About Us


The Northumberland Orchestra and Choir is a not-for-profit organization that is the county’s first and foremost purveyor of beautiful orchestral and choral music.
Our History
The Northumberland Orchestra was founded under the guiding vision of Dr. Phillip Schaus in 1978 when enthusiastic local musicians united to form a symphony orchestra. A year later the local choral society joined with the orchestra as the newly constituted Northumberland Philharmonic Choir. Throughout its history, the Northumberland Orchestra and choir has included and encouraged young local musicians, many of whom are now pursuing professional musical careers.

Our Musical Team

John Kraus
John is an alumnus of the Western University, where he studied Music Education. He studied clarinet with Jerome Summers, Robert Riesling and Robert Sheeld and conducting with Jerome Summers, Morihiro Okabe and William Gordon. As the founding director of the Durham Chamber Orchestra, the Lakeridge Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and the former Music Director of the Clarington Concert Band and the current music director and conductor of the Northumberland Orchestra & Choir, John has worked in many different genres and with many local and international talents, including Mary Elizabeth Brown, Anastasia Rizikov, and the Sultans of String. As a clarinetist, John has performed with the Lavender Chamber Ensemble. He has dedicated more than 30 years as an educator working with high school students from around the world, sharing his passion for Music. John has regularly conducted honour high school ensembles as part of the annual Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF), held annually each spring at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto. He continues to work with students, professionals, and amateur adult musicians who may have entered the arena for the first time or who have returned to something that they began as youngsters, working as a volunteer with the Liftlock New Horizons organization, Peterborough and as an instructor at the Lakefield Summer Music Camp, Lakeeld, Ontario. John is a member of the Ontario Music Educators Association and has led workshops on ‘best practices’, creativity and composition, and technology in the Music classroom and a coach with the woodwind section and sectional conductor of the La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra, Port Hope. He regularly works with ensembles preparing for festivals and is an adjudicator with the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators Association.

Victoria Yeh
Victoria Yeh is a Canadian violinist who has performed across the country from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and has been lauded by music critics internationally. Classically trained, Victoria has served as Concertmaster for various orchestras, in addition to her active performance career as a contemporary electric violinist. Today, her unique style combines classical purity with the edginess of prog fusion, heavily influenced by the likes of Jean-Luc Ponty and Joe Satriani.
When not on stage, Victoria can be found recording on countless film, television and music projects in genres ranging from atmospheric avant-garde to hip-hop and electronica; folk and fiddle to ethno-world and rock. As a devoted teacher, Victoria also works extensively with adults who are either returning to their instruments after a long absence, or advanced players seeking to improve their technical foundations and/or explore contemporary music and improv. Victoria has been recognized with the 2021 Platinum and 2022 Gold Awards for Best Music Lessons in Grey County.
New to Peterborough, Victoria is honoured to be serving as the new Concertmaster for the NOC.
Board Members
2022-2023
Executive
Marie Narini
President
Deirdre Bryant
Vice President
Vacant
Vice President
Ken Noronha
Secretary/Treasurer
Joan Chalovich
Director Emeritus
Board Members
Deirdre Bryant
Lorna Miller
Stephanie Allen
Ex-Officio
John Kraus
Music Director
Vacant
Choral Director
Stephanie Allen
Concierge/Stage Manager
Operations
Vacant
Accompanist
The Ford Professional Group and Postings
Administration
Marie Narini
Bingo Fundraiser Lead
Doug Haskell
Concert Photography
David Kuhnke
Development Outreach
Susan Irwin
Finance
Lorna Miller
Front of House / Publicity
Alexander Scanlon
Legal
Cliff Bell-Smith, Pam Haskell, Eileen O’Connor
Librarians
Francine Nesbitt
Marketing
Janina Kraus, Suzanne Routh
Marshalls
Esther Dermenjian, Susan Nakamichi, Jennifer Raggers
Performing Member Liaisons
Nicolett Jakab
Promotional Photography
Cam Christie, Francine Nesbitt, Jim Yates
Public Relations / Social Media
Lynne Ferguson, Suzanne Routh
Special Events
Ken Noronha
Steering
Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting in August. If you are interested in putting your name forward to the Nominating Committee to be considered for Board membership, please fill out our Join Us form.
Season Finale and Fundraiser
April 22, 2023
Contact
Phone
289 251 1191
Address
284 Division Street
Cobourg, ON