Faculty

Administrative Staff

Coordinator: Robert Caldwell
Robert Caldwell completed a Bachelor of Music Degree in percussion at the University of Victoria in 1982. In 1986 he studied Indonesian Gamelan music at Simon Fraser University. In recent years Robert has had a special interest in world music, incorporating many different styles in his compositions and performances. Robert has toured Canadian school for twelve years, introducing students to electronic music and percussion. Currently he teaches percussion and MIDI at Douglas College in New Westminster, as well as percussion at both Trinity Western University and Kwantlen University College in Langley.

Program Assistant: Erin Miller 604-527-5469

Faculty

Suzuki Convener (Violin): Laurel MacCulloch
Laurel MacCulloch has studied RCM Violin at the BC Conservatory of Music and has participated in chamber ensembles at Kwantlen College. She has completed several sessions of Suzuki Teacher Training in Langley BC, Seattle WA and Waterloo ON. Laurel is a strong believer in making music fun for even the youngest child and loves to help them find joy in their music.

Suzuki Convener (Piano): Lisa Hansen 

Audio Engineering Convener: Greg Reid

Alflatt, Rachel - Organ

Barrington, Barrie - Piano
Dr. Barrington teaches full time in the music Department at Douglas College in New Westminster. His teaching duties include both private and class piano and he is currently the head of the class piano division. Barrie earned both his MMus and DMA from UBC and studied with the renowned pianist, Robert Silverman. While at UBC, Barrie was awarded two doctoral fellowships and won the prestigious UBC concerto competetion. Aside from his teaching duties, Dr. Barrington performs solo and chamber music and is a busy judge and adjudicator throughout BC and Western Canada.

Brady, Angus - Tuba

Chernoff, Marea - Oboe
Marea began studying oboe in Vancouver at the age of thirteen, and graduated from U.B.C. with a bachelor of music degree in 1995. She received an artist diploma from the Vancouver Academy of Music in 1997, and completed a master of music degree at Boston University in 1999. As a freelance musician in Vancouver Marea plays principal oboe with Sinfonia Orchestra of the North Shore, and has played with Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Ballet B.C., Turning Point, Abbotsford Symphony, Prince George Symphony, and several other groups. She is also a member of the Ad Mare wind quintet and wind trio. Marea is on faculty at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Trinity Western University, Douglas College, Capilano University and the Vancouver Academy of Music.

Clark, Ewan - Celtic Fiddle
Ewan Clark is a long-time fiddle player and the Celtic enthusiast who plays regularly at the Irish Heather in Gastown and for Scottish country dancing. He brings his deep experience, musical skill, and the philosophy of effortless mastery to assist his students in achieving their musical goals.

Duerichen, Julie - Voice
Julie Duerichen has performed widely in Germany, the United States and Canada. She holds a BMus in Voice from the University of Calgary and an MMus in Opera Performance from the University of Maryland. Julie can be heard singing lead roles regularly with Opera Pro Cantanti and Opera Appassionata, and as a soloist with symphonies and choirs in the Greater Vancouver Area. Julie loves to empower students with the technical knowledge and self confidence necessary to sing their best and have fun doing it!

Das, Geeta - Trumpet
Geeta is a highly qualified professional musician that has been performing and teaching music in Vancouver for almost two decades. She has studied music at Douglas College in New Westminster, the University of British Columbia, and she has also studied privately in New York. She is well versed in a variety of musical styles, everything from Classical and Jazz, to Latin, Funk, R&B, and Broadway Show Tunes. Geeta has performed with such artists as renowned jazz trombonist Bill Watrous, the Juno award winning Brad Turner, Ray Garraway (K-OS), Daniel Adair (Nickelback), rap star Kanye West, and many more. Geeta has a great deal of knowledge and passion for music that she hopes to share with the community.

Fantini, Maria-Cristina
Originally from Toronto, Ontario, soprano Maria-Cristina Fantini, M.Mus. is a classically trained singer whose versatility has led her to an eclectic variety of projects and styles.  Maria Cristina began studying voice at age 13 and attended high school at Etobicoke School of the Arts where she specialized in Music Theatre.  Upon graduation she enrolled in the Resident A.R.C.T program at the Glenn Gould Professional School of the Royal Conservatory of Music.  Next she attended York University where she completed a Bachelor of Music Degree.  While a student at York she formed the progressive folk duo in blue river performing consistently throughout Toronto as well as on local television and radio.  Upon graduation she relocated to Vancouver where she earned a Masters of Operatic Performance degree at the University of British Columbia.  At UBC she performed several roles including the First Lady in Die Zauberflüte and the lead role in The Merry Widow.  She has been active in the opera community since graduating performing the role of Blondchen in Opera Nuova's 2004 production of Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail and chorister in Vancouver Opera's 2006 production of Gounod's Faust. 
Maria-Cristina began teaching private singing lessons in 1998 and has instructed at various music studios in Toronto and Vancouver.  An affiliate of the R.C.M., she continues to prepare students for exams, competitions, and recitals.  She enjoys teaching in a variety of styles including pop, rock, musical theatre, and classical.  Maria-Cristina works with her students on increasing range, refining tone, and acquiring vocal flexibility. She has helped many singers overcome vocal tension and other voice problems. She has taught private singing lessons to students of all ages and levels throughout her career  and is always eager to help others on their musical journey. 
In addition to her private teaching, Maria-Cristina is a Children's Music Educator trained in both Orff & Kodály methods. 

Fedoruk, Brenda - Flute

Fisher, Blair - Trumpet
Blair Fisher holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria and ha Master of Music from the University of Miami, both in trumpet performance. Equally at home in both the classical and jazz idioms, Mr. Fisher has performed, taught and adjudicated a wide range of music styles. His classical performances have included work with the Victoria Symphony, Pacific Baroque Orchestra and the Opera Orchestras of Miami, Edmonton and Vancouver. Uner Mr. Fisher's direction, the Douglas College instrumental ensembles hace gained a far-ranging reputation for excellence. The concert band has earned top rankings at many music festivals, including MusicFest Canada. Mr. Fisher also plays with and directs the Night Band, a community/student jazz ensemble that has gained international recognition. In addition to its many recordings, which have received enthusiastic reviews and national air play, the Night Band has been featured at numerous music festivals throughout Canada and the US.

Hansen, Lisa - Piano
AVCM, BCRMTA
Suzuki Piano Workshops: Vancouver, Langley, Victoria, Bellingham, Oregon, Idaho, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Bermuda. 
Has taught Suzuki Piano for 27 years.

Hood, Cameron - Electric Bass
Cameron R. Hood has been on the Vancouver music scene since the age of twelve, when he first performed professionally with his mother's band. Born into a musical family, Cameron is a Juno-nominated artist, has performed thousands and thousands of 'gigs', from concerts to corporate parties, dances, weddings, pubs and clubs and the like, to long-term hotel gigs, lounges, restaurants, as well as both national and international concert tours.

Hutter, Patricia - Bass

Jack, Stanton - Guitar
Stanton C. Jack is one of the new generation of Canadian classical guitarists. He combines technical excellence with musical sensitivity, expressed through the uniquely rich and varied tonal language of the guitar. Recent highlights have included his dynamic performance of the famous Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez with the UBC Sinfonietta and many concerts with the UBC Guitar Quartet. CD releases include, Soul of the Guitar and Stanton C. Jack and Friends. His solo concert repertoire ranges from the Baroque suites of J.S. Bach and S.L. Weiss, to the folkloric inspired music of Spain, South America and Africa.
Stanton's academic studies began at Capilano College where he studied guitar with Stephen Boswell. He then moved to the UBC School of Music. He was a teaching assistant for the Guitar Division and completed his Masters of Music degree in Guitar Performance in 2006 after studies with Michael Strutt. He has attended master classes with the world famous virtuoso Pepe Romero, and also William Kanengiser of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
Now a successful educator himself, he combines a busy career of teaching, solo and chamber music performance and recording.  

Kellett, Lorne - Piano
Students will examine jazz piano styles and techniques using a repertoire of Blues, Standards and Jazz Classics. Chord symbol interpretation and rhythmic concepts will be studied along with technical exercises to stimulate a creative approach to jazz improvisation.

King, Joan - Piano & Violin
Joan King attended Foothill College and San Jose State in California, before enrolling in the Conservatory of Music in Mexico City. She studied Suzuki Teacher Training in Washington, DC, and in Victoria, BC. She has performed with the Orchestra of the Palace of Fine Arts, Mexico State Symphony, Mexico's National Symphony, The National Symphony (Washington, DC), Beethoven Pops, the Washington Sinfonia, Xalapa Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, and the Victoria Symphony, among others. She taught at the Do Re Mi Academy in Mexico City, at her own studio in Xalapa, Veracruz, and at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. She has much experience teaching the youngest beginners up through RCM grade 10. Both of her children are professional orchestra musicians. Joan moved to the Vancouver area in 2007, where she is happily teaching, freelancing, and babysitting grandchildren.

Kellett, Lorne 

Ko, Emily - Piano
Emily Ko wants to share the joy of music. Using her own experiences and her background in music education, Emily tries to cultivate in her students the beauty and power of music, which she hopes her students will then share with the next generation.

Lee, Grace Jong Eun - Kayagum
Grace Jong Eun Lee is a composer and a performer dedicated to inter-culturalism. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the University of British Columbia (Piano and Composition).
Currently, she teaches the Kayagum (Korean Zither) and new Korean music as well as directs and performs in the School of Music Korean Ensemble at the Vancouver Community College. Also, she is an Associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre. Her compositions have been performed at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and for the Canadian Society of Asian Arts, Festival Vancouver, Socan, and the CBC Orchestra. She has also organized a concert for the Korean Heritage College of North America at the UBC Music Recital Hall. She performed one of the Kayaygum pieces, Revolution of the Dharma Wheel, at the General Motors APEC and on Canadian Rogers TV in 1997, at the Korean Veterans Association (Victoria) in 2001, Pong-San Mask Dance Workshop (Korean Mask Dance Music and History) lecture for the UBC Theatre Department, Kayagum Concerto for the Sacred Music Festival Vancouver 2001 and the Socan Foundation for the Special Workshop for New Music. Also, she is the 2nd winner at the Overseas Korean Traditional Arts Contest (2002). As a Canadian composer representative, her piece was chosen in the International Festival of Women in Music Today 2003 (April 8-12) in Seoul, Korea. CBC Radio (May, 2005) (Music of Grace J.E. Lee). Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra (Sept, 2005)(Grace J.E. Lee's Canzone Senza Parole) and Vancouver Symphony Ochestra (May, 2006). Her compositions reflect a combination of Korean, Chinese (Erhu) and Western instruments (flute, clarinet, piano, string and percussion). She is strongly influenced by the sounds of nature and often uses them in her works to convey the East Asian sense of space and emptiness. Her interest in playing both traditional and contemporary music and composing for the Kayagum blossomed in Canada. She had a concert at UBC Chen Cenre and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York(2007) and Carnegie Hall in New York (2008) (Music of Grace Jong Eun Lee). She also received Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Award (Best Cultural Music Award) from Korea in 2008. 

MacDonald, Colin - Saxophone

Manolov, Natalie - Violin
Natalia Manolov- Violin, M. Mus., preparation for Festivals and RCMT Exams., Intermediate to Advance Students.In 2008 two of her students won Golden Medal at Festival in Vancouver.

McLeod, Robert 

Musaraj, Lindita - Violin

Nikolova, Iliana - Piano
Iliana Nikolova offers piano lessons that are inividually tailored to suit the musical preference, personal interests or learning styles of each student. The piano lessons are designed to be enjoyable, and encourage exploration and creativity in music study.

Nixon, Alison - Choral Society Director
Alison was born and educated in Scotland. She came to Canada in 1986 as a violinist and liolist. In 1992 she undertook studies in conducting, and founded the Bowen Island Community Choir as well as the Nota Bene Choral Ensemble. She has directed the St. Andrew's-Wesley Summer Choir since 1995. She undertook the direction of the Vancouver Orpheus Male Voice Choir for several years. Since the Fall of 2003, Alison has been the musical director of the North Shore Unitarian Church. She has directed the Douglas College Choral society since 1998. She lives on Bowen Island with her husband and three children.

Noftle, Joel - Piano
Joel has performed and toured extensively in the public school system with various school ensembles, including the Digital Guise. Recently, he has taught music technology and piano at the Kamloops Interior Summer School. Joel currently teaches piano and produces video and audio projects out of his home studio in Abbotsford.

Otani, Megumi - Piano
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Megumi Otani appeared on the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) at age of seven. Since then, she performed in numerous recitals and concerts in both North America and in Japan including as a soloist with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Her studies include; Musashino Music Academy in Tokyo (B.Mus.), The Banff Centre School of Fine Arts, The university of Victoria (M.Mus.) and the University of British Columbia (DMA study).

Paslawski, Gordon - Theory
Gordon Paslawski graduated from University of British Columbia, where he received his B.Mus. in composition, and his M.A. in music theory. In addition to his teaching at the Community Music School, Mr. Paslawski is a sessional instructor at the UBC School of Music where he teaches aural musicianship skills to first and second year students. As well, he maintains a private studio in Vancouver teaching all levels of RCM Harmony and History.

Pedersen, Cathy - Piano
Cathy Pedersen received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Idaho and a Master's of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She is active as a teacher, accompanist, singer and conductor. Cathy teaches all levels, but specializes in beginners and young beginners.

Quong, Meijane - Piano
Meijane Quong, DMA (Oregon), MMus (McGill), Licentiate Diploma (McGill), BMus(Alberta), AMus (Western Board). While on faculty at the University of PEI, Dr. Quong performed solo and duo recitals for CBC (Halifax) and NPR (US). She has performed concertos, solo and duo recitals in Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes, BC, Yukon, Oregon and North Carolina and has given master classes at the Central Vancouver Island Community Music School, and at Elizabeth Cith State University, NC. In addition to teaching for the Community Music School, Dr. Quong is on Faculty at Kwantlen University College and is an active member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators Association.

Ramsbottom, Gene - Clarinet

Round, Sue - Cello
Sue Round studied at the Vancouver Academy and received scholarships to complete her studies at the Toronto Conservatory (Ontario) and at the Royal College of Music in London, England where she received her LTCL in cello performance. She has played professionally for over 20 years as a member of CBC Radio Orchestra, and has performed, toured and recorded extensively with the Vancouver New Music Ensemble. She was the principal cello with the "LIVENT" Touring Company on their world tour from 1993 to 1996 and principal cellist at the Ford Centre for Performing Arts. At present she is principal cello with the Abbotsford Symphony and Clyde Mitchell's "Sinfonia". She has over 20 years experience teaching cello at Langley Music School, Douglas College and the Clearbrook Academy, and numerous summer festivals.

Shier, Robin - Trumpet
Trumpeter Robin Shier is one of Canada's nationally renowned jazz artists. His professional training included two years of study at Humber College in Toronto and four years at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he received both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. From 1984-86 he lived in Halifax, working with Symphony Nova Scotia as well as numerous studio and freelance engagements. In 1986 he moved to Vancouver where he has been very active in the music community. He is in demand in all disciplines from jazz to classical, from dance bands to Vancouver Opera productions. His critically acclaimed jazz group, the Robin Shier Quintet, has toured Canada many times. The group has been assisted frequently by the Canada Council for the Arts and has recorded both an LP and a CD for Unity Records. The Quintet has preformed at the International Jazz Festivals in Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton and Saskatoon. In 1993, Mr. Shier was a member of the Banff Centre Resident Jazz Orchestra. In August 2000, he performed with jazz great Clark Terry and the Festival Vancouver Jazz Orchestra. Robin Shier has been a faculty member of the music departments at Douglas College and Capilano College. He also directs two community jazz bands. Robin Shier has been identified by Kate Malloch of CBC's international radio program jazzbeat as "one of the finest composers in Canadian Jazz." 

Silverman, Ellen - Piano
Ellen Silverman has been coordinator of the piano division of Douglas College since 1982. She has concertized in Canada, the USA and the Far East and has adjudicated numerous music festivals. Her education includes a Bachelor's Degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master's Degree in Performance from Syracuse University.

Sleightholme, Karla - Saxophone
Karla Sleightholme holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria. Karla Plays lead alto sax in the Sleightholme Jazz Orchestra as well as a number of ensembles. Her regular gigs with Bluesette, an all girls jazz duo include; the Empress, Vancouver Art Gallery, Herman's Jazz Club, the University Club, Northview Golf Course, and various private functions throughout the lower mainland and Victoria. Karla has been a masterclass clinician for the Vancouver Kiwanis Jazz Festival, St. Patrick's Elementary School, and other middle schools in the Comox area. Karla teaches alto, tenor, soprano and bari sax as well as flute and clarinet.

Smith, Doug - Theory & Composition

Snizek, Suzanne - Flute
Suzanne Snizek is currently the flute instructor at both Trinity Western University (Langley BC), St. Georges School and Douglas College Community Music School, and in her fourth year of the DMA programme at UBC.
She received her Bachelors (in flute performance) from the University of Indiana- Bloomington. While an undergraduate student she was a winner in the national ¿Flute Talk¿ Competition. Her Masters degree (flute performance) was completed at the University of the Arts-Philadelphia where she studied with famed teacher Julius Baker. She won first place in the UArts Concerto competition and also won second place in the New York Flute Club Competition.
Following graduation, she travelled to Taiwan where she performed with the ESO (National Orchestra based in Taipei). After returning to the US, she won first prize in the Mid-South Young Artist Flute Competition and developed an active performance career. She performed with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Harrisburg Symphony, Riverside Sinfonia, Delaware Symphony, and the Trenton Symphony among others. Commercially she has recorded for ¿Kindermusic,¿ ¿HBO¿ television productions, the ¿NFL Presents¿ theme and numerous commercials. She also performed with the Moody Blues and Roger Daltrey and served as principal flute of the Bel Canto Opera company based in Philadelphia.
Teaching has always been an important component of Suzanne's artistic life. She was a faculty member at the Settlement Music School of Philadelphia (the oldest community music school in the United States) and then served as Senior Lecturer in flute at the University of the Arts from 1999- 2004. Her students have gone on to major music programs across the United States and Canada and have won places in the annual Julius Baker summer masterclasses held in Danbury CT, Interlochen Academy, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Cincinnatti Conservatory of Music, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Oregon, the Governors School of Pennsylvania, Skidmore College (NY) summer flute program, Lake Placid (NY) International Flute Institute, CalArts (CA) summer program and many other programmes.

Stiles, Allen - Piano

Waack, Henry - Piano
Mr. Waack was a founding member of Douglas College in 1970. He taught piano there until his retirement in 1993, and taught part-time for an additional five years. He was a musical director for over seventy productions, including fifteen with the Douglas College Theatre Department. For seven seasons, he was a pianist with the orchestra at Jasper Park Lodge.

Walker, Heather - French Horn
Heather Walker is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. She trained at the Vancovuer School of the Alexander Technique with Gabriella Minnes-Brandes and Marta Hunter. She is also an active freelance musician. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of British Columbia and a "Diplome d'etudes Superieur II" from the Quebec Conservatory of Music. 

Wells, Devon - Bango, Guitar 
Devon Wells is an accomplished multi-instumentalist based in Vancouver, B.C.. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Devon has been performing from a young. He earned a Bachelors Degree in music at York University. Some of his recent projects include the Leo Award winning short film The Beast of Dulle Griet as well as playing banjo for local bluegrass quartet The Tishomingo String Band and touring the United States as a banjo/electric guitar player for Nettwerk recording artists The Clumsy Lovers.
Devon has been teachign private music lessons for over 12 years. He teaches guitar and 5 string banjo lessons tailored to the student. He is comfortable teaching a variety of styles on the guitar including bluegrass, rock, folk, blues, and can help students with sight reading, ear training and theory. On banjo, Devon teaches 3 finger style. He likes the help beginning banjo pickers develop the avility to play with others and show more advanced students possibilities outside of the basic Scruggs style,

Zacharias, Sara - Voice

Aiming to create new jazz converts wherever she appears, Sara Zacharias brings a special energy, a connection to her audience, and her own theatrical jazz style that she marries to her bluesy, honey toned vocals.