You’re invited to come and see a brand new line of performances in our Spring 2026 Noon Hour Concert Series! Admission to the building is free, and a sandwich lunch is available for purchase prior to each recital between 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., with the concerts beginning at 12:15 p.m.
About Duo Puissance
Duo Puissance is a collaboration of cellists Cynthia Steele and Michelle Kyle. Cynthia and Michelle met in 2022 in the cello section of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra and immediately connected well. They share similar childhood and musical experiences and a love of animals. Both have been Principal Cellist of the Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Orchestra; Michelle was a founding member and Cynthia holds the position now. In 2022 to 2024, they played together in a clarinet trio, Tre Gatte, with Cynthia on cello and Michelle on piano, which rehearsed often and performed in concerts, retirement homes, and private events in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. After recently completing Laurier’s Chamber Music Diploma as a cellist, Michelle invited Cynthia to form a two cellos duo, and Cynthia quickly agreed, with enthusiasm!
About Michelle Kyle (cello)
Michelle Kyle began playing cello in Ottawa, studied with Steve Smith, and performed in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway with a high school orchestra led by Harold Kaufmann. At age 16, she was Assistant Principal Cellist of the Saskatoon Symphony, sharing a stand with Malcolm Tait, former Principal Cellist of the Toronto Symphony. At 17, she left home to study cello performance with him at Brandon University for two years, then continued at Wilfrid Laurier University with Gisela Depkat. She earned a Fellowship diploma in Piano Performance from Trinity College of Music under Garth Beckett, then a Master of Music in Piano Performance at McGill University under Tom Plaunt. While she studied law at Osgoode Hall, people who heard her busking in the Toronto subway as a cello soloist asked her to play at their weddings. She became a lifelong wedding musician, played cello in various orchestras and chamber groups, and worked as a collaborative pianist and in diverse fields including law, web development, and education. In October 2022, Michelle bought a fine Canadian cello from the workshop of Jean-Benoît Stensland and Therese Girard in Montreal and joined several orchestras. She completed Laurier’s Chamber Music Diploma as a cello student of Katie Schlaikjer in 2025. Michelle loves chamber music and plays cello and piano with various groups including Duo Puissance, Ladyfingers, and Ambrosia Chamber Ensembles. Her pets include many cats, five hens, and a rooster.
About Cynthia Steele (cello)
Cynthia Steele completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Wilfrid Laurier University under Paul Pulford. During her fourth year, she had the opportunity to travel to Holland to spend a term at the Utrecht Conservatory of Music. In Holland, she studied with Michel Roche, the Principal Cellist of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, a lovely teacher who often continued her one-hour lessons into three-hour sessions. Cynthia went on to earn a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Victoria in British Columbia. She participated in four consecutive summers of QuartetFest with the Penderecki String Quartet and two summers of Quartet Fest West with the Lafayette String Quartet in Victoria. She also studied Baroque cello in an intensive summer workshop with Christina Mahler and members of Tafelmusik and she enjoys working in Baroque ensembles and playing continuo. Cynthia has a passion for chamber music and has been Principal Cellist of the Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Orchestra for over a decade. She performs and records frequently, often covering a wide range of styles from classical to contemporary and pop/rock. Cynthia has taught for over 25 years and has run her studio in Kitchener for many years, teaching students of all ages and levels. She offers monthly cello ensemble rehearsals and group lessons in addition to one-on-one lessons. Her pets include chickens, quail, a bearded dragon, a dog, a cat, and a retired Woodbine racehorse.