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INSTRUCTORS   &   MUSICIANS

The Symphonic Storytellers was created in 2005 by Marcia O’Neill. By adding professional musicians to Children’s Participation Theatre, a new character is given to the performance. The Symphonic Storytellers has grown substantially since its initial inception as outreach presentations for the Niagara Symphony. The development of week-long day camps allowed children to participate in both the performance aspects and the production facets of a presentation. In 2008, a move to Carbonear, Newfoundland, prompted a relationship to be created with the local theatre. And now .... a new relationship with the Knights of Columbus, Monsignor McCarthy Council # 5902 in Carbonear has produced Symphonic Storytellers’ most adventurous musical to date..

Rehearsal at Princess Sheila NaGeira Theatre

As Children’s Theatre in Residence, the Storytellers was able to offer winter programming for local young people. In March of 2008, Two for the Road was performed to ‘sell out’ school audiences. Many of the performers returned for the June show which was an adaptation of Newfoundland poet,Tom Dawe’s book of limericks, A Gommil from BumbleBee Bight.

Paul Wilson, professional actor and seasoned drama instructor, joined the Symphonic Storytellers in time for The Gommil from BumbleBee Bight. His influence greatly expanded the skills of the performers. His expertise has allowed the Storytellers to develop programs for schools both as performance tours and ArtsSmart projects.

Instrumental to the creation and development of the theatre company is George Cleland. (Instrumental Adjudicator 2008 Kiwanis Music Festival, Carbonear) His performance, teaching and conducting expertise has been fundamental to the Storyteller’s success.

Traditional Dance with the Featherpoint Dancers

Marcia O’Neill - Executive Director

Marcia and Erin during rehearsal

Marcia O’Neill has been involved in music education more than twenty years. She currently teaches piano and theory privately to students from beginner to Grade 10 (Conservatory Canada/ RCM) ages 4 to Adult. She is former Education Director for the Niagara Symphony Association. In addition, she was Coordinator and Camp Director for the Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp, an orchestral camp serving more than 300 children and adults annually. She was developer and teacher of the Tickle the Ivories course, a continuing education course at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON. She frequently presented music education workshops to teachers for the Grand Erie District School Board. She is coordinator of the Canadian Music Festival. Ms. O’Neill holds a B.Music (Honours) with focus on piano pedagogy and harpsichord performance from Brock University. She also has a diploma in Theatre Arts from Niagara College

Paul Wilson - Artistic Director

Improvisational Games at Camp with Paul

Paul Wilson trained at the well respected Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia. After moving to Canada from Australia, Paul’s Canadian debut was in Norm Foster’s Outlaw for Theatre in Port bold in St. Catharines, Ontario. Further collaboration with director, Chris McHarge; on the musical tribute show 1967 Memories of the Summer of Love made Paul a familiar face to theatre-goers. Paul has worked extensively in Ontario for the acclaimed theatre for young audiences company, Carousel Players, appearing in their productions of Night Light, Wimp!, House at Pooh Corner and The Big League. He has conducted several drama workshops, classes and camps for the company.  In addition, Paul has worked as an artist/educator with the Learning Through the Arts program. Recent relocation with his family to Harbour Grace has expanded Paul’s influence. Television viewers will recognize him as Mark Downer in CBC’s new series, The Republic of Doyle.

Joel Matthews - Production Manager

George Cleland

George Cleland has established himself in many of the Niagara Region's cultural programs. A violinist, violist, teacher, conductor and adjudicator, George is the Music Director of the Peninsula Orchestra and the Music Coordinator of the Niagara Suzuki Association. He is a member of the Thorold Quartet and plays regularly with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, and the Ottawa Valley Summer Festival Orchestra. George is a violin instructor for Brock University and the viola coach for the Niagara Youth Orchestra.

From 1998 to 2003, George was a violin instructor at the Medicine Hat College Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he was the conductor of the Medicine Hat Junior Strings Orchestra, the founder and director of the Medicine Hat Community Orchestra and the Concertmaster of the Academy Strings Orchestra. He was a member of the Minore Trio with cellist Robert Bardston and pianist Stephanie Chow. George has studied violin at the University of Ottawa under Victor Pomer and Calvin Sieb and he completed his Masters degree at the University of Akron under Alan Bodman. He studied conducting at the Alberta College of Music under Jean Louis Barbier and at the International Workshop for Conductors in the Czech Republic. George often performs salon concerts with Marcia O’Neill when he visits Carbonear.

Guest Artists

Gerry Strong - www.personainternet.com/gstrong

Gordon Cleland and Erin Davies