Team
Kenn Mainville, President & CEO
Kenn Mainville began his tenure as President & CEO of the internationally acclaimed New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and its Sistema NB program in early 2024.
As an experienced organizational leader, he is driving significant advancements in NBYO’s and Sistema NB’s operations, solidifying their role as a key social impact organization in New Brunswick.
Kenn’s journey with Sistema NB, both as a former board member (2010-2014) and as the father of a former teaching artist, has given him a unique perspective that he brings to his role. His commitment and understanding of the organization’s mission are deeply personal.
With a blend of passion, strategic vision, and collaborative leadership, Kenn is dedicated to leading NBYO and Sistema NB into a vibrant future, focused on fostering community engagement and nurturing the next generation of musical talent.
Contact: 506-229-1924; kmainville@nbyo-ojnb.com
Jonathan Astley, Chief Operations Officer
Born and raised in Lloydminister, Saskatchewan, Jonathan has since come to make New Brunswick home; working alongside the dedicated team at Sistema NB. Jonathan began his role as Chief Operations Officer in August of 2023. He is the former
Centre Director of Sistema NB’s Moncton Centre, the largest Sistema-inspired program in Canada with 300 students attending daily and twenty-two professional staff, a position he held from 2017-2023.
A fellow of the 2020 Salzburg Global Seminars for Young Cultural Innovators, Jonathan is passionate about community development through the arts. This passion has fuelled his work as a teaching artist with Sistema NB, the Moncton Youth Orchestra and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and as an Artist in Residence with the Anglophone East School District in 2020. Through this work, Jonathan was recognized in 2022 as one of Moncton’s top 20 under 40.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has performed with many orchestras, including Tutta Musica, Symphony New Brunswick, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan is a founding member of the East Coast Brass Quintet and recently performed with the wind quintet Ventus Machina at the 2018 East Coast Music awards. He has performed in recitals at various Canadian Universities such as Memorial University, Mount Allison University and université de Moncton and was a member of the 2015 National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the 2014 National Academy Orchestra of Canada. One of Jonathan’s favourite moments as a performer was performing at the 2015 Juno awards backing up the Canadian rock group the Arkells in their hit single Come To Light.
Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University with majors in orchestra performance and music theory. As well, Jonathan received an Artist Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music’s prestigious Glenn Gould School. Jonathan currently resides in Moncton, New Brunswick with his wife Caitlin, son Theodore, and dog Mahlee.
Contact: 506-961-5862; jastley@nbyo-ojnb.com
Antonio Delgado, Music Director & Conductor
Since August 2010 Delgado has been the Musical Director and conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (NBYO) and in 2011 led the NBYO to 1st place in the orchestra division, with outstanding distinction, of the “Summa Cum Laude” International Youth Music Competition, held in Vienna, Austria. In addition Delgado is Music Director and Conductor of the NBYO’s outreach program, Sistema NB, serving children and youth throughout New Brunswick in an after-school orchestral music program.
“Full of vivacity and sparkle,” (Diario El Nacional. Caracas).
Maestro Antonio Delgado, born in Caracas, Venezuela, owes much of his musical education to the world-renowned El Sistema program (National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela).
Though he has conducted every major orchestra in Venezuela, Delgado has not hoarded his talents, as performance dates in Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Canada and Panama clearly attest.
From 2005 to 2010 Delgado was Musical Director of the National Theatre “Teresa Carreño” the largest arts centre in South American. During this time he conducted the major orchestras of the country in symphonic concerts, ballets and operas, garnering particular acclaim for his “very elegant musical direction and his absolute mastery” of ballet and opera scores (Diario La Voz. Caracas).
Contact: 506-854-9949; tonydelgado@nbyo-ojnb.com
Donald Matheson, Director of Community Engagement
Don Matheson has been Executive Director of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra since 2008. He has led in the development of the provincial orchestra program which received numerous honors, including, Arts Organization-of-the-Year Award from the NB Foundation for the Arts in 2010 and, in 2011, a first place win in the prestigious SCL International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. Don has been instrumental in the implementation of the NBYO’s Sistema NB program.
Don has devoted over thirty years to sales management, business development, marketing, consulting, and not-for-profit administration.
Don’s other community engagement includes Mount Royal United Church, Scouts Canada, Camp Centennial, Moncton Kiwanis Minor Basketball Association, Irving Men’s Hoop Classic, Greater Moncton Dragon Boat Festival, Canadian Cancer Society, Terry Fox Run, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
Contact: 506-866-7920; drmatheson@nbyo-ojnb.com
Ken MacLeod
Ken is the former founder and President of KMA Consultants, a consulting firm specializing in fundraising and communications for non-profit organizations, serving charitable organizations throughout Canada. From 1995 – 1999 he served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. He is a recipient of the Governor General’s ‘Meritorious Service Medal’, Order of Moncton, Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar, and a Paul Harris Fellow. He has served on numerous local, regional and national Boards and is a frequent presenter at symposia and conferences.
Contact: 506-961-1530; kmacleod@nbyo-ojnb.com
Gbonjubola Sanni, Director of Finance
Gbonjubola Sanni, a seasoned Finance Professional with extensive experience spanning multinational corporations, high-growth companies, and professional service firms, is the Director of Finance at the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, Inc. Known for driving financial excellence, organizational growth, and strategic leadership, she has made impactful contributions across industries such as manufacturing, logistics, aviation services, and consulting.
Prior to her current role at NBYO, she held key positions in various organizations where she led process optimizations, enhanced financial reporting and compliance frameworks, strengthened team capabilities, influenced strategic decision-making, and significantly grew business income.
With deep expertise in Financial Reporting, Mergers & Acquisitions, Audit, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Business Process Management, she combines sharp analytical skills with a collaborative and results-driven approach. Passionate about leadership and mentoring, Gbonjubola focuses on building high-performing teams and delivering sustainable value to stakeholders.
Beyond her professional career, she is an advocate for financial literacy among children and young people and is committed to volunteering to support individuals facing challenges.
Nicole MacDonald, Director of Operations
Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nicole began playing the cello in the Halifax All-City Schools String Program. In Halifax she studied privately with Colin Matthews and was a member of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra under the direction of Gregory Burton from 2003-2005. In 2005 moved to Montreal to pursue a Bachelors of Fine Arts at Concordia University under the tutelage of Hélène Gagné, graduating in 2010 with a specialization in Music Performance and a minor in Psychology.
In Montreal she played with several ensembles including Sérénade, Les Archets Gallants, Róisín Milis and Trio Trifoi. She also played with several popular music groups, releasing two albums with folk-rock band Glass Passenger and appearing on several other music and film recordings including Jef (Elle) Barbara and The Franco Proietti Morph-tet.
In 2012, Nicole made the move to New Brunswick to become a Teaching Artist with Sistema NB. She has taught cello, double-bass, violin and viola and has worked in both the Richibucto and Elsipogtog Centres. In the summer of 2021 became Centre Director and Director of Operations in 2024. Nicole is a member of Tutta Musica and continues to perform whenever possible for local events.
Mojde Eghbalpour, HR Director
Mojde Eghbalpour is the HR Director at the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, Inc., bringing a wealth of experience in human resources, leadership, and organizational management. With a PhD in Physics, a Master of Management, and over a decade of diverse work experience, Mojde is known for her dynamic leadership and problem-solving skills.
Before joining NBYO, Mojde held key roles in various organizations, including her position as Office Manager and Recruitment Specialist at Shadow Security, where she managed recruitment, employee relations, and training for a large workforce. She also served as Regional Manager and HR Specialist at Mana Group in Toronto, leading teams in sales, administration, and customer service in immigration field.
Her background in HR is complemented by her scientific approach to analysis and decision-making, stemming from her academic roots. Passionate about employee development and workplace culture, Mojde strives to create an environment of collaboration and continuous growth at NBYO.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Mojde enjoys volunteering and is a strong advocate for the arts and education, believing in the power of music to transform lives.
Carlos Armao, Centre Director (Miramichi)
Born in Venezuela, Carlos started his musical path in a Nucleo called La Rinconada, part of the large group of El Sistema Centers that serve the city of Caracas, where he grew up playing in an orchestra and singing in a choir.
Carlos is a former member of the violin section of the Caracas Symphony Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and has played under the baton of internationally acclaimed Maestros including Gustavo Dudamel, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Claudio Abbado, Placido Domingo, Nikolaj Znaider, Dietrich Paredes and Boris Brott, among others.
With the Caracas Symphony Youth Orchestra, he has participated in tours in the most important theatres in Russia, Vienna, Prague, Portugal and Norway as well as some of the most important music festivals in the world including the Beethoven Fest in Bonn, the Ravello Festival and the Bergen International Music Festival.
Carlos graduated from McGill University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s in Musical Arts in violin performance under the tutelage of Prof. Mark Fewer, one of the best Canadian violinists and pedagogues.
In September 2015, he joined the Sistema New Brunswick and NBYO family, serving as a Teaching Artist and Centre Director for the Sistema NB Centre in Miramichi, where he enjoys spending his days teaching, performing, and enjoying the river.
Rachel Kidd, Centre Director (Saint John)
Rachel Kidd grew up in Saint John, N.B. and played with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and Symphony NB before moving to Montreal. She attended McGill University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance and also studied Mathematics and Film-Score Composition.
She went on and taught violin and composed music in Vancouver and Halifax. In Halifax, she taught in the Halifax string program, coached and performed with various community orchestras, released a CD of original compositions, and continued her freelance composing/arranging business.
In 2013 she moved back to Saint John to teach violin for New Brunswick’s Sistema program. In the fall of 2018, she started as Centre Director for the Saint John Centre. Since returning to New Brunswick, there has been increased demand for her work as a violinist and composer/arranger. She has recently had two commissioned compositions for the Saint John Chamber Orchestra, been hired as an arranger by Symphony NB, NBYO, Tutta Musica, and Sistema NB. She performs with Tutta Musica and Symphony NB, and also has been performing since 2016 with her Clarinet Quintet, Port City 5. Rachel lives in uptown Saint John with her husband and 9-year old son and also enjoys participating in triathlons.
Swan Serna, Centre Director (Elsipogtog First Nation)
Born in Mexico City, Swan Serna was appointed the Sistema New Brunswick Richibucto Center Director in 2012 and in 2016 he was also the Centre Director in Elsipogtog First Nation noon program. He held both positions until July 2021. In September 2022 became Centre Director in Elsipogtog First Nation of the new afterschool program. He holds a master degree in Instrument Pedagogy at Université Laval and a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Mr. Serna has participated in master classes led by Zoria Shijmurzaieva, Guela Dubrova and the Amati String Quartet. He obtained a diploma for his participation in the chamber music workshops led by the Latino-americano String Quartet from 1999 to 2000. He has also participated in composition and contemporary music workshops led by Mario Lavista in Mexico and with Malcolm Singer (former Director of Music at The Yehudi Menuhin School) in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Serna composed the music for two short films by producer José Luis Linares. From 2005 to 2007, he composed the music and arrangements for the ensemble “Kátaros” as well as the original music for the theatre piece “Trahison” by Harold Pinter. He also composed the musical arrangements and produced the CD “Del Amor y otras mareas” in 2003. He has adjudicated the “Concours Jeunesses” Quebec-Ontario.
In 2009 he completed his first symphonic composition in Montreal entitled “Poema Sinfónico La Quebrada” played by the Moncton Youth Orchestra in 2019. In 2016 his duo for two violins Richibucto River was premiered by two of his Sistema students at the Gala concert of the Greater Moncton Music Festival.
Mr. Serna has led a performing career in Mexico in concert, radio and television. He performed as first violin with the string quartet “Alebrije” from 1997 to 2004. He also is a member of Tutta Musica orchestra in New Brunswick.
In August 2018 he premiered and performed in Sherborne UK his piece entitled “Esperanza para violin solo”.
During the Summer 2021, he finished his first short film entitled Lydius, sponsored by Canadian Heritage. Lydius is a story of hope in a better humanity that is accompanied by several of his compositions.
He has performed at several festivals in Canada and he is an active chamber musician, performing frequently with pianist Dulce María Alarcón.
Sébastien Sirois, Centre Director (Edmundston)
Sébastien Sirois is a double bassist from New Brunswick now established in his native region, Madawaska county. He has been involved with Sistema NB since 2011 as a double bass teacher and was also a member of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra for several years, which was of great importance to him.
He has been back in Edmundston since 2018 and, in 2019, became the director of the Sistema NB center in Edmundston, where he oversees the development and outreach of the program.
His interest in music led him to obtain his bachelor’s degree in classical music from the Université de Moncton and then to continue his studies in jazz music at Capilano University in North Vancouver.
Having performed with the New Brunswick and PEI Symphony, the Tutta Musica Orchestra, l’Orchestre Philharmonique du Haut-Saint-Jean, the Triade group and the Melawndo Trio, Sébastien enjoys playing in an orchestra as well as in a small jazz ensemble in order to share his passion for music and the double bass in his community.
Sébastien and his girlfriend are parents of a young boy, Noah, and live in Saint-Jacques.
Victor Vivas, Centre Director (Fredericton)
Victor Vivas was born in Venezuela and began his music studies with El Sistema, where he was able to develop both his individual and ensemble playing skills from a very early age. Victor completed his violin studies at the Academia Latinoamericana de Violin in Venezuela with Jose Francisco Del Castillo, then later at the Kayaleh Violin Academy in Switzerland with Habib Kayaleh. He has participated in masterclasses with many acclaimed pedagogues, including Viktor Pikaisen, Laurence Kayaleh, Virginie Robilliard, Aaron Rosand and Olivier Charlier.
As an orchestral violinist, Victor has performed with the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra in Berlin, the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra in France-Italy, Soloistes de Genève in Switzerland and was a member of the Orquestra do Algarve in Portugal and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado, Benjamin Zander, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Sergiu Comissiona, Domingo Hindoyan, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Alexander Shelley, among others.
Victor has ten years of teaching experience with the main El Sistema violin academy: Academia Latinoamericana de Violin. Many of his former students are currently professional musicians in France, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina.
Victor Vivas joined Sistema New Brunswick in January 2018, as the Fredericton Centre Director; he is a regular performer with Tutta Musica, and First Violins coach of New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and member of the Elm City String Quartet.
Shuchen Jiang, Centre Director (St. Stephen)
Shuchen Jiang is a dedicated violinist and educator with a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in violin performance from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he also holds a cognate in violin pedagogy.
In August 2023, Shuchen joined Sistema in Saint John, New Brunswick, as a violin teaching artist. After one year, he became the Center Director at the St. Stephen Center in August 2024.
Shuchen has a rich orchestral performance background, having served as concertmaster, principal, and section player with more than 15 professional orchestras across the United States and Canada, including Symphony Nova Scotia and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.etc.
As a solo violinist, he specializes in advanced bow techniques, particularly down-bow and up-bow staccato—skills that few possess. He has released a CD album featuring 40 common violin excerpts, complete with detailed written explanations of the specific elements that audition committees look for in performances, aimed at assisting musicians in their orchestral auditions. Additionally, Shuchen actively engages with the local music community through solo concerts in Saint John with Symphony by the Sea, where they plans to perform Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” in alignment with the changing seasons throughout the year.
His students have won awards in competitions such as the Brahms International Music Competition, the China Youth Provincial Music Competition, the Golden Beijing Competition, the Singapore International Music Competition, and the New Brunswick Music Festival, among others. His excellence in instruction has earned him recognition as an “Outstanding Instructor” at various events.
Outside of music, Shuchen has a keen interest in Chinese magic, having spent three years researching the nearly extinct intangible cultural heritage of ancient Chinese magic tricks.
Alfonso Soria, Centre Director (Chaleur)
Born in 1984, in Mexico City, Jaime Alfonso is a Mexican violinist whose passion for music has shaped a remarkable career. He graduated from the Escuela Superior de Música at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, studying under maestro Savarthasiddh Uribe.
Alfonso’s commitment to excellence led him to pursue modern violin courses with notable instructors such as Jorge Risi and Nadia Salerno. His fascination with the Baroque period began in 1999, igniting a deep interest that would guide his musical journey. He honed his skills through master classes with Micaela Comberti and later joined the Ensamble Akademie Mexiko with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra in 2007, working closely with maestro Anne Katharina Schreiber.
In 2008, Alfonso received a scholarship to participate in the Ensamble Akademie Freiburg in Germany, further developing his craft under esteemed professors including Anne Katharina Schreiber and Daniela Helm. He has also studied Baroque violin with prominent figures like Oliver Briand, Adrian Chandler, Emilio Moreno, and Manfredo Kraemer.
Alfonso’s performance repertoire includes appearances as a soloist and member of the “LATIR” ensemble at the “SURCO” festival in Jerez, Zacatecas, and Querétaro. He has been recognized with scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to participate in the “Collegium Musicum” orchestral and chamber music course at Weisenstein Castle in Pommersfelden during 2010 and 2011.
From 2012 to 2013, he continued his studies at the University of the Arts Bremen, Germany, under the guidance of professors Stephanie Paulet, Veronika Skuplik, and Thomas Albert.
Alfonso has performed at prestigious events, including the XXII Morelia Music Festival “Miguel Bernal Jiménez,” the Cultural Festival of Zacatecas, and the “Pasión” Festival in Puebla. He is also a dedicated educator, teaching violin at the Centro Morelense de las Artes, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and the Jean Piaget Educational Center in Mexico City.
Currently, Jaime serves as the center director and teaching artist at Sistema NB, where he continues to inspire and cultivate the next generation of musicians.
Alexandra Basque, Centre Director (Tracadie)
Alexandra Basque began her musical journey at the age of six with the violin, eventually expanding her expertise to include the viola. With a passion for both instruments, she pursued a Fine Arts degree at St-Thomas University in Fredericton. Her time in university was enriched by active participation in the choir and chamber music ensemble, allowing her to hone her skills as both solo and ensemble musicians.
Throughout her career, Alexandra has demonstrated a deep commitment to the art of string performance and collaboration. She joined the Sistema NB family in Tracadie-Sheila back in 2020. Her background in music has shaped her into a versatile musician dedicated to sharing the expressive power of music with her students.
Her musical journey began in choral singing, at the Guri Project, an important Brazilian social project. It was in this context that she had her first contact with the viola, beginning her musical studies in 2005.
Vanessa Araujo, Centre Director (Richibucto)
Vanessa is from Taubaté, a city located in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil.
Her musical journey began in choral singing, at the Guri Project, an important Brazilian social project. It was in this context that she had her first contact with the viola, beginning her musical studies in 2005. In 2006, Vanessa began taking viola lessons at the EMA Maestro Fego Camargo Music Conservatory, in Taubaté, with Professor George Kiszely. She completed the basic level course in 2010 and, from 2014 to 2016, she took a technical course, with Professor Yara B. Miranda. In 2016, she took the Suzuki Philosophy course (SAA). In 2019, Vanessa graduated in Music, with a degree from the Unimes Faculty. In 2023, she completed her postgraduate training (lato sensu) in “Strings for the 21st Century” at the Unifahe Faculty.
Throughout her career, she has participated in various masterclasses with renowned musicians, such as Hsin-Yun Huang, Miriam Hartman, Lawrence Power, Dennis Paker, Maria Vischnia, and with the section leaders of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (OSESP).
Vanessa has also participated in several festivals and musical meetings, among which the Chamber Music Meetings I to VI – AMACORDAS, under the guidance of Denise Fukuda, Edgar Leite, Gretchen Miller, Maria Elisa Risarto and Vana Bock; 1st International Festival of Music in Casa – FIMUCA; IV International String Meeting, under the guidance of Peter Pas; XXI International Festival of Brazilian Colonial Music and Early Music, under the guidance of Carlos Aleixo; and the X Festival Music in the Mountains, under the guidance of professors Renato Bandel and Marcelo Jaffé.
Since 2015, Vanessa has been teaching music, practicing in municipal schools, private music schools, social projects and private lessons.
As a violist, Vanessa has been part of several groups and orchestras, such as the Taubaté Symphony Orchestra (OSITA), accompanying soloists such as Ana Cristina Abrantes; the Guitar Quartet with Sergey Matokin, Acácio Oliveira, Milton Costa, Alexandre Wuensche, and guest maestros Maestro João Carlos Martins and Maestro Maurizio Colasanti; the Camerata Movidos à Corda; the Atibaia Symphony Orchestra, accompanying soloists such as Yamandu Costa and Diogo Maia, as well as guest maestro Maestra Gretchen Miller; and the Taubaté Chamber Orchestra.
In 2024, Vanessa joined the Sistema NB family in Richibucto as a violin and viola teacher, where she continues to dedicate herself to her passion: teaching and sharing her love for music.
Ian Gibson, Centre Director (Oromocto)
Ian Gibson is a percussionist based in Rothesay, New Brunswick, whose expertise has been shaped by studies with world-renowned instructors, including Russell Hartenberger, Robin Engelman, John Rudolph, Beverley Johnston, and Alan Abel.