The Executive Director and Co-Owner of Chinook School of Music,Carrie Kalmakoff obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Brandon University. At Chinook School of Music, Carrie focuses on implementing new and innovative programming to engage students in self-expression through music. Her commitment to fostering a lifelong love and enjoyment of music for students and their families is reflected in both her teaching and involvement in the musical community. Carrie is a passionate teacher and dynamic leader who inspires and encourages her students to be creative-minded, independent thinkers. Her students achieve high marks in music examinations and frequently win festival scholarships and awards; many have gone on to pursue music as a career.
Carrie is the Past President and General Manager of Cowtown Opera, past Chairperson of Calgary Contemporary Showcase, a retired member of the Alberta Registered Music Teacher Association and Alberta Piano Teachers’ Association. One of the benefits Carrie enjoys in her role at Chinook School of Music is the opportunity to form relationships with families and witness the musical growth of the students.
Read MoreRobert Motchalov began his musical studies at the age of five at the Novosibirsk Academy for Arts in Russia. He continued his musical studies on the piano, violin and clarinet and completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Victoria. Robert continued his education at the Indiana University in Bloomington, where he was granted the Master of Music degree with distinction, in piano performance.
Robert enjoys performing as a soloist and collaborative artist. He has performed in master classes with renowned pianists and musicians such as the famed performer and pedagogue Gyorgy Sebok, as well as Lev Vlasenko and Enrica Cavallo Gulli. Today Robert enjoys a busy teaching schedule as well as his position as a Director of Chinook School of Music.
Read MoreAlida completed her Master's of Music Degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Toronto. She lived and worked in Toronto for 10 years, performing with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Opera Atelier, Tapestry Opera, Toronto Summer Music, Toronto Operetta Theatre, and Voicebox: Opera In Concert. Alida was also a musician for the United Church of Canada in Toronto, providing music for Sunday services and assisting with music programs. She has supported various choirs at U of T and in the larger community. Alida worked with Echo Women's Choir for seven seasons exploring folk and world music, and sang in an a capella folk music quartet.
Alida has taught voice and piano for many years, most notably for five years at Classical Music Conservatory (Toronto). She encourages students to celebrate their unique strengths, and fosters musical enjoyment through a focus on vocal and overall health. Alida holds a Bachelor of Music degree with Academic Honors from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She has participated in summer opera training programs in Taos, New Mexico, and in Marche in Italy. Alida grew up in Calgary and is happy to have returned to her musical home.
Read MoreAngela Cavar holds a Bachelor of Performance in piano from the University of Calgary, performance degrees in both voice and piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a Diploma in Piano Performance from Mount Royal University. She has performed classical and contemporary music and worked in theatre as an actor and music director. In addition to directing choirs and collaborating as a pianist with singers and instrumentalists, she teaches voice, piano, theory, and musicianship. She has been a member of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ARMTA) for 28 years.
Angela is passionate about finding ways to help people of all ages and levels develop their skills and express themselves through music.
Read MoreCatherine James Tetz is an exceptional performer and instructor who shares a wealth of passion with the students she teaches. Catherine received her Honours degree and Diploma in Opera from Wilfrid Laurier University, and has been singing her heart out ever since! With an impressive performance resume that stretches all the way from soloist at the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual “traditional Christmas” concert, to starring in Mozart’s Magic Flute. Catherine believes that it is important to not just play music, but to bring it to life. She feels that it is important in a lesson to keep the mood relational and fun, while simultaneously challenging her students to discover their true voice within.
Read MoreChantelle Gillies began her musical career twelve years ago, and has always had a passion for music. She has had extensive training in the Royal Conservatory of Music piano, voice and theory programs. She joined the Cantare Children’s Choir at age four and this ensemble gave her many unique opportunities, such as travelling to Vimy Ridge, and performing at the Crescent City Choral Festival in New Orleans. She has had the privilege of performing with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra many times, as well as appearing in three Calgary Opera productions.
Chantelle has a deep passion for the piano, and she is striving to help students discover this same emotional connection. Chantelle believes that making music isn’t just about playing the instrument, it is also about going deeper and understanding what the composer intended with the music. Chantelle aspires to help students find joy in learning the piano, and help them create music that they will appreciate for years to come.
Read MoreDan has been playing the piano since the age of four, and has taught music for over ten years. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Western Ontario before continuing his musical studies at McGill University in Montréal, where he first discovered his passion for teaching music. He also holds a Bachelor of Education degree from Lakehead University and an ARCT in Piano Pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Dan’s philosophy and approach to teaching is focused on developing the musical skills and interests of each and every student. He believes that all students are capable of fostering a lifelong joy of music and achieving their musical goals by exploring repertoire and technique that is both challenging and fun to play!
Read MoreDanae Turgeon received her Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Piano Performance from Lakehead University, with a specialization in piano pedagogy. She has worked extensively as a collaborative pianist and in 2018 formally established the piano trio - Trio Turgeon - with two of her siblings. Turgeon is an award-winning composer and often performs her original compositions in concert.
Danae has nine years of teaching experience. In each lesson, she seeks to guide her students as they develop their ability to express their humanity through the language of music. Her teaching philosophy is centered around teaching a sensitive piano touch that mimics the human voice, achieved through a strong technique informed by expressive artistry.
Read MoreElaine has been studying piano since she was nine years old. Having completed RCM piano and theory and winning a scholarship for the highest provincial mark for advanced theory in Alberta, she is very familiar with the RCM curriculum. She has played in festivals within the province, winning several awards. Believing in accessibility to the arts, she is also involved in a non-profit organization delivering free music lessons to socially or economically marginalized children and youth. While she loves playing classical music, she also enjoys playing movie soundtracks/pop on the piano.
Elaine aims to create an encouraging atmosphere for her students to confidently explore and expand their musical abilities. She believes in adapting to each child’s unique learning style and is always excited to foster musical creativity in young musicians.
Read MoreEva Pospisilova has a Masters degree in teaching and performance from the Conservatory of Brno, Czech Republic, as well as degrees in pedagogy and psychology. Her professional background includes numerous accompanist contracts: Okanagan Symphony, Kiwanis Festival, KCMS Singers, Ontario Music Festivals, and Choir Festivals in Ottawa, Saint John, and at the International School of Prague. Eva has performed across Europe as a solo pianist and accompanist for various instrumentalist and vocalists. She was a teacher and accompanist at the Kelowna Community Music School from 2003 to 2013.
Read MoreGringo Villarin spent most of his life in the Philippines where he started piano lessons at the age of eight. He graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music Major in Music Education with piano principal from Saint Scholastica’s College Manila, Philippines. Gringo believes that everyone has the right to experience music and discover their own talents. This philosophy motivates him to teach and discover the potential in all of his students.
Gringo Villarin can teach lessons in English and Filipino.
Read MoreHeather holds a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Piano from Dankook University in South Korea and a Master’s degree in Art and Culture Business from Hanyang University’s MBA program. She has received multiple awards in classical music competitions. In addition to her expertise in classical music, she has earned a Professional Lecturer License in Music Education from the Seoul National University Lifetime Education Center.
In addition to teaching music and studying piano pedagogy. Heather shares her musical talents through volunteer performances at the library, university, hospitals, shelters for the homeless, and nursing homes in Seoul and Calgary. Her goal in performing is to guide the audience to find joy in music while helping them experience its beauty.
Read MoreIvanna is a passionate piano teacher and performer currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music at Academy of Music in Ukraine. She has several years of experience teaching private piano lessons to students of various ages and skill levels.
Her teaching philosophy centers on making each lesson both educational and enjoyable, adapting her approach to suit the individual needs and goals of every student. Whether preparing for exams or simply playing for enjoyment, she supports her students every step of the way.
Ivanna can teach lessons in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Read MoreJennifer Frazer’s appreciation for music began at a very young age while listening to her father play Beethoven sonatas. She began playing piano at age six and later added violin, cello, and viola. She has played violin and viola in several orchestras in both Canada and the United States, and has won awards in various competitions and institutions, including silver medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Music Performance from Bishop’s University as well as an ARCT in piano performance. She also has a teaching diploma from Cordes de l’Estrie and teaches both individual lessons and at music camps. Several of her students have won awards and medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music and local music competitions. Jennifer greatly enjoys teaching and passing on her love of music, and believes that anyone at any age can learn to play and enjoy music.
Jennifer Frazer can teach lessons in English and French.
Read MoreJoseph Fernando began studying piano at the age of five. He competed for many years in the Calgary Kiwanis Festival (now the Calgary Performing Arts Festival), winning several classes. He studied in Calgary with Ann Davidson and earned his Performer's ARCT in January 2009, and recently completed the Royal Conservatory's Teaching Elementary Piano course.
He performs at open mic's and music nights around the city, and has been featured as a solo artist at several venues. He has collaborated as a pianist with many local musicians and singer-songwriters, and plays the accordion as a member of the Calgary-based gypsy-punk-folk band Total Gadjos.
Joseph earned a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary in 2009, and an M.Sc. in 2011. He worked as an engineer at a downtown consulting company for over 5 years, and was licensed as a Professional Engineer in Alberta in 2013. He is currently back at university working towards a Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Calgary. Throughout his graduate studies, he has gained educational experience by working as a teaching assistant and tutor.
Joseph believes in adapting teaching methods to the learning styles and personality of each student, and emphasizes creativity and personal interpretation in music performance. He strives to make every lesson enjoyable for his students, and to instill students with a joy for making music.
Read MoreJuliana Jorge started her studies at the age of 6 at her birth city, São Pedro, in Brazil. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music – Piano, from the State University of Campinas – UNICAMP, and a Masters in Music degree, focusing on both Collaborative and Solo Piano from The University of New Mexico in the USA. In 2016, Juliana received a full scholarship to deepen her studies at the Bard College in NY, where she attended the Advanced Performance Studies program specializing in Collaborative Piano.
Juliana’s teaching style can be described as fun and productive. She approaches learning the instrument through music, allowing the student to experiment, but also building a firm foundation to grow from. She currently lives in Calgary, where she works as a staff pianist for the Alberta Ballet School and The Youth Singers of Calgary, as well as a chamber music coach and piano teacher. For more info about her work, please visit www.thepianistondemand.com.
Juliana Jorge can teach lessons in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Read MoreAlberta-born pianist Kathleen van Mourik earned a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Calgary in Piano Performance before moving to the Netherlands, where she studied lied and chamber music at the Hilversum Conservatory under Hans Broekman, receiving the Uitvoerend Musicus degree.
Upon returning to Canada, she received a Master of Music degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Vladimir Levtov at the University of Calgary.
Ms. Van Mourik is the founder and co-artistic director of the Mountain View International Festival of Song, Canada's only summer master class programme and concert festival combining art song and chamber music as well as the Mountain View Connection, Calgary's only concert series devoted to presenting emerging artists in concert.
Read MoreKatie Filson-Lau is a soprano soloist and choral singer from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is a graduate of the University of Calgary and received a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in vocal performance. She has performance and training experience in classical, musical theatre, choral, pop, and jazz singing. As a soloist, Katie has been awarded the WorldStrides OnStage Maestro Award, at a choral competition in Montreal, and the Don Wright Prize from the University of Calgary. She also has been awarded the Anthony G. Petti Memorial Scholarship in Music and the Norman J. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship for Choral Performance, both from the University of Calgary. She has performed as a soloist with Juno award-winning group Rosa Barocca. She has competed as a soloist in the Karaoke World Championships, in which she placed top 20 in Canada and the NATS Southern Alberta Songfest. Katie also has 12 years of experience playing piano as a soloist and accompanist for choirs and accompanying her own performances. She hopes to share her knowledge of these experiences with her students while fostering a passion for music. In the future, Katie plans to pursue a master's in choral conducting and vocal performance. When she isn’t making music, she can be found baking yummy sweets or knitting.
Read MoreKevin is an accomplished solo and chamber pianist, pedagogue and choir director. This is his fourth year at Chinook School of Music and Kevin has enjoyed every moment working with students of diverse ages, levels and musical interests. His students range from beginner to ARCT diploma level. Kevin nourishes his pupils to use music as a tool to express themselves while gaining appreciation of a wide variety of musical styles and developing problem solving, customized learning strategies and critical thinking techniques that can be applied to areas beyond piano education. Kevin grew up in the BC coastal community of Powell River and began piano lessons at the age of 6. After receiving substantial local and provincial recognition, Kevin received his Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) diploma at the age of 16 under the tutelage of Dr. Moira Hopfe-Ostensen and was the recipient of a silver medal from the Royal Conservatory of music for achieving the highest mark in British Columbia. Kevin conducted post diploma studies with Mr. Kum Sing Lee, an internationally renowned pedagogue at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Kevin then attained both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in piano performance from the University of British Columbia under the tutelage of Dr. Henri-Paul Sicsic, a phenomenal internationally recognized concert pianist and pedagogue who was raised in a musical and cultural environment of teachers, composers and performing artists in the direct lineage of Chopin. During this time, Kevin was provincial and national finalist for the Canadian Music Competition on numerous occasions, received 3rd prize at the 2002 Pacific International Piano Competition, won numerous grants and scholarships at UBC and graduated with a distinction (over 90% average) in all his performance studies for his Masters Degree in 2006.
Kevin has engaged in a full time performance and teaching career since 2007 and has taught piano and music theory to students of all ages and levels. He continues to give solo and chamber recitals and was Music Minister and Choir Director at St. Catherine’s Anglican Church in Port Coquitlam, BC for 9 years. Kevin also teaches music theory and composition including advanced music harmony, analysis, counterpoint and history.
Kevin Wong can teach lessons in English and Cantonese.
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