David Blitt, Guitar, Ukulele

As 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.

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Derek Haussecker, Drums

Derek 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.

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Dominic Man, Violin, Music Theory

With over 14 years of violin teaching experience, Dominic is a dedicated and passionate educator who enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels. His teaching approach is highly adaptable, offering customized lesson plans that cater to individual learning styles and goals. Whether guiding young beginners or advanced players preparing for ABRSM exams, Dominic provides patient and engaging instruction that fosters both technical excellence and a love for music.

Originally from Hong Kong, Dominic was a core committee member and violinist with the Hong Kong Community Philharmonic Orchestra and a first violinist with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Orchestra. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and Culture (Music) from The Education University of Hong Kong and further refined his skills under the mentorship of Eduardo Zuber and Gian Paolo Peloso. In addition to his extensive private teaching experience, he has worked with various schools and music centers, leading both one-on-one and group classes. Many of his students have achieved Merit and Distinction in their ABRSM exams.

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Dylan Cooney, Guitar, Ukulele

Dylan 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.

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Elaine Liang, Piano, Theory

Elaine 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.

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Eva Pospisilova, Piano

Eva 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.

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Gillian Newburn, Flute

Gillian has been playing the flute for over 18 years. She began her studies at the Mount Royal Conservatory, and then completed a degree in flute performance at the University of Victoria. Gillian has had the pleasure of playing for Emmanuel Pahud, Lorna McGhee, William Bennett, Jim Walker, Michael Hasel, and many others over the course of her studies, and is proud to have played with numerous organizations, including the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Wind Symphony, Front Row Centre Players, the Painted Fish Performing Arts Society, the Meridiem Wind Ensemble, and the Cowichan Consort Orchestra. 

As a flute teacher, Gillian's compassionate and patient approach fosters a welcoming environment for students of all ages to learn and grow. A lifelong student herself, Gillian currently studies with Lauren Eselson, and though she has a strong passion for classical repertoire and musical theatre, she loves working with students in whatever genre they are interested in, whether that be pop, jazz, movie tunes, or otherwise. 

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Gringo Villarin, Piano

Gringo 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.

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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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Ivanna Bodnarchuk, Piano

Ivanna 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.

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James Taylor, Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, Theory

James 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.

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Jennifer Frazer, Violin, Piano

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.

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Joseph Fernando, Piano, Accordion

Joseph 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.

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John Glanville, Drums

John Glanville is a drummer and educator from Calgary, Alberta. He uses his skills as a musical communicator on the drum set to help inspire and unify the musicians around him. John is a resourceful musician that thrives in small jazz ensembles, as well as other musical situations such as big bands, pop bands, and party bands. He has performed with Calgary musicians and ensembles such as, Shane Statz, Pat Belliveau, Johnny Summers, and the Prime Time Big. He has performed at notable Calgary venues and events such as the Ironwood, the Jack Singer Concert Hall, and the JazzYYC International Jazz Festival. John is also an active educator in Calgary, offering private lessons as well as group lessons and clinics. Currently studying at Ambrose University, he will be graduating with an accredited Bachelor of Music degree in May of 2025. With Tyler Hornby as his mentor, John is well-trained in incorporating musical styles such as jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, funk, and rock into his playing. John also attended the Ambrose Drum Camp in the summer of 2024, where he spent a week attending workshops hosted by the legendary drum set educator John Riley.

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Julian Iafelice, Piano, Theory, Drums

At age six, Julian Iafelice began piano lessons at Chinook School of Music, and started lessons on the drumkit shortly after. Julian holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition and a Master of Arts in Music Theory from the University of Calgary. He also enjoys performing a variety of genres including classical and pop, in both live and recorded settings. His teaching style centers around providing an engaging environment for the student, as he believes intrinsic motivation is an important factor when learning to play a musical instrument.

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Juliana Jorge, Piano

Juliana 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.

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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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Kathleen van Mourik, Piano

Alberta-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.

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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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Kevin Wong, Piano, Theory

Kevin 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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