Lauren Peters is an aspiring costumer from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She completed her BFA at the University of Manitoba, with a minor in Backstage Theatre Production. After the first pandemic lockdown shut down her final undergrad production, her vocational progress came to an abrupt stop.

After spending the next few years honing skills on personal projects, Lauren made her multi-disciplinary debut as both a costume and set designer with her first paying gig on TV (Maria and the Mennos, YesTV, 2023 Costume Design, Head of Wardrobe)

Lauren has a long history of staging living room plays with her siblings. Years of involvement in her hometown community theatre have taught her to think on her feet and adapt to any theatre crisis. Her latest community productions include Fiddler on the Roof (Steinbach Arts Council, Set Design, Scenic Painter) and Godspell (SAC, Artistic Director, Set & Costume Design)

Looking for ways to learn more about her craft, Lauren is excited to participate in the Banff Centre's Interplay program and looks forward to meeting other emerging artists and like-minded peers.

Anne Uemura is a Japanese-Canadian theatre professional who began her early career in london, UK. She has contributed to acclaimed West End productions, including Mrs. Doubtfire, Hamilton, and Guys and Dolls. Anne also worked on the international tour of Love Never Dies in China as part of the wardrobe department, traveling extensively across the country. Her experiences abroad have deepened her love for theatre, inspiring her to continue refining her craft and contributing to storytelling through the theatrical platform. She remains passionate about costume design and bringing stories to life on stage. She is excited to join the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, where she looks forward to learning from professionals and collaborating with other artists, exchanging ideas, and further developing her skills to contribute meaningfully to the future of theatre. 

A first-generation Filipinx-Portuguese Canadian Montrealer and graduate of John Abbott College’s Fine Arts and Theatre Production (Design) programs, Rachel is a curious and creative spirit that has a passion for any medium that allows her to work with her hands, whether it be through painting, sculpture, or petting any of her 4 cats and 2 dogs.

With over 60 credits to her name, she has worked the fi eld creatively through costume, set, props, and graphic design since 2015. Through theatre, creative projects, commercials and short fi lm, she's had the good fortune to have worked with the likes of KaleidoscopeMTL, Persephone Productions, Total Events, Playback Productions, St-George’s School of Montreal, the METAs, the Montreal Clown Festival, Surreal SoReal Theatre, Côte St-Luc Drama Society, Imago Theatre, Geordie Theatre, The Segal Centre for Performing Arts, and Hudson Village Theatre.

She is absolutely beyond stoked for the opportunity this program at Banff will be nourishing for her love and passion for props.

Rachel currently works as the Head Dresser, assistant Head of Wardrobe, and Head of Props for the Academy program at The Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal, and freelances as a theatre designer.

Rachel Quintero Faia was generously supported by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

Judy Caranto (she/they) is an emerging props builder from Richmond BC, the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. She has spent the last four years at the University of Victoria pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre. In that time, she has worked on seven of UVic’s Phoenix Theatre productions as a builder, coordinator, and assistant head of props respectively. They have also translated their properties skills to work as an artistic director and display builder of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery’s Haunted Sea exhibit in 2023 and 2024. In her spare time, Judy enjoys drawing, writing, and beachcombing.

Judy is incredibly excited to be joining the Banff Centre’s props team as a builder! As someone who values equality and community within a work or learning environment, they believe that the Banff Centre is the perfect place to cultivate and sharpen their props skills and meet new creatives within the field, as well as spend lots of time enjoying the mountains and lakes.

Judy Caranto was generously sponsored by the Banff Centre Artists' Awards.

Born in Lithuania. For her international musical activities, she received official compliments from President Grybauskaite and President Nauseda for the success and achievement of her international debut. She won the Grand Prix of the 7th Aoniyoshi Music Competition in Nara, the 3rd Prize of the 7th S. Vainiunas International Chamber Music Competition, and the Special Prize for the Best Interpretation of a composition by S. Vainiunas, among others.

Žydrė has performed as a soloist with the Vilnius State St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, many Lithuanian orchestras, and the Toyohashi Symphony Orchestra in Japan. She was concertmistress of the Davos Camerata of the Davos Music Festival and the St. Christopher's Chamber Orchestra.

In recent years, Žydrė has been interested in collaboration with other arts (dance, visual art) and contemporary music. Living in Japan, she has been broadening her knowledge of Japanese composers and exploring the fusion of classical and contemporary music with traditional Japanese arts, traditional Japanese instruments, and Lithuanian culture and music.

Žydrė Ovsiukaite was generously supported by the OK Gift Shop Endowment.
 

Tyrell Loster Peitzsche has been playing the horn since he first learned what instrument plays the Force Theme in Star Wars: A New Hope in an instrument petting zoo at 11 years old. He recently graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Diploma in Music Performance Studies studying with Dr. Valerie Whitney and has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria with a Major in Musical Arts and Germanic Studies studying with the late Kurt Kellan. He has participated in chamber music festivals, most recently the Friends of Chamber Music competition in Vancouver. No matter the setting, Tyrell will always be happy to make music. He has been working in the public service for over five years. When he is not practicing and performing, he can be found outdoors cycling, hiking, and playing soccer or volleyball. He keeps himself busy with all aspects of life; body and mind.

Tyrell Loster Peitzsche was generously supported by the Alice and Betty Schultz Scholarships Endowment Fund for Dance and Music.

Hailing from Taiwan, Tsai is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Cello Performance at Rutgers University under the mentorship of Professor Jonathan Spitz. He holds degrees from McGill University and SUNY Stony Brook, where he studied with Matt Haimovitz and Colin Carr.

An avid chamber and orchestral musician, Tsai has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, KKL Luzern, Lincoln Center, Maison Symphonique, and Seiji Ozawa Hall. He has worked under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Marin Alsop, Sir George Benjamin, Susanna Mälkki, and Andris Nelsons, and has collaborated with renowned artists including Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Yo-Yo Ma, Lucy Shelton, and Carol Wincenc, as well as composers Unsuk Chin and Thomas Adès. His chamber music training has been enriched by mentorship from members of the Emerson, Juilliard, Orion, and Formosa Quartets, along with guidance from David Finckel, Gilbert Kalish, Matthew Lipman, Min Kwon, Carmit Zori, and Daniel Panner.

Tsai’s festival appearances include the Lucerne Festival, Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship Program, National Orchestral Institute, National Arts Centre Orchestra Mentorship Program, New York String Seminar, and Sarasota Music Festival. 

Tsung-Yu Tsai was generously supported by the Margaret (Peggy) Sampson Memorial Endowment.

Recently named in the Canada Broadcasting Corporation’s 2024 edition for the “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30”, emerging Korean-Canadian cellist, Solina Lee, is recognized for her musical sensitivity and sincerity. She currently serves as the President and Artistic Director of Wild Rose Chamber Music, a budding arts non-profit organization dedicated to bringing accessible and inclusive classical chamber music to the Edmonton community.

Solina has been a recipient of numerous awards and scholarships. She was awarded the Persons Case Scholarship from the Alberta Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women in 2024. Ms. Lee was a semi-finalist at the Concours Prix D’Europe in 2023, and a semi-finalist in the 2022-2023 Golden Violin Competition at McGill University. Solina was a selected participant of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal “Orchestral Immersion Project” in 2022, where she had the opportunity to perform in the orchestra under the baton of Maestro Rafael Payare.

Summer festivals she has attended include Morningside Music Bridge, Orford Music, Encore Chamber Music Institute, and Toronto Summer Music.

Solina received her Bachelor of Music and Master in Music at McGill University, Schulich School of Music, where she studied with principal cellist of the Montréal Symphony, Brian Manker.

Solina Lee was generously supported by the N. Murray Edwards Family Fund.

Selen Nsabiyeze is a 19-year-old violinist pursuing a Bachelor of Violin Performance at the University of Toronto, studying under Jonathan Crow, Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Calgary, she trained for 12 years with Heidi Behrenbruch while actively participating in prestigious programs at the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music, including the Advanced Performance Program and the Calgary Youth Orchestra, where she served as Concertmaster.

A 2023 graduate of Bishop Carroll High School, Selen was not only the Concertmaster of the Bishop Carroll Virtuosi Strings but also explored choral music through ensembles like the Bishop Carroll Chamber Choir and Vocal Jazz ensemble. Passionate about chamber music, she has performed in numerous small ensembles—piano trios, string quartets, and piano quintets—at conservatories and summer festivals, including the renowned Meadowmount School of Music.

Beyond performance, Selen finds joy in teaching. She has worked with El Sistema Calgary, a nonprofit dedicated to providing music education to underserved communities. She currently teaches privately at the Willowdale School of Music in Toronto. Looking ahead, she aspires to establish a free violin program in her father’s home country of Burundi, bringing classical music to a region where it is scarce.

In her spare time, Selen enjoys painting, singing, and writing music.

Selen Nsabiyeze was generously supported by the Edith Marion Ramsay Memorial Endowment.