Ambrosia Musicians

	Anita Brooks Kirkland, clarinetist Anita studied clarinet performance and music education at Mount Allison University, Michigan State University, and the University of Toronto, and also holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from San José State University. She has balanced her busy career as a music teacher, teacher-librarian, education consultant, teacher educator, and professional library association leader with a lifetime commitment to music-making. Anita is a longtime member of the Wellington Wind Symphony, and is principal clarinet of Waterloo Chamber Players and a member of Spindrift Wind Quartet and the Venturi Wind Quintet. She enjoys frequent opportunities to play with other local groups, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra and the Guelph Symphony Orchestra. Playing chamber music gives Anita particular joy, and she looks forward to new opportunities with Spindrift and with Ambrosia Chamber Ensembles.
	Caleb Olesen, violist Caleb learned the violin in grade school through the Niagara Elementary Instrumental Music program. In grade 8, his violin teacher handed him a viola and asked him to learn how to read the alto clef and to join the Niagara Youth Orchestra as a violist. Caleb has been a violist ever since. During university, Caleb earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Waterloo while playing viola with Orchestra@UWaterloo and the Waterloo Chamber Players as well as singing bass with the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir and the Renaissance Singers. Today, Caleb is a professional engineer in the wastewater treatment business, and he is busy with three children at home.
	Carmen Miron, violinist/violist Carmen started playing the violin at the age of nine, and by the age of 12, she joined the Hamilton Youth Orchestra in its inaugural year. She had a 12-year hiatus until moving to Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, where she was convinced to dust off her violin and join the Sault Symphony. While in the “Soo,” she organized many orchestra pits for local theatre and opera productions. Since relocating to Waterloo in 2001, she has participated in the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, Waterloo Chamber Players, and Cambridge Symphony. She enjoys performing in special community engagements and playing chamber music with like-minded musicians. Carmen attends adult chamber music camps in Canada and the USA. While attending CAMMAC, she was inspired to learn the viola. Carmen is now retired from a rewarding career as a MSW social worker with a focus on mental health, including serving the Canadian Armed Forces during Afghanistan deployments. She is a “snowbird” who plays in two orchestras in Southwest Florida in the winter. Her other passion also involves “strings,” as you can find Carmen on a tennis court most days!
	Gavin Yeomans, pianist Gavin is a collaborative pianist and church musician active in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. He graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and an Opera Diploma. Gavin has a passion for collaborating with singers of all ages in all musical styles, and he enjoys playing chamber music. He started working as a church musician in high school and is currently a church musician at Westside Presbyterian Church in Cambridge. When not making music, Gavin loves to read and bicycle.
	Judith Douglas, French horn player Judith grew up in Puslinch, attending Centennial CVI in Guelph. Having been a vocalist and pianist, she first studied flute, but discovered the horn and made the change when she was 15. Studying at a music camp, she connected with a student of Gene Rittich of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She began horn lessons soon after, studying with Gene at the University of Toronto. At the same time, she was principal horn with the Kitchener Waterloo Youth Orchestra and third horn in the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra under Raffi Armenian. Choosing not to follow the professional musician route, Judith completed an Honours BA in Economics and Finance, all the while playing and teaching privately, most recently at University of Guelph. In order to keep playing, she helped found the Venturi Wind Quintet and then the Wellington Winds. She was principal horn in the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra, still assisting them when needed, and the Windjammers, a position she still holds. More recently, she became the coordinator of the Gallery Concert Series in Elora, a member of Spindrift, a wind quartet founded as an online group during Covid, and principal horn of the Waterloo Chamber Players. She still lives in Puslinch, having built a home next door to her childhood farm home, which is now owned by her daughter. When not doing musical activities, Judith can be found on the golf course or in the gym.
	Mary Steele, cellist Mary began her musical journey began in childhood, starting on piano at age seven and adding cello at age twelve with the guidance of teachers at the Beckett School in Waterloo. Mary earned a degree in computer science from the University of Waterloo, complemented by a minor in music. During her university years, Mary studied with accomplished instructors including Mark Norris, John Helmers, and Ben Bolt-Martin. She has contributed her musical talents to ensembles like Orchestra@UWaterloo and the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra and currently finds joy in her role with the Waterloo Chamber Players. In addition to her musical pursuits, Mary works as a software developer and is a dedicated mother to two children. Her leisure time is spent swimming, tending to gardens, and nurturing an indoor plant collection centered around her fascination with carnivorous plants.
	Michelle Kyle, cellist/pianist Michelle began playing piano at age four. At 11, she began cello, and began playing piano professionally for Ukrainian dance groups in Ottawa. She studied piano with Garth Beckett and cello with Gisela Depkat at Wilfrid Laurier University, then completed Licentiate and Fellowship diplomas in piano performance from Trinity College of Music. Studying with Tom Plaunt at McGill University, she earned a Master of Music in piano performance. She completed the Chamber Music Diploma at Wilfrid Laurier University, studying cello with Katie Schlaikjer, in 2025. She has performed as a pianist and cellist for special events throughout Ontario for decades, and was co-founder and artistic director of the Heliconian Choir and Orchestra in Toronto and Joyful Voices choir in Listowel. Michelle also completed degrees in law at Osgoode Hall and adult education at Brock University. She has been a lawyer, web developer at a major bank, certified rock climbing instructor, and adult literacy instructor. Michelle currently plays chamber music with Ladyfingers, Duo Puissance, Ambrosia, and Trio Terrifico! She lives in rural Princeton with her husband, cats and chickens, and enjoys choral singing, swimming, reading, Duolingo, and puzzles.
	Shakoor Henson, violinist Shakoor began studying the violin at the age of six and continued formal training at Canta Arya School for Strings until 2017. During this time, they gained extensive performance experience, including participation in an international competition and performance tour in China with the Montreal Suzuki String Orchestra, as well as competitions across Europe in 2018 with the same group. They earned a Bachelor’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, studying violin with Jerzy Kaplanek, where they also completed a Chamber Music Diploma, studying violin with Jeremy Bell. While at Laurier, they performed as a member of the SEAM Quartet, further developing their collaborative and ensemble skills. In addition to chamber and solo work, Shakoor has performed with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra as a substitute violinist. They are currently an active musician in the Kitchener–Waterloo region, performing across a variety of genres including pop, country, and folk music, and occasionally filling in on guitar. They teach violin in a private studio in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. Outside of music, they enjoy reading.
	Yiyang Shi, violinist/violist Originally from Liuzhou, China, Yiyang is a versatile musician who began playing violin at age five. A resident of Waterloo since 2020, in addition to Ambrosia, he also plays violin and viola with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, and the Waterloo Chamber Players. Yiyang has a comprehensive musical background; he previously directed the Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Orchestra, performing at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and played with the Fredericton Symphony Orchestra while completing his MSc in Electrical Engineering. Yiyang also has experience performing in musical theatre pit bands with Theatre New Brunswick, plus some experience in guitar, drums, and music production technology. When not performing or working as an electrical designer, he can be found working around the house or on cars.