Petites Étoiles, was formed in 2025, when the three of us, friends from Guelph Symphony, discovered our shared love for Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp. We decided that we wanted to form an ensemble to perform this beautiful piece of music together.

Today’s program is built around this pivotal piece. Debussy masterfully blends the unique timbres of the flute, viola, and harp, allowing each to shine while maintaining a seamless cohesion. There is a delicate nterplay between the instruments, creating a rich tapestry of sound that is both ethereal and deeply evocative.

The flute often takes on a bird-like quality, flitting gracefully through the melodies, while the viola provides a warm, resonant depth. The harp adds a shimmering texture, its arpeggios and glissandos weaving a magical backdrop. Together, they paint an impressionistic landscape that evokes the subtleties of nature and emotion.

The Sonata is celebrated for its sophisticated harmony and innovative structure. Debussy's use of modal scales and non-traditional chords lends an air of mystery and wonder. The music flows with an organic, almost improvisational quality, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its dreamlike world.

Madison Deppe (flute) is active as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer throughout the province. As the principal flute for Sinfonia Ancaster, she also collaborates with orchestras in Guelph, Niagara, Oakville, Stratford, Milton, Sudbury, and Georgian Bay.

Madison earned her degree in Flute Performance from Western University, where she studied under the guidance of Anne Thompson. She currently plays a custom-made flute crafted from gold, silver, and platinum, by Haynes.

Website: https://www.madisondeppemusic.com

Catherine Molina (viola) enjoys an exciting, multi-faceted career, as a performer, pedagogue, and arts administrator. Catherine is the principal violist with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, having previously served as a principal player for the Thunder Bay Symphony and the Toronto Sinfonietta.

Ms. Molina is a performance graduate of the University of Toronto, the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

Nicole Chang (harp) is a dynamic soloist, chamber musician,and orchestral player. She is also a talented recording artist and arranger. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance and Music Composition from the University of Washington, under Seattle Symphony harpist, Valerie Muzzolini and composer Charles Corey, and Master's in Instrumental Performance from University of Toronto, under internationally renowned harpist Judy Loman.

Nicole is the principal harpist of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra. She also performs with the Hart House Orchestra, the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra and is both a member and an arranger for the Toronto Pops Orchestra.

Website: https://nwchangharp.ca