Toronto-born cellist Janet Kuschak, an accomplished orchestral and chamber musician, has been a tenured member of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra. She was a founding member of Toronto’s Esprit Orchestra. Since 1991, she has held the position of Principal Cellist with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. She has performed in the cello sections of some of Canada’s most distinguished orchestras including the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa; the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra; the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra; Symphony Nova Scotia; Saskatoon Symphony and Kensington Sinfonia.
Ms. Kuschak also performs on baroque cello and has held the position of Principal Cellist of Rosa Barocca – Alberta’s premier period instrument ensemble – since 2016. With her colleagues from Rosa Barocca, she shared the 2023 Juno Award for best Classical Recording (Small Ensemble) for the Album “Early Italian Cello Concertos” with soloist Elinor Frey. In addition to her own private teaching studio, she is a sought-after adjudicator and clinician. In her capacity as adjudicator, she has been invited to several national festivals and, internationally, to the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival on four occasions.