Amy Laing

Originally from Nanaimo, Amy earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the HARIDConservatory in Boca Raton Florida, and her Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Prior to the shakeup of 2020, Amy was enjoying her first season as Principal cellist in the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario. She played regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, the Windsor Symphony, Niagara Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, and also held a six-month contract with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax. In 2011/12 Amy served as acting principal cello in the Victoria Symphony and taught at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and again joined the orchestra playing principal cello for the second part of their 2016 season.   

Amy is an active chamber musician and was a member of the Madawaska String Quartet, specializing in the performance and cultivation of contemporary works. Amy has also been the solo cellist in numerous top musical theatre productions in Toronto, including Dear Evan Hansen, Matilda, Kinky Boots, The Sound of Music, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and most recently Broadway’s smash hit “Hamilton”.

Beyond the strictly classical music genre, Amy has worked with Toronto’s Art of Time Ensemble, SoulPepper Theatre Company, Toronto Dance Theatre, the Stratford Festival and Music in the Barns. She has performed or recorded with leading artists including Stevie Wonder, Blue Rodeo, Jesse Cook, The Barenaked Ladies, Jim Cuddy, Steven Page, Sarah Slean, Molly Johnson, Royal Wood, Amelia Curran, Donovan Woods, and played a Canadian tour with Blue Rodeo including a performance at the JUNO’s.

Amy has played in music festivals around the world including the Spoleto Festivals in Italy and in Charleston, The National Orchestral Institute, the Banff Arts Festival, Musica Nel Chiostro in Tuscany, Cork Opera Festival Ireland, COSI festival in Italy, the Northern Lights Festival in Ajijic Mexico, Festival of Sound in Parry Sound, the Phil Dywer Music Festival in Qualicum BC, Salt Spring Chamber Music Festival, Tafelmusik’s Winter Institute, and also toured China with her cello quartet.

Amy is happy to be back on Vancouver Island again, making a home near Nanaimo with her husband and two sons. She is thrilled to be joining the faculty at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. Amy is a qualified Suzuki teacher but also teaches in a varied style which draws from the various pedagogues and musical influences in her life, she loves to teach students of all ages.