Our Staff

Music director

SYMPHONIC CONDUCTOR

Mike van Dongen's journey in music began at an early age, driven by a profound love for the violin and a desire to share that passion with others. His formative years were spent honing his craft, leading him to pursue formal education (Bachelor of Music) at McMaster University, where he immersed himself in the study of music theory, composition, and performance.

Throughout his career, Mike has embraced a diverse array of roles within the music community. As a conductor for the Niagara Youth Orchestra, he has played a pivotal role in shaping young musicians, guiding them through the complexities of orchestral repertoire while instilling in them a sense of discipline and teamwork. His innovative approach to teaching encourages students to explore their creativity and express themselves through music.

In addition to his work with the youth orchestra, Mike has been an integral part of the Niagara Symphony for over three decades. His contributions as a violinist have been marked by numerous performances, showcasing a wide-ranging repertoire that spans classical masterpieces to contemporary works. His ability to connect with audiences through his musical interpretations has made him a recognized figure in the local arts scene.

As a freelance violinist, Mike has collaborated with various artists and ensembles, participating in a multitude of performances across genres. This versatility has allowed him to not only expand his musical horizons but also to contribute to the rich tapestry of cultural events in the Niagara region.

Mike van Dongen remains a vibrant and influential presence in the musical community, continuously inspiring others through his artistry, leadership, and commitment to cultivating the next generation of musicians. Whether on stage or in the classroom, his love for music resonates deeply, leaving an indelible mark on all who work with him.

George Cleland - Concert conductor UPPER STRINGS COACH

George Cleland has been a conductor of  the Niagara Youth Concert Orchestra since  2022, Brock University String Orchestra  since 2017 and the Peninsula Orchestra  since 2009.  He was a finalist in the  Timmins Symphony Orchestra Conductor  Search, conducting a concert in May 2016  and the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra conductor search, conducting a concert in February 2024.   

George plays regularly as a violinist with the Niagara Symphony, the Brantford Symphony  Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, the  Burlington New Millennium Orchestra and the World Rock Symphony Orchestra.  He was a member of the World Rock Symphony Bangkok tour of Return to Grace in 2015 and played in Toronto for the Bolshoi Ballet’s tour of North America in a production of Swan Lake in  2012.  He is the violinist for Garden City Productions, playing in Fiddler on the Roof,  Spamalot, The Addams Family Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver and Brigadoon, and inRural Stages Productions, playing The Last Five Years. George was hired as a skilled extra  in the Murdoch Mysteries tv show Murder in F Major.  

George has been an upper strings instructor and assistant conductor for Niagara Youth  Orchestra, an instructor for Suzuki Niagara, and on staff at Brock University since 2003.   George has also been the orchestral strings instructor for the Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp since 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Music from the University of Akron.

LIsa donati - Concert conductor BRASS & WINDS COACH

Lisa Donati completed her Bachelor of Music Performance at Wilfrid Laurier  University, and her Masters of Music  Performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England.  She  studied with international soloists Michael Thompson and Richard Watkins, and the natural and baroque horns with Andrew Clark. Lisathen continued studies in Toronto at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Artist Diploma Program. Lisa has played with the National Youth Orchestra of  Canada, the National  Academy Orchestra of Canada, the  London International Orchestra of  Academia, and the Britten-Pears Orchestra in England. 

During her time in London, Lisa performed with the London Sinfonietta at such  engagements as the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, the ReOpening of the Royal  Festival Hall broadcast live on BBC Radio, and recorded with them for EMI Records at  Abbey Road Studios.  Lisa  has also performed  with the Toronto Philharmonia, the  Niagara Symphony Orchestra, The  Windsor Symphony Orchestra,  Orchestra London, and Toronto’s  Trillium Brass Quintet. 

Lisa is the Orchestra Conductor at the Niagara Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Camp and brass faculty since 2011.  She has been the Wind and Brass coach of the Niagara YouthOrchestra since 2011, and is a regular guest Conductor and Coach of the Peninsula  Orchestra.  Lisa maintains a studio of brass students, many of whom have gone on to study music at McGill, Toronto, Laurier, and Brock Universities. 

CRAIG SNOWDEN PERCUSSION COACH

Originally from Beamsville, Ontario, Craig  began studying drums at the age of 11 with the Niagara Instrumental Music program.  Throughout high school, he was a member of the Niagara Youth Orchestra, and also  performed with several concert bands  throughout the Niagara Region. Craig  continued his percussion studies at Wilfrid Laurier  University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Music Degree in percussion performance and  then attended the Glenn Gould Professional School, where he graduated with an Artist  Diploma in  percussion performance. 

While at the Glenn Gould School, Craig was a member of the Royal Conservatory Orchestraunder the direction of world class conductors and was also actively involved in chamber  music. Craig continues to be an active freelance artist in Ontario. He has performed with theNiagara Symphony, Windsor Symphony, Talisker Players, Kingston Symphony, Toronto  Sinfonietta, ERGO Projects, ESPRIT Orchestra, KitchenerWaterloo Symphony, Thunder Bay  Symphony, Brantford Symphony, London Sinfonia, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra,  Chorus Niagara, Orpheus Choir, National Academy Orchestra, and the National Youth  Orchestra of Canada. He has also performed in musical theatre with The Shaw Festival, Drayton Entertainment and Theatre Aquarius. 

ROB WOLANSKI LOWER STRINGS COACH

Rob Wolanski is Principal Bass of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and regularly plays section bass for the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra, National Ballet of Canada Orchestra and many other ensembles. In the summer months, Rob plays in several music festivals including the Brott Music Festival and the Westben Festival. Rob is also active as an electric bass player performing with several groups in the Rock, Folk and Country genres including the Scottish Country Dance band, Scotch Mist and Canadian Country music artists including Brad James, Ryan Langdon, Tim Hebert and others. 

Gordon cleland LOWER STRINGS COACH

Principal cellist of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Gordon Cleland has performed across North America. He has appeared as a soloist with the Niagara Symphony (Schumann Concerto in A minor and Vivaldi Double Concerto in G minor with cellist Gisela Depkat) and for the Debut Series in Montreal. He has extensive experience as a chamber musician, notably as a member of Trio Surgite with Erika Reiman on piano and fellow Niagara Symphony member Vera Alekseeva on violin. He is a regularly featured artist for the Encore! Series at Brock University. Gordon has broadcast frequently for CBC FM Radio and has performed on TV5, the international French television network. His strong interest in contemporary and Canadian music is reflected in the repertoire he performs. In addition to his activities as a performer, Gordon has made a strong commitment to music education. He teaches cello at Brock University and is an instructor with Suzuki Niagara and the Niagara Youth Orchestra. He has been a featured performer for the Concertino Program of Jeunesses musicales, whose artists are carefully chosen for their pedagogical skills and their ability to communicate with young people. Gordon has adjudicated music festivals across Canada and runs a private studio in the Niagara region. Gordon started his musical training in London, Ontario, and completed his studies with a Master of Music degree from Boston University. His principal teachers were George Neikrug, Walter Joachim, and Gisela Depkat.

Zack Ziyi Guo Training Strings coach

Immersed himself in the violin for the first time at age 16 and discovered the viola at 17. Zack holds a Master's degree at Western University in Viola Performance under the guidance of renowned violists Sharon Wei and Annemarie Moorcroft. He earned the scholarship award at Festival of Stars, and finalist position in the Ontario Provincial Music Competition. Holding a Bachelor’s Performance degree at Brock University, Zack is the principal violist and librarian of the Brock String Orchestra, and performed as a soloist in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, studied with Andrée Simard. Upon graduation, he was awarded the St. Catharines Peter D'Achille Aspiring Artist Award in 2022. At Western University, he performed in opera Hansel and Gretel, also selected as one of the students to perform in the Mozart Viola Quintet Project with the well-known New Orford String Quartet (No. 3 in C major, K. 515), and was honoured to premiere the modern work “Didsbury” by JUNO-nominated composer Emily Hiemstra. As the viola teacher at Ridley College, Zack is also a violist in the Orchestre de la Francophonie 2025 and plays with the Oakville Symphony. Performed with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Zack also performed the Zelter Viola Concerto as soloist with Brock String Orchestra, and is long-term collaborative violist with Chorus Hamilton. Representing Brock University performing at the Canadian Bureau for International Education meeting, Zack is one of the Niagara Symphony Summer Camp string teachers in 2023 and is the training strings instructor of the Niagara Youth Orchestra

michael rosenberger training brass & winds coach

Michael Rosenberger holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Music in Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Michelle Reed Baker, former 2nd Horn of the Metropolitan Opera.

He won a position with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada three times, highlighted by performing Principal Horn in Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis in Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. A two-time member of Boris Brott’s National Academy Orchestra, he was the recipient of the Players’ Choice Award. While in New York, he performed with the Chelsea Opera, DiCapo Opera, and the Ensemble du Monde Chamber Orchestra.

Overseas, he has played in the Opera Ischia Festival Orchestra, and taught and performed at the Orfeo Music Festival in Vipiteno/Sterzing, Italy. Michael is an active freelancer, playing with the Masterworks of Oakville, Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Concert Orchestra, and Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

He coaches with the Niagara Youth Orchestra, with whom he is an alumnus, maintains a private teaching studio, and is an avid music arranger.