Naomi Guy, violin
Naomi is a vibrant performer on both modern and baroque violin. She plays regularly with the Vancouver Symphony, and has performed with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra for a Sonic Boom project, “New Music for Old Instruments”. Prior to moving to Vancouver in 2014, Naomi was the Associate Concertmaster of the Toledo Symphony, Ohio for eight seasons, and the Concertmaster of the Mansfield Symphony, Ohio for five seasons. In addition, Naomi has held positions with the Canton Symphony, Honolulu Symphony and the New World Symphony. She has performed many solos with orchestras including the Vivaldi Seasons and the Barber violin concerto.
Naomi received her Bachelor degree from the University of Minnesota, studying with Roland and Almita Vamos and her Master’s degree from the Oberlin Conservatory, as a pupil of Marilyn McDonald. Naomi has performed on many baroque orchestra recordings including several with the Apollo’s Fire Baroque Orchestra, and had the unique opportunity to record for the Disney motion picture soundtrack Cassanova. Despite the many rainy days here in Vancouver, Naomi enjoys living in White Rock and walks the Pier often, even in the rain.
Sunny She, violin
Chinese violinist Sunny She has performed in various prestigious events, including the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games, and for many elite Chinese delegation concerts in Korea and Singapore in 2009. In 2010-2011, Sunny had the honour of touring throughout China with 26 String Quartet Special Concerts as a part of the Poly Theatre. She was also selected to perform at the esteemed Beethoven Festival in Bonn, Germany in 2004.
After moving to Canada in 2013, Sunny played with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and was invited to join them for their very first tour of China. Since 2014, Sunny performs regularly with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Sunny has received awards in numerous competitions, including the Alice & Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition in 2013, and the 6th Hong Kong International Music Festival Chamber competition in 2019. Sunny holds a Graduate Certificate from the University of Southern California, USA, and her Master and Bachelor degrees from the Central Conservatory of Music, China. Sunny believes that music makes life better!
Tawnya Popoff, viola
Canadian violist Tawnya Popoff enjoys an exciting and versatile international career encompassing chamber music, solo, interdisciplinary and orchestra realms. Currently principal violist with the Vancouver Opera (BC), she is also a member of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (TX), the Walden School Players (NH), Turning Point Ensemble (BC) and a founding member of Microcosmos string quartet/Kessler Academy (BC).
She is passionately devoted to developing and performing music by living composers and has a broad discography and ongoing collaborations. Ms. Popoff’s keen interest in multi-disciplinary projects has led to international tours with dance companies from New York and Vancouver.
Valuing education immensely she has served on the faculties of the Perlman Music Program, University of Pennsylvania, Syracuse University, SUNY Buffalo, Bowdoin International Music Festival, The Walden School, and Artes no Camiño (Spain), University of Washington and the Vancouver Academy of Music. Ms. Popoff studied with Gerald Stanick (Fine Arts Quartet) in Vancouver, BC and Martha Katz (Cleveland Quartet) at Rice University in Houston, TX and was based out of NYC before relocating to Vancouver in 2014.
Aside from musical pursuits, Ms. Popoff had a cycling tour company in New York City, designs handmade games and toys for her little friends, volunteers regularly and enjoys the great outdoors in all seasons by foot, ski, sail and bicycle!
Meaghan Williams, double bass
Raised in St. John’s Newfoundland, Meaghan and her big double bass have traveled around the world together in planes, trains and automobiles.
Meaghan completed her undergraduate degree at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto with virtuoso bassist Joel Quarrington and earned her Konzertexamen at the Universität der Künste in Berlin. She has also studied with the legendary Gary Karr and Janne Saksala, Principal Bass of Berlin Philharmonic. Meaghan worked with the Neue Lausitzer Philharmonie in Germany and was a founding member of the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Symphony Orchestra in Japan before returning to Canada and settling in Vancouver. She is currently the Principal Bass of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
Meaghan teaches at Capilano University, privately both in person and online, and at the West Coast Amateur Musicians Society course in Squamish, BC, each summer.
A believer in diversity and innovation, Meaghan loves working with living composers and expanding the repertoire for double bass. She is a passionate advocate of Canadian design and craftsmanship and performs on a double bass made by Peter Mach (QC) and bows made by Reid Hudson (BC) and Max Krasper (NS).