Tanya Charles, originally from Hamilton, Ontario, and with ancestral ties to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has showcased her musical talents across North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. She has earned several awards including the Women’s Art Associate of Canada – Luella McCleary Award, the Gabriella Dory Prize in Music, and the John C Holland Award from the Hamilton Black History Association. Tanya holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto and an Artist Diploma in Orchestral Performance from The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory of Music.
Currently, Tanya serves as the concertmaster of Montreal-based,
Ensemble Obiora, a role she has embraced since its inception in 2021. Noteworthy is her performance as soloist, marking the Canadian premiere of Florence Price’s Violin Concerto #1 with this ensemble, under the baton of Samy Rachid, Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in October 2023. Tanya is also a violinist and the outreach coordinator of the Toronto-based
Odin Quartet. Her previous engagements include positions with Sinfonia Toronto and performances as a soloist and concertmaster with the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra (COMF) and the COMF Virtuosi in South Carolina, as well as associate concertmaster of the 2015 Gateways Festival Orchestra in New York. Tanya is in-demand in the music scene in the Greater Toronto Area and graces the stage with several esteemed ensembles, including the National Ballet Orchestra of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra, Soundstreams, Tapestry Opera, and often serves as the concertmaster of the Ontario Pops Orchestra. Beyond classical settings, she also showcases her musical talent as a multi-instrumentalist (violin, viola, and mandolin) in the vibrant world of musical theatre with Mirvish Productions. Additionally, Tanya adds a unique flair to her repertoire as a member of the Toronto-based mariachi band Viva Mexico Mariachi, highlighting her versatility and passion for diverse musical experiences.
Tanya is deeply committed to music education, serving as a dedicated educator, string adjudicator, and clinician both locally and internationally. For over two decades, Tanya has been instrumental in aiding with the implementation of string-education training in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. She is actively involved in various educational initiatives, including the Education Outreach Team for Ensemble du Monde in Guadeloupe and the All Caribbean Youth Orchestra program in St. Martin/Sint Maarten. Tanya has also shared her expertise as a guest instructor at the Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales in Mexico. Tanya is based in Toronto, where she shares her passion and expertise as a faculty member at both the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and the Oscar Peterson Program at The Royal Conservatory of Music.
Languages Spoken: English (native), Spanish (fluent-C2), French (intermediate-B2), Dutch (intermdiate-B2).