About Empower kids. Build community.

Executive & Artistic Director and Co-Founder of OrKidstraTina Fedeski, MSM

After a life-transforming experience in UK’s Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra, Tina went on to study at the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England, and then played principal flute in the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra for four seasons. After spending a six-month sabbatical on full scholarship at the Banff Centre for the Arts, she moved to Ottawa, where she played with all the established orchestras and festivals in Ottawa, including the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival.

In 1999, in partnership with her husband Gary McMillen, she opened The Leading Note. Until its sale in 2020, it was recognized as one of Canada’s leading print music stores – and a hub of the classical music scene in Ottawa.

In 2007, motivated by her belief in the transformative power of youth music, Tina visited Venezuela to research El Sistema. Soon afterward, she and co-founders Gary McMillen and Margaret Tobolowska founded OrKidstra (previously also known as The Leading Note Foundation.)

As Executive Director, Tina proudly accepted a Peace Award from the Mayor of Ottawa in 2011 in recognition of OrKidstra’s impact on the community of Ottawa. In spring 2012, Yasir Naqvi, MPP Ottawa Centre, presented Tina with the Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities Award. She is also recognized as a Kickass Canadian, and late in 2012, she received, with immense gratitude, the Canadian Institute for Child Health Leadership Award. In 2017, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, awarded Tina Fedeski the Meritorious Service Medal for creating the OrKidstra program. Tina is a Certified Integral Associate Coach™ with Integral Coaching Canada.

Director of Strategy & AdvancementJanath Vesna

Janath has enjoyed an impactful career in the child-and-youth-serving non-profit sector. Her extensive experience spans program implementation & management, policy development, training & outreach, and stakeholder engagement. She has worked with notable national organizations such as the YMCA and BGC Canada, developing relationships from coast to coast. She holds a Master of Arts – Integrated Studies – in Community and Equity Studies. Janath believes in the power of providing youth with access to quality programming in the critical out-of-school time period and ensuring they have access to caring mentors and wrap-around supports to help them achieve their goals.

Janath has had the privilege of working with amazing youth as well as highly regarded children’s mental health and trauma-informed programming experts throughout her career and is an outspoken advocate for youth mental wellness. She is also passionate about supporting community groups and non-profits in developing strong policies and procedures to ensure their stakeholders are well-protected and their programs/services can focus on meeting the needs of those they serve in a safe and equitable manner. Janath views herself as a life-long learner and is always open to learning from and alongside the communities, organizations and individuals with whom she works. She is a proud bookworm who is happiest with her nose in a book whether that’s at the public library or outside enjoying nature.

While not a musician herself, Janath sees the power of music to break down barriers and transform lives. Both her children are young musicians and have had exposure to engaging instructors/mentors and supportive peers in their music ‘families’. Music is a central part of their lives and their emerging identities as individuals.

“Despite whatever else might be going on in their lives, music has always been their soft-spot-to-land. Music not only teaches them discipline, patience and perseverance; it also gives them a creative outlet and has opened so many doors for them that I never had access to growing up” – Janath Vesna

Janath joined the OrKidstra team in May 2022.

Finance & Logistics ManagerCarrie Olivo Lauzon

Carrie joined the OrKidstra team in the summer of 2014. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector in finance and education for 20+ years, including positions with the YMCA-YWCA and United Way. Carrie is an alumna of the Wexford School for Performing Arts in Toronto, where she performed and recorded with various stage, jazz and concert bands on the alto and baritone saxophones. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, with a specialized Music Degree in Classical Vocal Performance, from York University. When she’s not in the studio, Carrie enjoys the great outdoors with her family and volunteering to support local children’s charities with The League of Super Heroes and the 501st Legion.

“Living in Ottawa, I see firsthand the difference the OrKidstra program makes. It’s amazing what can happen when you give kids the chance to shine, the opportunity to communicate and express themselves in a positive way together. They find their voice, and it is beautiful.” – Carrie Olivo Lauzon

Senior Development & Communications OfficerRebecca Russell

LinkedIn

Contact

Rebecca (she/her) is an experienced communications and development professional and a Dora Award-winning multidisciplinary performing artist. Rebecca holds a BA Combined Honours in Music and Theatre from Dalhousie University, a post-graduate certificate from Centennial College in Corporate Communications and Public Relations (Honours) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Certification in the Fundamentals of Fundraising.

Rebecca has worked professionally as a singer (mezzo-soprano), director, and performing artist with companies such as Against the Grain Theatre, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre, Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, Timber Lake Camp, Essential Opera, Loose Tea Music Theatre, 9th Hour Theatre Company, and many more. She has been an active member of Orpheus Musical Theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes, since 2017. Rebecca has worked in communications and development with arts organizations such as the Classical Theatre Project and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. During her three years with The AFC – the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry, Rebecca managed all aspects of fundraising, event planning, communications, marketing, and development for the national charity. Rebecca joined the OrKidstra team in August 2016.

Program AdministratorEmily Jenness

Emily Jenness joined the OrKidstra team in November 2019. Emily is a graduate of Nipissing University, with a degree in Sociology and Psychology. She is also a graduate of the Early Childhood Education program at Algonquin College. Emily has spent her career working with children of all ages, and is a huge believer in music as an incredible agent for social development and change.

Emily comes from a lifelong background of vocal and musical theatre. She pursued vocal training at The Ottawa Vocal and Instrumental Performance Academy and can be found spending a lot of her spare time involved with non-profit musical theatre company, The Greely Players. Emily sits on the Greely Players’ Board of Directors as the Vice-President, while also being a member of the cast and Production Team.

Apart from OrKidstra and theatre, Emily is passionate about mental health advocacy, loves spending time at the cottage/camping, visiting with friends and family, playing cards and board games, reading Harry Potter on repeat, and being a cat mom!

Artistic AdministratorMark Constantine

Mark Constantine is an arts administrator, educator, and performer with a variety of musical interests. Originally from Canada’s East Coast, he is a graduate of both the University of Ottawa and Indiana University, where he received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Horn performance, respectively. His principal artistic mentors include Dale Clevenger, Lawrence Vine, and Dan Gress, among others.

As a performer, Mark has appeared with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, the Opera on the Avalon Festival Orchestra, and a variety of other performing arts organizations across Canada. He was a member of the National Youth Orchestra in 2016 and 2017, the National Academy Orchestra in 2019 and 2020, and has worked with renowned conductors including Alexander Shelley, Thomas Wilkins, and Tania Miller. Mark was a member of The Ottawa Brass Initiative from 2016-2018, has performed in the Ottawa Chamberfest, The Scotia Festival of Music, the Bathurst Chamber Music Festival, and is a founding member of the Monteregian Brass Quintet.

Believing strongly in the power of music to build community, Mark joined OrKidstra’s team as a Teaching Artist in September 2020 and expanded his role as Artistic Administrator later that year. Mark looks forward to his sophomore season with OrKidstra in 2021-2022. In addition to performing and his work with OrKidstra, he maintains a small private studio of horn students in the National Capital Region. In his free time, Mark enjoys exercising outdoors, spending time with loved ones, and the company of his cat, Moe.

Program CoordinatorKeanna Louis-Charles

Keanna is a graduate of Carleton University, earning a bachelor’s degree studying Performance Music and Mathematics, with distinction. Born and raised in the Vanier/Gloucester neighborhood, Keanna grew up always feeling passionate about her community and love for music.

As a musician, Keanna is an educator, an advocate, and a lifelong student. Keanna plays the baritone saxophone and is trained in jazz through university, although is primarily a classical music enthusiast. Keanna enjoys score study, theory, teaching, as well as interests in conducting, orchestration and instrumentation. Outside of OrKidstra, Keanna is an animal lover, enjoys playing various sports, volunteering in her community, and outdoor activities such as going camping, sitting by the campfire, and spending time on the lake.

Previously working as a birthday party coordinator, Keanna has spent years working with kids uplifting them on their most special day. Aside from being an experienced program coordinator, Keanna graduated as the music department president from her high school, only to show a high level of academic excellence in her university years, achieving Dean’s List status through each of her years, with an additional entry academic scholarship and bursary.

Keanna would describe herself as a “Lover of past, present, and future music ♥♫” Keanna Louis-Charles joined the OrKidstra team during Fall 2020.

Administrative AssistantInga Vitols

Inga joined the OrKidstra team in the fall of 2020. She graduated from McGill University with a degree in Anthropology and then moved to Riga, Latvia for several years to explore her cultural heritage. After travelling the world, Inga returned to Canada and earned a graduate certificate from Algonquin College in Event Management. Inga was introduced to the charitable sector when she had the opportunity to intern at Habitat for Humanity and assist with administration and gala fundraising. As part of her education, she also planned and executed her own fundraising event for the benefit of local Ottawa charities. Over the years, she has spent many hours volunteering within the Latvian community in Montreal and Ottawa and planning a summer camp for Latvian children. Inga has a passion for helping others and she is excited to combine that dedication with her love of music, events and organization.

Growing up as a Latvian Canadian, music has always played an important role in Inga’s life. Learning folk songs, singing in a Latvian choir and participating in the Latvian Song and Dance Festival was a way for Inga to connect to her family’s history and cultural roots. She has experienced first-hand the benefits and the feeling of community that music can provide which is why she was immediately drawn to OrKidstra. In her spare time, Inga loves to garden, spend time at the cottage and do anything outdoors, and she is currently learning how to play the ukulele.

Program Assistant & Teaching ArtistLucas Olsen-Willford

Lucas Olsen-Willford is a violinist born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia. He began his musical journey at age 7 through an organization similar to OrKidstra. This upbringing ignited a passion for a life of music. Lucas was an Assistant-Faculty member at the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music (KISSM) and spent many summers teaching all levels of Trombone, Ukulele and World Music to children of all ages. His can-do attitude once led him to become a percussionist for KISSM’s performances of Mama Mia!, one of his favourite musicals. During his time at KISSM, he was also able to work closely with the School District 73 strings program, mentoring youth, changing many broken strings, and leading string instrument workshops. Lucas has served on the Board of Directors for the Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts and the Thompson Valley Orchestra. He has also been able to work with several orchestras across Canada, including the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre de la Francophonie. Lucas’ love for all genres of music has allowed him to work with people of all backgrounds and ages in various ensembles. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music specializing in performance at the University of Ottawa. Lucas is extremely excited to get to know everyone in the OrKidstra family and help them succeed in every way possible!

Teaching Artist & Program FacilitatorSonia Caceres

Originally from Colombia, Sonia is an Ottawa-based musician and music educator specializing in violin. In 2017, she completed her Bachelor of Music with Honours in Education from the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) in Colombia. Sonia has performed with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga (UNAB), the Young UNAB Orchestra, and the string quartet Aniri; she currently plays with the Kanata Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to her family, Sonia had the privilege of listening to traditional Colombian Andean music while growing up. From a young age, she was part of the musical ensemble Corazón Santandereano, where she learned to love and cherish Andean music. In 2019, Sonia completed a Graduate Diploma in Violin Performance at the University of Ottawa. Recently, Sonia successfully culminated her Master of Arts in Music and Culture at Carleton University.

Sonia’s passion for teaching has grown since the completion of her bachelor’s in 2017. She strongly believes in the positive impact of music on people and feels honoured to be part of that process. In 2018, Sonia joined the OrKidstra family, first as a violin Teaching Artist Assistant and later as a Violin Teaching Artist. Sonia was thrilled to join the OrKidstra staff team as the Teaching Artist & Program Facilitator in fall 2021.

For Sonia, being part of OrKidstra has been a transformative experience as she has found a place full of wonderful people committed to changing lives through music. Additionally, the passion and commitment of the students have encouraged her to keep loving her profession and believing in the power that music holds to transform society. In spring 2022, Sonia was accepted into the AIM Firebird Fellowship. The Firebird Fellowship is AIM (Academy for Impact through Music)’s investment in teachers as the vital change agents for tackling inequality through music education.

In addition to her work with OrKidstra, Sonia has a private violin studio and works for a private music school. Sonia enjoys outdoor spaces, spending time with her loved ones, and dancing. Sonia speaks English, Spanish, and she is currently learning French.