Our Oakville Music Teachers

---

Alanda has been involved in many different aspects of the music scene for over 20 years.  She has extensive experience working with choirs, musical theatre, and also plays many different instruments.  

Over 20 years ago she started using her contagious love of learning as a teaching tool; inspiring people of all ages to learn and enjoy learning music with a positive and fun approach.  

Alanda has also been teaching music lessons at Addison Music Learning Centre for over 20 years.   

Kaitlyn is an accomplished classical singer and piano player.  

Vocal:  With more than eleven years of vocal training from some of Canada's most esteemed instructors, she has studied and performed repertoire in more than sixteen world languages and has therefore gained a deep understanding of diverse musical genres. 

As a twelve-year member of the internationally-ranked Oakville Choir for Children and Youth, Kaitlyn has participated in a number of nation-wide music festivals and has performed as both a soloist and an ensemble singer in several world-leading opera houses including the Harpa in Iceland, the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm and the Royal Opera House in England. 

Having recently received First Class Honours with Distinction on her Grade 8 voice and theory exams,  Kaitlyn is also a three-time finalist at the ORMTA Provincial Voice Championships and is a frequent soloist for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO).

Piano:  In addition to Kaitlyn's many accomplishments as a classical singer, however, she is also an experienced concert pianist and accompanist. With over six years of elite instruction from some of Canada's most revered piano instructors, she demonstrates proficiency in technique, improvisation, ear training and sight-reading and has developed strong technical skills across all predominant piano styles including classical, baroque, pop, contemporary, jazz, blues and more. 

Aside from the distinction of receiving the highest mark in her Level 8 piano exam across the province, Kaitlyn has also won a number of national titles in Canadian-wide piano competitions and has therefore had the privilege of performing at some of North America's most recognized concert halls including Roy Thompson, Massey and Koerner hall.

Despite Kaitlyn's many achievements as a classical singer and pianist, however, perhaps her biggest passion in life is sharing her love of music with aspiring musicians.  As music and performing have always played a pivotal role in her life, being able to teach, mentor and guide beginner-level musicians throughout their musical journeys has always held a special place in her heart. 

With the strong belief that "music can change the world because it can change people", Kaitlyn's goal is always to foster a positive, encouraging and fun learning environment that increases confidence and allows students of all ages to fulfill their musical goals. :) 

As a result, Kaitlyn is thrilled to be joining the team at the Addison Music Learning Centre and is greatly looking forward to helping students achieve their full musical potential!

 Gretchen has performed across Canada in Theatre and Music Theatre, Operatic Works, (including original works), Symphonic concerts and has also been seen on television, feature films, and has also performed for CBC Radio. Originally from Toronto, Gretchen has extended her musical and acting studies to include New York, where her training was mostly Classical there, but she feels equally at home in Music Theatre, folk, pop and light jazz. 

Her singing performance beginnings, were folk and rock, but she believed in the power of classical training. She is one of the original members of the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA company, and also the MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER concert series, as well as having starred and originated many roles for Canadian Music Theatre. 

Gretchen is also well known for her role of 4 years playing Mrs. Jeremiah, the mother of the series star Joey Jeremiah, in the award winning television series DEGRASSI JR. HIGH. Her roles in standard Music Theatre repertoire include Kate, in KISS ME KATE, Alexandra in ALEXANDRA THE LAST EMPRESS (original), Bertrande in THE HOUSE OF MARTIN GUERRES (original), Iolanthe in IOLANTHE, as well as many others that also include Anne of Green Gables, The Boyfriend, The Picture of Dorian Gray (original work, by the award winning composer of the recent DROWSEY CHAPERONE Greg Morrison), and The Desert Song for Shaw Festival. She has appeared many times in concert with the Conductor and Operatic Star Mark Dubois, and has enjoyed singing with full symphonies on numerous occasions. 

Gretchen is please to have founded the quartet QuattroVoce. Gretchen has also Music Directed, Conducted and Directed in the Panasonic Theatre’s production of CABARET. Gretchen has also co-hosted a radio show for CBC called Basic Black, with the infamous Danny Marks. She has also trained several movie stars for their singing and musical roles in feature films and television. 

Gretchen is a renowned vocal instructor, and spends much of her time training her well known roster of students, who’ve gone on to Broadway, and L.A. in movies and stage, and are all known for their excellence at their craft. (Some call her their “best kept secret”.) She also directs and writes shows 2 - 4 times a year for them, and produces these, at theatres in Ontario. 

Gretchen is also responsible for for forming and producing for “SAY YES TO OPERA!”. A group that brings opera to “urban” spaces. CBC RADIO has been a great support of this event, and Gretchen has done a full 12 minute interview for Ing Wong Ward on her radio show. Gretchen has also been interviewed on the internet based radio show LIQUID LUNCH. You will find her on occasional Saturdays, with her group performing for folks at the ST. LAWRENCE MARKET at Front and Jarvis in Toronto.   

 Irina Graduated from the Saratov State Pedagogical University with an Honours degree speacializing in Music for Elementary and Preschool.   Three years previous to this she obtained a Music Education diploma from Volgograd State Pedagogical College.  

Since 1995 she has held many positions in the field of music education including  an accompanist for a ballet company (piano), Elementary Music School teacher and Choral Conductor,  and a private voice and piano instructor at schools such as the Hamilton Conservatory and Mohawk College.  Irina specializes in classical but can perform and teach all styles .       

 As a 2019 Country Music Association of Ontario nominee for "Roots Artist of the Year", up and comer Mackenzie is already getting industry nods for her unique style and enchanting vocals.

Since the May 2018 release of her debut EP "Dive Bar Diva", the Hamilton, ON native has caught the attention of quite a few country music fans. With her song "Your Company" featured on ET Canada and more than 182,000 views on her YouTube, it's no shocker that renowned producer Ken Scott (David Bowie, Supertramp) exclaimed " Watch out Carrie Underwood" after working with Meyer on EP favourite "Should Have Known".

But if you've ever seen this Steeltown artist live, you'd know her writing isn't the only thing worth bragging about. Her vibrant stage presence and dynamic live show has been wowing audiences on some of country music's favourite stages like Boots and Hearts, Havelock Jamboree, Lucknow's Music in the Fields and many more. As an honours Humber Music Degree graduate and busy professional musician/entertainer in the off-season, to say that Mackenzie has continually been honing her craft is an understatement.

Currently, Mackenzie is working on new music that will be her debut release to country radio this fall. Partnering up with world class producer Jeff Dalziel (2018/2019 CCMA & CMA Ontario Producer of the Year) you won't want to miss what Mackenzie has in store.

Ian has been teaching guitar in Oakville at Addison Music Learning Centre longer than any other teacher at the school.  Along with Kim he has watched the school grow from 3 teachers and 30 students to well over 20 teachers and 1,000 students.  

If it's maturity in style, education, and experience, it's Ian that you want as a teacher as he has been writing and performing music professionally for over 20 years and he has been teaching since 1992.  

He is capable of playing many different styles and to prove that works in diverse bands from rock, grunge to jazz.  Ian has also recorded his own CD that features jazz standards as well as a few originals. 

 Though not trained as a singer Ian enjoys singing and does so at many of his gigs.  Ian is a graduate of the Mohawk College music program and is more than capable of teaching any student and any style.    

Alex is a drummer from Etobicoke, Ontario. He has many musical interests including Funk, Rock, Country, Latin and Jazz. Alex began playing the piano at age 4 and has his RCM Grade 6 certification. In Grade 8, his interests shifted to the drums and he has been a dedicated drummer since.

Throughout high school, Alex played in bands such as the Jazz Combo, Jazz Orchestra, and the Concert Band travelling across Canada to participate in the FCMF National Music Festivals. He also played percussion with the Hannaford Youth Band in Grade 12. 

Last summer, Alex was a Senior Staff member at Red Pine Camp and was co-in charge of running the Junior Program – a morning program offering engaging and stimulating activities for children 0-12 years old. He incorporated music into the daily planning through concerts, interactive playing and singing. 

Currently Alex studies at Humber College in the Bachelor of Music – Drums/Percussion Program.  He has studied with musicians such as Lorne Nehring, Mark Kelso, and Larnell Lewis. 

Throughout the 2019-2020 school year, Alex was a staff member at Humber College’s Community Music Program where he played the drums for various ensembles of students aged 8-17 applying the Orff and Kodaly methods of Early Childhood Music Education.

 Bio coming soon! Dain is currently studying woodwinds at Humber College having just finished his second year in 2020.  He plays sax, flute and clarinet equally all professionally in many performance ensembles in the GTA and is a well respected and sought after musician.   He will be providing us with a bio shortly... in the meantime listen to this MONSTER arrangement Dain wrote of  Artie Shaw's solo on "Stardust" arranged in 4 part harmony for four clarinets.  WOW!!!  

At an RCM A.R.C.T playing level, Cody is a classical pianist and teacher who has graduated from the  Mohawk College Music Program and hopes to eventually become a concert pianist and university music teacher. 

After discovering he had perfect pitch, Cody studied with a retired concert pianist, learning Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” which he performed six months later at a piano bar while on a holiday in Cuba. Two years later, Cody enrolled in the music program at Mohawk College where he would study with teachers such as Jamshed Turel, Alexei Gulenco and Dusty Micale as well as many others.   Cody now takes piano lessons with world renowned pianist, Valerie Tryon, and looks forward to getting ready for university and furthering himself as a musician.  

In a very short time Cody has greatly exceeded anyone’s expectations and performed works such as Chopin’s Scherzo in B flat minor and Liszt's Mephisto Waltz as well as many other virtuosic works. 

Cody has participated in master classes with pianists such as Stephen Hough, Marcel Bergmann, Marc Pierre Toth and Samuel Deason. He has also performed in events for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and Hamilton Public Library as well as many other venues. 

As well as classical music Cody is also an avid lover of musical theatre.  Cody regularly participates with an orchestra as a keyboardist for Burlington Student Theatre performing shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Xanadu among many others. 

Cody is currently taking some time off from furthering his education to refine his technique and musicianship skills before continuing university studies. 

Nathanael, originally a classical pianist for 12 years, transitioned to contemporary and jazz for his new found love of arranging and improvisation. 

On the side, Nathanael plays Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Eastern and African Drums for various occasions when needed.   He even achieved his grade 8 RCM guitar!  

As a gigging musician and teacher he stresses the importance of exploring all aspects and genres of music.  His favorite and most influential are Jazz Fusion, Reggae, RnB, and Afro Cuban/Latin jazz. 

With his  extensive background in music he's taken his knowledge to the test of being apart of many bands and working with those with an ear for jazz. 

Nathanael is a graduate of the Mohawk College music program and has achieved his grade 10 Royal Conservatory in Piano.   The Mohawk Music program has brought many opportunities to Nathanael's musicianship, including his love for Broadway music and working with Jamshed Turel apart of the Burlington Student Theater Orchestra. Through the great support of colleagues and the music faculty at Mohawk he enters the music industry confident in his abilities to perform and educate.  

 André has taught music his whole life ; supporting his performing and recording career since high school  years.  He has been performing live in the music industry since he was a teen with many different bands and musicians.  He also taught guitar lessons for a very high profile music school in Port Credit for over 20 years.

Andre attended Humber College where he attained his music diploma. 

André believes in the healing power of music and he also works as a music therapist for adults with disabilities.

André enjoys playing many instruments including  guitar, vocals, drums and also enjoys teaching theory and the fundamentals of music.  We have found him to be a very sensitive and amusing teacher who enjoys having fun in his lessons. 

And an interesting note you will find on his resume is he also has his   

· St. John Ambulance

· First-Aid , CPR Certificate

·  Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certificate 

 Shelley began her musical journey at the age of four with piano lessons. After discovering her perfect pitch and natural ear she went on to earn her Bachelor of Music  and performed with choirs and churches as well as an accompanist . 

Shelley received training at the Royal Conservatory, earning her Grade 10 RCM and theory, and also trained in the Yamaha School of Music earning her Grade 5 Yamaha credentials.  After earning her music degree and her RCM and Yamaha credentials, she went on to teach courses to young children for six years and has been teaching piano and voice in Burlington and Hamilton for 14 years. 

Her style is always evolving but her main goal is to promote good technical skills in piano and vocal technique as well as instilling a life long love of music. 

 Patty has been playing piano for over 35 years and teaching since 1993. She graduated from the prestigious Arts York program at Unionville High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts (Music) degree from the University of Western Ontario. Patty has a special interest in music theory, having studied with Joe Ringhofer, current Chief Examiner of Theoretical Subjects of the Royal Conservatory of Music. In addition, Patty is active as an accompanist for exams, music festivals, and other events.    

 Matthew is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and educator whose style ranges from jazz, classical, rock, and folk music. His twenty plus years of experience has taken him across Canada numerous times, throughout the USA and Europe, playing professionally. Matthew studied jazz guitar, composition and arranging at St. Francis Xavier University and Mohawk College. At these schools he grasped difficult musical concepts and learned the ability to teach them. Music is his passion and sharing this with his students fulfills him. 

Sama is a passionate and dedicated certified Orff instructor and Early Childhood Music teacher who has worked for several musical institutions since graduating from Art University of Tehran with a Master in Music Education.  She has completed Orff Level I & II to further her knowledge in music pedagogy through The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and also completed her Smart Start course at the RCM which concentrates on teaching toddlers music.

Focusing on cognitive, language, and social skill development using music in childhood, Sama uses voice, Piano, Recorder, Tar and her strong knowledge of music theory to provide young children with the tools necessary to succeed in life and music long-term. She works with early childhood centers and schools across Toronto in order to bring a love of music to as many children’s lives as she can.