Moshe Hammer
Executive & Artistic Director

World-renowned violinist and teacher Moshe Hammer has seen the scars of war and violence and the power of music to heal them. Born in the ruins of Budapest, Hungary after World War II, Moshe and his family traveled to the new country of Israel as refugees. There, as Israel was struggling to build itself in a troubled region of the world, young Moshe established himself as an award-winning musician. Moshe has studied at the University of Tel-Aviv’s Rubin Academy of Music, the Juilliard School in New York and with violin masters Jascha Heifetz in Los Angeles and Yehudi Menuhin in London.

A naturalized Canadian, Moshe Hammer has traveled the concert venues of the world and performed with many symphony orchestras. He was also the founder and leader of the Toronto based chamber group, The Amadeus Ensemble. Moshe loves to work with young musicians and offers master-classes everywhere he travels. For more information on Moshe Hammer, please visit www.moshehammer.com.

Ross Inglis
Violinist

Ross Inglis began violin studies at the age of three, adding piano in the following year. After completing his A.R.C.T. diploma in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music here in Toronto, Ross entered the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. Ross is the Director of Music at Knox United, and he currently runs a private studio of twenty students in addition to teaching over 200 violinists in Regent Park, Whitby and in the Jane & Finch corridor through The Hammer Band and conducts choirs at Temple Sinai synagogue in Toronto.

Not only is Ross an accomplished musician, he is also an accomplished athlete. He has run 25 marathons or ultra-marathons, including four Boston Marathons. He and his wife, are enjoying the incredible experience of raising two beautiful children, both already accomplished athletes.

Brian Baty
Double Bassist

Brian Baty attended the University of Toronto where he studied the Double Bass with Joel Quarrington. He is currently principal double bassist of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and also works as a freelance musician throughout Ontario where he regularly performs with orchestras in Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Hamilton, and Kingston among others.

Brian currently serves as principal bassist for the National Academy Orchestra. As a teacher, Brian has been a double bass Instructor at Lakehead University and the Kincardine Summer Music Festival and also maintains a private studio at his home in Kitchener, Ontario. Brian is thrilled to be teaching with Hammer Band. Having received his own start in music through the public school system, he is particularly aware of the impact music can have on a student’s life.

Eden Silverberg
Violist

Eden Silverberg is an undergraduate Medical Sciences student at Western University. A lifelong violinist, Eden holds an ARCT Diploma in Violin Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music and has served as concertmaster of the Taylor Academy Chamber Orchestra and UTS Senior Strings Orchestra.

Through The Hammer Band, Eden combines her passion for music, education, and community engagement, helping expand access to music education for young people in the London community. She brings extensive teaching experience from her work as a violin instructor, as well as a strong background in leadership, athletics, and youth mentorship.

Eric Fahn
Violist

Eric D. Fahn received his Honours Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, his Bachelor of Education degree (Artist-in-Community Education Program) from Queen’s University and a Diploma in Arts Management from Humber College. He studied the violin with Alec Catherwood and our own Moshe Hammer (York University); and the viola with world-renowned violist Rivka Golani.

Eric is currently the principal violist of the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ontario Cross-Cultural Society Symphony Orchestra. He was also the principal violist of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra from 2000 – 2014 and has been a section viola with the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra since 1988. Eric is the music director and church organist of St. Joseph’s Parish in Toronto, and enjoys teaching the next generation of musicians.

Ian Werker
Contrabass

Ian is active in the Toronto amateur music scene, playing contrabass in a variety of community ensembles over the years, including the Koffler Strings, North York Concert Orchestra, Summerhill Orchestra, Rosedale Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Summer Music – with the odd jazz gig added to the mix. Ian Werker was called to the bar in 1988 and recently wound down the busy employment law practice he started in 1994.

As a proud parent of four (and grandparent of four), Ian is honoured to become a part of The Hammer Band team and join in the thrill of bringing music to new generations.

Felicity Endicott
Violinist

Love of the violin started at age 9 for Felicity Endicott, thanks to a program similar to The Hammer Band coming to her school.  She continued with the violin through high school and expanded into private lessons and many years of summer music camps. Felicity spent 31 years as a teacher with the Toronto District School board, teaching grades K – 8 for 27 years and then spent the last 4 years of her career as a Vice-Principal. Retirement allowed her to pursue her love of violin again.

Felicity currently plays in two community groups – Strings T.O. and Harbord Strings. She is excited to begin working with The Hammer Band and inspire young children to understand and appreciate music through the violin.

Praise Lam
Violinist

Canadian violinist Praise Lam is thrilled to be working with the Hammer Band. An avid promoter of arts in education, Praise believes in the power of music. Having worked with students and youth orchestras of all ages in the Peel and Toronto School Boards, Praise continues to maintain an active role in music education.

Her performances as a award-winning violinist has taken her from her hometown stage in Canada to appearances in Hollywood’s 20th Century Studios Newman Scoring Stage in Los Angeles, California. An accomplished pianist and composer as well, Praise holds an ARCT Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music, a Bachelor of Music Performance degree and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto. For more information on Praise Lam, please visit www.praiselam.com.