The Margaritas is a music ensemble featuring a standard string quartet formed by core members - violinists: Kari Lin, Natalie Wong; violist Fanny Tang; and cellist Mahsa Madahian. Previously known as the ANFA String Quartet, which was formed in 1997 in Markham, Ontario with members and co-founders Natalie and Fanny. Since then they have been performing in weddings, receptions, ceremonies, and other public, corporate, community and charity fundraising events. Events such as the Elvis Stojko Gala Show and the Kiwanis Festivals. Recent major public appearance includes the grand opening of the Remenyi House of Music in Richmond Hill. They acquired the new name, The Margaritas, in November, 2005.
Made up of all formally, classically trained musicians, The Margaritas are confident as qualified professionals. Each individual player is enthusiastic about music, especially in chamber music. The group is now serving the Metro and Greater Toronto Areas, including York, Durham, Peel Regions. Public recitals and concerts are based in the North Toronto area.

Margarita #1: Kari Lin (1st Violin)

Kari Lin was born in Taoyuan Taiwan and began studying piano in the first grade, and chose the violin as a secondary instrument in the third grade. Upon immigrating to Canada in 1994, she continued with the violin under Leo Wigdorchik, former concertmaster of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She is a graduate of Claude Watson School for the Arts and had appeared as a solo performer with the school's symphony orchestra at the former Ford Centre Recital Hall in 1999. A recipient of the Andrew Alexander Kinghorn Scholarships, the Jon Don Scholarship and the John Moskalyk Memorial Prize, Kari received her Bachelor of Music from University of Toronto in 2003 under the guidance of Professor Scott St. John and has been a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society at U of T chapter since 2000. Recently back from Chicago, Kari had just completed both the Master Degree in Violin Performance and the Performance Certificate Degree as well as all the pedagogy requirements from Northwestern University under the tutelage of Mrs. Almita Vamos. During her studies at Northwestern University, she enjoyed performing as a full-time member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago with such distinguished conductors as Pierre Boulez, Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zukerman, Victor Yampolvsky and Cliff Colnott, just to name a few. Kari loves playing with other musicians and is extremely psyched to be making chamber music on a regular basis with these talented young artists. Kari enjoys teaching, hanging out with friends and family, playing with her dog, listening to music and is a very dedicated fan of certain TV shows as well as movies.

Margarita #2: Natalie Wong (2nd Violin)

Natalie was born in Hong Kong and raised in Toronto. She learned to play the piano at the age of 3, continued on switching to violin at the age of 7. In her formative years, Natalie was involved in many collaborative musical projects including musical and dance theatres. She took part in the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, the U of T symphony orchestra, string ensembles and the vocal of a rock band inspired by Japanese visual rock music. Classical violin is Natalie's expertise, having completed her ARCT in performance at the RCM, and her degree in violin performance at University of Toronto. She studied with Professor Scott St. John, recently a member of the St. Lawrence Quartet, and also with Annalee Patipatanakoon, violinist of the Gryphon Trio. Natalie is active in various music festivals such as the Scotia Music Festival and SOCMI, provided the opportunity to learn from great musicians such as Mark Fewer, The Lafayette String Quartet, Tokai String Quartet, The Penderecski String Quartet, and many more. Meanwhile, she is active in the musical scene in Toronto, performing in numerous productions for Hart House Theatre, Markham Youth Theatre, Theatre at Trinity College, The Scarborough Playhouse, just to name a few. Recently, she has expanded her horizons by playing bass guitar for the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and became involved in the critically acclaimed premiere of Reefer Madness playing both violin and jazz keyboard. She excels also in theory and composition, and have studied with Abigail Richardson and Sasha Rapaport. In the future, she wishes to further her music studies and collaborate with the Margaritas Ensemble, co-founded with colleague and friend Fanny Tang. Currently the ensemble is working towards promotion through different strategies, exposing the group to a larger market, promoting the power of music in every way.

Margarita #3: Fanny Tang (Viola)

Fanny began her music studies on the violin at age 6 in Hong Kong, switching to viola at age 13 under the guidance of Mr. Tak-Ng Lai, violin-viola pedagogue and conductor in Toronto, Canada. From 1994 to 2001, Fanny was section member, assistant principal, and principal of orchestras such as the Toronto Chinese Youth Orchestra, Toronto Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra, and Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra. She attended the University of Toronto for the Performance programme, receiving extensive viola instructions from Mr. Scott St. John. She also performed in the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra, both under the baton of Maestro Raffi Armenian, as section principal and assistant principal. In 2002, she won the Jon Dan Scholarship, and in 2003 she received her Bachelor of Music degree specialized in Viola Performance with Distinction. During her undergrad years, she had private lessons and coachings with visiting guests including Ms. Rivka Golani, the Tokyo String Quartet, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, and many more. And in 2005, she obtained her Master of Music degree, specializing in Chamber Music Performance from McGill University (now also the Schulich School of Music), guided by Mr. André Roy, former viola member of l'Orchestre Symphonie de Montréal. Her chamber music coaches include Mr. Matt Haimovitz, Ms. Kyoko Hashimoto, and Mr. Douglas McNabney. Fanny was a regular member of the McGill Baroque Orchestra directed by Prof. Hank Knox, playing on a copy of an authentic Baroque viola. As well the modern viola in the McGill Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alexis Hauser. She is currently a section member of Orchestra London Canada under the baton of Maestro Timothy Vernon. Fanny plays on a modern viola custom made by Canadian luthier Mr. David Prentice in 2004. A member and co-founder of The Margaritas Ensemble (formerly ANFA SQ), Fanny is enthusiastic about chamber music in its original settings and its interaction with live audience. Fanny is the acting officer for the ensemble in advertising, marketing, public relations, and website management.

Margarita #4: Mahsa Madahian (Cello)

Mahsa Madahian was born in 1978 in Tehran - Iran. Her musical education started when she entered the Tehran Music School at the age of twelve. After 7 years of studying she received the music diploma majoring in Cello Performance. She moved to Yerevan - Armenia in 1996 and continued her education at The Komitas Music Conservatory and graduated with honors in cello performance. In 2000, Tehran Music University invited Mahsa to teach cello and chamber music. At around the same time, she took up the cellist position with the Tehran Trio. During this period she performed several recitals and chamber music concerts in Iran and Armenia. Mahsa performed as a soloist with the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, Arasbaran String Orchestra, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Armenian String Virtuosi Ensemble. In 2004 after migrating to Canada, Mahsa Madahian attended the University of Toronto and obtained an Advanced Certificate in Performance program. In 2005 she began University of Toronto's Master in Cello Performance program and is now preparing to start her Doctorate in Cello Performance at U of T. Since 2004 she has performed with many different orchestras and ensembels including Toronto Philharmonia, Koffler Chamber Orchestra, where she is the principal cellist. You may also find her playing at chamber music performances as well as various solo concerts in Toronto and beyond.