The YONA program is led by an amazing team whose members come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is grateful for the staff’s dedication to making YONA a safe and empowering space for students to develop meaningful relationships and skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Please click on a staff member’s name to learn a little more about them.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_center,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Cosette_Justos_Vald%C3%A9s.jpg)
Cosette Justos Valdés
Artistic Director and Conductor since 2018
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Lilian_Belknap.jpg)
Lilian Belknap
Associate Director of Musical Creativity since 2021
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Natalie_Boisvert.jpg)
Natalie Boisvert
Artistic Lead since 2022 and Woodwinds Teaching Artist since 2016
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Nathan_Chan.jpg)
Nathan Chan
Pedagogical Lead and Violin Teaching Artist since 2014
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Booker_Diduck.jpg)
Booker Diduck
Acting Site Manager since 2024
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/GPF_0400.jpg)
Dina Dokic
Viola Teaching Artist since 2023
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Viktoria_Grynenko.jpg)
Viktoria Grynenko
Violin Teaching Artist since 2023
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Travis_Kutz.jpg)
Travis Kutz
Site Manager since 2023
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Jacquie_McNulty.jpg)
Jacquie McNulty
Program Lead since 2013
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Olivia_Menard.jpg)
Olivia Menard
Brass Teaching Artist and Site Manager since 2022
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Jodi_Penner.jpg)
Jodi Penner
Choir Teaching Artist since 2022
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/GPF_0410.jpg)
Ephraim Sopulu Prescott
Site Manager since 2023
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Joshua_Ryu.jpg)
Joshua Ryu
Violin Teaching Artist since 2021
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Yeganeh_Sotudehnia.jpg)
Yeganeh Sotudehnia
Violin Teaching Artist since 2023
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Elaine_Stepa.jpg)
Elaine Stepa
Brass and Percussion Teaching Artist since 2016
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Anne-Marie_Switzer.jpg)
Anne-Marie Switzer
Director of Musical Creativity since 2023
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Alex_Valle.jpg)
Alex Valle
Flute Teaching Artist since 2023
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Andreas_Wegner.jpg)
Andreas Wegner
Double Bass Teaching Artist since 2016
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Nathaniel_Wong.jpg)
Nathaniel Wong
Violin Teaching Artist since 2017
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/winspear-centre/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_600,q_auto,w_600/v1/YONA/2024%20Website%20Refresh/Staff%20headshots/Nava_Yamach.jpg)