Emerging Artists
SACMS is excited to be able to offer performance and scholarship opportunities to young local emerging artists. Each concert begins with a performance by an accomplished student musician from the St. Albert area. This gives up-and-coming performers valuable performing experience. Student performers receive an honorarium to encourage them to further their studies in music.
This season we welcome the following Emerging Artists:
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Xueqian Li and Xueqing Li, piano duet
Clyde Xueqing Li is an eighth-grade student and a versatile young musician. He began studying piano at an early age, later added violin, and has explored composition. He has consistently earned first-place awards and scholarships in piano solo and duet categories at national, provincial (Alberta), and city-level music competitions across Canada.
As a core student leader of the Alberta International Young Artists Association (AIYAA) youth programs, Clyde actively contributes to the planning and delivery of the Alberta International Youth Music & Arts Festival. He has received multiple community youth leadership and arts scholarships in recognition of his leadership, organizational skills, and commitment to using music and the arts to serve and connect communities.
Between 2024 and 2025, Clyde performed piano concertos with symphony orchestras in both China and Canada. In 2025, he was awarded a full scholarship to the Rushmore Music Festival and the Ranald & Vera Shean Memorial Scholarships for Young Artists. At the 2026 AIYAA International Youth Music & Arts Festival, he will continue performing with the orchestra while serving as a student team leader, supporting youth visual-arts initiatives and festival operations.
Anthony Xueqian Li is an energetic and imaginative sixth-grade student. He began studying piano at the age of four and later added the recorder to his musical training. Between 2024 and 2025, he performed concerto works with symphony orchestras in both China and Canada, and has earned multiple first-place awards and scholarships over consecutive years at city-level and Alberta provincial music festivals in piano categories.
Anthony has a strong interest in mechanical design and engineering, with a particular fascination for airplanes, trains, and rockets. He dreams of becoming an aircraft or bridge design engineer. He also enjoys creating comics, is a member of his school’s Running Club, and loves drawing airport layouts and animals.
His favorite travel destination is “anywhere with no homework or piano practice,” his favorite food is Italian sausage, and his favorite game is chess.
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Alexis Toyad, cello
Alexis Toyad started playing cello at the age of five. Under the guidance of Caitlin Laslop, Alexis has loved playing the cello the instant the bow hit the strings. Alexis has been playing in a chamber music class since the age of eight. Most recently, Alexis played in the Senior Orchestra at the Canadian Suzuki Conference (November 2025). In addition to Alexis’s musical talents, Alexis is in competitive gymnastics in the winter and competitive swimming in the summer.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Anja Haydo, viola
Anja is a grade 7 student at Ottewell Junior High School. She has been studying viola with Christina Barry for six years. Anja was recently awarded a National Gold Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music and previously received three regional gold medals in viola and piano. She regularly participates in music festivals and was invited to perform at provincial and the Canada West festivals. Anja has been a member of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra for two years and participated in the Music Enrichment Program orchestra. She recently started learning the oboe. When Anja is not practicing an instrument, she can be found on the ice nurturing her other passion: figure skating.
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Camille Davoine, guitar
Camille Davoine has been playing guitar since the age of ten and has had the guitar strapped to her lap since then. She has been recognized for her musicality and ability to find expression in her repertoire. Under the guidance of Dr. Reneé Pérez, president of the Edmonton Classical Guitar Society, she has accomplished her trials to be able to study guitar at the University of Alberta. She is currently a first year student of the Bachelor of Music program under the teachings of Valentina Benvenuti.
Since her debut with the ECGS she has won second place in the Edmonton Lagrima Competition and the International String Connection Competition. She is also the recipient of the Harvard Broadcasting Entrance Award in Music. She has performed in many places including Calgary and Edmonton City Hall. Additionally she has been playing in the Edmonton Classical Guitar Orchestra for two years and plans on continuing this ensemble through her studies.
Camille is dedicated to her musical growth and career in Edmonton where she hopes to extend her love of her craft while sharing it with the vibrant musical spirit of Alberta.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Ava Mihalcheon & Elizabeth MacDonald, violins
Ava Mihalcheon has been playing violin and fiddle for ten years. Throughout those years of playing, she has developed a love for many genres of music, including chamber music. She has a passion for playing music and sharing that passion with others. Over the last three years, Ava has been involved with the St Albert Rotary music festival where she has won multiple awards for violin and fiddle. She has also been invited to perform in the festival’s encore performance for the last two years and has had the opportunity to perform for the Winspear’s Musicians in the Making program. Ava’s future plans are to continue her musical education by obtaining her bachelor’s degree in music at King’s University. She also has dreams of one day playing with the symphony. Until then, she will immerse herself into the world of music as much as possible and take every opportunity to perform.
Elizabeth MacDonald was born with a love for music and from a young age wanted to play the violin. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, she was put into lessons when she was four years old. She quickly learned that she loved to play with other musicians, and liked to perform for her friends and family. Since then, Elizabeth has played in multiple music festivals, won a Chamber Music Society award for a duet, and has also had an opportunity to participate in the Musicians in the Making program at the Winspear Centre. She has recently been accepted into the Edmonton Youth Orchestra and is looking forward to turning her love for music into a career!