Lydia Munchinsky

Lydia Munchinsky (née Helsdon) •cellist, pianist, teacher, recording artist, composer •grew up in rural Ontario (near Aylmer) •studied and worked in Toronto from 2000-2025, currently resides in Red Deer Alberta •graduated from The Glenn Gould School of Music for performance •past cello teachers include Simon Fryer, Julia MacGregor and Amanda Keesmaat •studied piano with Peter Longworth, Karen Rowell, Dorothy Jones and Joy (Johnson) Cehovin •achieved ARCT in performance for both cello and piano •married since 2003 (met husband at l’Abri, an international Christian study and philosophy centre in Huémoz, Switzerland) •mother of two •recorded with, among others, Cory Alstad, Laila Biali, Alessia Cara, Jesse Cook, The Great Lake Swimmers, Mike Janzen, Sarah Slean, Quartetto Gelato and The Weather Station •has been a member of Array Music, folk group Ozere, Quartetto Gelato and the Venuti String Quartet. •performed in Australia, Korea, and in tours across North America •other interests and hobbies include: theology, world history, reading, biking, playing tennis, baking and making ice cream •favourite books include: The Gulag Archipelago, Freakonomics, The Brain That Changes Itself, Operation Paperclip, Blitzed, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, Surprised by Joy