About Odyssey
Dedicated to the simple enjoyment of performing music together and sharing their passion with live audiences, Odyssey String Quartet has delivered engrossing and engaging concerts since its founding in 2002. With an extensive and varied repertoire that is grounded in string quartet classics, the quartet captivates audiences by delving - each and every show - into such popular styles as tango, swing, jazz, rock & roll, pop rock, ragtime, the American Songbook, and even television theme songs. OSQ has created a dedicated and loyal following in Victoria, British Columbia.
In the course of their careers as chamber musicians, Odyssey members have gathered a wealth of performing experience with concerts across Canada, the US, Asia, Europe, and South America. Notable highlights include performances at the Adelaide, Aspen, Banff, Boston Early Music, Edinburgh Fringe, Evian, Gergiev and Ottawa Chamber Music Festivals, in addition to the PAN New Music, Salle Bourgie, Tanglewood, Verbier festivals, the Festival d’Auvers sur Oise festivals.
OSQ members have performed concerts with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, played string quartets for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and toured with such groups as Aventa Ensemble, the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, Continuum Consort, European Camerata, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Sinfonia Rotterdam, Via Salzburg, and Victoria Baroque.
Connecting profoundly with audiences in and around Victoria BC, Odyssey maintains an active schedule as the string quartet in residence at The Butchart Gardens and as regular guests at both Esquimalt’s Township Classics and Victoria Symphony Music in the Summer concert series. OSQ annually shares music with the wider community at free outdoor venues such as Centennial Square, Beacon Hill Park, and City of Victoria pop up concerts. The host of Odyssey performances is Kay Cochran, who takes the microphone to share whatever quirky facts seem likely to amuse and delight the audience and her fellow musicians.
Odyssey musicians Christi Meyers and Tori Gould, violins, Kay Cochran, viola, and Alasdair Money, cello, maintain active professional careers, playing in the Victoria Symphony, teaching, and collaborating with several of Victoria’s prominent chamber music groups.
Honouring the crucial importance of music education, and in recognition of the OSQ players’ own training in public school music programs, the quartet enjoys bringing concerts and masterclasses to young people through the Victoria Symphony’s school music outreach programs.
"a totally brilliant experience!"
- Joanie McCorry
Christi Meyers, violin
Christi Meyers has played a prominent role in the musical life of Victoria for over 20 years. She is the Assistant Concertmaster of the Victoria Symphony, a founding member of Victoria Baroque, the Odyssey String Quartet, and is the Artistic Director of the Esquimalt based chamber music series, Township Classics. She performs frequently with Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Vancouver, the Vancouver Symphony and has been a leader or member of Sinfonia Rotterdam (NL), European Camerata (UK), and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
A dedicated educator, Christi was for several years on faculty at UVic and coached the violins of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra. She has recorded chamber music for CBC television and radio specials and can be heard on several discs for ATMA and Marquis.
Born in Montreal and raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Christi holds degrees from McGill and Western universities under the tutelage of Gwen Thompson, Sonia Jelinkova and Paul Kling. She is married to a great guy, and is a mom to two young adults and one ginger cat with attitude.
Tori Gould, violin
Tori Gould has been performing and teaching in Victoria, BC, since 2006. She is Principal Second Violin in the Victoria Symphony and has a busy studio at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
In the 2012/13 season she joined the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony as Assistant Principal Second Violin; she has also been invited to act as guest Concertmaster with Symphony Nova Scotia. Tori has been engaged as a soloist in the United States and Canada, including multiple appearances with the Victoria Symphony. With a passion for chamber music, she has collaborated with such artists as the Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, Metamorphosen, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet. She performed to critical acclaim with the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble in the United States and as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
In 2005 Tori received a Master's degree from Rice University under the tutelage of Kathleen Winkler. Born in Grimsby, Ontario, she began violin at the age of nine through a school program. She continued her studies at UofT with David Zafer and Mayumi Seiler.
Kay Cochran, viola
Born in Germany and raised in Texas and Kansas, Kay joined the Victoria Symphony after studies in Montreal, Paris, Banff and Houston. Kay holds a Master of Music from McGill University and a Bachelor of Music from Rice University and has held winter residencies at the Banff Centre.
A founding member of Odyssey String Quartet, she has performed at the Eine Kleine Summer Music series and the Esquimalt Township Classics concert series. In much of her work as a chamber musician, she has worked closely with composers to develop and premier new works, including pieces by Linda Bouchard, Hyo-Shin Na, Stewart Grant and David Clenman. She has worked with Delos, an all female Korean composers' collective and appeared with Tripod Dance at Open Space in Victoria.
In the orchestral setting, Kay has had the pleasure of playing concertos with the Victoria Symphony and the Galiano Ensemble and has frequently acted as principal viola in both those groups. Kay has served on the board of directors with the Victoria Symphony and SALT New Music Festival.
Kay has regularly taught viola and chamber music at the University of Victoria. She also coaches students on orchestral excerpts and audition techniques.
Alasdair Money, cello
Cellist Alasdair Money is from Victoria, B.C. He studied with James Hunter at the Victoria Conservatory of Music where he graduated from the Associate in Musical Arts Diploma program. He then went on to complete a Bachelor of Music degree at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. While there he studied with Lawrence Lesser and Michael Haber. After graduating from NEC, Alasdair went to England to study in London with Raphael Wallfisch at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he received a post-graduate diploma in cello performance.
Alasdair has attended such festivals as Banff and Orford in Canada and the Dartington, Evian and Verbier music festivals in England and in Europe. While back in Canada, He completed a Master of Music degree in cello performance at the University of Victoria where he studied with Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni and Paula Kiffner.
Alasdair currently plays with the Victoria Symphony, the Odyssey and Emily Carr String Quartets and the Aventa ensemble. He has also played with the Vancouver Symphony and the Vancouver Island Symphony orchestra.