Board of Directors
Gillian Story, President and Chair
Gillian Story professionally bridges the arts and business, with a decade of not-for-profit arts experience, followed by an exciting transition into the finance industry. She is currently Director, Digital Enterprise Business Initiatives with Sun Life, where she where she leads major strategic projects and won an award for her work on Sun Life’s United Way campaign. Gillian holds an MBA from University of Toronto’s Rotman School, a Masters Certificate in Public and Not-For-Profit Management from York’s Schulich School, and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Music and Psychology from Concordia.
Prior to joining Sun Life, Gillian held roles in some of Canada’s largest arts organizations, including the Canadian Opera Company and The Royal Conservatory of Music. In addition to playing keytar in a band, she is an award-winning published author and artist, and hosts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra’s pre-concert interview series at Koerner Hall. She has served on the board of Xenia Concerts since 2017, and took on the role of board chair in September 2022.
Gillian is a passionate advocate on the importance of the arts, delivering the keynote at U of T’s School of Commerce Alumni Event, and developing and leading a workshop series on the application of creativity and arts in the business world.
Robert Williams, Vice-chair
Robert Williams, Vice-president of Xenia Concerts, has Master’s degrees in Social Work and Fine Arts and a Ph.D. in Bioethics. He has worked as a bioethicist, social worker, archaeologist, dance historian and bookseller. His great-grandfather was the distinguished founder of “R. S. Williams & Sons,” a prominent Toronto company that made and sold musical instruments in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His grandfather donated an important collection of historical musical instruments and materials to the Royal Ontario Museum. Robert collects instruments associated with his family’s company and has loaned a number of fine stringed instruments to promising young musicians. He has also supported the Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) and the Royal Conservatory of Music through its scholarship and chamber music programs. Understanding the universal power of music, Robert is proud to support Xenia Concerts, which makes great music accessible to all people.
Jesse Rosensweet, Treasurer
Jesse Rosensweet is a corporate and commercial lawyer practicing with Aird & Berlis LLP in Toronto. He advises corporate clients on mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and reorganizations and advises financial institutions, private and alternative lenders, and corporate borrowers on debt financing. Jesse holds a J.D. and an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree from Indiana University. He enjoys hiking, cycling, and all genres of live music. He is married with two sons and a daughter.
David Guiney, Secretary
David Guiney is a lawyer and resident of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. Among several volunteer activities, David has coached boys’ hockey and served, among other positions, as the Chair of the Etobicoke Children’s Centre (“ECC”). Over a period of 10 years, David’s experience with ECC led to his participation as Secretary of the board of directors of Xenia. David is a partner at Tanner & Guiney Associates, Barristers and Solicitors. His practice involved providing advice to cooperatives and credit unions. Between 2008 and 2018, David left Tanner & Guiney to serve as the chief operating officer of a provincial warranty corporation. David holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto, a Masters in Public Administration from Queen’s University, and a LL.B from McGill University. David is an avid golfer and cyclist. He is married with two sons. He is learning, through his experience at Xenia, to appreciate the beauty of classical and jazz music and its benefits for children with autism and mental health challenges and their families.
David Visentin, Director
Amanda Smith, Director
A highly respected cultural and non-profit leader based in Calgary, AB, Amanda Smith’s broad expertise as a corporate consultant, collaborative executive team-builder, strategic planner, fund developer, and marketing and operations specialist has been shared with a diverse array of organizations from coast to coast. Through this work she is an ardent supporter of the long-term sustainability and growth of the arts in Canada, with emphasis on the cultivation of new and diverse audiences.
For six years, Amanda served as the Director of Marketing & Communications at Canada’s Honens International Piano Competition. During her tenure, she successfully guided the organization through a pivotal leadership transition, assuming the full responsibilities of Interim President & CEO during the 2022-2023 season. At Honens, Amanda played a critical role in conceiving and launching the Keys for Newcomers initiative, a ground-breaking program that bridges financial and language barriers to provide newcomers to Canada with accessible music education while creating employment opportunities for immigrant teachers.
An active volunteer and strong advocate for arts accessibility, Amanda’s local, regional, and national commitments extend to nurturing robust financial stewardship, cultivating cohesive teams centered on mutual objectives, and championing youth empowerment through equitable access to arts, education, and wellness opportunities.
A graduate of Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Music, Amanda holds an MBA in Non-Profit and Charitable Organization Management from Trinity Western University.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Amanda finds fulfillment as a devoted wife and proud mother of two remarkable children.
Sarah Nematallah, Director
Sarah Nematallah has led a rewarding career as a performer and arts administrator since 2004, with an extensive history of representing Canada and the Canadian Arts Scene both nationally and internationally, in over 30 countries on 5 continents. As a violinist, Ms. Nematallah is a founding member of the award winning, JUNO nominated Cecilia String Quartet, and has performed solo, orchestral, and chamber music internationally for institutions such as the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam); the Berlin Konzerthaus; London’s Wigmore Hall, the Library of Congress (Washington D.C.); the Verbier Festival (Switzerland); and the Banff Summer Arts Festival. In addition to her touring profile, Ms. Nematallah has performed and given presentations on music for hundreds of non-standard venues and audiences, including California School for the Blind (Fremont CA), San Francisco County Jail (San Francisco CA), the Monarch School for Homeless Youths (San Diego CA), Learning Through the Arts at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto ON), and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (Stanford CA). Ms. Nematallah was the recipient of the University of Toronto William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Award given to a graduating student deemed by the University to have the greatest potential for making an important contribution to the field of music.
Ms. Nematallah was previously Adjunct Professor at The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, as well as Co-coordinator of the Faculty’s Chamber Music Program. Ms. Nematallah has extensive experience with public media, with performances and live interviews given on CBC Radio 1 and 2, WQXR (New York), DeutschlandRadio (Germany), and BBC Radio 3 (England). She has appeared as a panel speaker for organizations such as the Canadian Arts Presenting Organization (CAPACOA), Chamber Music America, the International Artists Managers’ Association (IAMA), and CIHR Café Scientifique. Ms. Nematallah is a proud co-founder of Xenia Concerts Inc.
Jenna Richards, Director
As a portfolio musician, Jenna Richards embraces a demanding schedule of performance, research, and arts administration. Jenna is currently pursuing her PhD, Interdisciplinary Research in Music, serving as the Canadian Centennial Choir’s Associate Music Director, and co-programming 100+ events annually as Director of Artistic Planning & Community Engagement with Ottawa Chamberfest.