The Foundation celebrates its 2026 award winners—extraordinary young musicians from across Canada, all of them studying and performing in schools and on stages around the world. We are grateful to the leaders of the 20 music schools, conservatories, faculties, and opera ensembles who took the time to nominate them and the more than 50 candidates who competed for this year’s awards.
Ours is a three-step process of selection, beginning with the nominations of those chosen to represent their institution. This initial phase is followed by a first-round jury, who this year listened to over 130 hours of recorded music submitted by the candidates, to determine who would pass on to the final round. The first-round jury this year was anchored by pianist Andrew Tunis, Professor Emeritus at the University of Ottawa and included Joanne Kolomyjec (former Head of Voice at McGill), Jerzy Kaplanek (Associate Dean and Professor of the Music Faculy at Wilfrid Laurier University, and a member of the celebrated Penderecki String Quartet), and Christopher Millard (educator and former Principal Bassoon with the Vancouver Symphony and the National Arts Centre Orchestra). We thank them all for their careful and considered work on behalf of the Foundation.
We also thank the eminent musicians who judged the final round: Denise Djokic (acclaimed cellist, professor, and multidisciplinary collaborator), James Somerville (soloist, conductor, and former Principal Horn, Boston Symphony), and three Gelber Foundation board members: celebrated clarinetist James Campbell, CM (Artistic Director of Festival of the Sound); international voice teacher Rosemarie Landry, CM; and renowned pianist Stéphane Lemelin, (performer and pedagogue, on faculty at the Schulich School of Music in Montreal).
We are pleased to present our 2026 award winners:
Jamal Al Titi, baritone
Toronto, Ontario
Belarusian-born Canadian baritone Jamal Al Titi is a young artist on the rise whose warm, resonant timbre and charismatic stage presence have already brought him to leading roles on both Canadian and international stages. This coming season, Jamal makes his company debuts with Edmonton Opera as Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, under the baton of Rafael Payare. He subsequently returns to Opéra de Montréal for the world premiere of Atys in co-production with Ballet Opéra Pantomime.
A recent graduate of Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique, he has appeared in performances of Pergolesi’s La serva padrona, Ravel’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges, and, most recently, Bizet’s Carmen. Concert highlights include Handel’s Messiah with Orchestre Classique de Montréal and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and the Grand Philharmonic Choir.
Recently, Jamal was named a Mécénat Musica 2026 Vocal Discovery Prize winner; he also won awards from Toronto City Opera’s Macina Competition, Edmonton Opera’s Rumbold Vocal Prize, the Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition, and the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. He is an alumnus of the International Meistersinger Academy, the University of Toronto, and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. His award from the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation will contribute to his participation in international competitions, auditions, advanced coachings, and role preparation as he transitions to a fully professional career
Bridget Esler, soprano
Vancouver, BC
Praised as “an artist who leads with musical intelligence and technical assurance,” (La Scena musicale), Canadian soprano Bridget Esler is a recent graduate of the Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique. Bridget has performed across Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States with ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Bridget enjoys a busy schedule as recitalist and concert soloist, with recent and upcoming engagements including
Pulcinella under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Ojai Festival (Colburn Orchestra), Fauré’s Requiem (Orchestre symphonique de Montréal),
and a six-city tour to venues including Carnegie Hall and Benjamin Franklin Hall as part of the Marlboro Music Festival’s popular chamber music touring program.
On the operatic stage, her roles include the Governess in The Turn of the Screw (National Arts Centre Orchestra), Monica in The Medium (Orchestre classique de Montréal), Barena in Jenůfa, Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and the Nightingale/Shepherdess in L’Enfant et les sortilèges (Opéra de Montréal).
Experienced on the competition circuit, Bridget was awarded the Mélodie Prize, Lied Prize, and New Commission Prize at the 2025 Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition, Second Prize at the 86th OSM Competition, and First Prize at the 2026 Rochester Oratorio Society Emerging Artist Competition. Her award from the Gelber Music Foundation will enable her participation in the Brooklyn Art Song Society’s Young Artist Program, as well as in various auditions and competitions.
Natasha Henry, soprano
Ottawa, Ontario
Natasha Henry is recognized for the warmth of her voice, her compelling stage presence, and the sincerity of her performances. Described by critic Christophe Huss in Le Devoir as “a remarkable talent to watch,” she has quickly established herself as one of Canada’s promising young artists.
Henry is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, including the Stingray Étoile Prize at the Opéra de Montréal Talent Gala and the Canadian Music Centre Prize as a finalist in the Prix d’Europe Competition. She was also a semi-finalist in the prestigious OSM Competition and has earned recognition at the Metropolitan Opera Laffont and Ricardo Zandonai international competitions.
A laureate of the 2025 Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques program, she has received support from the McAbbie and MusiquAvenir Foundations, Jeunesses Musicales Canada, the Montreal Conservatory, and Opéra Bouffe du Québec.
Her operatic credits include Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief), The Daughter (The Juniper Tree by Philip Glass), Diane (Actéon), the Statue in Rameau’s Pygmalion, and Missia in The Merry Widow. In summer 2026, she created the title role in Ma Belle Opérette at the Quebec Opera Festival. In concert, she has performed Poulenc’s Gloria under the baton of Jean-Marie Zeitouni at Montreal’s Maison symphonique. The Sylva Gelber Music Foundation will contribute toward ongoing lessons, role preparation with renowned teachers, and participation in auditions and international competitions.
Mira Kardan, cello
Toronto, Ontario
Mira Kardan attends the Glenn Gould School, where she studies with Hans Jorgen Jensen and Andres Diaz as a recipient of the Renette and David Berman Scholarships. She was a member of the Colburn Music Academy, where she studied with cellist Clive Greensmith and served as principal cellist of the Colburn Virtuosi.
An avid chamber musician, Mira performed as a member of the Olive Piano Trio, which won the Gold Medal first prize at the 2022 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Mira’s string trio won first place in the 2025 Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition. Mira was most recently a finalist in the Glenn Gould School’s Corcoran
Concerto Competition and will perform the Schumann Cello Concerto with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in 2027. Mira has won numerous other prizes including first place in the 2025 Shean Strings Competition. Mira recently gave a solo recital at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival.
Mira has performed in master classes for Richard Aaron, Gautier Capuçon, Steven Isserlis, Gary Hoffman, the Calidore Quartet, and the Takacs Quartet. She performs on a Montagnana model Grubaugh & Seifert cello made in 2019, with a Sylvain Bigot bow. She will use her Gelber Foundation award to pursue opportunities for international study and specialized mentorship in the year ahead.
Julie Lin, violin
Surrey, BC
Julie Lin is an active performer whose work spans solo, chamber, orchestral, contemporary, and community-focused music making. She has earned top prizes at the National Music Festival of Canada and the Canadian Music Competition and has appeared at major venues, including Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall. As a soloist, she has performed with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Surrey Symphony Orchestra, and PRISMA Festival Orchestra,
and has been featured by Da Camera Houston, the Colburn Chamber Music Society, Vancouver Westcoast Music Society, and Taiwan’s Friday Night Concert Series. A passionate chamber musician, Julie has collaborated with Jean-Yves Thibaudet, David Chan, Demarre McGill, Andres Cárdenes, and members of the Tokyo, St. Lawrence, and Calidore String Quartets. She has also performed with Kinetic Ensemble and the Colburn Contemporary and Baroque Ensembles.
Her orchestral development has been shaped through work with Noah Bendix-Balgley, Nathan Cole, and Glenn Dicterow, and she has performed under conductors including Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Michael Tilson Thomas.
Julie is a faculty member of the Montecito International Music Festival and a founding member and Director of Chamber Music at the Swan International Music Festival in Singapore. Her teaching and outreach experience includes serving as a teaching assistant at Rice University and the Meadowmount School of Music, working with Colburn’s Center for Innovation and Community Impact and Street Symphony, and leading residencies in Canada and Taiwan.
She is currently an Artist Diploma candidate at The Glenn Gould School, studying with Jonathan Crow and Min-Jeong Koh. She holds degrees from Rice University and the Colburn Conservatory, where she studied with Paul Kantor and Martin Beaver. Her Sylva Gelber Music Foundation award will contribute toward her final year of study at the Glenn Gould School in the Artist Diploma program, and toward associated activities, such as her participation in auditions, competitions and summer music festivals.
Joey Machin, violin
Toronto
An avid chamber musician, Joey Machin has performed in concerts and competitions with his duo, piano trio, and string quartet. Following two recital rounds with his duo partner, he was awarded first prize in the 2025-2026 Golden Violin Award Competition. Along with presenting recitals in the Lakeshore Chamber Music Society and McGill chamber music series, his ensemble, Ottica Trio, competed in the 2026 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Joey has participated in numerous chamber music festivals and programs, including Yale’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Taos School of Music, and the Montreal International String Quartet Academy.
Joey also studies baroque violin and will perform with Les Violons du Roy orchestra in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons as part of the Emergence Program residency. As a soloist, he has performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor with the Hart House Orchestra and North York Concert Orchestra in Toronto.
Joey has completed his bachelor’s degree at McGill University in the studio of Violaine Melançon and with support from the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation will pursue his master’s degree at The Juilliard School, studying with Mark Steinberg.
Harrison Yang Meng, violin,
Toronto
Harrison began studying the violin at age seven with his mother, Linda Yang, before joining the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists with Atis Bankas at age 13. He transitioned to the viola at 14 and currently studies with Theresa Rudolph. In June 2026, Harrison performed for Prime Minister Mark Carney and Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin at an official state dinner in Dublin Castle, representing Canada in a cultural exchange celebrating the strong relationship between the two countries.
Harrison is the founding violist of Quartetto Tornando, which won Bronze Prize at the 53rd Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (Junior Division) in 2026. He was also invited to participate in the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition Youth Chamber Music Program and performed Osvaldo Golijov’s Last Round at the BISQC Alumni Concert alongside Joel Quarrington, Barry Shiffman, David Ying, and the Isidore Quartet.
A prize-winning soloist, Harrison won the 2024 Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, the Grand Prize at the 2024 International Music Festival and Competition, and the 2025 North York Concert Orchestra Concerto Competition. He has performed as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, Kindred Spirits Orchestra, North York Concert Orchestra, Canada Youth Chamber Orchestra, among others, and served as Principal Violist of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Harrison looks forward to continuing his artistic development as a multifaceted artist while sharing the unique voice of the viola with audiences around the world. His 2026 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation award will facilitate his forthcoming studies at The Juilliard School under Prof. Hsin-Yun Huang and will assist with preparation for an important international competition.
Camila Montefusco, mezzo
Montreal
Camila Montefusco is a storyteller at heart. Described as possessing “an instrument of remarkable power and endurance” (Revue L’Opéra Québec), the Brazilian-born mezzo-soprano is a recent graduate of Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique.
Recent role debuts include Rychtarka in Janáček’s Jenufa with Opéra de Montréal, Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale at the Banff Centre, Maman in L’enfant et les sortilèges, Annio in La clemenza di Tito, and Madame Flora in The Medium with the Orchestre classique de Montréal. In the 26/27 season, Camila makes her mainstage and role debut with Pacific Opera Victoria as Second Lady in The Magic Flute.
Originally a professional violinist in Brazil, Camila fell in love with the voice while playing in the opera pit. She earned a Bachelor of Violin Performance from the University of São Paulo before moving to Canada to pursue voice, earning a Master of Music with honours from Western University followed by the Rebanks Family Fellowship at the Glenn Gould School.
Additional accolades include First Prize at the Macina Competition, Second Prize at the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio Competition and Third Prize at the Marmande International Singing Competition.
This season, Montefusco is the grateful recipient of the Vancouver Opera Guild’s Career Development Grant, and the Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Carl and Trudy Michailoff Developing Artist Grant for Classical Vocal Performance. She is also honoured to have received the 2026 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award and the Walter Prystawski Prize, which will assist in her transition to the German opera system through intensive language training, specialized vocal and repertoire training in Berlin, and participation in auditions and competitions.
Luca Ortolani, oboe
Ottawa, Ontario
Luca Ortolani is recognized for his thoughtful musicianship and versatility across solo, orchestral, and chamber settings. He has performed with ensembles including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Kentucky Symphony, the Tianjin Symposium Festival Orchestra, the Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie. As a soloist, he has recently performed works such as Vivaldi’s Double Oboe Concerto and Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto.
Equally at home in chamber music, Luca has been featured in concert series including the Colburn Chamber Music Society, the Next Generation Series with Concert Nova, The Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas, Ottawa Chamberfest, and the Kingston Road Brandenburg Project.
He is grateful to have received several distinctions in support of his artistic growth; among these are his 2025 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award, the 2024 National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary, the 2024 Sturdevant Prize for Orchestra Excerpts, the 2022 Louise Schaefer Wilshire Scholarship (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), and the 2022 Vic Pomer Award from the National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary Competition.
Luca completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto studying with Sarah Jeffrey and earned his Master’s at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Titus Underwood. Luca is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at The Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he studies with Eugene Izotov. His current Gelber award will be applied toward private study and mentorship with distinguished oboists; participation in auditions, competitions, and performances; and related activities as he finishes his studies at Colburn.
Sandvoss, Sabina, cello
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Sabina Sandvoss is recognized for her expressive artistry as a soloist and chamber musician. Born into a musical family, she began playing the cello at the age of four and has cultivated a lifelong passion for performance through extensive musical study and artistic exploration.
Recent highlights include winning First Prize at the Zara Nelsova Competition, the Corcoran Concerto Competition at the Glenn Gould School, and the 2026 Canada Council for the Arts’ Michael Measures Prize. As the Corcoran winner, she performed Bloch’s Schelomo with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in Koerner Hall under the baton of Earl Lee.
In summer 2026, she will tour across Canada with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada as soloist, performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
Recent highlights include winning First Prize at the Zara Nelsova Competition, the Corcoran Concerto Competition at the Glenn Gould School, and the 2026 Canada Council for the Arts’ Michael Measures Prize. As the Corcoran winner, she performed Bloch’s Schelomo with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in Koerner Hall under the baton of Earl Lee. In summer 2026, she will tour across Canada with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada as soloist, performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
Sabina holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Glenn Gould School and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma under the guidance of Hans Jørgen Jensen and Andrés Díaz. A recipient of scholarships from The Temerty Foundation, she performs on a cello handcrafted by her father, Christopher Tilman Sandvoss. Her Sylva Gelber Music Foundation award will contribute toward her further development in Europe, with activities such as language training, repertoire development, lessons and participation in competitions.
Justin Saulnier, violin
Orleans (Ottawa)
Justin Saulnier made his orchestral solo debut at age 12 with the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, and has since performed with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Métropolitain, Canada’s National Arts Center Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Drummondville Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the McGill Symphony Orchestra, the Pembroke Symphony Orchestra and the Sinfonia de Montréal. He has worked with prominent conductors, including Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Tomas Netopil and Alexis Hauser.
Justin has received many awards, notably the first prize in the Eckhardt-Gramatté competition, the Golden Violin Awards at the Schulich School of Music, and in the NACO Bursary competition; and second prize in the OSM Competition and the Shean Strings Competition, as well as the André Bourbeau prize at the Montreal International Competition.
Justin received a bachelor’s degree from McGill University under the tutelage of Andrew Wan, and, with a contribution from the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation, is now pursuing his Master’s degree at the Curtis Institute with Pamela Frank. Justin is grateful for this support and for that of the Hnatyshyn Foundation. He is also grateful for the opportunity to play on a 1680 Ruggeri from Cremona, with a Louis Gillet bow, generously loaned to him by the company Canimex Inc. from Drummondville.
Daria Schibițcaia, violin
Toronto, Ontario
Moldovan-born violinist Daria Schibițcaia, winner of the International Music Competition “Made in Ukraine”, has performed across Canada, Switzerland, China, Germany, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, and Belgium. At 17, she made her solo debut with the Moldavian National Symphony Orchestra, performing Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 after being invited to represent Moldova at the 12th Youth Delphic Games of the CIS Member States in Russia.
In 2024, Daria won the University of Toronto Concerto Competition with Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2. She is also a laureate of the Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition and the SHEAN Strings Competition, as well as a recipient of the Award of Excellence from the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Her artistic journey has been profoundly enriched by masterclasses and collaborations with esteemed artists including Zakhar Bron, Mihaela Martin, Ida Kavafian, Stéphanie-Marie Degand, and Vilmos Szabadi.
Festival appearances include Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival—where her piano trio toured Newfoundland—and two seasons with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. In 2025, she was selected to participate in both the Menuhin Academy and Rencontres Musicales Camerata Lysy in Switzerland. That same year, she performed in Toronto’s Luminato Festival, under the artistic direction of Aaron Schwebel, concertmaster of the National Ballet Orchestra of Canada.
Equally dedicated to orchestral music, Daria joined the Moldavian National Symphony Orchestra at 18 and has since performed with the National Opera and Ballet Orchestra as well as the Moldavian and Romanian Youth Orchestras. During her studies, she held concertmaster positions with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble, University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Most recently, in May 2025, she was selected as Assistant Concertmaster of the NextGen Symphony at the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestral Symposium in China.
A graduate of the Phil and Eli Taylor Academy at The Royal Conservatory, Daria studied with the late Victor Danchenko. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, where she was awarded the Lorand Fenyves Scholarship and the Gerhard Kander Graduating Award for Violin. She is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of Music, studying with Erika Raum and Barry Shiffman as a Temerty Fellow.
In the summer of 2025, Daria will be taking part in the Fiskars Orchestra and Chamber Music Festival in Finland. As the 2025 winner of the Walter Prystawski Prize and of a Sylva Gelber Music Foundation award, she is deeply honoured to be supported once again by the Gelber Foundation, whose generosity continues to enable and inspire her artistic journey.
Elliot Sloss, cello
Toronto, Ontario
Elliot Sloss began his cello studies at the age of four, and in the eighteen years since, his artistry has taken him to stages and institutions around the world. Currently a student at the Curtis Institute of Music, Elliot benefits from the mentorship of a distinguished faculty, including Peter Wiley, Gary Hoffman, Nick Canellakis, Yumi Kendall, and Christine Lee. His foundational training was at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy in Toronto, where he studied under Paul Widner and Joe Johnson.
A prizewinner at the 2026 Classic Cello International Competition in London, Elliot had the distinction of performing with The Philharmonia Orchestra under conductor Tomàs Grau. He was also a finalist at the 2025 Shean Strings Competition in Edmonton and recently represented Canada on the international stage at the 2025 Isang-Yun Competition in South Korea.
Elliot is a three-time first-place winner in the national strings division of the Canadian Music Competition. He is also a three-time concerto competition winner of the North York Music Festival Competition, performing with the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra; the Taylor Academy Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition; and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition.
Elliot performs on a 1706 Giuseppe Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ cello crafted in Cremona, paired with a 1925 Victor Fétique bow made in Paris. His Sylva Gelber Music Foundation award will contribute toward living expenses and participation in competitions and festivals while he pursues his Master’s degree at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Emad Zolfaghari, viola
Windsor, Ontario
Emad Zolfaghari came to international attention after winning the first prize and audience prize at the 2024 Primrose International Viola Competition. Emad was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at age 16, where he currently studies with Hsin-Yun Huang. Other major competition prizes include first prize at the Klein International String Competition and the International Morningside Music Bridge Competition, second prize at the Johansen International String Competition, third and special prizes at the Tokyo International Viola Competition, and third and audience prize at Montreal’s OSM string competition.
He also was awarded Charlotte White’s Salon de Virtuosi Career grant in 2024, and was listed as one of CBC Music’s “30 under 30 hot Canadian classical musicians.”
Solo appearances include the Tokyo Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre Métropolitain, National Philharmonic, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Peninsula Symphony and more.
Emad currently plays on a fine 1700 Matteo Goffriller viola on generous loan from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, with a Eugène Sartory bow from CANIMEX, inc. His Sylva Gelber Music Foundation award will support his final year of study at the Curtis Institute, along with participation in various career development opportunities.