Timothy Crofts

Piano, Improvisation
Tim received his Bachelor of Music in Composition and Piano from Dalhousie University in Halifax [2001], and a Masters of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston [2004]. In Halifax, Tim has been active in both the performance and teaching of improvised and...Learn More

Kimberly D’Ambrogi

Kindermusik
Holding a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Dalhousie University, Kim brings an understanding of child development, sensory integration, and the importance of play and movement in learning. As an occupational therapist, Kim works with youth to enhance independence and well-being through a program with the IWK Children’s Hospital. As an accredited Kindermusik educator, Kim combines...Learn More

Dr. Michael Donovan

Voice
Michael Donovan's experience as a musician encompasses a wide range of musical styles and forms of expression. As a boy, he studied piano and pursued extensive studies in classical and jazz saxophone at the Conservatoire du Québec. As a teenager, he composed original...Learn More

Shauna DeGruchy

Trombone
Trombonist Shauna DeGruchy is a freelance trombonist and music educator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She performs regularly with ensembles such as Nova Sinfonia, Glass Winds, and Siren Brass, and is a founding member and co-artistic director of contemporary chamber group...Learn More

Rachael Desoer

Cello
Rachel Desoer is a Canadian cellist and teacher. She studied at the Juilliard School, Oberlin College, McGill University and the Banff Centre. She graduated from Oberlin in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music degree. Since 2009, Rachel has taught the cello and chamber music to students...Learn More

Dr. Jennifer Farrell

Voice
Soprano Jennifer Farrell appears regularly with professional Canadian ensembles in the fields of oratorio, opera and choral repertoire. In western Canada she has performed as a soloist with the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Vancouver Symphony, MusicFest Vancouver, Vancouver...Learn More

Katherine Fitch Loza

Harp
Katherine Fitch Loza is a harpist based in K’jipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia, who plays classical, Celtic traditional, and pop music on pedal and lever harps. In 2000 Katherine began studies at The University of Western Ontario in the Honours Performance program with...Learn More

Max Fleischman

Piano
Max Fleischman took his formative training in piano with Beatrice Allen (a student of James Friskin and Nadia Reisenberg). He then pursued further piano studies with Nelita True, Gabriel Chodos and Carmen Vilá, and historical keyboard studies with David Breitman, Malcolm...Learn More

Esmée Gilbert

Piano
Esmée Gilbert is a pianist and teacher from St. John’s, NL. She holds a BMus from Memorial University, a MMus from uOttawa, and an Artist Diploma (DEPA in collaborative piano) from The University of Montreal. Her teachers have included Tim Steeves, Leopoldo Erice, Peter Allen, Francis Perron & Liz Upchurch. Esmée has a keen interest in string repertoire and enjoys playing chamber music. In past years, she has performed at festivals...Learn More

Geordie Haley

Guitar, Electric Guitar
Geordie Haley: Guitarist, Composer, Improviser and Educator has been a featured Artist with new music presenters Suddenly Listen, Upstream Music, Vocalypse, and Open Arts. Geordie is a frequent contributor to the Halifax Jazz Festival, the Harvest Blues and Jazz Festival, and the...Learn More

Jessica Hansen Wheaton

Piano
Jessica Hansen Wheaton is an active member of the NS Registered Music Teachers Association (NSRMTA) and has been teaching piano students of all ages and levels for over twenty years. She comes from a musical family – both of her parents are pianists & teachers - and as such, has been playing the piano since ...Learn More

Jess Higgins

Kindermusik
For as long as Jess (she/her) can remember, she has had a love of the arts, and of sharing that love with others. She has performed across Canada, taught dance to children, and now shares her love of music and movement as a Kindermusik educator. In her classes, she believes that the most joyful moments are...Learn More

Ronald J. Hynes

Electric Bass Guitar, Double Bass
Bassist Ronald J. Hynes began studying jazz at St. Francis Xavier University in 2006. While attending St.FX he performed regularly with faculty members and also had the privilege to perform at master classes with guest artists Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis “Kind of Blue”) and New York...Learn More

Victoria Ioannou

Suzuki Violin
Victoria Ioannou has been teaching violin since 2016, and she has been teaching strings classes with Halifax Regional Arts since 2022. She has always been inspired by the Suzuki approach to learning. Through a positive and supportive learning environment where students are exposed to immersive musical experiences, every student can learn to play well. She aims to support and encourage...Learn More

Janice Isabel Jackson

Voice
Janice Isabel Jackson has been teaching for the past 30 years and brings a wealth of knowledge of singing technique and performance practice to her students. She enjoys teaching a wide range of students, from classical to singer songwriters to rappers! Her aim is to assist the...Learn More

Celeste Jankowski

Violin, Chamber Orchestra
Celeste Jankowski holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and is currently a member of the first violin section of Symphony Nova Scotia. She has been featured as a soloist with Symphony Nova Scotia...Learn More

Csaba Kanyasi

Drums, Percussion
Csaba (Chubba) Kanyasi has been playing music for over 40 years and teaching for more than 20 years. Although jazz is his main focus, he performs in various styles. Now a resident of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Chubba was born in Hungary where he attended the Jazz College in...Learn More

Lauren Klein

Suzuki Violin
Lauren Klein grew up in Halifax and studied violin with Jan Wicha and was a member of NSYO, HSSO, and the MCPA Chamber Orchestra. She received both a Bachelor's of Music and a Diploma in Chamber Music at Wilfrid Laurier University with Jerzy Kaplanek, as well as a...Learn More

Rosemary Kristof

Piano
Rosemary Kristof’s early studies took place in Jamaica, W.I. with Isabelle Hicks leading to the L.R.S.M. Diploma in Performance, and one year later she obtained the Performer’s A.R.C.T. in Toronto with teachers Douglas Bodle and Pierre Souvairan. After this she had...Learn More

Renaud Lapierre

Violin
Renaud Lapierre started violin at age 5, in Suzuki class of Eric Madsen and at age 7, he entered the Suzuki string orchestra from St-Lambert city. At age 9, Renaud won first price at provincial level and got 3rd at national at the Canada's Music Competition. He then entered Montreal's music conservatoire in Raymond Dessaints class, with whom he studied 10 years. In 1997, he entered the University of...Learn More

Mary Lee

French Horn
Hornist Mary Lee trained at the University of Toronto, in the city where she was born and raised. Her primary teachers were Wayne Jeffrey, Eugene Rittich, and Iman Soetemann at the Utrecht Conservatory, where Mary studied after completing her undergraduate...Learn More

Zoe Leger

Voice
Halifax-based singer and pianist Zoe Leger has been making waves since stepping onto the Canadian jazz scene in 2007. With a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from St. Francis Xavier University, Zoe has sung as a chorister as well as a featured soloist with such noted ensembles as The Halifax Camarata Singers and...Learn More

Suzanne Lemieux

Oboe
Suzanne Lemieux was the Principal Oboe of Symphony Nova Scotia. She has performed as guest soloist with Symphony Nova Scotia in more than twenty different programs and delighted audiences with repertoire from all eras of classical music, from baroque to contemporary...Learn More

Rod MacGillivray

Low Brass, Brass Ensemble
Rod MacGillivray (B.Mus. M.Mus.) is a conductor and low brass musician from Bridgewater, NS performing on trombone, euphonium, and tuba. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Mount Allison University, a Master of Music from Temple University in Philadelphia, and has...Learn More

Daniel MacNeil

Guitar, Suzuki Guitar, Oud, World Music Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Music Theory
Daniel MacNeil is a multiple award-winning guitarist, composer, and educator. He has performed across Canada and Spain as a soloist, in chamber music settings, and with professional symphony orchestras, including: the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary...Learn More

Sibylle Marquardt

Flute, Suzuki Flute, Baroque Flute, Adult Flute Ensemble
A native of Germany, Sibylle Marquardt moved to Toronto in 1997. After 20 years in Toronto she now lives in Halifax where she is the Dean of Music as well as flute teacher at the Maritime Conservatory. An active chamber and orchestral player in Canada and Europe, she is...Learn More

Patrick Maubert

Voice, Musical Theatre
Patrick Maubert, from Fredericton NB, completed an associate degree in Musical Theatre Performance from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy of New York City as well as a master’s degree in Musical Theatre Creative Practice in Directing at the Arts...Learn More

Cheryl McCarthy

Piano
Cheryl McCarthy is an experienced teacher, festival adjudicator and choral director. She works with students of all ages and levels in both piano and voice, adapting to the needs and skills of the individual...Learn More

Amelia McMahon

Voice, Glee Club
Amelia McMahon (she / her / elle) began teaching voice lessons more than 20 years ago. Since then, her love affair with teaching, performing and singing has brought a diverse array of students through her studio. Whether she is working with an established performer or...Learn More

Garth McPhee

Seton Conservatory Choir, Treble Time Childrens' Choir, Harpsichord, Organ
Garth MacPhee is a native Nova Scotian and a graduate of the Schulich School of Music at McGill University (M.Mus '06), where he studied organ with John Grew and Dr William Porter. Garth has a long association with Saint George's Round Church, having served as Director of... Learn More

Debbie Miles

Violin
Debbie Miles holds a Master of Arts in Classical String Performance from University of Limerick in Ireland and over 30 years of teaching and performing experience. Debbie is an engaging violinist known for her warm sound. As a violin teacher she brings an enthusiastic approach along...Learn More

Kirsty Money

Violin, Baroque Violin, Nyckelharpa
Kirsty Money is a dynamic performer and teacher of modern/baroque violin, and the nyckelharpa in the Halifax area. Originally from BC, she studied violin with Sydney Humphreys at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and has further performance degrees from McGill and...Learn More

Carlos Mora Baez

Jazz Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Carlos A. Mora Baez is an innovative and passionate musician trained in jazz, classical and popular music styles. Originally from Cuba, Carlos has over 20 years of experience performing for a variety of international audiences as a soloist as well as in groups and orchestras. Carlos...Learn More

Gregory Myra

Piano
Gregory Myra: Halifax pianist Gregory Myra received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance in 2009 from Dalhousie University where he studied with Professor Peter Allen. Upon graduation he accompanied the students of Professor Lucy Hayes-Davis at Dalhousie for...Learn More

Christopher Palmer

Bassoon, Music Theory
Christopher Palmer was born in the Hague, Netherlands, of Canadian parents, and grew up in London, England. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London, and also at the University of Ottawa. As a professional bassoonist he has played in many orchestras and...Learn More

Natalia Pavlovskaia

Piano
Natalia Pavlovskaia is a professional music educator and performer with over 25 years of experience in teaching, performing and adjudicating piano in Canada and Russia. Natalia holds a Master Degree with distinction in Piano Pedagogy and Piano Performance from Gorky Conservatoire and Diploma of Professional Development Program from St. Petersburg ...Learn More

Paula Phillips

Voice
Paula Phillips brings over 30 years of experience in performing, teaching and arranging to her vibrant voice studio. Her musical life began with choral singing, and playing piano, clarinet and saxophone. Paula holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance, and a...Learn More

Antonia Pigot

Voice
Antonia Pigot brings eclectic and diverse musical experiences to the teaching table. Highlights have included performing at the Ouaga Jazz Festival in Burkina Faso, Africa, recording vocals for a Cirque du Soleil album in Montreal and creating electronic vocal soundscapes for the New...Learn More

Andre Pretzel

Suzuki Violin
Andre Pretzel moved to Halifax, NS in 2015 to teach Suzuki violin, and he was glad to witness a sudden growth in that community recently. His Suzuki experience began when he was searching for a method that resonated with my beliefs, and his past training includes...Learn More

Neven Prostran

Guitar
The Maritime Conservatory’s Dean of Music, Neven Prostran s a musician, educator, and arts administrator with over 15 years of experience in the field. Holding a Bachelor of Music (University of Toronto, 2013), and a Master of Arts in Musicology and Certificate in University Teaching and learning (Dalhousie, 2017), Neven fuses his formal classical training with a passion for rock, jazz, and pop music. Neven has taught in...Learn More

Jennifer Publicover

Flute
Jennifer Publicover (MMus, MES, BMus) is a performer on the modern orchestral flute, the traditional wooden Irish flute, and the simple system Baroque flute, and has decades of teaching experience. She is the founder and director of the Halifax Institute of Traditional and...Learn More

Matt Richard

Trumpet
An active performer in Halifax and beyond, Matt Richard completed his master’s degree in trumpet performance at the University of Victoria under Lou Ranger, formerly of the American Brass Quintet. He has appeared in concert with Nova Sinfonia, Scotia Brass, Opera Nova Scotia...Learn More

Betty Ro

Piano
Originally from South Korea, Betty Ro has been teaching in Nova Scotia since 1992. After culminating her studies in Korea, she completed a M.M. from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA, with piano studies under Gabriel Chodos and Jacob Maxin, and...Learn More

Frances Royle

Piano, Music Theory
Frances is an active performer, who has played for numerous opera and musical theatre productions as well as in solo and chamber music recitals. She has served as an accompanist for the School of Dance and the Suzuki Department as well as many private voice, string, and...Learn More

Tara Scott

Piano
Tara Scott is one of Atlantic Canada's most renowned collaborative pianists. Her love of teaching and performing has led her to pursue staff accompanist positions at Western, Dalhousie, Acadia, and Mount Allison Universities. She has performed extensively with singers...Learn More

Patty Shaw

Clarinet, Beginner Clarinet Class
Patty Shaw teaches clarinet and clarineo to children, teens and adults at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts in Halifax and at her home on St Margaret’s Bay. Patty is passionate about the clarinet and loves to play the classical repertoire. She enjoys playing...Learn More

Dr. Gillian Smith

Violin
Gillian Smith holds degrees in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music (Bachelor of Music), the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (Master of Music), and the University of Minnesota (Doctor of Musical Arts). Her principal teachers have included the well-known violinists Camilla Wicks, Jorja Fleezanis...Learn More

Dr. Cindy Thong

Piano
Canadian pianist Cindy Thong leads a polyvalent career as a pedagogue, researcher and performer. She has performed throughout Canada, in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy, and has also been a finalist and prizewinner in numerous competitions such as the Concours Hélène-Roberge...Learn More

Lena Turofsky

Double Bass
Born in Toronto, Lena Turofsky studied bass with Jeffery Stokes at the University of Western Ontario and graduated from the University of Toronto studying with Thomas Monohan. While in university she played with the National Ballet Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, the London...Learn More

Dr. Lorna Wanzel

Music Theory

Dr. Lorna Wanzel grew up in England where she started her piano/theory studies. She now lives in Halifax Nova Scotia, where she maintains a very successful private piano/theory teaching studio. She has over...Learn More

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