Oasis Unplugged

Oasis String Quartet
Members:
Alex Toskov, violin
Heemin Choi, violin
Laurence Schaufele, viola
Andrew Ascenzo, cello

Alex Toskov, violin
Alex Toskov serves as Concertmaster of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and is Music Director of the Odin Quartet which he established in 2015. The Odin Quartet has performed at Music Toronto, Music Niagara and Luminato festivals. The Quartet is
maintaining a busy artistic schedule, premiering new music, as well as recording. Alex has also been a member of the first violin section of Sinfonia Toronto since 202 and has lead the orchestra on a few occasions including a gala concert in Roy Thomson Hall in June 2016. Alex toured South America in 2018 and China in 2019 with Sinfonia Toronto.

Heemin Choi, violin
Praised by audiences and critics alike, Halifax native Heemin Choi has been featured on CBC Music’s list of “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30” and has shared his passion for music internationally in various orchestral, chamber and solo settings. Performing on the 1768 “Miller” Januarius Gagliano Violin generously on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts, Choi has performed with the likes of Simon Rattle, Antonio Pappano, Ginandrea Noseda and Valery Gergiev.

Laurence Schaufele, viola
Laurence Schaufele is a violist intent on exploring musicianship in a wide variety of genres. His experience spans diverse styles of music such as classical, jazz, klezmer, celtic, bluegrass, and many more. Hailing from rural southern Alberta, Laurence trained in the European classical tradition.He specialized at an early age on chamber music, from duos to string orchestra ensembles. Starting his post-secondary in Calgary, he transferred to Toronto for a change of pace. After graduating from the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2015 in viola performance, Laurence set off on a career which stretched the viola between many genres.

Laurence has toured with a variety of ensembles ranging from string quartets and
orchestras to progressive rock bands. He has performed on stages across four continents. Most notably, Laurence recorded with the jazz/classical ensemble SymphRONica. Their album UpfRONt received a JUNO nomination. When not performing, Laurence spends his time teaching violin/viola, listening to music, cooking, walking his dog, and spending time with his family.

Andrew Ascenzo, cello
Cellist. Educator. Music and Artistic Director. Producer; Andrew Ascenzo is redefining what it means to be a professional musician in the 21st Century. An avid chamber musician, Andrew is the co-founder, co-Artistic Director, and cellist of the Canadian Chamber Orchestra, a self-directed string ensemble, and was a founding member of the award-winning Bedford Trio from 2016-2023, performing in Canada, the United States, and Europe. As an orchestral and freelance cellist, he appears regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Concert Orchestra, and with touring artists such as Lauryn Hill, Sigur Rós, and Bruce Cockburn. From 2016-2025, he was the Artistic Director and Producer of Music in the Atrium at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Andrew is a cello instructor and guest lecturer at the University of Toronto, where he was a graduate of the Doctor of Music Arts Program in 2020.