NICOLE ARENDT, Kindermusik, Suzuki Piano
Nicole Arendt is a licensed Kindermusik educator and a Suzuki piano teacher. She received her Kindermusik training in Victoria and Edmonton and her Suzuki training in Pittsburgh. Nicole also has a Bachelor of Music (University of Alberta) and a Master of Music (University of Victoria) in percussion performance. She has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Victoria Symphony, and presently plays with the Vancouver Island and Okanagan Symphony Orchestras. Nicole also performs as a recitalist and a chamber musician and has performed concerti with the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra and the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a founding member of the Tan Trio along with Chris Helman (saxophone) and Trish Clair Peck (violin).
Nicole is passionate about sharing her love of music with others and has taught piano, percussion, and Kindermusik extensively in Alberta and British Columbia. To learn more about Kindermusik, visit www.kindermusik.com and http://kindermusiknanaimo.blogspot.com.
KATY BOWEN-ROBERTS
Katy Bowen-Roberts hails from Courtenay. She graduated from UBC in Opera Performance and from there moved to London, England, to pursue her career as a singer. Katy has taught private voice in BC and in London. She has worked as a vocal coach for several of London’s StageCoach schools where she focused on the musical theatre genre. A selection of her performance credits include Anna in ‘The King and I’ (Port Theatre), Musetta in La Boheme (Czech Republic), Lauretta in Gianni Schicci (London), Yum Yum in The Mikado (Ubetcha! Promotions) and Nancy in Oliver. While living in England, for 3 consecutive years, Katy joined a cast of 100 in a Christmas show with a run of 76 performances. This contract was the inspiration for her own creation, the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular. Katy premiered this show at the Cedar Community Hall in December 2007 and plans are well underway with the 2008 production; a new show and new experience! In September 2008 Katy is producing two events for the ‘Port Theatre 10-year-anniversary celebrations’ where she will be welcoming back many of the region’s most talented professionals.
SUSAN BULLOCK
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Victoria BC, Susan has a Masters of Music in Performance from UVic on clarinet. She has played professionally and taught woodwinds and chamber music to all ages of students throughout North America and Australia, for the past 25 years. From 1991 to 1997 Susan lived in Brisbane, Australia where she was Head of Woodwinds at Southern Cross College and director of the Moonlight Musical Theatre Company. She also played principal clarinet in Brisbane Sinfonia Orchestra and clarinet in the Mythos Woodwind Quintet. Susan has been the clarinettist in the Vancouver Wind Trio since 1998 and principal clarinettist with the Vancouver Island Symphony since 2003. She teaches at her private studio in her home as well as being on faculty with the Nanaimo Conservatory.
JOHN CAPON — B. Music, Trombone
John received his music degree from the University of British Columbia. He has a wide variety of performance experience both in classical and jazz music. Among the orchestras and groups for which he has played are the Canadian Opera, the National Ballet Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Vancouver Island Symphony, Brass Connection and the John Capon Trio.
John is also a skilled composer and arranger, the musical director of the Malaspina Chamber Choir and an experienced teacher at both the Conservatory and at Malaspina University-College.
JENNIFER CLUFF — Flute
Jennifer Cluff holds a Bachelor's degree in Flute Performance from The University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, is an Associate in Performance with The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto (A.R.C.T.) as well as Principal Flute of The Vancouver Island Symphony from 1995 to 2006.
Jennifer has appeared on numerous occasions as a soloist with the Vancouver Island Symphony, and performs frequently in recital in Nanaimo, Victoria and other parts of Vancouver Island as a chamber musician and as a guest artist of other orchestras and chamber ensembles. Jennifer is a popular Woodwind Adjudicator at The Pacific Northwest Music Festival, and has been the flute instructor for Malaspina University College and The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music since 1993.
Jennifer teaches advanced flutists, from grade 6 RCM to University level. Dedicated beginners and novice flutists are also welcome.
Website for flute information: www.jennifercluff.com
BILL COSTIN — B. A. Education, Piano
Performer, teacher, composer, musical director; Bill is a very busy musician. He received his Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia after studying music at North Texas State University where he was on the Dean's Honour Roll and at Malaspina University-College Jazz Program.
Bill's piano performances include shows such as Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson at the Arts Club in Vancouver and the Music Man for the Nanaimo Theatre Group at the Port Theatre. Bill also teaches at Malaspina University-College, the Vancouver Jewish Community Centre and privately in Vancouver and Coquitlam.
For more information see: www.billcostin.com
MARJORIE CULLERNE — M. Music, Violin
Marjorie Cullerne has been playing the violin since she was six years old, and has lived on Vancouver Island since 1975. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music from UBC and a Master of Arts from Ohio State University (with majors in Music History and Violin from both universities). Marjorie has been a core violinist in the Vancouver Island Symphony since its inception in 1995, and also enjoys playing in countless other music ensembles; Baroque, Classical, Celtic, Fiddle and Gypsy. She always welcomes the opportunity to share her love of music with school children - previously as first violinist in the Nanaimo Conservatory String Quartet and presently for the Vancouver Island Symphony's 'Send a Musician to School Program'.
Marjorie has been performing and teaching for the Nanaimo Conservatory since the late 1970's. She presently maintains a 'satellite NCM studio' - her home in Parksville. Her own violin teaching style reflects her eclectic experiences studying with many violin teachers (notably Paule Prefontaine, Taras Gabora, and Almita and Roland Vamos).
Before moving to Vancouver Island, Marjorie taught Suzuki Violin at the Vancouver Academy of Music for four years. Many people remember her Nanaimo Conservatory music ensemble called the 'Nanaimo Fiddle Kids' which thrived in the 1980's and early '90's. Marjorie finally started a violin group class again this year - they performed this past August as a fiddle group at Craig Heritage Park and Festival in Parksville.
Marjorie continues to do music research - see www.haydnwoodmusic.com.
Marjorie's web site: www.marjoriecullerne.com
DAWN-MARIE DOWLING — Harp
Dawn-Marie studied harp at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, the University of Alberta and the Alberta College Conservatory of Music. She performs both on the piano and the harp and has played in several theatre productions in Duncan and in Edmonton.
CALVIN DYCK — D.M.A., Violin
Calvin Dyck started music on the accordion at age 5 and the violin at age 8. Despite a college aptitude test recommending a career as a "tug-boat captain", Calvin went on to get his doctorate in violin from the University of Southern California.
He is in demand as a violin teacher and adjudicator, and performs around the world with his interactive shows "The Golden Violin" and "Moscow to Madrid". His eclectic career has taken him to surprising places — from playing in Cuba to dog sledding in Whitehorse. Currently Concertmaster of the Vancouver Island Symphony, he also free lances with North Shore Sinfonia, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Calvin has recorded 3 CDs for MCC Supportive care services Meditation, This Shining Night, and One Small Child. His Fourth cd "The Dancing Violin" will be released in November, 2006
For more information see: www.calvindyck.com
KIMBERLEY GARLAND — B. Music, Trumpet
A talented and experienced musician and teacher, Kimberley Garland received her Bachelor of Music degree at Queen's University. She studied the trumpet, french horn, and the piano. She has performed with orchestras such as the Kingston Symphony, the Mississauga Symphony, as well as for the CBC, radio, television, and in various jazz festivals across Canada. Kimberley has taught both the trumpet and the french horn in Ontario and British Columbia as a private teacher, with the Burlington Centre of the Arts, Queen's University, and the Malaspina University-College Jazz program.
PAUL GITLITZ — Beginner Fiddle Groups
Paul Gitlitz has played music for 50 of his 57 years. Paul plays several stringed instruments including Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, and Tenor Banjo. His musical explorations have taken him to many styles of music including African, West Indian, East Indian, Greek, Klezmer, Irish, Old Timey Appalachian, Quebecois, and more.
He has studied at UBC and Cap College, taken private and group lessons. Paul has toured professional for 19 years and done extensive recording, composition and production work. Albums he has produced have won numerous awards including a Juno.
His has always been attracted to dance music and this is mostly what he composes, teaches and performs.
KAREN HOUGH — M. Music, French Horn
Karen, fourth generation born in Nanaimo, studied horn with Richard Ely at the University of Victoria. She moved to Toronto and enrolled in the Orchestral Training Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Performance and an Artist's Diploma from Yale University.
She spent a year as artist in residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts. She was principal horn in the Toronto Sinfonietta as well as the North York Symphony. Karen has performed with various orchestras in and around Toronto including Orchestra London, the Hamilton Philharmonic, Windsor Symphony, Niagara Symphony, Mississauga Sinfonia, Phantom of the Opera and Music Umbrella. She has also played with the Victoria Symphony and is currently playing with the Okanagan Symphony. Summer festivals have included Kent/Blossom, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, Boris Brott Summer Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival.
PAULA KIFFNER — M. Music, cello
Cellist Paula Kiffner earned music performance degrees from Ohio State University and Peabody Conservatory. While at Peabody she was principal cellist of the Annapolis Symphony and a member of the Washington Theatre Chamber Players, both under the artistic direction of Leon Fleisher. Her teachers were Harvey Shapiro, Laurence Lesser and Stephen Kates.
A former member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Kiffner has also performed as guest principal cellist of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and appears frequently as a recitalist and concerto soloist throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her performances are heard on CBC Radio (Canada) and KING FM (Seattle).
Ms. Kiffner also works with youth orchestras in Canada and the US, and has served as guest artist and teacher at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. She is a faculty member of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Nanaimo Conservatory.
GAIL LAUDADIO — B. Music, Bassoon
Gail attended the University of Victoria where she received her Bachelor degree in bassoon performance. She has played with orchestras such as the Victoria Youth Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony, the Cowichan Consort and the Vancouver Island Symphony. Gail is an experienced teacher and a member of the Nanaimo Conservatory Woodwind Ensemble.
MEIJUAN LI
Meijuan has more than 24 years of experience playing and performing pipa. She has received numerous awards and participated in both provincial and national competitions in China. She won first prize in Anhui province and finished third in the National Pipa Competition in China. Meijuan teachs pipa to students from beginners to advanced.
JAMES MARK
James was born and raised on the West Coast of Canada and has been studying music since the age of four. While in high school James performed with many renowned acts including Ashley MacIsaac, Spirit of the West and also recorded an album with The Irish Rovers. James did his undergraduate degree at York University in Toronto and Graduated in June 2002 earning an honors BFA cum laude. He was also presented with an award for outstanding achievement in the Fine Arts. James completed his Masters degree in performance and composition at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) where he went on to become a faculty member teaching taught theory and musicianship. In May of 2005, James moved back to his hometown of Nanaimo in western Canada. He has been performing frequently with the Vancouver Island Symphony as well as composing for film and television. Recently James has been hired as violin performance faculty at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music as well as sessional faculty at Malaspina University-College.
TERESA MARUSARZ-BOREK — M. Music, AVCM, Piano, Theory
Teresa holds a Master of Music degree in Piano, Theory and Composition from K.Szymanowski Academy of Music in Poland where she studied under the world-renowned composers K. Penderecki and Henryk M. Gorecki. After moving to Canada, she studied at the Victoria Conservatory of Music to obtain a Teaching Degree with Winifred Scott Wood and Dr. Robin Wood. In Poland Teresa was a piano coach and accompanist at the Silesian Opera House and a member of the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra and later a Programme Director for the Orchestra.
A teacher since 1978, Teresa is a member of the Registered Music Teachers Association and the F.Chopin Society. A piano instructor and accompanist at Vancouver Island University, she also teaches piano and theory to intermediate and advanced students at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music and in her private studio.
MIKE McDONALD — Double Bass
Mike studied at the University of Victoria and at the Vancouver Community College (Jazz Program). He studied classical double bass under David Brown and John Kennedy, jazz bass with Don Thompson and Dave Holland and jazz improvisation with Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie and Lee Konitz.
Mike was a founding member of the Argyle Quartet, and has performed with such jazz notables as Fraser MacPherson, Campbell Ryga and Hugh Fraser as well as playing double bass with the Vancouver Island Symphony for since 1995.
CHRISTINE McMAHON — M. Music, Voice
Christine McMahon, soprano, is a professional singer and voice teacher with career experience on both the Canadian and German stage. In addition to her nineteen years experience teaching private voice lessons, Christine is also a popular workshop leader, choir director, and certified Kripalu Yoga teacher. Her work deals with body mind awareness and relaxation as the first step to freeing and centring one's natural voice.
Christine is a member of the British Columbia Registered Music Teachers' Association (BCRMTA), the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and operates the 'Voice Alive' music studio in Nanaimo. She is also a faculty member of the Pacific Vocal Institute summer program in Qualicum.
Ms. McMahon's qualifications include a B. A. from Brandon University; a Licentiate of Music Degree from McGill University; a Masters in Voice Performance from the Nordwestdeutsche Musikakademie in Detmold, Germany; and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto.
Her pedagogical training encompasses a Canada Council Grant for the National Voice Intensive with David Smukler, Simon Fraser University in 1986; studies at the Institute of Performance Pedagogy, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Ohio, with Professor. Richard Miller in 1989; the VoiceCare Network in Minneapolis, Minnesota, under Dr. Leon Thurman in 1990; and the Choral Music Educators (CME) West Coast Canada Workshop in 1999. She attended week-long BCCF Choral ConductingWorkshops in Vancouver in 2002/2003, as well as the 2004 Richard Miller Vocal Performance and Pedagogy Institute in Lethbridge, Alta.
BRENDAN MILLBANK — Cello
Brendan Millbank has studied and performed cello for over twenty years, receiving his formal training abroad while attending music schools in countries such as Great Britain, Holland, and the United States. In addition to his formal training, Brendan has participated in numerous string programs including the Indiana String Academy, The Colbourn School of Music, and the Banff Centre for the Arts, and has been involved in master classes with among others, Yo-Yo Ma, Janos Stalker, and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi.
Having studied with an assortment of internationally acclaimed teachers, including Joan Dickson from the Royal Academy of Music, Ronald Leonard of USC, Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni of UVIC and Dmitri Ferschtman of the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam, Brendan brings a wealth of knowledge to his students. His teaching encompass basic technique, posture, and playing for beginners, as well as tuition in theory, musicality, and performance, for intermediate to more advanced talents.
LARRY MILLER — M. Music, Saxophone
Larry graduated with an Honours degree in Music from York University, Toronto and received an Associate of Music Diploma from Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo. He also studied at the University of Victoria receiving a Bachelor of Education and a Masters in Performance/Composition.
A successful composer and performer, Larry has a number of CDs to his credit. He leads his own group which performs throughout Western Canada. Larry is a clinician and teacher for both Malaspina University-College and the Conservatory.
PAUL O'BRIEN
Paul O'Brien moved to Victoria from the UK in 2004. He has been playing Celtic music professionally for over 25 years and has recorded over 20 albums. Paul teaches Bodhran (Irish drum); exploring the rhythms of Celtic music through the stick and the goat skin and Celtic style guitar, both fingerstyle and pick, accompaniment and melody. Paul is a professional songwriter and singer and can coach aspiring writers and singers.
Paul O'Brien moved to Victoria from the UK in 2004. He has been playing Celtic music professionally for over 25 years and has recorded on over 20 albums.
PATRICK OLMSTED — Acoustic Guitar
Patrick Olmsted lives on Gabriola Island where he pursues his craft as a luthier and gives music instruction and ensemble direction to teenagers. He has performed throughout Western Canada and the United States as a soloist and with many highly regarded musicians from all over the world.
Patrick has extensive teaching experience both in Alberta and British Columbia.
PETER ORME — Pipe Organ
Born and raised in England, Peter Orme embarked on a love affair in his teens with liturgical music that led him eventually to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge as organ scholar and thence to London’s Royal Academy of Music. Moving to Canada in 1969, he was successively Director of Music at Ridley College and First United Church in St. Catharines, Ontario. After nearly thirty years as an Anglican priest, the last thirteen of which he spent at St. Anne’s, Toronto, he took an early retirement in 2005 in order to return to his first love, church music, and has been Director of Music at St. Paul’s, Nanaimo since November of that year. Over the years he has played numerous concerts as soloist and accompanist in England, Canada, the United States, and Bermuda. In the past three years he has appeared on several occasions as harpsichordist and organist with various instrumental and choral groups in the Nanaimo area. Peter is an M.A. of Cambridge University, holds an M.Div. from Trinity College, Toronto, is a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
TRISH CLAIR PECK — B Music, Violin
Trish studied violin performance with Gwen Thompson, Bob Skelton and Paul Kling, viola with Yaroslav Karlovsky, and chamber music under the guidance of renowned cellists Tom Weibe and Zdenek Konicek. She is currently completing a Master's degree in Musicology.
As an orchestral player Trish has performed with the International Symphony (Sarnia and Port Huron), and the University of Western Ontario Chamber Orchestra, the London Fanshawe Chorus, the Arcady Baroque Ensemble.
Since returning to Vancouver Island in 2004, she has been a founding member of the Celtic Group Hollow Promise, who were main stage performers at the 2005 Island MusicFest.
ART PETRIE — B.A., Suzuki Violin, violin
Art is a specialist in the Suzuki Violin Method of teaching. He and his family recently moved to Nanaimo from Ontario where he taught privately and for the Brant Suzuki String School.
Art also performed for the Brantford Symphony. He is now a member of the Vancouver Island Symphony and the Nanaimo Conservatory String Quartet.
MABEL PETRIE — Suzuki Piano
Mabel received her training as a Suzuki Music teacher at Queens University and the University of Wisconsin. A student of the Royal Conservatory of Music (piano) she also studied music, music education and Early Childhood Education receiving a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta.
Mabel has many years of teaching experience with both kindergarten age students and students of piano.
KARL RAINER — B.A., B. Ed. Suzuki Violin, Viola
Karl studied violin with Karoly Sziladi and Joseph Berljawski. He is currently the Music Director and concertmaster of the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra, and was a founding member of the Waterloo Chamber Players. His orchestral experience includes the KW Chamber Orchestra, the Guelph Chamber Orchestra and the Waterloo Chamber Players among many others, and he has also performed in many musicals. His concert chamber music appearances include the Leith String Quartet and the Nero String Quartet, among others.
Since moving to Nanaimo in 2005, Karl has completed a Bachelor of Education degree from Vancouver Island University and acquired certification as a Suzuki violin teacher.
MARILYN RUMMEL - Celtic Harp
Marilyn Rummel teaches lever harp to both children and adults at the Conservatory. Students study traditional celtic styles of harping, classical techniques and music, and traditional tunes from around the world. She has played harp for 25 years, and has studied with some of the finest harpists on the continent and in South America. Exams may be taken up to the gr. 9 level. Marilyn has taught band and choir at the elementary and secondary level, and is also a teacher of a program of music for children based on the work of Zoltan Kodaly and Mary Helen Richards, called "Education Through Music". She also leads group classes for harps for both kids and adults. It's not too late to learn - and it's never too early to begin - to play this magical instrument.
MARIAN SMITH — A. Music, Director - Nanaimo Youth Choir
Since the age of four, Marian Smith has pursued a life in music. She came to Nanaimo in 1991 from Calgary where she had been professionally involved for more than twenty years as an accompanist of choirs who toured and competed in many international festivals. She also taught piano and had positions as an organist and choir director.
In 1992 in Nanaimo, she founded the Nanaimo Youth Choir program as part of the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. Since then she has seen it grow and receive awards and invitations to many events on the Island and throughout BC and Alberta. Besides teaching voice and conducting a community choir for adults, Marian is also a clinician for children's choir events. Her choirs and students have been consistent winners in local festivals and have been recommended to compete in the BC Festival of the Arts.
In addition to the above, Marian also works as an organist and an accompanist by request.
CINDY SPEELMAN — B. Music, flute
B. Mus. University of Lethbridge. A.V.C.M. teacher training. Experienced teaching all skill levels, beginner to advanced and all ages on flute. Teaching beginner recorder and fife. Director Nanaimo Conservatory flute ensembles, recorder/fife ensemble. Performed in symphony orchestras, musicals, as a soloist, and in chamber and ensemble groups.
ANNE TANOD
—B.A., P.G.C.E., M.Ed. Suzuki Piano, Headstart Suzuki, RCM Theory Rudiments
Anne has taught Suzuki piano students from age three to adult in private, group and workshop settings. She has completed all levels of Suzuki piano teacher-training and has been the director of three Suzuki music schools in Hamilton and Ottawa. As well, Anne has experience in preschool, school and college settings and specializes in teaching children with special needs.
She also teaches RCM theory rudiments courses and is currently completing Music Theory: The Bare Essentials, a textbook specifically geared towards RCM exams.
VERONICA WAGNER — Viola & Violin
An extremely experienced performer and teacher, Veronica studied at McGill University, Montreal, the University of Washington, Seattle as well as with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
A member of the Victoria Symphony for three years, she then moved on to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra where she played for many years. Veronica has played with a number of orchestras across Canada including the Banff School of Fine Arts Faculty Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra, the Kingston Symphony and the Vancouver Island Symphony. She is a member of the Nanaimo Conservatory String Quartet.
A teacher since 1962 Veronica includes Kwantlen University College, Vancouver Community Music School and Capilano College among the many institutions for which she has taught.
PIPPA WILLIAMS — B. Music, Oboe & Piano
Pippa received her music degree from the University of Toronto and her A.R.C.T. from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto.
A teacher of both the piano and the oboe, she is a member of the BC Music Teacher's Association. Pippa has performed with many orchestras across Canada and is currently a member of the Vancouver Island Symphony.
HANNAH WILSON — Suzuki Cello
Hannah's musical training began in Toronto at the age of 4 when her parents enrolled her in Suzuki cello lessons with Mary Starr. Upon graduation of Suzuki cello, she went on to study RCM cello with Olga Van Kranendonk, and has since studied with Clare Carberry, Nancy Wharton, Paul Pulford, and Hector Vasquez. Hannah's performance past includes concertizing with the York Symphony, Hart House Orchestra, Waterloo Chamber Players, and Wilfrid Laurier University Orchestra. At the present time, Hannah spends her cello time teaching, playing chamber music for fun, and performing with the Sonora String Quartet along with fellow Conservatory faculty or as Principal Cellist of the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra. She has now brought her Suzuki training full circle by undertaking Suzuki pedagogical studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.
