Violin

Michael van Dongen is a violinist, conductor, teacher and arranger. He earned a Bachelor of Music Degree at McMaster University. Michael has been a member of the Niagara Symphony since 1995, playing in the first violin section. Since August of 2008, he has been a member of the World Rock Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed in orchestras with Anne Murray, Smokey Robinson and Wayne Newton. Michael, with his two brothers and father formed the group the “van Dongen string quartet,” which has been performing since 1979.

Michael is equally devoted to teaching and has been with the Niagara Youth Orchestra since 1997. He has been the conductor of the Junior Niagara Youth Orchestra since the 2008/09 season. In 1994, Michael began teaching with Niagara Instrumental Music in the DSBN, where he was the conductor of three string orchestras.

In the year 2000, Michael started a fiddle group called “No Strings Attached” which has performed on many stages including the Starlight Café in Walt Disney World, the Old Triangle in Halifax, and in July of 2008, alongside “No Strings Attached High” (formed in 2006,) at Illuminaqua in Welland. Last year members of both groups performed in Cleveland.