FACULTY BIOS
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.
SUSANNE BULLOCK - Clarinet
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 - 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
MARJORIE CULLERNE - 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
CALVIN DYCK - 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
PAUL GITLITZ - Individual and Group Fiddle Instruction
Paul Gitlitz has played music for 51 of his 59 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 Irish, Old Timey (Appalachian), Quebecois, New England, Klezmer, Greek, and more.
Paul has studied at UBC and Cap College, and taken private and group lessons with fiddle luminaries such as Kevin Burke, Rodney Miller, and Pascal Gemme. Paul toured professionally for 19 years and has done extensive recording, composition and production work. Albums he has produced have won numerous awards including a Juno.
Paul has always been attracted to traditional dance music and this is mostly what he composes, teaches and performs. He loves sharing this passion with students and other players and is happy to be part of carrying the tradition forward.
For more information, see his website http://www.glitchless.net
KAREN HOUGH - 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.
MEIJUAN LI - Pipa
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 - Violin
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 - 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.
CHRISTINE McMAHON - 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 - 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.
PATRICK OLMSTED - 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.
KARL RAINER - Suzuki Violin, 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 - 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 - Director - Nanaimo Youth Choir; Voice
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 - Suzuki Flute, Flute, Recorder, Flute Ensemble, Recorder Ensemble
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 - 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 - 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, 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.
