CHAD LOUWERSE

Classical Vocal

Dr. Chad Louwerse teaches voice privately and at Western University. He loves investing what he has learned from over 20 years of professional singing and teaching in the lives of young singers, and is so pleased to be with you today.

DOUGLAS NEMISH

Senior Piano

Douglas Nemish obtained a Master's degree in performance at the Universite de Montreal in 1983. He then spent four years of further study at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. Thsi was followed by an intensive training period at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, with the famous pianist-duettist, Alfons Kontarsky. He has given concerts in Europe, Russia, USA, and Canada, either in recital or with orchestras such as Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic, the Edmonton and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. He records on the Analekta Label in Canada and the Vanguard label in the United States.

Eleanor Gummer

Junior Piano

Eleanor Gummer holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from McGill University, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree, Fellowship and Licentiate diplomas from Trinity College of Music, London and an ARCT. In addition, Ms Gummer studied in Europe, New York and has performed across Canada. Ms Gummer is an examiner for Conservatory Canada.  She is also the author of Pianokids® Violinkids® and Guitarkids®, methods for young children, published by One Eye Publications. Ms Gummer is the founder and director of Whitby School of Music is active as an adjudicator, clinician and composer.

ANGEL WANG

Violin & Viola

Angel Wang has been a member of the violin faculty at the Royal Conservatory of Music since 2003 when she moved to Canada. Most recently she has taught violin at the National Music Camp of Canada, and has been a juror for several music festivals such as the YIPS Music Festival and the Outstanding Young Musicians International Music Festival.  Her Chinese heritage has given her a vast repertoire of both Western and Asian classical music and styles upon which to draw.  She is currently a Professor at the Wulanchabu Conservatory of Music, and was a teaching assistant at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music.

ERIKA NIELSEN

Cello

Known for her "vibrant cello playing" (The Whole Note), cellist Erika Nielsen is a chamber musician, collaborative artist, orchestral player, and educator, with a musicianship that spans the Baroque and Classical traditions to contemporary and popular genres.

MIKE PARE

Guitar

Michael Pare holds a Masters degree in Classical Guitar Performance and Literature from Western University Canada. He currently teaches privately in London, ON. He performs regularly as a soloist throughout London, ON and most recently was performing in the SouthWest Guitar Trio with Mike McNamara (University of Windsor) and Bob Kubica (Western University). 

CHRISTOPHER NORTON

Composition

Christopher Norton is a New Zealand-born, now Canadian-based composer. 
His long and fruitful association with Boosey & Hawkes has resulted in the world-famous Microjazz series, the Preludes for piano, 2 Concert Collections for piano and, with his wife Wendy, 30 Micromusicals.
In 2005 he wrote Connections for Piano for the RCM. The series is now owned by Christopher and published by his own company, www.80dayspublishing.com.

LEONIDAS VARAHIDIS

Bands and Orchestras

Leonidas Varahidis is Head of Music at North Toronto Collegiate Institute, directing the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Marching Band. Outside of the classroom, Leonidas is a teacher facilitator for the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre’s “Intermediate Arts Camp”, a program for students to learn leadership skills through a focus in the arts. He is also a faculty member of the National Music Camp of Canada, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble. He was the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Toronto Community Orchestra for 6 years until 2019, and has performed as part of the Toronto Wind Orchestra, Weston Silver Band, and as a guest conductor for the Counterpoint Community Orchestra.

JEANNIE WYSE

Music Theatre and Pop Vocal

Jeannie appeared as the Vocal Coach for CBC's Over The Rainbow and is in demand as a vocal teacher, coach, and music director. Shows include: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Holiday Inn, The Drowsy Chaperone, Anything Goes, Chicago, Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins (Drayton Entertainment), Jersey Boys (Dancap), The Sound of Music (Mervish), Seussical (YPT), Nine, Kiss Me Kate (Theatre Sheridan), Canadian Women in Song (Angelwalk), The Full Monty (Rose Theatre), Hair (The Grand), Fame, Wonderful Town, Into The Woods, The Rocky Horror Show (Randolph College), Side by Side by Sondheim (Sonus Stage Productions) and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Georgian Theatre Festival). Jeannie has toured North America with Riverdance - The Show and recorded esxtensively wiht the Elmer Iseler Singers.

CONNOR O'KANE

Intermediate Piano

Connor O’Kane leads a multifaceted career as a pianist, teacher, and conductor. He has performed in France, the United States, and across Canada, including as a concerto soloist with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. A winner of the prestigious SSHRC doctoral fellowship, he is currently completing a doctorate in piano performance at Western University, where he also serves as assistant conductor of the opera program.

DR. AMELIA YATES

Elementary Piano

Amelia Yates, D.M.A., is a pianist, adjudicator, and instructor from Ancaster Ontario. She is passionate about researching and performing the music of contemporary Canadian composers, and specializes in the music of Ann Southam. Dr. Yates is also a member of the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners, and enjoys volunteering on the Hamilton/Halton ORMTA Branch and Hamilton Music Festival Boards. 

MIKELA WITJES

Suzuki Violin

Mikela Witjes maintains an active career as a freelance violinist and music teacher across South-Western Ontario.  Based in London, Ontario, Mikela is a violinist with London Symphonia and a roster musician with Magisterra Soloists. Mikela is passionate about fostering music education and is on faculty at Forest City String School, Magisterra Summer String Institute and maintains her own private studio. 

JOSEPH RESENDES

Woodwinds

Joseph Resendes is a Lecturer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario where he is the director of instrumental ensembles, and teachers courses in woodwind performance, woodwind methods, conducting, and theory.  Born in Toronto, Ontario, Joseph continues to maintain an active career as a woodwind musician, composer, clinician, and has regularly adjudicated festivals across Canada and the United States.

JENNIFER STEPHEN

Brass

Originally from Yellowknife, NT, Jennifer Stephen joined the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony as Principal Tubist in 2020.  She is also an active freelancer and teacher across Ontario and Canada, and can be seen regularly performing with ensembles such as the Hamilton Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra and Hannaford Street Silver Band, among others. She lives in Toronto with her husband, fiddler Dan MacDonald, and their two children.

JAMIE HILLMAN

Choir

Dr. Jamie Hillman is a Canadian and American musician, active as a conductor, singer, pianist, music educator, and composer. He holds the endowed Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting at the University of Toronto where he is also Director of Choral Studies and an Associate Professor. He conducts the U of T MacMillan Singers and leads the master's and doctoral degree programs in Choral Conducting. Dr. Hillman is an examiner for Conservatory Canada and has adjudicated, guest conducted, presented, and performed throughout Canada and the United States, and in France, India, and Indonesia.