Kelton Hopper is a Toronto-based Bassoonist, currently completing his Bachelor of Music in Performance under Eric Hall at the University of Toronto. Five years into playing the Bassoon, Kelton has achieved great heights by receiving numerous scholarships, grants, and opportunities for performance within his post-secondary education. For the 2022-23 season, Kelton has been a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has also been a part of several other ensembles, including the National Youth Band of Canada, the Mississauga Symphony Youth Orchestra, the University of Toronto Wind Ensemble, and the Caledon Concert Band. Kelton continues to expand his knowledge and skill sets in other areas, such as learning to double on the contrabassoon.

This summer, Kelton will be attending Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, studying with Mathieu Lussier and performing for guest artists, which include Daniel Matsukawa and Carlo Colombo. In Kelton’s free time, he enjoys embroidery, hiking, and exploring new repertoire from emerging and under-represented artists. Additionally, he has volunteered for organizations such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Long and McQuade, fostering a welcoming and exploratory environment for youth at the TSO’s Relaxed Concerts.

Abigail Minor began her bassoon studies at the age of 14 in her hometown of Richmond Hill, Ontario. She is presently pursuing her passion for music at the University of Toronto, studying with Eric Hall, where she has generously been given full scholarships to fund her education. She has also studied and/or performed in masterclasses with Christopher Millard, William Short, Frank Morelli, Kim Laskowski, Darren Hicks, Drew Pattison, Julia Lockhart, Kristin Day among others.

Abigail has been a devoted member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra for 3 seasons, where she has performed alongside members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In 2021 she was provided with the opportunity from the TSYO Concerto Competition where she had won the incredible honour to perform in chamber ensembles with the TSO at the TSO’s 100th Anniversary Gala Concert in 2022 with Yo-Yo Ma. As well in 2021 she was given the opportunity to perform the Weber Bassoon Concerto with her high school Symphony Orchestra.

As an active chamber musician, Abigail has regularly performed in the Roy Thomson Hall before TSO and TSYO Concerts with her U of T Wind Quintet and Sextet. Abigail has also taken part in many summer festivals including the Advance Double Reed Institute of Texas with William Short, Vancouver Symphony Orchestral and Chamber Institute with Julia Lockhart, Brooke Valley Bassoon Days and in the summer of 2023 she will be attending Domaine Forget de Charlevoix studying with Mathieu Harel and performing for guest artists that include Daniel Matsukawa and Carlo Colombo.

Outside of music, Abigail enjoys drawing, gaming and spending time with her friends and family.

Cian Bryson

Cian Bryson is a bassoonist from Toronto currently completing his Bachelor of Music at the University of

Toronto. He started playing bassoon in 2014, and since then has won numerous scholarships and awards, including second place in both the Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra concerto competitions, following which he performed as soloist with the KWCO in 2023, and will be performing as soloist with the TSYO in April of 2024.

He has performed with many ensembles, including the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Glenn Gould New Music Ensemble, and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. He currently studies with Eric Hall, and has studied and/or performed in masterclasses with Benjamin Kamins, William Short, Eric Stomberg, Drew Pattison, among others.

Cian is also an avid performer of various styles and genres, with a keen interest in contemporary bassoon music, and having also studied jazz piano extensively.