Tanya Charles, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, with ancestral roots in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has captivated audiences across North and South America, as well as the Caribbean, with her exceptional musical talent. A recipient of numerous accolades, including the Women’s Art Association of Canada – Luella McCleary Award, the Gabriella Dory Prize in Music, and the John C. Holland Award from the Hamilton Black History Association, Tanya is widely recognized for her artistic achievements. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto and an Artist Diploma in Orchestral Performance from the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Tanya is currently the concertmaster of Ensemble Obiora, a Montreal-based ensemble she has proudly led since its founding in 2021. One of her most notable recent performances with them was as the soloist in the Canadian premiere of Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 1, conducted by Samy Rachid, Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, in October 2023. In addition to her role with Ensemble Obiora, Tanya is also a violinist and the Outreach Coordinator for the Odin Quartet.

Her diverse musical background reflects a broad range of artistic collaborations and performances across various ensembles.  Tanya's performance experience includes serving as concertmaster and soloist WITH Colour of Music Festival Orchestra (COMF) and the COMF Virtuosi in South Carolina. She has also held the position of associate concertmaster with the Gateways Festival Orchestra in New York.  As at home onstage as well as in the orchestra pit, Tanya has played with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, and the National Ballet Orchestra of Canada.  A versatile musician, she performs on violin, viola, and mandolin with Mirvish Productions, bringing her musical talents to the stage in a variety of theatre productions including the currently running, Disney’s The Lion King in Toronto. She also leads the violin section of Toronto's Viva Mexico Mariachi, contributing her expressive playing to the vibrant energy of their performances.

Tanya is deeply committed to music education, serving as a dedicated educator, string adjudicator, and clinician both locally and internationally. She has imparted her expertise in English, French, and Spanish, offering musical training and consultations at the White Chapel Music Studio (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), the Ensemble du Monde (Guadeloupe) outreach program, and the Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales (Mexico). Tanya is based in Toronto, where she shares her passion and expertise as a faculty member at both the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and the Oscar Peterson Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

(updated March 2025)