Free Music Lessons with Two Cellists of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra

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Montreal Symphony Orchestra cellists Genevieve Guimond and Gary Russell are excited to announce they are accepting new students this January! The Montreal Cello Ensemble offers intensive music training to talented Montreal children, with a focus on breaking financial barriers to ensure access to high-quality music education. Every child admitted into the program receives either a full or partial scholarship that includes instruction, the use of an instrument, and accessories. No prior musical experience is necessary. In fact, almost all of the students they admit have no prior musical training.

The application deadline for this unique opportunity is December 20th, 2024. While the program is open to any family in the greater Montreal area, priority will be given to children between the ages of 4-8 from families who would otherwise find it difficult to afford music lessons. Don’t miss this chance to enrich your child’s life through the gift of music.

About the Teachers

A graduate of the Juilliard School, Montreal-born cellist Geneviève Guimond has performed as soloist with I Musici Montréal, Sinfonia de l’Ouest, and the FACE Symphony Orchestra. She won the grand prize at the Montreal Classical Music Festival (2000), first prize at the Canadian Music Competition (2005) and first prize at the National Music Festival (2007). At the age of 14, Genevieve was featured as lead actress in a film by Canadian director Alex Franchi called Troll Concerto, the sound track on which she played de Falla’s Suite Populaire Espagnol. After graduating from Juilliard, Yo-Yo Ma appointed Genevieve as a Citizen Musician Fellow at the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In 2014-2015 she served as principal cellist and artist-in-residence of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. In June 2017, Kent Nagano appointed Genevieve to the cello section of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Her principal teachers have been Yuli Turovsky, Richard Aaron, and Hans Jensen.

Gary Russell was second assistant principal cellist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra between 1985 and 2018. He performs regularly with colleagues from the orchestra and with his wife, pianist Sandra Hunt, as well as his two children, trombonist, Matthew and cellist, Vanessa. Gary has taught at McGill University and gives private cello instruction. After obtaining his Bachelor in Interpretation from the University of Victoria with James Hunter, Gary pursued his studies with Zara Nelsova at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory and at the Banff Centre. Gary is a yoga and bicycling enthusiast.

Josh Fink is a musician and educator with an array of interests and a bad habit of starting bands. Josh has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, played piano with Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), synthesizers with Nate Brenner (tUnE-yArDs), mandolin with Peter Ostroushko (A Prairie Home Companion), cello with rapper Serengeti, electric bass with Kirk Johnson (Prince), upright bass with WHY? and performed on America’s Got Talent with The Gentlemen of NUCO. Josh has worked extensively as a composer and teaching artist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he has worked on community projects initiated by Yo-Yo Ma, Riccardo Muti, and Carnegie Hall. A passionate teacher, Josh has taught hundreds of young musicians both in schools and in after school programs. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University while simultaneously playing in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Sandra Hunt leads an active career as pianist and piano teacher in the Montreal area. In September, 2020, she began her thirty-fourth year as Director of Music for the Unitarian Church of Montreal. She has worked for McGill University, the Montreal Symphony and has performed in Europe and the US as well as across Canada and on television and radio. For the Banff Centre, Sandra has been accompanist and repetiteur for the Opera and Singing Academy and coach-accompanist for their Young Musicians’ Program. She accompanied Janos Starker’s master classes at Orford as well as Alain Trudel’s trombone master classes at Domaine-Forget. Sandra obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano performance from the University of Alberta with Ernesto Lejano where she graduated with the top award for all performing arts students. In 2016, Sandra joined the alto section of St. Lawrence Choir