The John Honsaker Chair in memory of his wife, Leni
Ronda Metszies was born and raised in Edmonton, where she studied cello with Sheila Laughton. After receiving her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Victoria, she continued her studies in Edmonton with Tanya Prochazka and then in Germany and Austria, where she worked with Julius Berger, Friedrich Sellheim and Heinrich Schiff.
Ronda has released two CDs of music for cello and piano on the Arktos label, both of which are frequently played on CKUA and CBC Radio, as well as a music video for Bravo! Television.
Before moving back to Edmonton, she was living in Los Angeles, where she performed regularly at the University of Southern California and in several local chamber music recital series. In addition to playing with the ESO, Ronda has a special interest in early music. She has appeared as a featured soloist with both the Edmonton Symphony and the Alberta Baroque Ensemble.
Ronda is also a founding member of Kent Sangster’s Obsessions Octet, whose debut jazz CD was nominated for a Juno Award in 2007, and which made its Carnegie Hall debut in 2012.