Meet Our Team

Carlos Bastidas

Music Director and Conductor

​​Colombian-born Canadian, Carlos Bastidas, is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Ontario Pops Orchestra and Music Director of the Durham Chamber Orchestra. Since founding the Ontario Pops in 2014 he has led it from its inaugural concert in 2015 to its fourth sold-out season in 2018-19. As Music Director of the Durham Chamber Orchestra since 2016 he has been such a contributor to the orchestra’s success that they have had to change venues to accommodate their increased audiences.

He has worked with many leading Canadian ensembles and enjoys close collaborations with the Etobicoke Centennial Choir, Ave Choir Toronto, Durham Girls' Choir, The Young Singers, The Taylor Dance Centre in Ajax, and the Swansea School of Dance in Toronto, among others. His conducting appearances include Open Doors Toronto, Classical 96.3 FM, and the official opening of the “Canada 150” Celebrations at the Ajax City Hall.

A highlight of 2017 was the “Canada 150” anniversary celebration performance of Popular Canadian Classics, sponsored by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Government of Canada. This same year, Bastidas led the combined musicians of the Ontario Pops Orchestra and the Durham Chamber Orchestra to perform with special guest Canadian Juno-nominated vocalist Heather Bambrick. In 2019, Bastidas also conducted the performance of the Vivaldi Bassoon Concerto in E major with soloist Nadina Jackson, a former Montreal Symphony Orchestra bassoonist. Highlights of 2019 also included conducting the intricate and beautiful Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto, Sarasate’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker suite, Sibelius’ Finlandia, Beethoven’s Symphony 7, the Overture to Carmen by Bizet, the William Tell Overture by Rossini, and the Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla by Glinka.

Upcoming projects for 2020/2021 will be conducting the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in Egypt, The Matanzas Symphony Orchestra in Cuba and the performances of Peter and the Wolf in multimedia with live actors and orchestra as well as conducting the Canadian premiers of “Catnip”, by Canadian composer Aline Homzy, “Barycentre”, by Canadian composer Bekah Simms and "Journey Through the Ice Cavern" by Canadian composer Alex Sandoval.
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Bastidas studied bassoon, composition, conducting and chamber music at the University of Ottawa. His studies of Orchestral conducting include summer master classes at England’s Sherborne School of Music. His honours include, playing as section bassoonist with National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada (1996) and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (2001). 
www.carlosmusic.com
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"Carlos is a leader on and off the podium. Not only does he program and conduct multiple orchestras, but creatively, he pushes the performance envelope with a vision of how to cultivate the next generation of classical music lovers.”
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- Leanne Wright, VP Communications, The New Classical FM/ZoomerMedia Limited

Kristina Amador

Personnel Manager and Music Librarian

​Kristina Amador is a Toronto-based clarinetist and arts administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Queen’s University, and is currently continuing her clarinet studies in Toronto with Joseph Orlowski. Her musical dedication and passion for learning have earned her the opportunity to study at intensive summer programs such as the Lift Clarinet Academy and the Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy. Kristina has held the position of principal clarinetist in the Ontario Pops Orchestra since 2016, and enjoys having the opportunity to contribute to the orchestra in many different ways as a musician and member of the administrative team. 

Dorothy Russel

Membership Coordinator

After a 37-year career in computer systems and business consulting, Dorothy retired and started practicing her flute again. She joined the Ontario Pops Orchestra as Second Flute in September 2017.

Leona Thomas
Arts Administrator

Leona Thomas has been a piano teacher for many years, and recently began working in arts administration. She holds a Bachelor of Music and post-graduate certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management. She also enjoys cycling in her spare time.

Ann Nguyen
Graphic Designer

Social Media Coordination
Web Designer

Ann Nguyen is a graphic designer and digital artist from Mississauga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media from York University and has since worked on advertisements for the Ontario Pops and other local Toronto festivals. Ann has been with the Ontario Pops Orchestra since 2016, and plays piano in her spare time. 

Zeena Zaiyouna

​Assistant Conductor for 2019-2020 season

Zeena Zaiyouna has performed with orchestras including Harthouse Orchestra, Counterpoint Orchestra, Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra and the York Chamber Ensemble. Zeena Zaiyouna is a Toronto and Ontario Arts Council recording artist recipient and she most recently featured as a conductor with the Canadian Independent School Music Festival performance at Roy Thomson Hall. 

She has completed a performance degree on oboe from Queen's University and studied under the guidance of Barbara Bolte and principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Hansjörg Schellenberger. Her orchestral conducting background and experience includes private studies with Maestro Andre Presser from Holland and Maestro Harold Faberman at Bard College in New York state. Zeena Zaiyouna has completed university studies in Denmark, Spain, and Canada and has had a unique opportunity to design and implement transdisciplinary arts-based teacher training and curriculum on four continents. Currently, Zeena Zaiyouna teaches instrumental music at Kingsway College School and she concurrently works as a private studio oboe and piano teacher for young aspiring musicians.

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Music Director, Carlos Bastidas
Arts Administrator : Leona Thomas
Membership Coordinator, Dorothy Russel
Personnel Manager & Music Librarian, Kristina Amador
Assistant Conductor, Zeena Zaiyouna
Marketing, open
​Development and PR, open
Graphic Design and Website Design, Ann Nguyen
Volunteers, Laura Ayerdis