Members
Jas Schweitzer (they/them)
Jas Schweitzer is a violinist, researcher, and marketing student. They are a graduate of the University of Victoria (BA, 2023) with a double major in Psychology and Musicology. Their research interests are varied, but their current focus is on neurodiversity within the classical music community. They have received awards Starting the violin at the young age of 6 years old, Jas is currently the assistant second violinist in the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and a section violinist in the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. They are also an experienced violin teacher who has taught students in both the Okanagan/Shuswap and across the Saanich Peninsula. Using their knowledge from their Psychology degree and their own lived experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, they specialize in teaching neurodivergent students of all ages.
Noah Mellemstrand (he/him)
Noah Mellemstrand’s passion for music began at a very early age when he started playing the violin and discovered his interest in singing. A few years later, through violin lessons and community choirs, music became an integral part of his journey. In Grade 8 he joined the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, performing in both violin sections until he graduated from high school. He also participated in music festivals for both violin, high school band, and singing with the Cowichan Valley Youth Choirs, including the Acafellas.
For the past 6 years he has been studying at the University of Victoria (UVic), and currently working towards a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. His goal is to become a high school band teacher in the next couple of years. Since studying at UVic, he has had a myriad of experiences that he has enjoyed including performing in the University of Victoria Symphony Orchestra, UVic Vocal Jazz, many quartets, and stage managing at the Philip T. Young Hall. He is currently assistant concertmaster in the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, singing tenor in the UVic Vocal Jazz, and bass in the UVic Chamber Singers.
Amanda Steinemann (she/her)
Inspired by her love of film music, Canadian composer Amanda Steinemann expresses her lyrical and emotional melodies throughout both her concert works and film scores. In addition to achieving her Bachelor’s in Music Composition from the University of Victoria in 2021, she has taken part in various chamber music, fiddle, and composition workshops from North American and European academies and organisations. Amanda has performed as a member of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra since 2013 on both violin and viola and has attended the GVYO’s Summer String Camps as both a participant and as a viola teaching assistant. She has also taught private and group lessons to a wide range of students of all ages and skill levels since 2020.
Alma Phanichphant (she/they)
Alma has been studying music ever since she was 6, and has enjoyed many experiences and opportunities. They joined the Cello section of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra when she was 12, as well as entering the Greater Victoria Music Festival for both cello and piano for many years alongside, achieving many awards. As of now, she is a private piano and cello teacher for young and beginner players.
In more recent years, they have started lending her skills to her church to build up small ensembles for worship hymns, as well as rearranging said hymns for suitable instruments. Alma is currently studying at the University of Victoria for her Bachelor’s in Music, and looks forward to the near future with study and serving their community.
Kuiil
Kuiil is our beloved quartet mascot!
What many may not know is that Riccio is Italian for hedgehog. We chose the word hedgehog because like many others, Jas adopted a quarantine pet during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which is the same year that the quartet was founded; and we chose Italian since many of the classical music terms used today are in Italian. Kuiil is now 4 years old and spends his time sleeping, eating snacks, and running on his wheel for hours. He is loved by the whole quartet and sometimes even sits in on rehearsals in Jas’ violin case!