Martine denBok is a classically trained, professional violinist with a captivating stage presence and a ‘spine-tingling’ tonal colour palette. A natural born musician who began violin lessons at the age of three, Martine has now performed as concertmaster for over twenty productions with Edmonton’s ‘Opera Nuova Orchestra’, spent three seasons playing next to Juno nominated Pablo Diemecke with Victoria’s ‘Die Mahler String Quartet’ and played first violin for Edmonton’s popular and ecclectic ‘StringBeans Quartet’. She holds a Masters of Music in Violin Performance, and is the Principal Second Violinist of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. Now a resident of New Denver BC, Martine is a busy multi-instrumentalist and collaborator, most noteably with her acclaimed duo, ‘Freya’ – a group known for their heartfelt and spell-binding instrumental compositions and sweet vocal harmonies. Aside from performing, Martine maintains a busy teaching studio with students from Nelson to New Denver.
Born in Maple Ridge, BC in 1976, award-winning composer Noel Fudge has built a career that bridges concert stages, recording studios, and film screens. Now based in the mountain village of New Denver, BC, Noel continues to compose, perform, and raise his family in a community that mirrors the beauty and balance found in his music.
A versatile creator, Noel was recently honoured with Best Composer at the Vancouver Independent Moviemaker Awards for his original score to the powerful documentary Snk’mip: Dig Deeper — a film exploring truth, reconciliation, and the spirit of the Sinxt təmxʷúlaʔx (land). His music for this project, praised for its emotional depth and sonic storytelling, underscores his belief that “art can do things that politics can’t — it can heal, unite, and inspire change.”
Noel is currently a guest artist with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO), performing with his acclaimed duo Freya (with violinist/violist Martine denBok). Commissioned by the OSO to write the entire concert program, Noel created a large-scale work that weaves orchestra, chamber ensemble, and SATB choir into a single musical narrative — a reflection on connection, home, and memory.
Earlier in his career, Noel’s compositions found homes in both rock bands and classical concert halls. He began performing his original songs in his teens, earning multiple scholarships that led him to pursue formal studies in music — first in performance at Vancouver Community College, and later in composition at Simon Fraser University, where he completed his BFA.
Noel’s catalogue includes commissions for chamber ensembles, string quartets, and commemorative works such as Memory and Reflections (written for the 75th Anniversary of the WWII Japanese Canadian Internment) and One-Legged Waltz, created for renowned performers Johanne Perron and Martine denBok.
After 25 years running a successful teaching and recording studio, Noel shifted focus to composition for film and ensembles, balancing artistry and production with his ongoing performing projects — including Freya, the Klezmer-inspired Klezmeridian, and his rock band Vanir (featuring Jay Buttle, Dean Spankie, and Martine denBok).
His latest venture, Broken Wing, soars as a multi-genre concert project and forthcoming album for a ten-piece ensemble combining string quartet, rock band, and rich vocal harmonies. Inspired by real events and personal reflections, Broken Wing embodies the spirit of resilience, transformation, and connection that defines Noel’s musical life.
Noel continues to teach guitar and composition and is a faculty member at Valhalla Summer School of Music. To learn more about Noel and his compositions, see his website here.
Named after the Norse goddess of love, Freya is a musical duo that emanates the essence of their namesake with every note. With intertwining melodies and exquisite harmonies, the duo has taken their serendipitous convergence and created a distinct and original flavour that evokes the passion, anguish and natural beauty that rests at the heart of their music. Noel Fudge combines fingerpicking, strumming, percussive techniques and a range of alternative tunings that together demonstrate compositional mastery and stand alone as stunning, but invite the intricately woven string melodies of partner/co-writer Martine denBok. Known primarily as an accomplished classically trained musician and Principal Second Violinist of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, her lush, sensuous tone and melodic characters will pull at all kinds of your heart strings. Together, the duo form an unmistakably unique sound that is fresh, and timeless. Noel and Martine live in New Denver, BC on the shores of the Slocan Lake.
To read a review of Freya visit https://chameleonfire1.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/popular-kootenay-duo-freya-releases-debut-cd/