My Boulder House

Janelle Tiessen:

Janelle began playing the cello at the age of six. She has studied with several different teachers including; Karen White, Larry Skaggs, and currently is studying with Paula Kiffner. This will be Janelle's second year as a part of the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Collegium program, as well as its Senior Orchestra. As well, this is her third year in the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra. She has also played in multiple smaller classical groups including the DeMahler Chamber Ensemble, the Incendium Trio, and the Klangfarbenmelodie Quartet. She has won several awards, both solo and with groups in the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival. Janelle is currently a part of Coastline, a large fiddle ensemble who were just recently nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards. With this group she had the amazing opportunity to travel to the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Aberdeen, Scotland, representing Canada. Janelle loves to share her passion for music by playing in retirement facilities in Victoria, as well as helping younger musicians in their journey.


Rowan Osborne:

Although, he’s just 18, Rowan Osborne has been immersed in the music scene in Victoria, Canada and beyond for over 12 years. In 2005 he started playing fiddle and has not put it down since falling completely in love with the instrument. He has since won numerous awards at fiddle competitions across BC including winning the BC Provincial Twin Fiddle title with his older brother, Aidan and has won numerous awards at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival. He currently plays with the local band Coastline that was just nominated for 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Classically trained as well, Rowan plays viola in the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, recently joined the Senior Orchestra at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and plays in the DeMahler Chamber Ensemble. This past summer, Rowan attended the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland with Coastline that was selected to represent Canada. He loves to share his musical passion by volunteering his time to support younger musicians and at music festivals.


Joshua Litton:

Joshua Litton began his musical journey at the age of two with the Violin. He spent his early musical life in the classical world studying with numerous prestigious teachers Including Maestro Pablo Diemecke, Michael Gurevich and Suzanne Young. Joshua’s musical career began in earnest when he was accepted in to the prestigious Chethams School of Music in Manchester, England. After studying for a year at Chethams Joshua returned to Canada and began to focus more on folk music and classical viola.

Fast forward to today and Joshua has performed with numerous groups including Coastline, a group who are 2015 nominees for two Canadian Folk Music
Awards, Young Performer of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year, and were representatives of Canada at the 2015 Aberdeen International Youth Festival.

Joshua studies classical viola with Kenji Fuse and received the award for “Best Piece by 20th/21st
Century Composer” in the Greater Victoria Preforming Arts Festival. On classical viola Joshua performs with The Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, The DeMahler Chamber Ensemble and The Fabled Grimm Quartet.

Joshua enjoys playing a wide range of instruments and has set himself the challenge of playing the full alphabet (A-Z). Currently he performs on the Accordion, Banjo, Bodrain, Cornet, Djembe, Electric Guitar, French Horn, Guitar, Keyboard, Mandolin, Piano, Trumpet, Ukelele, Viola, and Violin.

Michael Wilford:

Michael Wilford grew up in the small town of Smithers, BC where he began playing drums at age twelve. Michael began studying with Richard and Jake Jenne and played with ensembles spanning a variety of genres from folk to jazz to pop. Michael was part of The Valley Youth Fiddlers “Fiddler’s History of Canada” show, which was built by Leslie Jean MacMillan, Gordon Stobbe and Daniel Lapp and toured all over BC. Michael also began playing with pop bands Split Seconds (drummer and songwriter), Kids on Leashes (drummer), and Ten Thousand Ships (drummer and songwriter); playing on a variety of stages from Main Stage Festival sets to events like Music on Main and The Afternoon Show starring MuchMusic’s Geekfreaks and Alex Cuba.

In September 2015 Michael moved to Victoria to study contemporary music at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. He is currently in his second year there and is studying drums with Damian Graham. In December of 2015 Michael was awarded the Luke’s Gift scholarship for song writing and as a result got a showcase slot at Lukefest, a memorial festival featuring acts like Bill Henderson, Kathryn Calder, Indio Saravanja, Daniel Lapp and Mike Demers. Michael is a seasoned performer, having played all over BC with various ensembles, both lead by him or as a hired musician; and even in places like Windspear Theatre and a tour of Cuba as part of his high school music program. Michael likes to give back to the musical community as well by teaching at music camps and private lessons and by utilizing his digital media skillset to promote artists and events.