Lydia Munchinsky (née Helsdon) •cellist, pianist, teacher, recording artist, composer •grew up in rural Ontario (near Aylmer) •currently resides in Toronto •graduated from The Glenn Gould School of Music •married since 2003 (met husband at l’Abri in Huémoz, Switzerland) •mother of two •recorded with, among others, Cory Alstad, Laila Biali, Alessia Cara, Jesse Cook, The Great Lake Swimmers, Mike Janzen, Sarah Slean, Quartetto Gelato and The Weather Station •has been a member of Array Music, folk group Ozere, Quartetto Gelato and the Venuti String Quartet. •performed in Australia, Korea, and in tours across North America •other interests and hobbies include: theology, world history, reading, biking, tennis, baking and making ice cream •favourite books include: The Gulag Archipelago, Freakonomics, The Brain That Changes Itself, Operation Paperclip, Blitzed, Surprised by Joy