On the day the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony unveiled its 2025-26 season, principal violinist Allene Chomyn found herself not with a bow in hand but instead, perfecting a Kitchener bride’s hairstyle using a can of hairspray. Chomyn shared how she balanced styling hair for a wedding in the morning with performing at night.
Following the orchestra’s bankruptcy filing in 2023, and the subsequent cancellation of the season just days before its commencement, Chomyn and fellow musicians were left without work. In response, Chomyn expanded her hairstyling business, which she had previously pursued as a freelance venture during symphony breaks. When the bankruptcy hit, she sought employment with PearlGirlMakeup in Waterloo, a business that welcomed her quickly, allowing her to maintain flexible hours for both hairstyling and performing at small community concerts organized by fellow symphony musicians.
Fast forward two years, the orchestra has now launched a new season, spearheaded by the musicians themselves and a fresh board of directors. During the journey back, the musicians took on additional gigs, hosted free community concerts, and fought through legal avenues to revive the symphony.
Chomyn, who has been a part of the orchestra since 2007, reminisced about past seasons with nearly 90 performances over 38 weeks, contrasting the current season’s reduced schedule of 19 performances. She expressed that the decrease in performances also resulted in a decline in income for herself and her husband, Ian Whitman, the symphony’s principal bassist.
In the aftermath of the shutdown, musicians diversified their income sources. Moraes, for example, initially took on handyman work at a local tourist attraction before transitioning back to more stable freelance music jobs. Whitman, on the other hand, volunteered his time organizing free concerts and eventually assumed the role of the symphony’s learning and community engagement coordinator.
The musicians’ resilience and determination to revive the orchestra garnered support not only from the local community but also from various orchestras across Canada and the United States. They rallied together, launching fundraising efforts and legal actions to overturn the bankruptcy, culminating in the successful reemergence of the symphony.
As the K-W Symphony embarks on its 2025-2026 season, featuring notable performances and a return to its historic venue, the Center In The Square, musicians reflect on the challenging journey that led them back to the stage. Despite the hardships faced, their unwavering dedication to their craft and the orchestra remains steadfast, embodying the belief that the pursuit of their passion is always worthwhile.