Valerie Sylvester spent her early years in the Niagara region and became interested in the violin when she found one in her grandfather’s collection of musical instruments. She received her Master’s Degree in violin performance from the Mannes School of Music in New York, after completing undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. She became concertmaster of the NSO in 1993. Valerie is also concertmaster of Opera York and Talisker Players (‘the Choral Music Orchestra’), and a member of Nota Bene, a period-instrument ensemble. 

She enjoys a busy freelancing schedule both on modern violin and baroque violin and viola throughout Ontario. In addition to orchestral work, Valerie is an active chamber musician and a founding member of ‘Musick’s Hand-maid’, the Yorke String Quartet and Musathena. She is also a regular guest soloist with the Toronto Continuo Collective, and was a member of the onstage band for the ‘Canadian Idol’ television show for its last five seasons. 

Valerie has premiered many new Canadian works and has performed several summer festivals including the Elora, Ottawa, Vancouver International, Grand River, and Luminato festivals. Upcoming chamber music performances this season include a concert of baroque women composers and a premiere by composer Elizsabeth Raum on St. Catharines’ Primavera Concert series. She maintains a small studio of adult students, and also enjoys adjudicating music festivals and coaching in an Arts high school. In her spare time, Valerie plays bass viola da gamba and performs with the Cardinal Consort of Viols.