Jennifer 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 MoreLaryssa Warne began playing the violin at age 3. She graduated from the Mount Royal University Conservatory Academy program and has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary. Laryssa was a member of the Calgary Youth Orchestra, University of Calgary Orchestra and the University of Calgary New Music Ensemble. Laryssa has performed across Western Canada and Eastern Europe.
Laryssa completed Suzuki Teacher Training with Elayne Ras in 2018 at the University of Alberta. In 2021, she attended the Japan-Seattle Suzuki Institute and completed further Suzuki Teacher Training with Edmund Sprunger. Laryssa is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and teaches beginner to advanced level students. Her teaching mission is to instill a love of music in her students by developing skills, motion and awareness in their playing.
Laryssa has performed with Symphony of the Kootenays, Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Timepoint Ensemble, Festival Chorus Orchestra, Calgary Civic Symphony and the Wintergreen Duo/Trio. Notable performances include the 2016 Honens Festival, Cirque Musica's Wonderland, and 'A Tribute to John Denver', conducted by Lee Holdridge. In 2019, Laryssa had a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity, performing in the World Premiere of Calgary Opera's Ghost Opera. Laryssa is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Calgary Salon Series chamber music concert series.
Read MoreMelissa graduated with her Bachelor of Arts on the violin at Ambrose University under the tutelage of Joan Barrett. One of Melissa greatest passions is playing in various community and university orchestras throughout Calgary. She has also enjoyed performing with her siblings in the Priddis Strings Trio and the Ambrose String Quartet.
Melissa has enjoyed teaching violin for the past five years and aims to inspire in her students a love for music and a desire for continued learning. Melissa incorporates a holistic approach to teaching and believes that the things that we learn through music should be transferable to other areas of life.
Read MoreNataliia was born in Kiev, Ukraine. She started her violin studies at age six. After completing her studies at school of music, she proceeded to Kiev State Music College, later furthering her education at the Kiev State Conservatory. She supplemented her violin tuition with lessons in musicology and chamber music performance.
Apart from performing as soloist and in chamber ensembles, Natalia has been a member of several orchestras, including Kiev Opera House for Children and Youth, the famous Kiev National Philharmonic Orchestra, and Cairo Opera House and Malta Philharmonic orchestra. She has performed extensively giving concerts in Europe, Far East and United States (including Carnegie Hall and Chicago Symphony Center).
From 2008 till 2022 Natalia was a Lecturer in Violin Performance at the University of Malta and a violin instructor at Johann Strauss School of Music, Malta.
She participated in numerous international festivals as a first violinist of “Yaro” string quartet and “Lakota” piano trio. Nataliia teaches both piano and violin at CSM.
Read MoreA passionate and dedicated instructor, Patricia Higgins is head of the strings faculty at the Chinook School of Music. She received her master’s degree in viola from Quebec Music Conservatory and has been a very active member of the musical community since. She is currently the violist of the Lily String Quartet, and has played with many orchestras including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
Patricia is passionate about performing and wishes to instill a love of music in all of her students. She believes that it is important to share the joys of classical music, and takes great pride and pleasure in educating the musicians of tomorrow who will one day share their own musical joy with the world.
Read MoreRachel completed her Bachelor of Music in cello performance at Ambrose University. A former student of the Mount Royal University Music Academy, Rachel has had the opportunity to perform for and study under some of North America's most renowned musicians. One of Rachel's favourite passions is playing chamber music. She has played in many chamber groups and currently performs with two string quartets as well as a string trio, Priddis Strings with her siblings.
Rachel has enjoyed teaching cello for the past 7 years to students of all ages and levels. She appreciates the opportunity to help students discover their potential and express themselves through music. Rachel is dedicated to helping students use their passion for music to grow and challenge themselves in other aspects of their lives.
Read MoreSince the age of four, Willa has been working with the Chinook School of Music in violin technique. She was a student in the school’s very first group violin class, and has been training with instructor Patricia Higgins ever since. Willa is trained in the Royal Conservatory of Music’s violin syllabus and has worked with several of CSM’s chamber ensembles from early on in her time at the school. She has thoroughly enjoyed substitute teaching young violinists, and is training to become a professional dancer as she pursues a teaching path. Willa believes the greatest advantage offered to violinists is their ability to balance challenging musical technique with profound artistry, and looks forward to sharing her joy of violin with the students she teaches.
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