Jason Nedecky is a baritone and diction coach based in Toronto. He has appeared as soloist with numerous Canadian ensembles, including the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa), the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto Philharmonia, the Toronto Consort, the Toronto Chamber Choir, the Aldeburgh Connection Recital Series (Toronto), the International Bach Festival Toronto, Talisker Players (Toronto), Off Centre Music Salon (Toronto), the Brantford Symphony Orchestra, the Bach-Elgar Choir (Hamilton), the Guelph Chamber Choir, the Mississauga Choral Society, Chorus Niagara, Musik Barock (Winnipeg), and the Mountain View Connection Recital Series (Calgary). On two occasions, he was baritone soloist with the Canadian choir Consort Caritatis on tour in southeast Europe.

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Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, Andrea Hill has had the honour of singing on stages that include the Metropolitan Opera New York, l’Opéra National de Paris, Covent Garden London, Teatro alla Scala Milan, and at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.  Operatic roles include Carmen (Carmen, Bizet), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini), Varvara (Janaček’s Katia Kabanova), Judith (Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle), and Mélisande in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.  Andrea also has the distinction of having been selected by Kurt Masur himself to sing Octavian in a concert of excerpts from Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier under his baton at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, and was an original cast member of Patrice Chéreau’s brilliant final production, Strauss’ Elektra.

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Having lived in Paris, France for twelve years, she is fluent in French and highly proficient in German, as well as having a strong basic grasp of Italian.  Transitioning to soprano repertoire, she is learning and studying new roles and works that include Puccini's Tosca, Liu, and Mimi, Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, Mozart's Fiordiligi and Countess, Floyd's Susannah, and various recital and concert works.

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Praised for the “special, silvery beauty and expressiveness” of her voice (Calgary Herald), soprano
Hannah Pagenkopf has enchanted audiences in her hometown Calgary and abroad. She has appeared as a soloist with Juno award-winning ensemble Rosa Barocca, Luminous Voices, Calgary Bach Society, and Early Music Voices among others. Hannah has also been featured by various orchestras throughout Alberta including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Most recently Hannah appeared as soprano soloist with the ESO and Richard Eaton singers in Mozart's Great Mass in C minor.

Hannah is passionate about art song and has been fortunate to have been involved with Mountain View Festival for many years, as a masterclass participant with Rudolf Jansen and Brett Polegato, as a soloist, and as of last year a faculty member with the new collaborative piano program. She is delighted to work with these talented young pianists again this year. 

A native of Tacoma, Washington, double bassist Matthew Heller joined the Calgary Philharmonic in 2007. He has appeared frequently as a recitalist and chamber musician, including performances with the Mountain View Chamber Music Festival, Land’s End Chamber Ensemble, Kensington Sinfonia, and Instrumental Society of Calgary. He was awarded the Instrumental Society’s inaugural Janice Waite Scholarship in recognition of his contributions to Calgary’s performing arts community.

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A native of Tacoma, Washington, double bassist Matthew Heller joined the Calgary Philharmonic in 2007. He has appeared frequently as a recitalist and chamber musician, including performances with the Mountain View Chamber Music Festival, Land’s End Chamber Ensemble, Kensington Sinfonia, and Instrumental Society of Calgary. He was awarded the Instrumental Society’s inaugural Janice Waite Scholarship in recognition of his contributions to Calgary’s performing arts community.

Heller also performs as Principal Bass with the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, a summer orchestra in Boulder, Colorado. He was previously a member of the New World Symphony (Miami, Florida), Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He has been an orchestral fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and performed chamber music with the St. Lawrence String Quartet at Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina.

Heller completed studies at the New England Conservatory and at Northwestern University. He has studied with some of today’s most accomplished bassists, including Donald Palma, Harold Robinson, Michael Hovnanian, Matthew McDonald, and Joel Quarrington. Heller performs on an Italian double bass attributed to Antonio Gilbertini, dated 1862.

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Susan Varcoe is a versatile and highly esteemed collaborative pianist and vocalist, renowned for her expertise in musical theatre, art song, and jazz. Based in Calgary, Susan's talent transcends borders, captivating audiences both locally and internationally. She has graced prestigious stages, lending her captivating vocals and deft piano skills to esteemed institutions such as Calgary Opera, Cowtown Opera, Stage West dinner theatre, and the Banff Centre summer opera program.

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Susan's passion for nurturing talent extends to her role as an educator, where she has enriched the vocal programs at the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, and Ambrose University. Her dedication to teaching reflects her profound love for music and her desire to inspire others with its transformative power. Whether she's enchanting audiences on stage or empowering aspiring musicians in the classroom, Susan's devotion to her craft shines through, leaving an indelible mark on all who have the privilege of experiencing her artistry.