OKSANA HAHN, Music Director, was born in Kiev, Ukraine, to to the family of a well-known professional choral conductor. At an early age, she began violin and pinao lessons. At age 7 she was enrolled in the Mukola Lysenko special music school for gifted youth in Kiev where she competed their 11-year program. This was followed by a futher 5 years of study at the Kiev Tchaikovsky State Conservatory (university status) where she specialized in piano solo, chamber music and pedagogy. While studying at the Conservatory, Oksana became a 2nd prize winner as accompanist at the International Choir Competition in Varna, Bulgaria in 1988. In 1989 she became a laureate of Kiev’s Youth Piano Competition. Before immigrating to Canada at age 23, Oksana had performed in Ukraine, Russia, the Baltic Republics, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Arriving in Edmonton in 1990, Oksana quickly established herself as a performer, teacher and accompanist. She worked for several years as an accompanist for the Ukrainian choir ‘Dnipro’ and for the ‘Summer School of Conductors’. Since moving to Ajax/Pickering in 2000, she began teaching privately and established the ‘Elite Piano Studio’ as well as working for St. John Presbyterian Church and Faith United Church. |
Wanda Ince, Office Co-ordinator Wanda previously worked at Dalhousie University. Originally a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Wanda, a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 4, she moved to Ontario to be closer to family, and settled in the Ajax area with her partner, Nad. An animal lover, she has 2 dogs, Cody and Zoey, and Pip the cat. Wanda loves the outdoors and enjoys walking, reading and cooking. As she is now working part time, she is interested in getting back into knitting and sewing and trying her hand at quilting. A warm and outgoing person, Wanda enjoys meeting and interacting with people and is always willing to lend a hand. |