Photo by Chung Ling Lo
Winona Zelenka, known for her gorgeous, singing tone, is one of Canada’s finest cellists on the scene today.
As a soloist, she has performed concerti with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Strauss’ Don Quixote Suite, 2006), and many other Canadian ensembles; Lalo’s Cello Concerto in D Minor with the Mississauga Symphony (2008), Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1, with both the Scarborough Philharmonic (2007) and the Huronia Sinfonietta (2006); Haydn’s Concerto No. 2 in D Major with the Canadian Sinfonietta (2007), Dvorak Concerto with the Toronto Philharmonic (2012) Elgar Concerto with the Etobicoke Philharmonic and the Toronto Philharmonic (2013), Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 with the Red Deer Symphony (2014), and Saint- Saëns Concerto with the Symphony on The Bay (2017). Ms.Zelenka is also an enthusiastic proponent of new music, and has had several pieces written for her by Canadian composers, including Michael Pepa, Michael Oesterle and Chris Paul Harman.
In 2008, Ms. Zelenka performed as guest Principal Cellist for the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Tosca. She also served as Principal Cellist of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra during the summers of 2007 and 2008 and was guest Principal Cellist for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa for the season of 2013/14. Winona, a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 2001, was that orchestra’s Acting Principal Cellist for five seasons starting from 2004/2005 and is presently Assistant Principal Cellist.