Kelly Lin, conductor

Praised for her magnetic, captivating, and inspiring interpretation, Chinese-Canadian conductor Kelly Lin enjoys an active performing career across Canada and internationally.  Equally comfortable with repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary, she is an advocate for under-represented voices, and she is the Artistic Director of Lagom Music Society.

As the recipient of the Hnatyshyn Foundation Christa and Franz-Paul Decker Fellowship in Conducting, Kelly obtained her master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the Schulich School of Music where her mentors include Alexis Hauser and Guillaume Bourgogne.  She has also refined her conducting skills with mentors such as Rafael Payare, Marin Alsop, James Ross, Alexander Shelley, Giuseppe Montesano, Otto Tausk, Jonathan Girard, Brian Current, Yoav Talmi, and Kirk Trevor.  Kelly has recently been named a fellow of the Tapestry Opera WML program.

Platypus Theatre

Since 1989, almost one million young audience members have been introduced to classical music through Platypus Theatre. After more than 650 performances with more than 75 orchestras worldwide, Platypus has established itself as one of North America’s premiere music education theatre companies. Original and engaging storylines are presented in an intelligent and interactive way, with music always taking the lead role. Children laugh, sing and empathize with the characters while learning musical concepts, styles, and much more. In 2006, one of Platypus’ most cherished productions How the Gimquat Found her Song was produced for TV and went on to win several awards including Best Children’s Program at the prestigious Banff World Television Festival. In 1991, Platypus was the subject of a nationally broadcast documentary on CTV, followed by a PBS full-performance broadcast in 2000. During its 25th anniversary year, Platypus premiered its eighth original production, Presto, Mambo!, in partnership with four orchestras across Canada. Other Platypus Productions include Emily Saves the Orchestra, Rhythm in your Rubbish, Bach to the Future, Charlotte and the Music-Maker, Flicker of Light on a Winter’s Night, and Peter and the Wolf.

Peter Duschenes, Artistic Director, Actor and Writer

Thousands of young classical music fans have Peter to thank for introducing them to symphonic music. He co-founded the Platypus Theatre touring company in 1989 to make orchestral music accessible for youth, and more than three quarters of a million concert-goers have benefitted from his creativity. As an award-winning playwright, Peter’s writing credits include all eight Platypus productions and the television adaptation of How the Gimquat Found Her Song. In addition to his roles in Platypus shows, he has also acted and directed with companies across Canada and the United States. When Peter isn’t busy helping the Gimquat find her song, he and his wife Sarah are helping their children, Magda and Theo, find their socks.

Alain Trudel, composer

Montreal native Alain Trudel has distinguished himself as a conductor and soloist, but has also used his creative genius as a composer and arranger. Many of his works have been performed by orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Americas and in Europe and Japan, In 1997, the CBC commissioned the work “Passage”, a small ensemble piece written for trombone, trumpet, accordion and piano. This piece has been played more than fifty times, including at the Winnipeg New Music Festival and in the United States, and rebroadcast nationally on Radio Canada and the CBC. In 1992 he composed “Vision” which was broadcast on the radio and performed more than fifteen times across Canada. Alain has also written many times for his instrument, the trombone, including “Grand Louis”, which was premiered at the International Trombone Congress of 1991 and two pieces for trombone and tape: “Yo” and “Vital” which premiered at the Festival de Strasbourg in 1993 and 1995 respectively. “Charlotte and the Music-Maker” is not Alain’s first collaboration Program Information – Charlotte and the Music-Maker – November 2023 p.3 with a theatre company. He recently composed the music for a musical puppet play created by Productions Felix Mirbt. As an arranger, Alain Trudel has adapted an almost incalculable number of works for both choir and orchestra. Of special interest is his fifteen year engagement with the CBC radio and television sing-in for which he arranged Christmas pieces from all genres and eras. Alain Trudel is recipient of the Virginia Parker Prize, The Prix du Président de la République of the Académie du disque Charles Cros (France), an Opus Prize and a Juno Award.

Graham Ross, illustrator

Look! Look what I’ve done!! These were the words of an eight-year-old as he held up the drawing of a vibrant red fire engine. Oh Graham, that’s wonderful. Really? Oh, this is good. You draw a picture and you get a reaction. I could get into this! And so, it began. A graduate of the illustration program at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada, Graham began his career as a book designer for the respected Canadian publisher McClelland & Stewart. Graham thought he would stick around the big city and in addition to his work as a book designer, he would cultivate his Flock of Seagulls hair style and work on his dance floor moves. But alas, soon follicles receded and shoulder pads deflated, so Graham moved back to his hometown of Ottawa, Canada to contemplate his next career move. It was in Ottawa, that Graham began his freelance illustration and graphic design career. A career that has resulted in illustrations for such publishers as Orca Book Publishers, Scholastic Canada, and Meadowside Books of the United Kingdom, as well as numerous Canadian government agencies and private design firms and now… Platypus Theatre! Graham lives in Merrickville, Ontario in a little log cabin nestled in the woods with his wife Jenn. Together they tootle around in a 1972 VW bus.