The Team
Founder / Artistic Director / flute faculty
Diana Lam
Meet Diana - a flutist who loves to share her music with others. Diana was Associate Performance Faculty at Carleton University, and is Suzuki trained and Keyfest certified. Diana is part of the Opus 4 flute quartet, runs her own private studio, and even works as a flute technician. Diana moved to Prince Edward County in 2021, and, inspired by the El Sistema philosophy, founded Quintissimo with Amber Walton-Amar. When she's not playing music, Diana enjoys gardening, sailing, and partner acrobatics. Diana holds Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music degrees in Flute Performance.
Co Founder / Program Director / Cello faculty
Amber Walton-Amar
Amber loves teaching cello to students of all ages and levels. She has obtained teaching certifications through the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Creative Ability Development method for improvisation. When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys performing and has played her cello across Canada, Europe and China with various symphonies and ensembles. Amber holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance.
Voice Faculty
Kiersten Hanly
Choir instructor Kiersten Hanly brings a similarly distinctive background. Raised in Stratford, Ontario, she was an active youth performer and was once recognized as Canada’s youngest handbell player. Her commitment to sharing the arts with children has shaped her career, including work with Playmakers Theatre School and The Ottawa Little Theatre. Most recently, she portrayed Maria in The Sound of Music with the Belleville Theatre Guild, where she also coached the young actors playing the Von Trapp children.
Musicianship
Sam HIrst
Sam Hirst, Quintissimo’s Musicianship instructor, has spent 30 years empowering communities and individuals to realize their potential for making and creating music. She has facilitated and nurtured music making in professional, community and educational settings for all ages. Highlights of Sam’s colourful and varied career include: study and performance of the vocal traditions of Eastern Europe and Georgia, and drumming traditions of Japan and Ghana; music education in both public and private settings; music theatre direction and performance; and performance with many local groups. Sam holds a BMus (Musicology and Music Theory) from the University of Toronto, and a BEd. from Queen's University. Sam also worked as a teacher in the HPEDSB; most recently at CML.
Chair
Jerri Chisholm
Jerri is a YA author, a distance runner, and a chocolate addict. Her childhood was spent largely in solitude with only her imagination and a pet parrot for company. Following that she completed a master's degree in public policy and then became a lawyer, but ultimately decided to leave the profession to focus exclusively on the more imaginative and avian-friendly pursuit of writing.Jerriserves on a number of local boards and committees, and volunteers with Hospice Quinte. She lives with her husband and three music-loving children, but, alas, no parrot.
Vice Chair
Marina Defferrari
Marina is a STEAM educator with a PhD in Biological Sciences and extensive experience teaching at both university and college levels, as well as engaging children through outreach programs. A local resident and parent, Marina believes in the transformative power of education to strengthen communities. With her expertise in grant writing and fundraising, she is excited to support Quintissimo’s mission and help expand opportunities for young musicians in Prince Edward Countyand the Bay of Quinte area.
Treasurer
Amanda Worsley
Amanda is a mother to three boys who are enrolled in, and love, the Quintissimo music program. A County resident since 2016, Amanda has been an active member of the small business community – running her own store with her husband as well as working with numerous County businesses as a bookkeeper. Amanda is a lover of music and champion of Quintissimo’s mission to provide access to high end musical exploration and exposure to Quinte Youth.
Board Member
Nick Bobas
is a classical musician who has a bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a master’s degree from Boston University. Nick has played in Canada with the Calgary Philharmonic, the Thunder Bay Symphony, and in Norway with the Bergen Philharmonic. After several years of home brewing, he decided to further his interest by enrolling in Niagara College’s Brewmaster program, and now owns and operates Slake Brewing.