Angela Cavar, Piano, Voice

Angela 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.

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Anna Mendham, Voice

Anna received her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Maryland, where she taught undergraduate level voice courses. Since then, Anna has maintained a busy teaching schedule teaching private voice, music theory, musical theatre, choir and early childhood music classes. Anna’s students have gone on to achieve first class honours in RCM examinations, participate in multiple competitions and pursue post secondary degrees in music.

Anna Mendham is an established voice teacher, early childhood music educator and professional opera singer. As a soloist Anna has performed in the United States and Canada with companies such as Cowtown Opera Company, and the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, Anna made her debut with the Calgary Concert Opera at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary. As an ensemble singer, she has performed with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach and the National Symphony Orchestra in D.C. Over the last year, Anna has become most passionate about performing concerts outside of retirement homes and outdoors in her community

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Bethany Yon, Voice

Bethany has been enamored with the power, beauty and sense of connection of the human voice since childhood and pursued this fascination though the study of classical singing with a Bachelor of Music in Voice, a Master of Music in Performance & Literature and advanced work-study programs throughout Canada and in Europe. As a performer in the musical community here at home, she has worked with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Arts Orchestra, the Calgary Civic Symphony, the Calgary Concert Opera Company, Cowtown Opera, Mercury Opera and the Calgary Opera Chorus as well as Classical Revolution and the Calgary Pro Arts Society. From 2017 to 2020 Bethany additionally held the title of Executive Director for Cowtown Opera Company.

Bethany has thorough experience teaching voice to students aged 5 to adult having served as the voice faculty for the Ambrose University Music Studio as well as the private vocal coach for the Calgary Girls Choir and having taught one-on-one lessons for a decade. In addition to her education and experience in the classical realm, Bethany is also well versed in the vocal genres of Musical Theatre, Pop and Folk. She strongly believes that a successful singer is a well-rounded one and encourages the study of diverse genres, styles and languages, teaching classically based technique that allows for success in all styles, and helps students build vocal skills, performance confidence and appreciation, passion and knowledge of the art of singing, all the while having fun. Above all, Bethany finds great joy in helping students feel empowered and connect to themselves and their communities through music.

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Catherine James Tetz, Voice, Piano

Catherine 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.

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Chris MacRae, Voice

Tenor 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.

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Heather Henderson, Voice

Heather Henderson B.Mus, M.Mus, Graduate Diploma in Voice Performance

Heather Henderson has been a teacher, soloist, performance coach/director, choral director and clinician, in the Southern Alberta Region for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a Master of Music degree from the University of Houston and a Graduate Diploma from the Saint Louis Conservatory of Music. She studied voice with W. Stephen Smith, John Glen Paton, Carol Ann Hill, Philip May, Elaine Case, Selena James and vocal pedagogy with Barbara M. Doscher. Performance coaching with preeminent vocal coaches Martin Isepp, Martin Katz, Richard Boldrey and Nico Castel and further studies in Acting, Dance, Alexander Technique, Languages and Martial Arts.

A Lyric soprano, she performed with St. Louis Opera Theatre, Opera East, Boulder Festival, Calgary Opera, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Banff Festival, Folks Opera, Gift of Music Recital Series, Storybook Theatre, Stampede Stage and Calgary Theatre Singers. She was a coach/director for Cow Town Opera Summer Academy for several years and a past facilitator and current faculty for the Mount Royal Vocal Academy. She is an active member of the Calgary NATS Chapter (National Association Teachers of Singing) and a busy adjudicator at music festivals across Canada.

Her students receive positive and experienced preparation for local music festivals, and examinations at all levels, (Royal Conservatory of Music, Conservatory Canada and the London College of Music) as well as auditioning for music schools and theatre companies. Her students have attained several gold medals for their examinations and have attended top schools including Mannes School of Music, Berklee School of Music, Dalhousie, Western University, Randolph College and the University of Toronto. “I am dedicated to helping singers of all ages and levels achieve their goals by building a strong understanding and confidence in their technique, musicianship and interpretation to meet the challenge of performing with authenticity, vitality and creativity”.

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Kassandra Schantz, Voice, Music Kids

Kassandra Schantz believes anyone can sing as long as they have passion and perseverance. She grew up in Westlock, AB and from a young age performed in many community theatre productions. Her love of opera led her to Victoria where she completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Victoria under the guidance of Benjamin Butterfield, and then her Masters of Music at the University of Ottawa under the guidance of Christiane Riel. As a budding mezzo-soprano, she has performed in a number of oratorios and operas, most recently as Dorabella in the University of Ottawa’s production of Cosi fan Tutte. Now she has returned to Alberta and is eager to share her passion, knowledge, and experience.

Kassandra creates an open and safe space to explore your voice and tailors lessons to suit your specific goals and needs as they arise, whether you’re an absolute beginner, or preparing for the audition process. You will receive a solid foundation in the basics of singing, beginning with a focus on breath support, proper onset (when the vocal cords come together to produce sound), vowel formation, production of resonance, and the overall anatomy of the vocal mechanism. You will learn to release tension and bad habits, and replace them with healthy techniques. Whatever genre you are pursuing Kassandra will help strengthen your performance skills including stage presence and storytelling. Her ultimate goal is to reveal to you your own unique and pure voice, and to give you the tools to feel confident, and even fall in love with that voice. This process is both fun and profound.

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Katie Filson-Lau, Voice, Piano

Katie 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.

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Lauren Tivadar, Music Kids

Lauren has a deep passion for music, having started taking lessons at a young age and eventually entering the Performing Visual Arts Program at Central Memorial High School. Through this program, she discovered her love of jazz music, gained a deeper understanding of theory and was introduced to various genres of music. Following high school, Lauren pursued a bachelor's degree in Vocal Jazz Performance from Capilano University.

With over five years of experience teaching piano and singing, Lauren loves exploring different genres of music with her students while helping them to hone their skills. In her lessons, she focuses on technique and theory and how to apply them to songs that her students know and love.

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Maren McLean-Persaud, Piano, Voice, Music Kids, Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba,

Born and raised on Canada’s East Coast, Maren McLean Persaud was trained in piano, voice and euphonium from a young age. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Mount Allison University and a Masters Degree from the University of Toronto. She has worked as a collaborative pianist with many ensembles and musicians across the country, has extensive performance experience as a soloist and has competed at the national level. Maren also works professionally with children and youth in not-for-profit organizations and is passionate about the creation of programs and opportunities that nurture the healthy development and unique gifts of young people.

Maren works to pass on a deep love of music to those she teaches. In addition to helping her students grow into well trained musicians with a sense of professionalism and skill, she wants them to enjoy what they are doing while discovering their own interests, talents and passions.

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Meaghan Schulz, Voice, Piano

Meaghan 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!

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Sarah Nearing, Beginner Piano, Voice, Group Ukulele

Sarah is an actor, singer, and emerging playwright born and raised here in Calgary. She is a passionate teacher and artist who strives to inspire compassion and joy through her work in opera, theatre, and even TV (if you’re a fan of The Last of Us, you may have spotted her at the very beginning of Episode 5)! She was recently nominated for a CAT Award for her performance as Mercutio in Full Circle Theatre’s Riverona. Other recent performance credits include Calgary Opera’s Arias and Ales (soloist), as well as The Elixir of Love, The Marriage of Figaro, Macbeth, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (Canadian Premiere), and Carmen with Calgary Opera’s Chorus. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in both Theatre and Music from Dalhousie University, and is so excited to begin her second year teaching at Chinook School of Music!

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Shannon (Magee) Roy, Piano, Voice

Shannon (Magee) Roy combines both creativity and skill in the lessons she teaches. She has performance training from the Royal Conservatory of Music and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Ambrose University. Shannon has performed all over the world and she performs locally and nationally with her duo Georgia Sound, who have released two CDs. Shannon believes that every one of her students is unique and requires a unique teaching style. She wishes to instil in all of her students that music is about having fun, being creative, and loving what you are doing.

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Susan Leontaridis, Voice

Susan Leontaridis graduated, with a Bachelor of Music, from McGill University in 2001.

Her singing career has taken her across Canada and to the international stage.

She has performed in opera, light opera, musical theatre, and in various solo and collaborative recitals.

Some of her past roles include: Linfea in the McGill Opera rendition of La Calisto, Eurydice in Jacopo Peri’s Eurydice, Elsie Maynard in Yeomen of the Guard, and Tessa The Gondoliers. Susan also enjoyed 3 rewarding seasons with Calgary’s own Cowtown Opera Company and performed 3 summers with the cast of the Gros Morne Summer Music festival.

Susan has been a vocal coach for Cantare Children’s Choir, Calgary Actor’s Studio and for Storybook Theatre’s Ellie Tim’s Project and their most recent Student Summer Intensive Program.

This will be Susan’s 13th year as a private vocal instructor at Chinook School of Music! She is both creator and coach for the the Indie Performance Program at CSM.

Susan lives in Calgary with her husband Leon and their 4 beautiful daughters.

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