Doctoral Program
The life experiences of Costa Rican percussionist Randall Chaves Camacho in North and Central America inspired him, as a performer, to explore the diversity of genres and types of percussion playing, from experimental to popular music. Just as with his diverse interest in music, his work has as its core the inclusion and support of those who for historical and economic reasons have not been equally present in the music field. Aware of his Central American roots, he is researching the cultural history and education of percussion in Costa Rica, in order to bring more diversity to the table.
Hong Kong-raised percussionist Hoi Tong Keung believes in the power of music in connecting people from around the world. As a contemporary music advocate, she attended summer institutes including the Darmstädter Ferienkurse (Germany) and soundSCAPE festival (online), where she collaborated with composers and premiered their works. Hoi Tong co-founded KöNG Duo with fellow percussionist Bevis Ng. In summer 2022, they held a residency at Banff Centre where they curated their début performance—“good morning, hong kong.” Since then, the duo has been invited to perform locally at Music TORONTO’s inaugural Celebration of Small Ensembles series and internationally at the New Music Gathering in Portland, OR. KöNG Duo was the 2023–2024 Young Artistic Associates of Confluence Concerts and endorses M1 (Marimba One) instruments.
Hoi Tong’s performance and research interests lie on the interplay between modes of expression, be it Eastern and Western music, acoustic and electronic instruments, audio and visual media, or music and speech. Her doctoral research focuses on incorporating spoken Cantonese into percussion music.
Hoi Tong is a fourth-year D.M.A. student at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Aiyun Huang and Beverley Johnston. She holds degrees from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Alex Fraga is a Brazilian percussionist and a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto. With a strong passion for education, he has been actively involved in teaching through various non-profit organizations in Brazil, the US, and Canada. Specializing in traditional Brazilian instruments such as the pandeiro and berimbau, Alex’s research focuses on music education, popular music, and performance enhancement practices.
As a member of the berimbau chamber ensemble Arcomusical, Alex has toured extensively across Brazil, South Africa, and the US. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Minas Gerais Federal University (Brazil) and a Master of Music degree from Northern Illinois University (USA).
Originally from Hong Kong, Bevis Ng is a Toronto-based percussionist, specializing in contemporary classical music. He is completing a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance at the University of Toronto with the support of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Terence Clarkson and Cornelis van de Graaff Graduate Scholarship. As a musician passionate about chamber music, his doctoral research focuses on rehearsal strategies for percussion chamber music.
Bevis founded two Toronto-based percussion groups: KöNG Duo, with fellow percussionist Hoi Tong Keung, and Kairos Percussion Quartet. Award-winning KöNG Duo has actively performed in Canada and abroad, including Darmstadt (Germany), Portland OR, and Eindhoven (The Netherlands). KöNG Duo is Marimba One’s ensemble artist. Kairos Percussion Quartet was formed in 2023. Members include Andrew Busch, Nikki Huang, and Thomas Li. The quartet has performed in various places across Canada, including the Aga Khan Museum, the Music Garden, McGill University, the University of Windsor, and Arcadia University. In 2024, They were featured as the solo quartet in Kevin Lau’s Charon’s Dance at UofT’s Wind Symphony concert.
Bevis believes in the power of combining thoughtful programming, composer-collaboration, and recontextualization of existing repertoires in a contemporary music concert. He hopes to create a more inviting concert experience for the audience by making contemporary classical music more relevant and relatable through these tools. His co-curation in KöNG Duo—good morning, hong kong—unfolds the duo’s memories about a place they used to call home. Intertwining video projection, lighting, voice, and music, it explores the sensation of longing, nostalgia, and being lost in memories.
Chi-En Wong is a versatile Taiwanese percussionist currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Toronto. With a Master of Music from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Music from Missouri State University, Chi-En’s formal training has provided her with a solid foundation in percussion performance. Her passion transcends borders and genres. The experience in orchestral music has led her to perform as a section percussionist with professional groups such as the Eugene Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Next, where she has showcased her skills in diverse repertoire, from classical masterpieces to contemporary works and world premieres.
Chi-En’s commitment to musical excellence has been recognized through numerous awards and accolades, including a 2nd Place in The Great Plains International Marimba Competition in 2022 and the winner of the Missouri State University Concerto/Aria Competition. Her journey as a percussionist has taken her from winning competitions in Taiwan as a youth to performing on stages across the United States and beyond.
Chi-En’s interest as a solo percussionist now lands on exploring storytelling in various ways, including improvising and programming. With an unwavering dedication to her craft, Chi-En continues to captivate audiences around the world with her performances and a blend of technical precision and artistic expression that is truly inspiring.
Master's Program
Yue Yin Zhang is a Chinese Canadian percussionist currently completing a Master’s degree in classical percussion performance program at the University of Toronto, studying with Aiyun Huang, Beverley Johnston, Charles Settle and Ryan Scott.
Yue Yin holds a bachelor degree in Classical percussion performance, studied with Fabrice Marandola, Ben Reimer, Kristie Ann Ibrahim, Alexandre Lavoie and Shawn Eliot at Schulich School of Music McGill University.
Yue Yin started to learn percussion at the age of 13. She participated in the Shanghai Teenage Symphony Orchestra at an early age. During her middle school stage, as a percussionist, she participated in the shows in Lac-St-Jean, Quebec, Germany, United Kingdom and France with Ecole Secondaire Dorval Jean-XXIII Orchestra. She attended the Camp de Blue, and performed vibraphone at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2017. As the percussion section leader, Yue Yin performed with McGill Wind Orchestra, McGill Symphonic Orchestra and McGill percussion ensemble from 2019 to 2023.
Yue Yin won first place twice in the Canadian Music Competition- Keyboard Percussion at age of 16 and 17. She was nominated by the Golden Key international honor society in 2020. She was granted McGill excellence awards from 2019 to 2022.
Taiwanese Percussionist Yi-Hsuan Lo is active in contemporary music, solos, and chamber music. As a percussionist, Lo explores new methods of performance and actively engages in cross-disciplinary collaborations, and the new compositions. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music Performance at the University of Toronto under the mentorship of Prof. Aiyun Huang and Prof. Beverley Johnston.
In 2020, Lo achieved first place in the marimba solo competition at the National Student Music Competitions in Taiwan. She is a core member of the Cross Song Percussion Ensemble in Taiwan, performing the immersive percussion theatre that collaborates with the storyteller and combining the history of the band’s main venue. Also performed in China Suzhou International Wind Festival. Additionally, Lo actively participates in various roles. including contributing to the composition team for the musical “Sorrow in the Circus”, serving as a conductor in the wind band, and performing as principal percussionist in both the orchestra and wind band.
Lo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from University of Taipei. She has studied under Shu-Ting Huang, Chia-Wen Shen, Hui-Ling Chen, Chun-Ting Chen, and Ya-Chi Cheng. Lo has also been mentored by masters such as Sebastien Efler, Theodor Milkov, Adélaïde Ferrière, Caleb Pickering and Ming-Yu Wong.
Arthur Lo is a Hong Kong percussionist currently studying the masters of performance at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Ms Aiyun Huang and Ms Beverley Johnston.
He is previously graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in his bachelor majoring in music, under the tutelage of Dr. Lung Heung Wing and Mr. Raymond Leung. He is also studying drum set under Mr. Gin Yim. He started learning piano when he was 4 years old, and started learning western percussion at an age of 6 under Mr. Choy Lap Tak, and received the ATCL certificate in 2016.
Arthur is passionate in exploring and different chamber works for percussion.tArthur participated in the Toolbox Percussion’s Toolbox Excursion, performing around at different places in Hong Kong, he has also performed in the Dr Beat Series Concerts. He is also a member of the Asian Youth Orchestra 2023. He also received a 1st prize with his duo combo “Percusonic” in the open class ensemble category competition in the IPEA international percussion competition 2024 held in Hong Kong during the Percfest in July 2024.
ACP
Madison Keats is a percussionist from Ontario, Canada who describes her interest in music beginning with a feeling of finally fitting in and strives to ensure she conveys that feeling to everyone she meets. Madison holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance with a minor in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University. As an orchestral percussionist, Madison has played with the Rose Orchestra, Huronia Orchestra, the Stratford Symphony Orchestra and the Guelph Symphony Orchestra among others. Madison has also performed in the pit orchestra for Wilfrid Laurier University in their productions of both Little Women and Into the Woods. To further her development, Madison has attended many clinics and seminars including the TORQ Percussion Seminar, and LAMP’s Composition Academy in Lunenburg, NS, as well as the Sandbox Percussion Seminar. Music has also brought Madison overseas when she participated in the World Youth Wind Orchestra for the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in both 2022 and 2024.
In the future Madison is interested in studying the intersection between music and athletics, but for now you can find Madison at the gym, on a walk, or enjoying some yummy food when she isn’t hard at work in a practice room!
Born in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Jonathan Huard holds a BA in percussion from the Rimouski Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in percussion, obtained with distinction, from the Conservatoire de musique de Québec. He studied with Gabriel Dionne, Marc-André Lalonde, Anne-Julie Caron, Aiyun Huang, Ryan Scott and John Rudolph. He has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (Waterloo, 2017), the So Percussion Summer Institute (Princeton, 2018) and has participated in numerous competitions including the Canada Music Competition where he won first prize in percussion in 2013 and 2018. In 2023, he won the Prix d’excellence of the Fondation de l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec. He regularly collaborates with this orchestra and with many ensembles of contemporary and improvised music. He is currently pursuing an Advanced Certificate in Performance at the University of Toronto. His passion for new music and improvisation led him to create the experimental vibraphone duet T.J.J.H. which seeks to expand the sound possibilities of the instrument.
Undergraduate Program
Amiel Ang is a Philippine-born percussionist raised and based in Toronto, Ontario. Studying under Aiyun Huang, Beverley Johnston, and Charles Settle, Amiel is currently completing a Bachelor’s of Music in Performance at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music. He is the recipient of the Avedis Zildjian Percussion Scholarship for 2024-2025, and a member of the University of Toronto’s Contemporary Music Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble.
Amiel has been heard in the percussion sections of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Band of Canada, the University of Toronto Wind Ensemble, and performed as the Principal Timpanist for l’Orchestre de la Francophonie’s 2023 season. He is currently a drummer for alternative music collective Parallel Play, alternative rock band The Apollos, and frequently plays in the pits for numerous musical theatre productions both on and off of the UofT campus. As a chamber musician, Amiel has participated in the TorQ Percussion Seminar, and is currently the vibraphonist for Patrick O’Reilly’s DOG Ensemble, where he performed as a part of the CMC Presents 2023-2024 concert series.
As a soloist, Amiel has been successful in Canadian solo competitions that have resulted in concerto performances with the Burlington Symphony Orchestra, the University of Toronto Wind Symphony, the HMCS York Naval Reserve Band, and Rouge River Winds.
Aside from classical percussion performing, Amiel co-founded the independent multimedia production company, March Break Forever in 2020. In April 2022, he composed and produced the score for original short film “GOOSE SPIT” directed by Nick Kastanis, which premiered in the Landmark Cinemas of Whitby, Ontario. Additional projects include composing a revamped score for Nick Kastanis’ 2020 short film “TORONTO”, and creating the short film “stillness_short.mp4” around Samuel Kerr’s 2021 composition “Stillness”.
Elyssa Arde is a percussionist based in Markham and is currently in her 4th year studying music education. She is a recipient of the Russell Hartenberger percussion entrance scholarship and studies with Beverley Johnston, Aiyun Huang, and Charles Settle. Elyssa began her percussive studies at the age of 9, starting with the drum kit. Transitioning into high school, she learned how to play in an ensemble, and began to explore classical percussion techniques and repertoire. With her ensemble experience, she has developed a strong passion for wind and orchestral repertoire. As a percussionist, Elyssa has joined the TSYO for their 50th season and had the opportunity to work with Assistant Principal Timpani and Section Percussionist, Joe Kelly. Through the TSYO, she was able to learn more about orchestral percussion, perform side by side with TSO musicians, and perform at the Blossom Music Center in Cleveland with COYO musicians. She was part of the National Youth Band of Canada in 2023, performing a total of 9 shows in 3 days across Regina. She has also made appearances with the KSO, the Oscar Peterson Orchestra.
Jerry Yuan is a transfer music student at the University of Toronto. He has previously been at Wilfrid Laurier University for two years before transferring to the University of Toronto for his third year in the Bachelor of music, performance major in the field of percussion. Some experiences in the field of music include, playing along with the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra for three years, volunteering at the Oakville chamber orchestra, and entering the Oakville chamber competition and achieving third prize.
Aside from percussion and music related activities, he has a passion in sketching and short story writing. He has also volunteered at a child care center and has achieved GHAC’s mixed doubles champion of 2019 and participation in OFSAA for badminton.
Jeffrey Zhu is a fourth-year undergraduate percussionist at UofT born and raised in Toronto. He currently studies with Aiyun Huang, Beverley Johnston, and Charles Settle. Jeffrey’s musical interests vary greatly fueled by his recent experiences ranging from orchestra, opera, musical theatre, and band music to even a touch of jazz piano. Jeffrey actively seeks any opportunity to further diversify those musical experiences and especially enjoys the UofT percussion ensemble which never fails to exceed expectations, breaking conventional notions of what music can be starting from the instruments.
Thomas Carli is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and educator from Toronto, Ontario. Thomas graduated from The Claude Watson School of The Arts with academic honours and is now a third year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto studying composition with Christos Hatzis and percussion performance with Aiyun Huang. Thomas has played percussion in the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, Hannaford Brass Band, Orchestra Toronto, University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble and has played drum set with many artists including AVIV, Meteor Heist, Danny Michel, Max Parker, Lia Pappas-Kemps, Mellowship, Jacobs Ladder, The Commune, and Trash Panda Brass. As a session drummer, Thomas has worked with Mini Pop Kids and has played on the soundtracks of several TV shows such as Murdoch Mysteries, Wynonna Earp, and Ruby and the Well. As a composer, Thomas has written music for the CAFTCAD Awards, the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, and Kurtis Connor’s most recent comedy special. His pieces have been played by the Continuum Contemporary Music Ensemble, the Oriana Women’s Choir, and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. As teacher, Thomas has been the camp leader of MJMS summer music camps for 3 years and teaches rock band and private lessons at Palmerston Music Factory. Thomas is currently working on his second record as a producer and recording engineer with Toronto-based singer-songwriter Melissa Paju.
Matthew Medina is a transfer music student at the University of Toronto. Originating from Canoga Park, California, USA, he studied at Los Angeles Pierce College. He has performed with multiple ensembles across the valley ranging from orchestras and symphonic bands to even singing in choirs. Currently, he is working toward his bachelor’s degree in performance for classical percussion.
Back in California, he coached the Chatsworth Charter High School Marching Band’s battery and pit percussion. Helping nurture the students’ passion for music and being a person they could rely on. With moving to a new country he is excited to see what this new chapter in his life will offer.
Reuben Faigao is a percussionist and aspiring composer from Mississauga, Ontario. Since having learned the drumset at a very young age, his love for percussion, and music as a whole, continued to grow.
He was a percussionist in the Presbyterian High School Symphonic Band (Singapore), from 2019 to 2022, performing at the school’s annual anniversary concert. He also participated in the Singapore Youth Festival in 2019 and 2021; the band received a Certificate of Accomplishment in both years. Additionally, he took on the role of the band’s Drum Major in his fourth year, where he developed his leadership skills and empathy towards others. During his time in the band, he prioritized guiding and coaching his peers and juniors.
After moving to Canada, he joined John Fraser Secondary School’s senior concert band, where he was a percussionist and student conductor. He spent a bulk of his time assissting his teacher in improving the music program. At his spring concert in May 2024, he debuted his original composition entitled “Snake Showdown”, written for concert band.
He aims to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Composition at the Faculty of Music, and is excited to study under Aiyun Huang, John Rudolph and Ryan Scott. He is also eager to get involved in a number of school concerts and musical theatre productions.
Luca Jovanov is first year at the University Of Torontos Faculty of Music. Luca is a musician born and raised in Ontario, Canada. With a deep passion for percussion and education, Luca lives for the transformative power of music, believing it to be a true reflection of the beauty in our world. Their artistry is fuelled by a desire to connect and evoke emotion, creating music that resonates deeply with listeners and captures the essence of love, life, and human experience.
Alex Bhadra is an aspiring undergraduate percussionist currently studying in the Classical program at the University of Toronto. Alex’s journey as a musician began in middle school, where they excelled as the 1st percussionist in both the Junior and Senior Bands. They have continued to develop their skills through high school, performing as a percussionist in the Senior Concert Band and joining the Mississauga Symphony Youth Orchestra in early 2023. The joy and fulfillment Alex finds in collaborating with others to create beautiful music has been a driving force in their life.
Looking ahead, Alex is eager to further their education and hone their craft at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. They are committed to continuously improving their technique and gaining hands-on experience, and they aspire to build a career as a professional percussionist. Alex’s future vision includes performing with various ensembles and exploring international opportunities, all while remaining dedicated to learning and loving music.
Jon Bilek is a percussionist based in Mississauga Ontario. He is in his first year at University of Toronto for percussion performance, studying under Aiyun Huang, John Rudolph, and Ryan Scott.
His interest in percussion started with drum set at the age of 10. Throughout high school he played in various genres of ensembles from classical repertoire to jazz. He performed with the Rose Orchestra in their 2023-24 season and has played at various venues in Toronto such as the Emmet Ray and The Rex.
Jon is very excited to be performing in the University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble and Wind Symphony, and is thrilled to discover opportunities with his peers.