Edwin Huizinga, Artistic Director
Calling all String Players!
Join us for fun evenings of music and friendship. Play accessible and fun repertoire led by special guests from the SweetWater Festival.
This ensemble is intended for intermediate and advanced amateur players – adults and high school players welcome!
Rehearsals will take place on Monday evenings, weekly, from 7:00-9:00pm at the Meaford United Church (7 Boucher Street East).
Season Two Rehearsals Begin:
Monday, February 23, 2026
The season consists of 3 rehearsal blocks-each block culminating in a small community performance.
Players will work with three core artists and guest workshops will be options as well.
Rehearsals are weekly with some breaks between blocks built in.
Fees will be $200 for the season with the option to subsidize as needs basis if fees are a barrier.
Details
Intermediate and Advanced String Players – Adult/High School
Weekly Rehearsals in Meaford, Monday Evenings
Play accessible and fun repertoire led by special guests from the SweetWater Festival.
A range of guest professionals will periodically conduct sessions
Performance opportunities in the community and as part of the SweetWater Festival in September.
$200 Annual Membership Fee (Fees can be waived or modified if this a barrier to participating)
30-35 participants maximum
SweetStrings Season Two Schedule
Block 1 Artist 1
February 23
March 2, 9, 23, 30
April 13, 20
Community Sharing Window
April 20-26
Block 2 Artist 2
May 4, 11, 25,
June 1, 8, 15, 22
Community Sharing Window
June 22-28
July-August *Summer Session*
Opportunities for some duets/trios/quartets as well as ensemble playing.
Skill Development Workshops if budget allows with guest artists possible.
Possible small ensembles playing the Farmer's Market or Marsh Street.
Block 3 Artist 3
Sept 14, 21, 28,
October 5, 19, 26
Victoria Yeh Workshop
TBD
November 2
Community Sharing Window
November 2-8
Music for the final concert would be gleaned from the three blocks worked on with our three core artists: Kerri McGonigle, Matthew Hayes and Shari Lundy.
Concerts
April 20
Meaford Long Term Care
199 Thompson St, Meaford, ON
June 25
Community Concert
L.E. Shore Memorial Library
173 Bruce St S, Thornbury, ON
July 25
Mini Concert
Arts Alliance Owen Sound
Owen Sound, ON
August 30
Sweetness in the Barn
Black Barn at Belvedere Farm
158278 7th Line, Meaford, ON
September 19
Georgian Shores United Church
997 4th Ave E, Owen Sound, ON
Season Two
Season Finale Concert
Sunday, November 29, 2026 · 3pm
Meaford United Church
7 Boucher St E, Meaford, ON
Entrance by Donation
Register Today!
Meet Our Artist Mentors
SweetStrings exposes members to a range of artist leaders. Under the direction of Artistic Director, Edwin Huizinga, we choose artist mentors to work with from different musical backgrounds to work regularly with the group. An exciting part of the program is working with the artists of the SweetWater festival in May and September. In 2026, our core artist team will include Matthew Hayes, Shari Lundy, and Kerri McGonigle.
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VIOLINIST
Matthew received his Bachelor of Music degree with Honours from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004, studying modern and baroque violin with Jeremy Bell (Penderecki String Quartet) and Julie Baumgartel (Tafelmusik, Nota Bene). As a violinist Matthew has performed with the Georgian Bay Symphony, Laurier Alumni Chamber Orchestra, National Academy Orchestra, Mississauga Symphony, Guelph Symphony, Waterloo Chamber Players, Chestnut Hall Camerata, Spiritus Ensemble, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Royal City Musical Productions, Community Players of New Hamburg (as concertmaster and string coach). He has participated in festivals such as the Windsor Canadian New Music Festival and the Spoleto USA Festival (Charleston, South Carolina). Matthew has toured with Video Games Live and performed and contracted chamber ensembles for tours and engagements across Canada, through his company Duo d'Amore-string duos, trios and quartets. As a teacher, Matthew has taught group/individual and online lessons with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, with The Centre for String Playing (Hamilton, ON), with Meaford Singing Strings, and The Big Sound (Owen Sound, ON). Matthew also teaches violin from his home studio in Meaford.
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VIOLIST/VIOLINIST
Shari Lundy, an accomplished violist and violinist and holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree from the University of Toronto. Shari was chair of the viola section of the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra for over 40 years and was instrumental in supporting the growth of the EPO for four decades. Shari is currently a freelance musician in Toronto and southern Ontario performing professionally with numerous community orchestras. She also manages The Classic String Quartet; a performance ensemble that plays a range of private and corporate events. Her passion for fiddle music is contagious. Her interest in Scottish, Irish and Old Time fiddle styles has taken her far and wide. She is continually studying with world class players, participating in workshops in Scotland, England, California and in Ontario. Shari continues to perform and teach in multiple genres and spreads her love of music through her participation in both professional and community settings.
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VIOLONCELLO
Cellist and viola da gambist, Kerri McGonigle is the Artistic Director of the Academy Concert Series, chamber music concerts dedicated to historically informed performance (HIP). A recipient of the Margarita Heron Pine String Prize and the Beryl Barns Graduate Scholarship, Kerri graduated with a Masters of Music degree in cello performance from the University of Alberta. While studying in Paris, she won Premier Prix with unanimous distinction in violoncello and chamber music from the Gennevilliers Conservatory. Having completed an Advanced Certificate in Baroque Performance with Tafelmusik through the University of Toronto, she performs regularly as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and orchestral cellist with many different groups. Kerri has been based in Thornbury since 2020 and continues to perform, teach, and coach music (to all instruments). She loves hiking in the forest and spending time with her two amazing children, who inspire her deeply.
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