Toronto Baroque Players
ABOUT US
The Toronto Baroque Players are an up-and-coming baroque chamber ensemble based in the GTA. With a core membership of traverso, viola da gamba, and harpsichord, we are able to explore a huge variety of repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries. As scholars and proud music nerds, we believe in sharing stories about music history through our programming. Our musicians have played in period ensembles such as the Trinity Bach Project, Chilliwack Symphony Baroque Ensemble, and Theatre of Early Music. Since forming in 2023, the Toronto Baroque Players have performed across the city, and were included in the 2024 Toronto Bach Festival.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
CPE Bach "Hamburger" Sonata, H. 564
De la Guerre Violin Sonata in D minor
CORE MEMBERS
Emily Richardson, Traverso
Emily Richardson is an avid performer of music both early and modern. She has played with ensembles including the Red Deer Symphony, Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, and National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Emily holds degrees from the University of British Columbia and University of Toronto. Inspired by her love for Bach, she began playing the baroque flute during her Masters degree. Soon after, she was awarded a scholarship from Early Music Vancouver to study with Victoria-based baroque flutist Soile Stratkauskas. She has performed with leading period instrumentalists as part of the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Program, a collaboration between UBC, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and Early Music Vancouver. In Toronto, she has performed with the Trinity Bach Project and in the North Winds Concerts series.
John Schechtman-Marko, Viola da Gamba
John Schechtman-Marko is overjoyed to have the chance to pursue a secret musical life with the Toronto Baroque Players. A historian by trade and current second-year PhD student at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Medieval Studies, John has also played the viola da gamba for the better part of a decade, having had the good fortune to study this little-known but wonderful instrument with Catherina Meints Caldwell of Oberlin College and Sam Stadlen of the viol consort Fretwork. John plays on an original c. 1720 Austrian viola da gamba on generous loan from Michael Colborne.
Ryoko Hou, Harpsichord
Ryoko Hou, a versatile collaborative pianist and harpsichordist, captivates audiences with her performances spanning from the Middle Ages to contemporary works. Her musical journey has graced renowned venues across England, Austria, Fance, Japan, and Canada. Holding an Advances Certificate in Piano Performance and a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from the University of Toronto, Royko is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Historical Performance. A recipient of the Dame Emma Kirby and Suzie Leblanc Award, she acknowledges the influences of esteemed mentors like Adam Sherkin, Peter Longworth, Jeanie Chung, Lydia Wong, Christopher Foley, and Steven Philcox in piano, and Christopher Bagan and Charlotte Nediger in harpsichord. Ryoko Hou continues to elevate the art of collaborative music with passion and dedication.
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