Alida Doornberg, Voice, Beginner Piano, Music Kids

Alida completed her Master's of Music Degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Toronto. She lived and worked in Toronto for 10 years, performing with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Opera Atelier, Tapestry Opera, Toronto Summer Music, Toronto Operetta Theatre, and Voicebox: Opera In Concert. Alida was also a musician for the United Church of Canada in Toronto, providing music for Sunday services and assisting with music programs. She has supported various choirs at U of T and in the larger community. Alida worked with Echo Women's Choir for seven seasons exploring folk and world music, and sang in an a capella folk music quartet. 

Alida has taught voice and piano for many years, most notably for five years at Classical Music Conservatory (Toronto). She encourages students to celebrate their unique strengths, and fosters musical enjoyment through a focus on vocal and overall health. Alida holds a Bachelor of Music degree with Academic Honors from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She has participated in summer opera training programs in Taos, New Mexico, and in Marche in Italy. Alida grew up in Calgary and is happy to have returned to her musical home.

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Angela Cavar, Piano, Voice

Angela Cavar holds a Bachelor of Performance in piano from the University of Calgary, performance degrees in both voice and piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a Diploma in Piano Performance from Mount Royal University. She has performed classical and contemporary music and worked in theatre as an actor and music director. In addition to directing choirs and collaborating as a pianist with singers and instrumentalists, she teaches voice, piano, theory, and musicianship. She has been a member of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ARMTA) for 28 years.

Angela is passionate about finding ways to help people of all ages and levels develop their skills and express themselves through music.

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Anna Mendham, Voice

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

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

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Catherine James Tetz, Voice, Piano

Catherine James Tetz is an exceptional performer and instructor who shares a wealth of passion with the students she teaches. Catherine received her Honours degree and Diploma in Opera from Wilfrid Laurier University, and has been singing her heart out ever since! With an impressive performance resume that stretches all the way from soloist at the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual “traditional Christmas” concert, to starring in Mozart’s Magic Flute. ­Catherine believes that it is important to not just play music, but to bring it to life. She feels that it is important in a lesson to keep the mood relational and fun, while simultaneously challenging her students to discover their true voice within.

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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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Jessica Lutzak, Voice, Piano

Jessica Lutzak is a passionate, experienced teacher of 25 years who began her musical journey with piano at age 5. This expanded into many years in touring choirs and studying voice. Jessica holds her Teacher’s ARCT through RCM (Honours with Distinction), she obtained her Music Performance Diploma through Mount Royal University (then College), and studied Opera Performance at UBC. Jessica has performed as a soloist for many events in a variety of styles, performed in multiple Musicals, and has appeared on stage with the Calgary Opera Chorus. She has experience as a Musical Theatre summer program director, and was the Vocal Coach for the Calgary Children’s Choir and Mountainview Summer Music Festival. She attained Level 10 RCM piano, has a strong background in anatomy, physiology, developmental psychology and voice science which she loves to pepper into her lessons, and has studied multiple languages as well as acting. Jessica enjoys stretching her creativity through voiceover, commercial work and painting. 

Jessica has been told that her love of teaching music is infectious! She guides each student to prioritize curiosity, understand how to practice to achieve their personal best, and favours an encouraging approach. Many of Jessica’s students have been accepted into top University programs both in Canada and abroad, summer programs, and participated in Vocal Academy (MRU Conservatory). Her students have received multiple scholarships, top marks on RCM exams, been recommended to Provincials, and cast in local community and professional shows. All this aside, Jessica values connection and adores teaching beginners and serious hobbyists just as much as advanced students. She sees it as a privilege to be a part of her students’ musical journeys, hopefully leading to a lifetime of discovery through music.  


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

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

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

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Meaghan Schulz, Voice, Piano

Meaghan Schulz has a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, and an LLB from the University of Alberta. She is on the roster with Cowtown Opera Company, and is a member of the Calgary Opera Chorus. Meaghan has trained in early childhood music education and she also developed and taught a baby sign language program called Nursery Signs. She is so excited to play and explore at Chinook School of Music with Music Kids!

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Réjean Campbell, Voice

Réjean Campbell is a conductor, educator, singer, and theatre music director with over two decades of musical performance and direction to his credit. Réjean focuses his musical leadership activities on building relationships within his groups to foster a culture of trust, growth and collaboration, and his efforts have earned him nominations for a Calgary Theatre Critic’s Award (Fiddler on the Roof, Painted Fish Performing Arts Society) and multiple Calgary-ACTS CAT Awards (e.g. Beauty and the Beast, Painted Fish Performing Arts Society). Réjean is currently Artistic Director of Blend Vocal, and holds ongoing educator positions at The Calgary Boys' Choir, Asylum for Art, Morpheus Theatre’s Gilbert & Sullivan Junior Theatre School, Storybook Theatre’s Theatre School, and Mount Royal Conservatory. Réjean is a long-standing member of the Calgary Opera Chorus, performs regularly with several professional and semi-professional choirs and orchestras, and is currently a finalist in the Timmins Symphony Orchestra's search for a new Artistic Director. A passionate coach, Réjean loves sharing what he’s learned and helping others achieve their musical goals.

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Sarah Nearing, Beginner Piano, Voice, Group Ukulele

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

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Shannon Roy (Maternity Leave), Piano, Voice

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

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Susan Leontaridis, Voice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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