Our Team

Colleen Lindenbach

M&P Founder; Group Music – The Safari, TMC®, Music Adventures; Private Piano, Private Voice

I have been teaching music to students of all ages for over 30 years now! I have a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Univ. of Regina and spent 20 years teaching band, choir, and general music classes to K – gr. 12  students in Saskatchewan and Alberta. I have also worked as a musical director for theatre productions, a band clinician, a piano accompanist, and a choral director. In 2011 I opened my music studio “Music and Play”, specializing in group music classes, in west Calgary and I am happy to watch it grow each year. My philosophy that quality comes first and fun is mandatory, currently brings the joy of music and the performing arts to over 700 students per year.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Music Education – University of Regina
⇒ Grade 9 Piano & corequisites – Royal Conservatory of Music
⇒ Certified Instructor – Keyboard Adventures: The Safari
⇒ Music Pups Certified
⇒ MYCC (MYC certified)

Baylie Adams

Group Music, ECE, Private PreSchool Piano, Private Saxophone; Administration

Baylie is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia’s music program majoring in orchestral performance. Her research focused on French and American music history and saxophone repertoire from western classical to contemporary music. In recent years she has performed and lectured at the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 9 conferences and curated music for CiTR & Discorder. She hosts a radio show on CiTR 101.9FM, Saxophone a l’apres midi which was recently runner up for the NCRA Community Radio in Broadcast and Online awards in the Music category: Classical Century.

As a performer she has played saxophone for concerts with The Weather Station, Moein, Vancouver Art Gallery’s Fashion Fictions, and as a soloist for the UBC Symphonic Orchestra’s performance of Romeo and Juliet. While in Vancouver, she also taught orchestral music with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and studio classes in pop songwriting and music production. With a passion for music curation, Baylie loves encouraging students to show their creativity through performance practice and finding repertoire. She also enjoys working as a collaborative partner as well having proficiency in piano accompaniment and guitar.

Qualifications
⇒ Master of Music, Orchestral Performance – University of British Columbia
⇒ Bachelor of Music, Performance with a minor in Philosophy – University of Victoria

See Baylie in action:
– Baylie Adams Sonata in C-Sharp III. Fileuse, Fernande Decruck
– In Appreciation of William Grant Still; A Virtual Benefit Concert
– William Grant Still Presentation: Lecture for NASA

Taryn Bergmann

Registrar/Administrator

Taryn has spent the last four years in accounting and administration and brings a strong focus on operational excellence to the M&P team. On the other side of life, Taryn has a passion for working with people and volunteers with several children’s and teen groups on a regular basis.  She looks forward to getting to know and working with everyone at M&P.

Sinclair Chiem

Private Piano

Sinclair was raised in a music-oriented family. His father played classical guitar and his two sisters learned the piano. Growing up, Sinclair participated in many performances and festivals including the APTA and Kiwanis Festivals. Sinclair started his Royal Conservatory of music journey at the age of only five and continued until he completed his ARCT of Piano Performance. Now, Sinclair enjoys teaching and developing the next generation of students.

As an educator, Sinclair has been teaching piano for over eight years and seeks to inspire students of all ages, and skill levels, to learn to love music and the piano as much as he does. One of his greatest joys of teaching is seeing students grow in their abilities and talents. He believes that every student is unique and works to tailor his lessons and methods to best fit each student’s individual learning style.

Sinclair is looking forward to another year of inspiring the students at Music & Play and helping them find the joy of making music!

Qualifications
⇒ The Associate Diploma of The Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT) – Piano Performance
⇒ ARCT History & Harmony – Royal Conservatory of Music
⇒ Bachelor of Arts (Sociology, minor Psychology), University of Calgary

Yuri Choi

Private Piano

With a rich heritage of music enthusiasts in my family, I have been fortunate to grow up in a music-loving family that cultivated my passion from a young age. Guided by my mother, a piano teacher, I started on my piano journey at just five years old. My formative years and university education were dedicated to mastering the piano, a passion that has persisted throughout my over 30-year teaching career.

My teaching experience has been both diverse and immensely rewarding. I’ve had the privilege of working with beginners taking their first steps into the world of music, as well as mentoring those who have chosen to specialize in piano. What’s particularly close to my heart is the time I’ve spent teaching young children with disabilities, including Down Syndrome and ADHD, watching their growth through the joy of music.

My involvement in music also extends beyond teaching. From the age of 12, I’ve been contributing my piano skills to various church settings and I am playing until now as an accompanist. Additionally, I am well-versed in teaching the course of RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) and Conservatory Canada across all levels. Notably, one of my students achieved the first-place ranking in Conservatory Canada—a truly proud moment.

I am excited to work with the students at Music & Play and foster an enduring love for the world of music!

Click here to see Ms Yuri performing.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Music (Piano) – Hanil University/Korea
⇒ Shindongah Music School (Founder) – Korea
⇒ Alfred Music Certified

Julianne de Siqueira

Group Music: Music Adventures, The Safari; Private Piano (specializing in preparatory levels)

Julianne has been interested in piano since a very early age with her influence in music coming from her grandparents – who were excellent musicians and played the saxophone, acoustic guitar and accordion. Julianne holds a Bachelor of Music and Diploma in Education and has been engaged in music and cultural activities at the University performing as a piano/keyboard player and lead singer in Brazilian Popular Folk Music bands in Recife, Brazil.

Over the past 10 years, as a piano and keyboard player Julianne has recorded albums and performed at many festivals in Florida, USA. While in the US, Julianne also volunteered in churches as a pianist, director and conductor of adult choirs and taught private piano. Through her work as a teacher, she helped her students take pride in their learning and develop positive self-esteem through showcasing their talents at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Boca Raton.

Julianne returned to Brazil in 2012 where she was invited to work in a bilingual Canadian elementary school teaching music to children from preschool to grade 3. After several wonderful years in Brazil she relocated to Calgary to pursue her Master of Music (Music Education) studies at the University of Calgary.

As an enthusiastic music teacher, Julianne is looking forward to another year of developing children’s talents and stimulating their desire to learn music in a creative and fun way at M&P.

Qualifications
⇒ Master of Music (Music Education) University of Calgary
⇒ Post-Baccalaureate Diploma (Education) – University of Winnipeg
⇒ Bachelor in Music – Federal University of Pernambuco (Brazil)

Dennis Robert Dubbin

Private Voice

Passion. Dedication. Risk. At that elusive place where talent, determination and opportunity meet, is where you will find Dennis Robert Dubbin. An accomplished singer and actor, his career has been a dream come true, but he takes nothing for granted. “Talent doesn’t amount to anything if you don’t do something with it.”

Mr. Dubbin has appeared in over 20 musicals, in five languages, in Canada, US, and Germany. Selected Musicals include, Miss Saigon, Tommy, Billy Elliot, Crazy For You, Man Of La Mancha, Camelot, Evita and Les Misérables (earning him critical acclaim in Germany as Jean Valjean).

Throughout his career, as a performer, recording artist and teacher, he has put his versatility to the test in many endeavours. As a young man, he toured as a key performer in his family’s high energy musical variety show that landed in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Thailand. In Canada, the Dubbins were heard on radio jingles, seen on television and were a hit on stage at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Following these accomplishments, he took on another challenge – his self-produced recording project, BLUE. As a soloist or part of an ensemble cast, or playing a lead role, he stresses the underlying qualities of versatility and adaptability, and his vocal abilities run the gamut from current pop to opera.

In his professional endeavours Mr. Dubbin has relied on his principle to “follow your gut instinct – it’s never wrong”. This approach has led him to not only embrace opportunity, but to pursue it with passion, and live the dream – a dream he looks forward to sharing with others.

Mr. Dubbin in Action:
– Always On My Mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CKUqOMu9vQ
– When Love Is Gone featuring Dennis Dubbin & Ralf Buschmeyer On Guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTeatkkJXpA
– MT Presentation to Telus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSINaNwUpk4

Dr. Richard Emilson

Private Piano (specializing in levels prep to 2)

Dr. Richard Emilson is a teaching specialist. He generates positive learning experiences for his students using both modern and traditional methods. Parents seek Richard out to help their children deal with: unique learning styles (including ADD/ADHD), discouragement, perfectionism, or snags in playing technique. He helps students develop productive practice habits that are consistent, efficient, purposeful, and unimpaired.

Dr. Richard has been teaching at Music and Play for six years and accepts learners in the early levels of graded piano programs as well as beginners.

Qualifications
⇒ PhD (Education), ThM, MA, BA
⇒ Music classes (Providence University, Ambrose University, and Music and Play)
⇒ Professional development seminars (Royal Conservatory, Conservatory Canada)
⇒ Group music class training and experience (MYC, all levels)

Tom Ewart

Private Guitars

Tom’s early life was filled with music. His mother playing Moonlight Sonata on the piano, and Henry Mancini’s big band jazz on the TV detective show Peter Gunn were very motivational. In fact, the first record he bought was “More Music from Peter Gunn”. (The original record purchase would follow, years later).

After starting piano lessons while in primary school, he found out his cousins, and his best friend Andy were also learning piano. Later, when visiting his father’s manager’s house, discovered a Hammond organ, in addition to a Grand in the living room and Upright in the basement playroom. That house was filled with music.

Tom lost interest in playing classical music on piano and stopped lessons at the grade 5 level. He was then more interested in modern music, and after a year started to work out some songs on the piano, namely The Swingin’ Shepherd Blues (Moe Koffman), and Shop Around (The Miracles).

A new interest that developed was electronic hobby work. Then, for Christmas, he received an electric guitar, perfect for his electronic hobby. So, he built a guitar amp and speaker cabinet. After some self-teaching, (learning to read music on guitar, chords, scales and basic songs), he signed up for lessons at the Kent Accordion College in Winnipeg, with Leroy Serafin.

With “Leo” he learned how to develop chord melodies, worked on fingerstyle guitar of the Chet Atkins style, then classical guitar on a nylon string Framus guitar. Meanwhile, in high school, with his friends Chris, Dave and Jim, he formed a rock band and played bass, and occasionally a ballad on his six string, for two years.

After high school, Tom obtained his Batchelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. But he never missed a free moment to keep playing and learning. Still working on classical guitar, he also started seriously studying from the jazz method books available.

After moving to Calgary in 1989, he sang in a church choir, and once did a solo guitar performance of the classic Amazing Grace, in his own style. Around that time, he started teaching some of his children to play an instrument. He taught his daughter piano, up to grade 5 level, then arranged for a piano teacher to help her further. One son started to learn guitar at age five, and his brother learned the bass. Formal lessons were arranged for them when Tom started working overseas, in North Africa.

While in Africa, his coworkers discovered that he played piano and guitar, and approached him for lessons for themselves and their children and he taught piano and guitar to a number of children and adults while there. The pianos there were quite out of tune, so when back on leave in Canada, he was introduced to his daughter’s piano tuner, a retired minister. The tuner taught him basic tuning and how to repair a piano action. Thanks to this, he was able to bring his students’ pianos up to a workable level when he returned.

Tom’s students were very motivated and progressed weekly. The adults were keen to learn and practiced consistently and for those who had learned a bit of piano in the past, learning guitar was not hard for them and some were hungry for a lesson EVERY DAY!

Alex Karatsyuba

Private Guitar

I started playing the guitar at the age of ten, and fifteen years later – after studying music at the National Music Academy of Ukraine and taking lessons and master classes from international performing and recording artists – I began teaching and performing around the world. I have enjoyed creating music for over 25 years now and the fruit of my endeavors continue to ripen as a result of the amazing feedback and compliments I have received from artists, audiences and students from across the globe. That feedback, along with getting to make music my career, has given me a life that is gratifying and fulfilled, and I look forward to sharing my passion with the students at Music & Play.

Click here for a performance by Alex.

Qualifications
⇒ Master’s of Music (Guitar Performance) – Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music (Ukraine)

Leo Kim

Private Guitar (electric, acoustic & bass)

Leo is a talented guitar instructor with a rich background in music and audio engineering. Born in Korea and raised in Italy in a classical music family, Leo’s passion for music spans multiple cultures and genres. He studied guitar for a year at Korea Gaon School of Art and holds an Associate of Arts in Audio Engineering from Keimyung College University in South Korea.

Leo has extensive experience in both teaching and performing. His professional experience includes teaching students in electric, acoustic, and bass guitar, tailoring his lessons to fit each student’s unique learning style. His approach fosters a love for music while enhancing technical proficiency and creative expression. Leo’s background in audio engineering has provided him with valuable skills in studio recording, mixing, and mastering. This technical expertise enhances his guitar instruction, offering students insights into both performance and production. As an active songwriter and music producer, Leo brings a holistic approach to music education.

Fluent in Korean, Italian, Japanese, and English, Leo is an adaptable and approachable teacher who enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels. His international background and diverse musical expertise make him an inspiring mentor for aspiring guitarists of any age. Leo looks forward to sharing his passion for music and helping students discover the joy of playing guitar at The Music Studio.

Qualifications

⇒ Associate of Arts (Audio Engineering major / Guitar minor) – Keimyung College University, Korea

David Lavoie

Private Guitar, Private Trumpet; Group Guitar

David is a trumpet player, guitarist, composer and educator in Calgary. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz from Capilano University. He began studying trumpet in his teens which led him to major in trumpet studies in university. He has also studied guitar for 11 years from age 12 and it has remained his secondary instrument throughout his degree with classical, rock and jazz guitar styles continuing to be a focus in his musical career.

Since completing his degree, David has gone on to record a full-length original jazz quartet album (on Trumpet) with Juno award winning pianist Brad Turner. On trumpet he also regularly performed in Vancouver with various small jazz groups. David has also recorded an EP (on guitar and vocals) with his original rock group ‘Wild Friar’, has performed regularly throughout the lower mainland and has played professionally on many studio recording projects for film and other projects over the past seven years in Vancouver.  Aside from his playing, David has composed original works for Capilano A Band and had original works recorded and played by the Hard Rubber Orchestra and Vancouver Young Composers Ensemble.

As an educator, David has taught guitar and trumpet at studios throughout the lower-mainland in BC and enjoys sharing his passion for music with students of all ages, abilities and levels. He believes that students all learn differently and, that in addition to helping students through the various elements of advancing their musicality, a teacher is also there to help students learn how to effectively practice (so that they may achieve these goals when they are away from the studio). David’s lessons are tailor-made to each student to ensure they may advance in the areas they are focused on while at the same time diversifying their skills.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Music – with distinction (jazz studies – trumpet), Capilano University, North Vancouver

Click here to listen to an excerpt of David (on trumpet) with his quartet.

Erin Moore

ECE, Group Music, Private Preschool Piano, Private Piano & Private Voice (specializing in levels prep to 5)

Erin holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Alberta, a Music Diploma in Voice from Red Deer College, a Specialist Certificate in Vocal Styles from Berklee Online, an RCM Grade 9 Certificate in Voice and an RCM Grade 8 Certificate in Piano. Erin is an alumni of Opera NUOVA’s Emerging Artist Program and has released an album of hymns entitled, Wayfaring Stranger. An active performer in the Calgary area, Erin regularly performs with the Calgary Opera Chorus, the Bow Valley Chorus, and the Firebird Symphony & Chorus. She has experience teaching both preschool music classes and private music lessons and has taught students of all ages from 2 to 65. Erin loves working with children and seeks to grow confidence, musical skills, and a love of music in her students.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Music (Voice Performance) – University of Alberta
⇒ Music Diploma (Voice) – Red Deer College
⇒ Grade 9 Certificate (Voice) – Royal Conservatory of Music
⇒ Grade 8 Certificate (Piano) – Royal Conservatory of Music
⇒ Specialist Certificate (Vocal Styles) – Berklee Online

Vasyl Mykhalchenko

Private Music – Piano

Vasyl Mykhalchenko grew up in a family of musicians and started playing music as a child. He graduated with honors from the Simferopol Music College and then continued his studies at the Krasnodar State University of Culture and Arts. Throughout  his career, Vasyl has been teaching piano, music theory, and solfeggio and actively participating in recitals and international competitions. He has also worked as an Artist Manager at Steinway & Sons, where he worked with many famous musicians from all over the globe.

Click here to see Vasyl in performance.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Music (Performance) – Krasnodar State University of Culture and Arts
⇒ Music Diploma – Simferopol Music College by P.I.Tchaikovsky

Kate Park

Private Piano

Kate is a performing pianist and a music educator and holds a Master’s of Music in music education and piano from Chung Ang University in Korea. Kate has taught music and piano in private elementary school and most recently was a church accompanist in Toronto. Kate has dedicated her life to teaching, and is known for her passionate and effective teaching styles. Her students have maintained consistent high marks in RCM Exams and she is excited to teach and share the joy of music with her new students at Music & Play!

Qualifications
⇒ Master’s Degree of Music Education – Chung Ang University, Korea
⇒ Bachelor of Music (Piano) – Kangnam University, Korea
⇒ Chung Ang Arte Music school – Founder, Korea
⇒ MYC certified

Jeff Part

Private and Group Woodwinds & Brass, Ukulele

Jeff Part has been involved in music as a performer, composer and educator for over forty years. He has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Calgary Music Education Faculty, majoring in saxophone. Jeff currently plays over 30 instruments. He also plays and teaches ukulele and builds custom ukuleles in his spare time. Over his music career, Jeff had the privilege of playing with Jeff Healey, Buddy Guy, Denny Christianson, Bobby McFerrin and Maestro Fresh Wes, among others.

Jeff spent the last 32 years as a teacher and musical director with the Calgary Board of Education and has extensive experience teaching group and private lessons on most woodwind and brass instruments. Jeff is excited to help students find their “spark” and nurture their love of music. Jeff is well over four feet tall.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Education (After Degree Program, Music Major) – University of Calgary
⇒ Bachelor of Fine Arts (Secondary Education, Saxophone Major) – University of Calgary

Chric Robbins

Private Drums; Group Drums

I started taking group and private drum lessons when I was 10 years old. My parents encouraged me to choose another instrument in addition to the drums and I started playing the clarinet and moved to the alto saxophone after a year. Throughout my middle and high school years, I played drums and alto saxophone in both concert and jazz bands until grade 12.

At the age of 13, I joined Army Cadets – the #9 London Secondary School Army Cadet Corps – and within a short period of time I was recruited into the military band. I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in a tri-service cadet band that went to Europe (Germany, Switzerland and France) for a month to participate in parades and concerts. During my membership with the  cadet band, I was invited to play in the London City Police (Ontario) Pipes and Drum Band. This led to being a founding member of the Alberta Sheriffs Branch, Regimental Pipes and Drum Band in 2005, when I moved from Ontario years later.

Throughout my music career, I have endeavoured to teach aspiring musicians of all ages to not only play drums, but to read music and experience the joys of performance and community involvement. I have had the opportunity to teach in several different environments over the years and look forward to more teaching in the coming years.

Music has provided substantial opportunities throughout my life which have helped me learn to grow as an individual and member of a band and the broader community. My goal is to help students understand how just the simple act of practising basic repetitions consistently is the key to enjoying ultimate success as a musician (or with anything in life). Hopefully, I can share my joy and excitement with everyone that wants to experience the depth of emotion that music can conjure in all of us.

Qualifications
⇒ Ontario Conservatory of Music – Grade 10 Percussion – 1st Class Honours

Andrew Rutherford

Private Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Drums

Andrew, a native of Drummondville, Québec, embodies a harmonious blend of music and education in his life’s journey. Graduating from Bishops University with a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz and Pop Music, Andrew boasts a rich musical background spanning 15 years, mastering instruments including guitar, mandolin, drums, bass, and vocals.

Andrew’s musical career reached a milestone when he collaborated on an album with Québec artist Félix Leroux, showcasing his talent and versatility in the music industry. For the past decade, Andrew has thrived as a gigging musician, performing in various venues and festivals across Québec, captivating audiences with his soulful melodies and rhythmic finesse.

Parallel to his musical endeavours, Andrew has dedicated himself to shaping young minds as a substitute teacher within the Eastern Townships School Board. Over the past two years, he has focused his teaching expertise on resource specialization, demonstrating a profound commitment to nurturing students with diverse learning needs.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Arts in Jazz and Pop Music Studies, Bishops University, Lennoxville QC

See Andrew in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C4w4_rfgAw

Tigran Saakyan

Private Piano – online only (specializing in levels 4 to 9)

Tigran Saakyan was born into an Armenian family in Moscow, Russia.  His piano journey began at the Tchaikovsky Academic Music College at the Moscow State Conservatory and Gnesins Russian Academy of Music with professors Gayane Akhnazaryan, Natalia Trishkina, and Denis Burstein. Tigran was actively involved in Moscow’s concert life performing as a soloist and collaborative pianist. In 2010-2012 he took the opportunity to perform at international piano competitions in Italy (Citta di Barletta, First Prize and Special Prize), France (Opus Yvelines), and Armenia (Renaissance, Second Prize). In 2015, he went on to study with Professor Alexander Tselyakov at Brandon University where he received his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance. At Brandon University, Tigran continued his development as a pianist performing in competitions and festivals and collaborating with some of Manitoba’s foremost musicians including Alexander Tselyakov, Catherine Wood, Kerry DuWors, and Leanne Zacharias. In 2016, he was the winner of the MRMTA piano competition in Winnipeg. In 2017, as the winner of the Concerto Competition at Brandon University, Tigran performed the Rachmaninoff Second Concerto with the University Orchestra.

In 2018, Tigran entered the faculty at Music and Play. While on the faculty, he performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist in Alberta, British Columbia, Russia, Mexico, and the USA. In 2019, Tigran was invited to the 15th Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival in British Columbia where he performed with Canada’s leading musicians. In 2021, Tigran became a part of the Mountain View Festival (Charles Foreman, artistic director) in Calgary, Alberta where he appeared in the series of concerts Isolation Point Project.

Tigran has also had a pleasure of teaching private piano students since 2009. For him it is very important to teach in a versatile manner. He always works to find the individual approach that works best for each student as he helps them to focus on their piano technique, their sense of rhythm, musical creativity and the many other aspects of playing the piano. He also considers sight reading to be a valuable part of a musician’s education as it develops a student’s reading and listening skills. He truly enjoys inspiring and encouraging his students to achieve their goals.

Currently Tigran is studying at the University of Western Ontario working on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance with Leslie Kinton and Brett Kingsbury, and he continues to teach online for M&P.

Qualifications
⇒ Master of Music – Piano Performance (Brandon University)
⇒ Doctor of Musical Arts – Piano Performance – in progress (University of Western Ontario)

Ashley Soles

Theatre Arts

Ever since I began dancing at the age of four, I’ve always loved to perform. Whether it was in front of my family, at school or at my dance studio, I knew that I thrived on stage and I was very lucky to have teachers that knew I did too. I began performing professionally in high school, spending my summers in Calaway Park’s ‘Calaway Live’ cast for nine consecutive seasons. While at the Park, I appeared in over four hundred performances in front of thousands of guests. My training has taken me to Toronto (George Brown College) and Victoria (the Canadian College of Performing Arts), as well as at the School of Alberta Ballet, Canada’s National Ballet School, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and the Company of Rogues Acting Studio. Locally, I have performed with Front Row Center, YYCP Productions, and Brown Cow Collective and have been nominated for Calgary ACTS CAT Awards for both acting and choreography.

I’m so glad and lucky that my travels have given me so many different ways to look at dance, theatre and the performing arts. I’m grateful for how much it has helped build my passion for what I do, and I always look forward to sharing my love for the arts with the students of Music & Play.

Qualifications
⇒ Dance Performance Certificate – George Brown College
⇒ Certificate, Diploma, and Applied Diploma in the Performing Arts – The Canadian College of Performing Arts

Angela Squire

ECE Music: TMC®

Angela has many years of experience working with children as well as teaching and playing music. She has played the clarinet for more than 40 years, and also plays piano and flute.  Angela studied music at Okanagan college and Eston college, focusing on voice and has taught children’s music classes in the church and homeschool communities.  she is active in the music program at her church and is the administrator of the Calgary Homeschool Band.

Angela adores children and has worked with them since a very young age.  She has three grown children of her own and looks forward to meeting all the new students at Music & Play.

Harold Squire

Private Ukulele, Private Woodwinds, Private Trumpet; Group Ukulele

I have taught music in a lot of different ways over the past 13 years and I have had the pleasure of teaching in Canada as well as India. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theatre from the University of Calgary, I play many musical instruments and enjoy performing, writing music, recording, and designing sound effects.

As a performer, I have played (and acted) in the Canadian Badlands Passion Play (in front of over two thousand people), the University of Calgary’s operetta’s production of West Side Story and countless concerts at the Rosza Centre in Calgary with the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. I also had the privilege of performing in Bizet’s Carmen in 2018.

I have also enjoyed working in the theatre community here in Calgary. Since 2019 I’ve been with Imagine Performing Arts as a sound engineer (among a few other roles). I look forward to passing on the curiosity and intrigue that has inspired me to perform and pursue a career in the arts to all my students.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Arts (Music major / Drama minor) – University of Calgary

Sera Stuart

Private and Group Violin/Fiddle

I have been very fortunate to have been raised in a family that was ways full of music. Both my grandparents played instruments, as well as my father, so naturally music has always been a huge part of my life. I started playing the violin at age 10, and have been playing now for 16 years. I’ve taken lessons from several teachers throughout Calgary, in a variety of styles and techniques and my post-secondary training took me to the University of Lethbridge for four years. I am trained both classically as well as in a variety of fiddle styles – from Celtic to Bluegrass and more! I have played in several fiddle groups and bands throughout my life and have performed throughout Calgary as well as touring within Canada and internationally.

I have always believed that music education should be fun, interesting, and accessible to all. I have taught all ages, children and adults, at a variety of different levels, and have always believed that learning an instrument is about progress, not perfection. I want my students to get to know how fun and exciting this instrument can be. I think learning should be something a student enjoys doing, and I strive to keep my lessons low stress and with a good balance of the interests of the student, as well as helping them build up the foundations to be able to really enjoy their instrument.

Kim Szabo

Private Piano, Private Voice (specializing in ages 13 to 99)

Kim is a seasoned professional musician with a teaching, performancing and recording resume that spans over 35 years and the globe. Born and raised in Canada, she started by honing her skills through initial classical training, followed by studies at Grant MacEwan Music Program in Jazz and Popular music, specializing in composition, which plays to her love of music theory and harmony! Growing up in Edmonton, Kim’s “after school job” was teaching the neighbourhood children piano and voice following the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum. During this time, Kim was an active member of Edmonton Musical Theatre, the Alberta College Schola Cantorum choir and ProCoro professional classical choir, while also honing her vocal and piano skills within the local Jazz scene.

In early 1989, Kim took her talent overseas to Japan, touring throughout, yet spent a majority of this time in Osaka, performing as a solo artist, establishing a jazz trio, becoming a regular guest artist with various touring pop, jazz and funk groups, and television and recording sessions throughout the Kansia area. She was the resident pianist at the Osaka Hilton Hotel for over 4 years.

The mid 90’s saw Kim moving her now established career to Europe. Frankfurt, Germany became her base in 2000. By 2003, she was teaching at and eventually led the Jazz Vocal Program at Frankfurt Musikwerkstadt (State Academy for Jazz and Popular Music). She instructed students in vocal Jazz technique and improvisation, preparing them to challenge national exams for a Degree in Jazz Pedagogue. Included in her duties was chair member of the adjudication team for these exams. She also found time to volunteer as educator/instructor for English language through music participation material, within the national education system, specifically with Kindergarten students. During this time in Germany, Kim continued to professionally tour and perform throughout the Rhine-Main area, appearing with her Jazz and Gospel projects. She continued her own private vocal studies and analysis of the human voice with Coleman Freeman, professional operatic tenor, in Mannheim, and piano with Mike Schoenmehl, professional jazz pianist and published author in Frankfurt.

Since returning to Canada, Kim has introduced herself to Calgary audiences. She performs regularly, as a solo, duo and with her own trio and quartet, in both jazz and contemporary music. She has been invited multiple times to showcase her music at Calgary’s Jazz Festivals. She is currently the vocalist for both Fox Big Band and Summit Big Band. Her latest project, Lush Vocal Jazz, recently headlined the JazzYYC’s International Jazz Days Festival in April 2023. Kim has arranged multiple pieces for this group and Lush is currently planning a tour of the summer jazz festivals in Western Canada in 2024. As well, the Kim Szabo Trio also has a monthly residency at Alvin’s Jazz Club.

See Kim in performance:
https://www.facebook.com/kim.szabo.66/videos/1334744727456192 (Over the Rainbow – Lush Vocal Jazz)
https://youtu.be/nm6_8zReMVw (S’Wonderful – Kim Szabo Trio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=rpJ8RG5p5IY (Witchy Woman)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lYoRnf1fWSQ (Ordinary Fool)
https://www.reverbnation.com/szabo66/videos (Multiple videos)

Qualifications
⇒ Grade 9 Piano – Royal Conservatory of Music
⇒ Grade 8 Voice – Royal Conservatory of Music
⇒ Grade III History (equiv to current gr 9), Grade V Harmony (equiv to ARCT), Grade V Theory (equiv to ARCT)– Royal Conservatory of Music
⇒ Music Composition in Jazz Studies, Grant MacEwan College

Jonathan ‘J’ Tilley

Private Guitar, Private Piano

As a student, performer, composer and teacher, Music has been the centrepiece of my life for 20 years.

Since my teenage years, I have played in a wide variety of bands with varying styles from metal and rock to funk, blues and alternative. I have been involved in many projects recording, producing and engineering for hip hop and R&B artists since taking up digital audio, shortly after graduating from MacEwan University, where I earned a diploma in guitar performance.

Over the past four years I have had the pleasure of teaching and being part of hundreds of students’ learning paths. During my time I have developed a philosophy that prioritizes the individual growth of the student. In developing the ability to create and collaborate with peers I look forward to encouraging my students to use their skills to share experiences and connect with others. Music is for the many – not the few!

Qualifications
⇒ Diploma of Music, Major in Performance – MacEwan University

Kiyo Yokoyama Larose

Private Piano

Kiyo Yokoyama was born and raised in Sapporo, Japan. She began piano lessons at age five through the Yamaha Music Program, and continued with private lessons until her high school graduation. Kiyo moved to the US to further her music education at Brigham Young University Hawaii where she chose to study organ music and later received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Utah State University and a Masters Degree in Organ Performance from Arizona State University. She has served as an accompanist for university choirs, local choirs and churches in Hawaii, Utah, Arizona, and Japan and taught at the Phoenix Yamaha Music School in Arizona for seven years.

Kiyo has been involved with musicals as a rehearsal accompanist and a show pianist. Since moving to Calgary in 2006, she has been part of a show with Storybook Theatre, as well as playing at church, for auditions, and has been teaching piano and organ lessons at a local Calgary music studio. Kiyo is very excited to join Music and Play as a piano instructor and is looking forward to sharing her love of music with her students.

Qualifications
⇒ Bachelor of Music (Organ Performance) – Utah State University
⇒ Master of Music (Organ Performance) – Arizona State University
⇒ Yamaha Certified Teacher