Lauren has a deep passion for music, having started taking lessons at a young age and eventually entering the Performing Visual Arts Program at Central Memorial High School. Through this program, she discovered her love of jazz music, gained a deeper understanding of theory and was introduced to various genres of music. Following high school, Lauren pursued a bachelor's degree in Vocal Jazz Performance from Capilano University.

With over five years of experience teaching piano and singing, Lauren loves exploring different genres of music with her students while helping them to hone their skills. In her lessons, she focuses on technique and theory and how to apply them to songs that her students know and love.

Born and raised in Calgary, Liam Johnson is a lifelong musician and graduate of Western Canada High School (Class of 2025). Liam has been a student at Chinook School of Music since the age of five, beginning with piano studies before transitioning to guitar. Over the years, he has expanded his musical skill set to include drums, developing a well‑rounded foundation across multiple instruments.

Liam has been substitute teaching at Chinook School of Music for the past two years, working with both private students and group beginner‑level guitar classes. He has also been an active performer within the Chinook community, playing acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and drums in the school’s teen and adult rock band programs. 

As an instructor, Liam believes students are most motivated when learning music they genuinely love. He takes the time to get to know each student, tailoring lessons to their individual interests and musical passions. Known for his strong musical ear, Liam actively listens and analyzes music to provide thoughtful, encouraging, and practical feedback. He is excited to support guitar and drum students as they build confidence, skills, and a lifelong enjoyment of music.

Nate Taylor is a drummer and educator from Calgary, Alberta. He uses a collaborative approach to teaching on drum set to incorporate inspiration from a variety of different styles. Nate has been playing music since he started guitar lessons at 7 years old, dabbling in piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele. He has been playing drums for 10 years, and teaching for 3, both privately and in leadership roles within university ensembles. 

Nate has earned various awards and accolades based on his musical achievements, notably a Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) gold medal in 2023, and the Outstanding Drummer award in 2019 from AIBF Jazz festival.

Nate enjoys playing and teaching many styles of music. In 2025-26 he was the principal timpanist of the University of Calgary orchestra, as well as the core drummer for the University of Calgary jazz orchestra. Outside his schooling he plays in several bands, including an emo/punk band, an indie metal band, a couple small jazz combos, and a pop/party band. He uses his musical breadth to choose the right music to help a student reach their goals in a productive way, building and maintaining an appreciation of music.

Oaitse Hellard has a deep passion for teaching and sharing music with students of all ages. She offers instruction in both voice and piano, guiding students through the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum or a personalized selection of repertoire that balances both technical development and enjoyment.

Her goal is to foster long-lasting working relationships built on a shared love of music, while developing skills and techniques that support consistent progress toward monthly and yearly goals. She approaches teaching first as a mentor, helping students build strong, lasting habits in a warm and supportive environment where they feel comfortable sharing their day-to-day experiences.

Oaitse's professional experience includes 16 years performing with the Ray Charles Tribute Orchestra and 6 years with the Amy Winehouse Tribute Orchestra, as well as 4 years with Ms. Oai’s Quartet. She is currently writing African music with her trio, alongside Chris Tauchner and Wakefield Brewster, former Poet Laureate of Calgary.