Andrea Bell – Conductor
Born in Winnipeg, Andrea Bell holds Bachelor Degrees in Music and Education from the University of Manitoba and a Masters Degree in Cello Performance from the University of British Columbia. Andrea is the founding member and cellist of the Rembrandt String Quartet. A passionate music educator, Ms. Bell is the Director of the String Orchestra Program at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate. She maintains a large and vibrant private cello studio and is the Director of the “Mini-Rosie” program at the Rosamunde Summer Music Academy. Andrea has taught cello, conducted youth and adult amateur orchestras and adjudicated music festivals across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and in Australia. Andrea is the Conductor of the Winnipeg Mennonite Community Orchestra and the Winnipeg Youth Concert Orchestra.
John Taves – Concertmaster
John Taves started playing the violin at age 6 in Winnipeg’s Suzuki program. While growing up he performed in numerous festivals, concerts, competitions and was awarded two medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music. John has long had a passion for orchestral music and frequently held Concertmaster and Principal Second positions in the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra and the Brandon University Orchestra during his time in the ensembles. Additionally, John has performed with University of North Texas Concert Orchestra and the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
John’s love for music and learning has taken him to study violin both at Brandon University and the University of North Texas. In his second year studying at Brandon University, John was awarded the Viktor Krahn Memorial Trophy in the Brandon Festival of the Arts. His past reachers include Kerry DuWors, Philip Lewis, Simon MacDonald, Anna Bond, Karl Stobbe and Elana Hiller. John graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree with Distinction from Brandon University in 2018. John started his role as concertmaster of the Mennonite Community Orchestra in 2023.
Additionally, his enthusiasm for teaching music has led him to study Suzuki Pedagogy with Karen Kismet and Joanne Martin as well as violin pedagogy with Kerry DuWors. John has been teaching full time since 2018 and currently holds violin studios in Steinbach, Altona, and Winnipeg.
Mennonite Community Orchestra 