
Brass
HORN
Samir Abd-Elmessih, Principal
Theresa Harding
Robert Henderson
Joan Weir
TRUMPET
Tim Hendrickson, Principal +
Margaret Wolf
TROMBONE
David King, Principal +
Tony Ellis
BASS TROMBONE
Robert Ketchen
TUBA
Joel Gorlick
Percussion
TIMPANI
Paul Mouradian
PERCUSSION
Mary Thomson
+ Board Member