WHO WE ARE
The mission of The Urban Orchestra is to hold live orchestral music performances in non-traditional spaces, so that our audiences experience the power of an orchestra up close – the way orchestras were meant to be heard.
Our repertoire contains traditional and contemporary classical music that is exciting, entertaining, and shows off the power of the orchestra. We select young, diverse musicians as our orchestra performers. We’re also a registered charity, which allows us to issue tax receipts to our supporters.
We look forward to welcoming you to an upcoming concert. To become a long-term supporter, please consider joining our Friends of the Urban Orchestra program .
Let’s take orchestral music to the next level.
GREG HAWCO
Music Director
The Urban Orchestra is led by Music Director Greg Hawco. Greg is a respected international conductor and composer whose works have been performed throughout Canada, including a recent performance as a guest conductor for the Ontario Philharmonic. In addition, Greg is a well-established composer of film and television scores, including the CBC television series Republic of Doyle. He is currently performing with the Toronto production of Come From Away.
As a passionate classical music enthusiast, Greg founded The Urban Orchestra in 2016 to create an opportunity for the audience could experience the same visceral thrill he experiences as a conductor. He brought together a dedicated Board of Directors and team of volunteers committed to bringing this new orchestra to life.
MURRAY FOSTER
President
Murray Foster is a Juno-nominated former member of Canadian bands Moxy Fruvous and Great Big Sea, which have collectively sold over two million albums. He is currently Professor of Music (Songwriting) at Seneca College, and is the founder of Toronto Songwriting School, The Urban Orchestra, and Choir Nation.
In August 2014, a song he wrote for the band Fortunate Ones called “Lay Me Down” went to #1 on the CBC Top 20 chart and remained there for two weeks. It was CBC Radio’s most-requested song of the year.
In 2015 he wrote, directed, scored, and co-produced a feature film called “The Cocksure Lads Movie,” which was released nationally. He then wrote a musical version of that film (called “Chelsea Sunrise”) through Sheridan College’s CMTP Project. He’s currently working on a musical called “The Quest,” which is being developed through Bravo Academy, Randolph College, and the Canadian College of Performing Arts.
In 2020, Murray was a finalist for the Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition for outstanding contributions to Toronto’s music culture.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TAMMY RING
Director
Tammy Ring is a partner in Lerners’ Plaintiff Personal Injury Group in Toronto. Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, she is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Osgoode Hall Law School.
Tammy has been involved in the arts community for much of her life and is committed to ensuring that music and music education are accessible to all. In support of her other passions, baseball and Newfoundland, she is also member of the Board for York Baseball and the Memorial University GTA Alumni Advisory Board.
TERRY NICHOLSON
Director
Passionate about art and culture, Terry Nicholson has dedicated over 30 years of his professional life to the creative sector in Toronto. With over two decades of experience in roles of progressing responsibility within the City of Toronto’s Economic Development & Culture division, he held the position of Director of Arts and Culture when he retired from the City in 2016.
In 2018, Terry started to work as a singer/songwriter releasing the CD “Morning Light” in November 2019 and the Christmas CD “Winter Holiday” in November 2022.
Over the course of his professional career, Terry has served on and headed many advisory and organizational committees and was on the Board of the Toronto Arts Foundation. In addition to a Master’s degree in Canadian History from the University of Toronto, he holds an MBA in Arts Administration from York University.
VIRVE ALJAS
Director
Seeing (hearing) was believing for Virve Aljas, who joined the Urban Orchestra Board after being moved as a member of the audience.
She supports patient advocacy for organizations like the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL), and PSC Partners Seeking a Cure Canada, as well as supporting education programs about living organ donation.
In 2020, Virve co-founded a small independent children’s publishing house, East York Press.
MARGARET WAI
Director
Originally from Montreal, Margaret is a retired lawyer with a law degree and an MBA from McGill University. She has lived and worked in Calgary, Vancouver, and London, England.
Margaret has been involved in volunteer work for many years and is committed to supporting vulnerable members of society. She strongly believes in access to the Arts for all, particularly as a vehicle for inspiring young people. She volunteered at the June Callwood Centre for Young Women in the past and is currently on the board of directors of Scribble Me Silly – Art for Kids.
LINDSAY ELLIS
Director
Lindsay Ellis is an avid concert-goer and supporter of the arts. She brings her commitment to creating memorable experiences to the Urban Orchestra Board. A true modern-day Renaissance woman, Lindsay holds a master’s degree in chemistry, a diploma in film studies, and an MBA focusing on innovation.
Professionally, Lindsay is a consultant specializing in corporate culture and strategy, where she designs customized workshops to drive meaningful change within organizations. In her spare time, she channels her irreverent comedic perspective into writing for The Beaverton, Canada’s leading online satirical news outlet.
MICHAEL DOYLE
Director
Michael Doyle is a Toronto litigation lawyer and founding partner of the litigation boutique Siskind Doyle LLP. He is a graduate of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University Law School, and he had the good sense to stop playing trombone when he read the audience at a very young age.
Michael is a wholehearted supporter of the Toronto arts community, and was sold on the project of the Urban Orchestra at his first encounter. He is a Board member of several other arts and philanthropic organizations, and looks forward to there never being an unexpected absence in the trombone section. .
The Urban Orchestra is grateful to the past Directors who have made us stronger with their contributions of expertise and time:
- Louis Amato-Gauci (2016 – 2023)
- Catherine Davey (2016 – 2021)
- Grant Gordon (2016 – 2021)
- Mary Krause (2018 – 2020)
- Steve Mahoney (2021 – 2022)
- Lisa Slack (2021 – 2023)
- Kat Tsoi (2021 – 2022)
ORCHESTRA
LYNN KUO, VIOLIN
Concertmaster
Canadian violinist Lynn Kuo is Assistant Concertmaster of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra . She performs as a concert violinist, and guest concertmaster of Canadian orchestras that have included the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Opera Hamilton, Ontario Philharmonic, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Mandle Philharmonic, and various orchestras in the city of Toronto. In addition to performing regularly with the Canadian Opera Company and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Lynn also serves as an adjudicator, guest artist, and lecturer at festivals and universities, and was Visiting Assistant Professor of Violin at Memorial University of Newfoundland for the Winter semester of 2020.
As a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, Lynn has performed across Canada, United States, Wales, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. She has performed with the Tainan Symphony Orchestra, Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Thirteen Strings, Canadian Sinfonietta, Brandon Chamber Players, Nexus percussion ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Bulgaria), Cantus Ensemble (Croatia), Lviv Philharmonic, Lviv Virtuosi (Ukraine), and as guest soloist with Hungary’s gypsy orchestra, Rajkó Band.
Lynn holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto, having dedicated her research to the subject of holistic health and injury prevention in orchestral string musicians. When not playing the violin, Lynn can be spotted on social media posting violin tutorials or perfecting her karate kicks or salsa dancing turn patterns.
Lynn and is Founder/CEO of Violin with Dr. Lynn, serving as an online educator for violinists motivated to become stronger, more fearless performers. Having launched her Summer Violin Bootcamp in June 2020 during pandemic, Lynn is quickly becoming a respected educator in the online space appearing on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.