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I am delighted to be returning as a piano and voice instructor at the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Academy of Music and Arts (formerly the Beckett School), where I previously taught for over 19 years. I hold a Master of Arts in Community Music and an Honours Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with a Voice Minor from ³Ô¹ÏÍø, where I studied piano with Garth and Marjorie Beckett and voice with Linda Mieske, and Victor Martens. I also earned a Bachelor of Education (Junior/Intermediate, Vocal Music) from Western University. Over my 35-year career with the Waterloo Region District School Board, I have taught music, drama, dance, and classroom subjects. In 2012, I was very fortunate to join the Artistic Staff of the Toronto Children’s Chorus as an associate conductor, leading the Preparatory and Pasio Choirs and I continue to enjoy working with these young singers at the training choir levels.
In addition to my formal education, I hold a Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance from Trinity College London, Associate Diplomas in both Piano and Voice, and certifications in Kodály and Suzuki methods. I have performed extensively across Ontario as a solo vocalist and guest pianist, with appearances including the Edward Johnson Music Foundation, the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Orchestra, and the K-W Youth Orchestra. As a solo vocalist, I have performed across Ontario in recitals, as well as, having the honour of performing two one-woman shows written for me by former ³Ô¹ÏÍø Professor Leslie O’Dell. In addition to being a regular clinician at Ontario Music Educators Association conferences, I have been a guest clinician for the Voice Additional Qualification courses at York University and conducted the Kodály Choral Festival and Teachers’ Orchestra in 2019 and 2025 at the Centre in the Square.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to receive several honours and awards that have supported and recognized my musical development. I was selected as one of eight conductors across North America to participate in the prestigious Choir Conductor Symposium with the Toronto Children’s Chorus. In 1990, I received the Dawson Woodburn Memorial Award from the University of Western Ontario. Earlier, I was named the gold medalist for the Associate Diploma in Voice Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in 1985.
My early accomplishments include winning first prize in piano at the Guelph Spring Festival Scholarship Competitions in 1983. I was awarded both the Entrance Scholarship (1980) and the Incentive Scholarship (1981 and 1982) from ³Ô¹ÏÍø in recognition of academic and musical excellence. I have also received numerous awards, scholarships, and trophies in both piano and voice through the Kiwanis Music Festivals in Kitchener-Waterloo, Brantford, Stratford, and Toronto.
Music education has been my lifelong passion—whether teaching in a private studio, directing choirs, or working in a classroom setting. I believe that all educators should remain lifelong learners themselves, continually growing alongside their students. Over the years, I have travelled internationally to attend music conferences, both as a participant and as a workshop clinician, continually deepening my understanding and sharing my experiences with others.
At the heart of my teaching philosophy is the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy and actively participate in the joy of music-making. While not all students will go on to pursue music professionally or reach an advanced level, the discipline, focus, and creativity cultivated through learning an instrument or singing offer lasting benefits that enrich many other areas of their lives.
- 30 minute lessons: $37
- 45 minute lessons: $56
- 60 minute lessons: $74
Contact Info:
E: LAMA@wlu.ca