2025 Faculty

Amy Florence Paster (violin)

Founder of YES Chamber Music Camp, Amy Paster is a career teacher with 38 years of experience in violin pedagogy. Her students have achieved numerous accolades, including RCM Medals, trophies, and scholarships in local and provincial music festivals and competitions. Many have pursued professional music careers. An active member of the Victoria Branch of the BC Registered Music Teachers, Amy also serves as a String Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music national examinations. She is the founder of the Sizzlers Fiddle Group and Amati String Studio (in both Vancouver 2020 & Victoria 2009). Young members of the Sizzlers Fiddle Group have recorded 3 CDs and toured across Canada over the past 25 years, under Amy’s direction. Fostering ensemble playing and violin education for students of all ages, she emphasizes a fun yet purposeful approach to teaching, tailoring goals to each student’s needs. A former student of Murray Adaskin, Paul Kling, John Loban, Geoffrey Michaels & Gwen Thompson, Amy has had extensive pedagogical training and brings her wealth of knowledge to embark on this new musical journey with the ensembles of YES Chamber Music Camp.

Heather Bowness (violin)

Heather Bowness is a classically trained violinist with a diverse musical repertoire spanning classical, fiddle, folk and more. Her recorded collaborations range from rapper AP Dhillon to indie rock singer Art D’Ecco and folk band West My Friend. With extensive classical performance experience in Victoria, BC, Heather has lent her talents to esteemed organizations such as the Canadian College of Performing Arts and the Victoria Operatic Society. A certified Suzuki violin teacher and RCM instructor, Heather runs a thriving private studio and co-heads the strings program at Christ Church Cathedral School. With over a decade of teaching experience, she is dedicated to fostering growth and musical exploration in her students, tailoring repertoire to individual interests with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Heather looks forward to sharing her expertise and passion for music at this year’s YES Chamber Music Camp.

Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith (violin/viola)

Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith, a versatile Canadian violinist, embarked on her musical journey at the age of 5, eventually establishing herself as a professional violinist. With over a decade of experience performing with various Toronto ensembles, Elyssa found her passion for early music through her time with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Upon returning to her island roots in Victoria in 2016, she became a permanent member of local early music ensembles, including Victoria Baroque and Pacific Baroque Orchestra. Elyssa’s dedication extends beyond performance; she has over 20 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and program development. Her commitment to education is evident through her roles as the Director of the Strings program at the Kingsway Conservatory of Music in Toronto and as the founder of the Victoria Baroque Youth Orchestra and the Cowichan String Academy. Elyssa brings her passion, enthusiasm and expertise to YES Chamber Music Camp.

Peter Caton (cello)

Peter Caton, a distinguished cellist, earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario under the guidance of Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and furthered his studies at the University of Victoria, obtaining a Master of Music degree with Hanna Dedecius and James Hunter. At the Banff Centre, he received mentorship from renowned cellists Janos Starker and Zara Nelsova. Peter’s accolades include winning the annual concerto competition at the University of Victoria, where he showcased his talent with Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C. With extensive orchestral experience in London, Windsor, Victoria, Kelowna, and Prince George, Peter has also lent his expertise as a teaching assistant to notable cellists Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and James Hunter. Currently, he shares his passion for music at the Long & McQuade Music School in Victoria, enriching the lives of aspiring cellists.

Monica Pfau (piano)

Monica Pfau is an accomplished pianist, soloist, chamber musician, and educator. She has a rich performance history across North America and Europe, with appearances on CBC Radio’s “Westcoast Performance” and collaborations with esteemed orchestras and film institutions such as the CBC Vancouver Orchestra and the National Film Board of Canada. Trained under the late Robin Wood, Monica has won prestigious accolades including the Victoria Medal, ARCT Performer’s Gold Medal, a scholarship to the Hochschule für Musik in Munich and a UBC Doctoral Fellowship. Her career highlights include serving as Accompanist-in-Residence at the Banff Centre, winning First Prize in the UBC Concerto Competition, and making her orchestral debut under maestro Kazuyoshi Akiyama. Monica served on Faculty at the VSO School of Music and performs regularly with West Coast Chamber Music. Besides teaching piano and coaching chamber music, she currently holds the role of collaborative pianist at the University of Victoria.

Roger Mangas (violin/viola)

Roger Mangas is a highly accomplished violist. He received extensive training and mentorship under renowned figures such as Jaroslav Karlovsky and Paul Kling. Winner of numerous awards in solo and chamber music competitions, Roger has toured extensively with string and piano quartets, showcasing his artistry on CBC radio and television. Since relocating to the West Coast, he has balanced teaching and performing including collaborating with prestigious ensembles like the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and the VSO. Roger has recorded for movie and television and collaborated on many large-scale events including the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies. He brings his wealth of experience and expertise in ensemble playing, to inspire and guide young musicians in their artistic journey.

Christine Donkin (composition)

Christine Donkin is a highly acclaimed Canadian composer. She has had her works performed by prestigious ensembles, including Symphony New Brunswick, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Her compositions have been featured at renowned festivals such as the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and The Village Trip Festival in New York City. Christine has collaborated with esteemed musicians and poets with her commissioned works in projects that bridge cultures and genres. Grateful for support from institutions like the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council, she continues to innovate and create. As an educator, Christine is dedicated to nurturing musicians at all levels, with her pedagogical compositions and arrangements being used internationally by students and teachers alike. She is also a mentor to student composers and serves as a clinician and adjudicator for various music organizations across Canada, sharing her expertise with the next generation of composers. Currently serving as composer-in-residence at the Prince George Conservatory of Music, Christine also teaches composition, theory, and harmony at the Victoria Conservatory. Christine looks forward to working with our young musicians this summer!

Maria Wang (cello)

Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Maria (Yun-Hsuan) Wang is a versatile cellist and music teacher. Maria began her musical journey with the piano and later switched to the cello at age 13. In 2008, she received a full tuition scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at West Virginia University, USA. Maria relocated to Victoria with her family in 2012 and continued studying cello for a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance at the University of Victoria with Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, the cellist of the renowned Lafayette String Quartet. Maria is a dedicated cello instructor, string teacher, and ensemble director at various institutions on Vancouver Island, including Brentwood College School, Harmony Project Sooke, and Victoria Conservatory of Music. Aside from teaching, Maria actively performs with orchestral ensembles and music productions. She has been the principal cellist of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra since 2018. She also enjoys collaborating with colleagues, playing contemporary arrangements as the founding cellist of the Breakwater Quartet and performing in many local music productions.

Robin Copas (cello)

Robin is a passionate and experienced cello teacher with a Master’s Degree in Cello Performance from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia. With 38 years of teaching experience, he runs a private studio and also teaches at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the VSO School of Music. His students have achieved impressive success in music festivals, winning top honors at the local and regional levels, and have earned gold medals in Royal Conservatory of Music exams. As a performer, Robin has an extensive career in both orchestral and chamber music, having played across North America and Europe. He has been the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Lions Gate Sinfonia and the Principal Cellist of the Vancouver Island Symphony. He has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera, and alongside artists like Barbra Streisand and Smokey Robinson. Additionally, Robin is the founder and leader of the Orca String Quartet in Vancouver. His early career included serving as assistant to the Lafayette String Quartet at the University of Victoria. With a blend of teaching, performance, and mentorship, Robin continues to inspire both students and audiences.