{"id":124687,"date":"2026-05-29T15:23:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T19:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=124687"},"modified":"2026-05-29T15:23:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T19:23:23","slug":"interview-maestro-carlos-bastidas-talks-canada-virtuoso-ensemble-inaugural-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/05\/29\/interview-maestro-carlos-bastidas-talks-canada-virtuoso-ensemble-inaugural-concert\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Maestro Carlos Bastidas Talks About The Canada Virtuoso Ensemble & Their Inaugural Concert"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Carlos
Carlos Bastidas (centre) and the Canada Virtuoso Ensemble (Photo courtesy of CVE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As far as Carlos Bastidas knows, his newly founded Canada Virtuoso Ensemble will be Mississauga\u2019s first all-professional classical music ensemble.<\/p>\n

There are existing classical music ensembles in the city, of course, such as the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, a fine hybrid ensemble of professional and amateur musicians which has been operating in the city for more than 50 years, but an all-professional ensemble dedicated to Western classical music hadn\u2019t yet taken root in the community.<\/p>\n

Until now, that is.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is more than a concert \u2014 it is the launch of a new artistic home for world class classical music in Mississauga,\u201d said Maestro Bastidas in a statement. \u201cWe are proud to establish a fully professional ensemble in this city and to share this exciting beginning with our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Canada Virtuoso Ensemble\u2019s first concert takes place on June 5, 2026, at Christ First United Church in Port Credit.<\/p>\n

LV spoke to Bastidas about the endeavour.<\/p>\n

Carlos Bastidas: The Interview<\/h2>\n

Bastidas is a long time resident of Missisauga himself. The fact that there was no strictly professional classical ensembles calling the city home came as a surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt came as news,\u201d he says. As the music director of the Ontario Pops Orchestra and other ensembles, he\u2019d performed in Mississauga many times over the years. He was approached about three years ago to form a new professional ensemble in Mississauga.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was my pitch to the city,\u201d Bastidas says. \u201cMississauga is the sixth largest city in Canada, and we don\u2019t have a professional ensemble. That was kind of news for everyone. That\u2019s why the idea came to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the launch concert on June 5, the Canada Virtuoso Ensemble will take the stage as a string based chamber group.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t really start right away with a full 60 piece orchestra,\u201d Carlos notes. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to maintain that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over time, the chamber group will be added to as their audience grows. \u201cThat was our strategic plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

He found players through multiple routes, including audition notices, social media, and word of mouth. \u201cYou have to do multiple approaches,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The Toronto Effect<\/h3>\n

Proximity to Toronto and its myriad of classical music options has likely had a dampening effect on local growth within Mississauga itself. But, Bastidas feels that stepping into that void offers opportunity as well.<\/p>\n

The outlook is promising, given the response so far. \u201cIt was a great reaction. We got some followers already,\u201d he reports. Ticket sales have been brisk. \u201cThere seems to be an appetite.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve found a first home at Port Credit\u2019s Christ First United Church. \u201cFor now we\u2019re going to house the orchestra in this church,\u201d he says. \u201cIt has beautiful acoustics. I heard someone say it\u2019s like the Massey Hall of Mississauga,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen we get bigger, then we\u2019ll move to the Living Arts Centre.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a first home, the church more than suitable. The original structure, initially housing a Methodist congregation, was built in 1894 with acoustics in mind. He points out that its location is near both the GO train and local bus lines.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make it accessible with public transit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Concert<\/h3>\n

\u201cI really wanted to invite a local soloist. I researched and found this wonderful soprano singer, Anna Wojcik,\u201d Bastidas says. \u201cShe has a beautiful voice, so I invited her to join the launch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polish-Canadian soprano Anna Wojcik<\/strong> completed her Master\u2019s studies in Opera at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. She is also a graduate of The Royal Conservatory of Music\u2019s Glenn Gould School. Anna has already performed for audiences across North America, Poland, and Germany, and won competitions that include the 69th ACPC Marcella Kochan\u0301ska-Sembrich Vocal Competition, and the Doreen Chaddock Memorial Vocal Scholarship Competition, among others.<\/p>\n

Anna will be performing Schubert\u2019s iconic Ave Maria and other operatic favourites.<\/p>\n

The concert program is anchored by Vivaldi\u2019s Four Seasons. \u201cIt\u2019s a best seller,\u201d Carlos says, \u201cspring and summer, just to be appropriate,\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n

The Ensemble\u2019s inaugural concert with be a shorter format. \u201cThe concert\u2019s not going to be a two hour concert with an intermission,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a symbolic one hour. The mayor and other dignitaries will be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

His cautious approach is designed to avoid over extending resources, and allow for time for its audience to build. \u201cWe\u2019re starting small,\u201d he acknowledges. \u201cAs we go along, we\u2019ll be adding more concerts, and more musicians.\u201d The current climate for performing arts is still uncertain. \u201cYou have to be realistic about such things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Media interest and support has been positive. \u201cI\u2019m really happy that we have a lot of support,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone is witnessing the birth of an orchestra.\u201d<\/p>\n

Concert Details<\/h2>\n

The Canada Virtuoso Ensemble\u2019s opening program showcases familiar and beloved works, including highlights from Vivaldi\u2019s The Four Seasons, Handel\u2019s Water Music, and Geminiani\u2019s La Follia.<\/p>\n

The concert takes place June 5 at Christ First United Church in Port Credit, Mississauga\u2028 (151 Lakeshore Road West).<\/p>\n