2025 Adjudicators

Sonya Nanos Hodgson
Cellist

Canadian cellist Sonya Nanos Hodgson charms audiences with her impassioned, imaginative playing. She is Assistant Principal of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, as well as section cellist of London Symphonia and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Previously, she was section cellist with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.

Her diverse career has included performances with orchestras such as the Orlando Philharmonic, as well as artists like Michael Bublé and Andrea Bocelli. Sonya has been featured in The Walleye Magazine, and has been broadcast nationally on CBC Radio. Her recording highlights include the JUNO-nominated album of Canadian works with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and an album of chamber orchestra works by American composer Paul Reale, where she can be heard as a soloist.

As a chamber musician and recitalist, Sonya is a member of the Charis Collective. She has been featured on the Lumina series, Symphony in the Barn, and as a guest on Western University's faculty chamber series. She has also premiered several chamber works by composers such as Greg Sandow (in Suk Hall, Prague), and Scott Wheeler (Florida, USA).

Sonya is committed to inspiring students of any age or background to find joy and community through music. She taught at El Sistema Aeolian, Lakehead University, adjudicated local and provincial festivals, and the Festival Internacional de Música in Loja, Ecuador.

Sonya holds a Master of Music from Lynn University, an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School, and a Bachelor of Music from McGill University.

As a student, Sonya competed many times in the Pickering GTA Music Festival and at the OMFA Provincials. It is a pleasure to welcome her back.