Quartetto Gelato

Colin Maier graduated from the University of Calgary in 1997 with a degree in oboe performance studying with David Sussman. Since 2009, Colin has been the oboist for Quartetto Gelato. During that time he has been heard on national radio broadcasts, seen on the BRAVO network and received the 2010 INDIE award for best classical ensemble. He has also played with orchestras such as the Calgary Philharmonic and the National Ballet Orchestra. He has performed in orchestra pits for mega musicals across Canada. As well as being a guest lecturer/recitalist at universities across North America, Colin is currently the oboe professor at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. In addition to oboe, Colin also plays clarinet, english horn, violin, acoustic/electric bass, piano, saxophone, flute, guitar and musical saw.

Dr. Dobrochna Zubek holds a doctorate in cello performance from the University of Toronto. A soloist, chamber musician, orchestral cellist and educator, Zubek has performed in Europe, Asia and North America. She held an orchestra position with Orchesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico. In 2019, she made her New York debut in the Off-Broadway production This Is Why We Live. She has appeared at festivals that include the Geneé International Ballet Competition, Banff Center for Arts and Creativity and Ottawa Chamberfest and has collaborated with some of music’s most distinguished artists, including Peter Gabriel, José Carreras, Shauna Rolston and Gioconda Barbuto. Zubek’s recordings include Mexico-Voyage and the JUNO-nominated Hymns of Heavens and Earth, composed by Peter-Anthony Togni. She was principal cellist of the Sudbury Symphony and, in 2024, acting principal cellist with Symphony New Brunswick. She is currently a member of Quartetto Gelato and Thin Edge Music Collective in Toronto.

Matti Pulkki got his first accordion and began his music studies at the age of six in the small town of Joutseno in eastern Finland. He grew up immersed in traditional Finnish music, old dance tunes, virtuosic show-pieces and classical music, performing and competing with the accordion from an early age on. Later Matti proceeded to study with esteemed Finnish accordionist Matti Rantanen. Over the years, he participated in numerous international masterclasses and seminars. The interest to meet musicians and teachers around the world also led Matti to Canada for the first time in 2014 to study for a year with Joseph Macerollo. After multiple shorter visits for shows and concerts, Matti returned to Canada in 2019. Holding Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in accordion performance from the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Matti received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in 2025 from the University of Toronto.

Konstantin Popović began his violin studies at the age of five in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, where he was acknowledged as the most promising beginner violinist by the members of the board of education for strings. Parallel to his achievements in violin, at the age of seven, Konstantin was appointed vocal soloist in a renowned youth choir Drinka Pavlovic. After graduation, Konstantin immigrated to Canada where he continued his studies at the University of Toronto in the music performance department under Leo Wigdorchik. After graduating he extended his orchestral studies as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and National Academy Orchestra. Konstantin is highly regarded as a Bollywood-style violinist and is a current member of the string trio pop band The Guitar Guys, Punjabi dhol band The Folk Guys, and also has a solo pop violin act Tino Pop Violin.