EPO Student Scholarship

We are delighted to provide scholarships each season for up to four instrumentalists who are students in either secondary school or college/university.

The goal is to provide young musicians with orchestral experience and some financial support to develop their skills and build their experience.

Successful candidates attend all rehearsals and concerts.

Auditions are held annually.

Audition Requirements: (subject to change)

  • Perform a solo of at least grade 8 RCM level without accompaniment
  • Excerpts of orchestral repertoire from our upcoming season chosen by the adjudicators.

Student Scholarship Sponsors

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
Rotary Club of Etobicoke

Scholarship Winners

2025/2026 Season

Fabio Kutnowski

Fabio Kutnowski

Fabio Kutnowski is a jazz bassist located in Toronto. With two pianists for parents, Fabio began his musical journey on piano from a very young age. After picking up cello at 10 years old, he began studying music seriously, picking up guitar and electric bass along the way. In 2023, Fabio started attending Humber Polytechnic where, under the tutelage of Jon Maharaj and Patrick Kilbride, he learned to play upright bass. Now, Fabio is entering his third year at Humber and mainly does work as a sideman and bandleader playing jazz, RnB, funk, and more.

Gwynne Daynard

Gwynne Daynard

Gwynne Daynard attends Humber Polytechnic in the Bachelor of Music program focusing on vocal performance. She studied violin under Philip Kasha at the Huntsville Suzuki School and graduated from the Suzuki program completing Book 10 and earning her Grade 8 violin from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Each summer, she attended the Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute held at Laurier University. She also played with the Montreal Suzuki String Orchestra led by Dragon Djerkic. Gwynne enjoys writing her own songs as well as connecting with others through music. She is looking forward to learning from the other talented musicians in the Etobicoke Philharmonic.

Nieva Cunningham

Nieva Cunningham

Nieva Cunningham is a cellist from British Columbia currently studying in the Bachelor of Music program at Humber Polytechnic under jazz cellist Matt Brubeck. She started playing the piano at the age of five and began learning the cello in high school. Although she was trained classically on cello, Nieva enjoys performing all styles of music, including jazz, fiddle, pop, and folk music. She completed a diploma in Contemporary Music & Technology from Selkirk College in BC and graduated in 2023 with a major in composition before moving to Toronto in 2024 to continue her schooling.

Vishwa Theivendirarajah

Vishwa Theivendirarajah

Vishwa Theivendirarajah is a grade 11 student at Martingrove Collegiate Institute and is both a long-time violin student of the Etobicoke Suzuki School of Music and piano student under Maria Dolnycky. He has been involved in several chamber and orchestral ensembles and is a budding composer. Outside of music Vishwa enjoys playing chess, watching sitcoms, and is a member of the robotics team at his school. He is excited to be a part of the EPO and is looking forward to learning from the other talented members in this community.

2024/2025 Season

  • Kevin Hayward Jr., Trumpet
  • Rianna Zhu, Horn
  • Vishwa Theivendirarajah, Violin

2023/2024 Season

  • Aria Nedell, Violin
  • Rachael McKay, Trumpet

2022/2023 Season

  • Rachael McKay, Trumpet
  • Sofia Rodrigues, Violin

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