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 MoreBen Tizzard is a Calgary-based musician with a Bachelor of Music Degree at Ambrose University in Jazz Guitar. He has had the honor of studying with leading Calgary musicians such asRalf Bushmeyer, Neil McVey, Stefano Valdo, Pat Belliveau, and Aaron Young. Playing since the age of 13, Ben has never thought twice about dedicating his time to studying and performing the guitar. His past experiences include being a finalist for the Stampede Talent Show, performing as the guitarist in the Badlands Passion Play, studying under the Calgary-based Flamenco guitarist Holly Blazina, and participating in local jams/open mics in various venues across town.
Ben fills his time professionally through teaching privately, engaging in clinics, and performing at Calgary venues such as the Ironwood Stage and Grill, Café Koi, SAIT Jubilee Auditorium, Mount Royal University, University of Calgary, Lolita’s Lounge, Hyatt Hotel, Ambrose University and many more.
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 MoreTenor Christopher MacRae has been praised for his musicality and dramatic portrayals, and for possessing “a beautiful and sonorous tenor voice!” He has performed throughout Canada and the United States in a variety of stage and concert repertoire, and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). He has been a master class clinician or guest lecturer at John Brown University, Delta State College, and Mount Royal College, and has adjudicated music festivals across Western Canada including the Calgary Performing Arts Festival, Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival, Winnipeg Music Festival, Brandon Festival of the Arts, Brandon, Lloydminster Music Festival, Weyburn Music Festival, and the Canada West Classes at the Saskatchewan Provincial Music Festival.
He received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from Boston University, and holds additional degrees in music from McGill University and the University of Calgary. He formerly was a Lecturer in Voice at the University of Regina, and was a Teaching Assistant Professor, Vocal Area Coordinator and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Arkansas, where he received the ‘Outstanding Mentor Award’ three times. He has worked with a wide variety of students who have gone on to win numerous auditions and competitions, continued on to post-secondary & graduate studies, and are pursuing a variety of careers in music.
Read MoreAn instructor and performer since 1995, Chris McNevin has gathered a wealth of teaching knowledge. From beginner to advanced, rock to jazz, students of all ages have learned alongside Chris the most important lessons of all: dedication and follow through… Chris’s long experience and passion for the art are evident in each and every lesson he teaches, and always with a positive attitude. Motivation and feedback and are key factors and constant. Originally fron the East coast, Chris is currently an on-call drummer for an ever growing list of Western Canada’s artists and acts.
Chris McNevin can teach lessons in English and French.
Read MoreAs a distinguished graduate of Berklee College of Music, David Blitt received a world-class education in harmony, ear training, guitar skills as well as arranging and composition. David received Berklee's Professional Music Division Achievement Award for Outstanding Musicianship as well as the Louise McKinney scholarship two years in a row. David also performed as a featured instrumental soloist in Berklee’s prestigious Guitar Night concert and received Berklee's yearly North American tour scholarship. Other notable performances include playing electric guitar for Taiwanese Pop Stars Kevin Lin And Kay Huang at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts for over 1500 people.
An active recording guitarist, David released two original music EPs on iTunes in 2015. David excels in blues rock, instrumental music, rock/metal, pop and acoustic guitar including fingerpicking. In addition to his music degree from Berklee College of Music David has several years of teaching experience and a degree in Biological Science from the University of Calgary.
Read MoreDerek Haussecker is a musician and artist from Calgary, Alberta. He has been playing drums for over 16 years and has experience performing in Canada, Europe and the UK. While mostly self-taught, he spent a year studying jazz and latin drumming with local big band legend John de Waal. Derek has an eclectic knowledge of music and plays a variety of dynamic styles including rock, R&B, funk, pop, afrobeat, bossa nova, country, jazz and experimental music. Derek is a core member of local Indie rock/R&B group, Bad Bodies.
Derek focuses on keeping sessions fun and engaging to ensure students stay excited about drumming and music. With personalized lesson plans that cater to the needs of each student, as every individual learns and approaches material differently. Derek offers useful and creative exercises that enable students of various skill levels to effectively learn in their own time outside of lessons.
Read MoreDylan Cooney is a talented performer and dedicated teacher. Dylan is currently in the BMus program at the University of Calgary with a focus on classical guitar. He has 10 years experience performing various rock, pop, classical, and country genres in and around Calgary. Performances include the University of Calgary, cafes, weddings, and private venues.
Dylan has been teaching for over 3 years and is committed to being a role model to his students. He is passionate about music and guitar with a strong desire to share this love of music with his students. Dylan's teaching style is focused on creating individual lesson plans as well as exploring what has drawn the student to music and the guitar. As students advance, Dylan incorporates instruction in theory, note reading, improvisation, and technique. He works with his students to develop their own personal repertoire of songs. Key to Dylan’s success in teaching is ensuring that practice is fun and personally rewarding for all students.
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 MoreJames has a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Writing & Production from Berklee College of Music and has been teaching and playing professionally for 6 years. James enjoys teaching jazz, rock and indie music.
James teaches students songs they enjoy listening to by ear and through sheet music. He has an array of teaching materials and musical activities that help foster a love of music. James is happy to teach students music for their own personal enjoyment, for bands they play in, or for school.
James teaches guitar for all ages and skill levels as well as beginner and intermediate piano.
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 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 MoreAn extremely talented Malaysian-born musician, Lone has taught guitar, ukulele, bass guitar and drums for over 18 years. He has a wide range of experience with a diverse group of students having taught all styles of music to children as young as three years old, and adults up to 75 years old, in two countries – Malaysia and Canada, as well as internationally through online channels.
Over the years, Lone has developed his own distinctive and versatile style of teaching. His lessons are tailor-made for each individual student’s learning style and experience to keep interest and enthusiasm levels up. Lone also encourages his students to push through their comfort zones and improve their skills through performances and various music activities.
Lone is a passionate musician and a well-loved music teacher. He is dedicated to sharing his love of music and cultivating the musical talents and abilities of his students and music lovers everywhere.
Lone Chu can teach lessons in English, Chinese Mandarin, Chinese Cantonese, and Malay.
Read MoreMarianna has been interested in music since her childhood and started playing the piano at the age of six. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree and eventually with a Master of Music Degree, from the R. Glier Kyiv Academy of Music.
Marianna has experience working with kids and adults with all levels of students (beginner, intermediate, advanced). She has been teaching piano lessons for 6 years.
Marianna adapts lessons to the student's needs, interests, and goals. Also, she combines different types of music to develop all skills and to make your musical pastime more interesting and diverse. Marianna can help you in becoming and developing in a professional way as well as to reveal and improve your piano skills if you play for fun.
Marianna can teach lessons in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Read MoreMeaghan Schulz has a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, and an LLB from the University of Alberta. She is on the roster with Cowtown Opera Company, and is a member of the Calgary Opera Chorus. Meaghan has trained in early childhood music education and she also developed and taught a baby sign language program called Nursery Signs. She is so excited to play and explore at Chinook School of Music with Music Kids!
Read MoreMichael Coburn’s passion and tenacity for piano performance have led him to become an inspiring and in demand educator. Michael has developed his own teaching philosophy that seeks to transform the way his students understand music by focusing on thought first, action second. By allowing students to understand what happens in the brain, Michael is able to evoke more creative and secure performances.
In 2006, Michael was featured as a soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, shortly before receiving his Bachelor’s of Music from the University of Calgary. He furthered his studies at the Académie Musicale Internationale "Barbara Krakauer" in Vaison-la-Romaine, France, and working with internationally acclaimed pianists such as Paul Badura-Skoda and Emanuel Krasovsky.
Michael is currently the Piano Faculty Director at Chinook School of Music, the Artistic Director of Cum Vino Cantus Choir, the Director of Music at Parkdale United Church, and an adjudicator at music festivals across Alberta.
Read MoreMichelle Kyle is a performer and music educator based in Calgary, Alberta. Originally from Manitoba, Michelle has been performing since she was 12 years old, playing a wide variety of venues and styles. Michelle can be seen performing anything from coffee shops to pit bands or jazz ensembles. After being inspired by her band teachers Michelle decided to study jazz guitar at Brandon University where she completed a bachelor of music and education. She has nearly 10 years of experience teaching private lessons from ages 5 to 65 and has taught concert band, jazz band and guitar in classroom settings.
Michelle is passionate about helping others experience the joy and community that music has brought her. Michelle believes that music is for everyone and works hard to adjust every lesson to suit each student's individual goals and interests.
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.
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