Judith is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied with members of the Penderecki String Quartet. She has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra, continuing her summer studies in Banff, at the Orford Arts Centre and has participated in a number of QuartetFests at Wilfrid Laurier University. An avid chamber musician, Judith has performed on series such as the Stratford Summer Music Festival, KWS’s Baroque and Beyond, Leith Summer Festival, Perimeter Institute’s Bistro Series, Festival of the Sound, and the KWMS to name just a few. She is currently a member of the INNERchamber String Quartet. 

As an educator, Judith is very active in the Kitchener-Waterloo community teaching at Wilfrid Laurier, University of Waterloo (Conrad Grebel), as well as maintaining a small private studio. Judith is part of the resident faculty for IMC (Interprovincial Music Camp) and City of Lakes Strings Retreat at the Canadian Ecology Centre.  She is a long-time coach for the KW Symphony’s Youth Orchestra program and is in high demand as a clinician across Southern Ontario. 

Judith held the position of Associate Principal Viola with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony for over twenty years and currently maintains an active freelance career across Southern Ontario. Most recently, she was a member of the band for the North American debut of the new hit musical &Juliet in Toronto (Mirvish Productions).  She lives in Kitchener with her husband Jeff and their small but mighty Scottish Terrier Gus.

British-Canadian pianist Claire Stevens (MusB, GRNCM) has gained a reputation for the quality of her collaborations, which range widely from chamber music with members of the Calgary Philharmonic, to accompanying Cantare Children’s Choir and performing in retirement residences and for private engagements with vocalist Michael Hope. A versatile artist at home in many styles from art song to musical theatre, she studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and went on to become Principal Keyboard Player for the Kantanti Ensemble, a chamber orchestra of young professional musicians based in the south of England. She is also an experienced vocal coach, currently working with the Vocal Academy at Mount Royal Conservatory and at the University of Calgary, where she also leads a new course on voice & piano collaboration.  Claire is passionate about supporting her students and fellow musicians to reach their highest potential, and thrives on building positive, encouraging partnerships. Still a relative newcomer to the Calgary music scene after 7 years in Ottawa, Claire is delighted to be back near the mountains where she first fell in love with Canada.

This concert is presented in memory of Benjamin Henry Davenport

B.Mus, LL.B, BCL

1971 – 2017

Cellist and former Artistic Director of the ProArts Society