Jennifer began piano lessons when she was three years old, and has fallen in love with the instrument ever since. For 15 years, she was classically trained as a pianist and participated in many music festivals like the Rotary Music Festival and Contemporary Showcase. She has played at the Alberta Provincial Music Festivals twice and one first place back in 2015 for the piano solo category for grades 7 and 8.

In high school, she was introduced to the rock and pop program where she met her now bandmates. Her favourite part is arranging unique three part harmonies to seventies and eighties classics and putting her own flare on her favourite childhood songs. From classical to popular, she is passionate about all kinds of music and is excited to share this love with her students.

Adam Maciejewski is a classically trained pianist and composer. He has studied with Wolfram Linnebach, Malcolm Forsythe, and Dr. Jacques Despres up to the 400 level at the University of Alberta for piano performance. He has written over 10 pieces for the piano, and has competed at the Kiwanis and Fall Music Festivals, as well as the Canadian Music Competition.

Adam has studied piano performance at Williams College in Massachusetts, as well as Ball State University in Indiana. Adam is also a graduate of the University of Alberta School of Business.

Born in the picturesque landscapes of Western Ukraine, Olena Suknovska's musical odyssey began at the age of seven when she enrolled at the esteemed Nadvirna Music School. Over the course of eight years, she delved deep into the intricacies of the violin, mastering its melodies and nuances under the guidance of passionate instructors.

Fuelled by her passion for music, Olena continued her education at the Kolomyia Pedagogical College's Music Department. Here, she embarked on a multifaceted journey, studying violin with the revered teacher Lekhnyk Lyubomyr, while also exploring the realms of academic vocal studies and conducting. It was during this time that Olena's talent began to blossom, earning her recognition and admiration from peers and mentors alike.

Following her graduation, Olena's musical journey took her to the prestigious Chernivtsi National University, where she had the privilege of studying violin under the tutelage of the distinguished Honored Artist of Ukraine, Mykola Hakman. Imbued with a deep sense of dedication and commitment, Olena actively participated in orchestral and choral activities, honing her skills and enriching her musical repertoire.

The pinnacle of Olena's early career came with her membership in the Magurel Orchestra, an experience that saw her traversing the stages of Europe, captivating audiences with her soulful performances. With each note, Olena's passion for music only grew stronger, propelling her towards new horizons and opportunities.

Driven by a desire to share her knowledge and passion for music with the next generation, Olena embarked on a new chapter as a violin teacher at a state children's music school, where she dedicated over three years to nurturing young talents and shaping future virtuosos.

A move to Warsaw marked a turning point in Olena's career, as she assumed the role of a private violin teacher at the esteemed Malwa Music Studio. Here, she not only shared her expertise but also continued her own musical education, participating in master class lessons at the renowned Music Academy in Lodz, Poland.

Throughout her journey, Olena remained deeply engaged in artistic activities, participating in concerts and festivals as a proud member of the Malwa band. Her unwavering commitment to the music industry was further solidified during her tenure at Henglewscy in Warsaw, where she served as a presenter seller and played a pivotal role in selecting string accessories and literature for professional musicians.

Today, Olena's musical journey has led her to the vibrant city of Edmonton, where she continues to enrich the cultural landscape as a dedicated member of the Razom Orchestra and several choirs. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of music and the enduring pursuit of excellence.

Zia Mizerova is a Macewan University graduate who grew up playing violin classically in Edmonton, Alberta. In the beginning, they used to weep about having to practice; however, what was once a very daunting process of seeing individual notes transform into music quickly became a joyful meditation meant for every moment.

Zia’s favourite musical pastimes include: learning new techniques, songwriting, and plucking on heartstrings. They grew up a total musical theatre nerd starring in multiple plays and acts, from independent productions to the Fringe.

While at Macewan University, Zia studied recording and production arts, vocal performance and piano performance.

Zia welcomes students of all ages who want to develop vocal, piano, violin, songwriting, recording and music production skills.

Lucy graduated from the University of Toronto with her Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in French Horn Performance, and holds a Professional Counsellor Diploma, Life Coaching Certification and Life Skills Facilitation Certification from Rhodes Wellness College in British Colombia. Lucy is an alumnus of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, The University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and is an active freelance musician.

Lucy has spent time working with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Brott Music Festival, the Kawartha Youth Orchestra, the University of Toronto Brass Faculty and more offering workshops and counselling services. Lucy was also thrilled the present at the 2022 International Women in Brass Conference in Denton, Texas, on integrating a trauma informed approach to music education.

Barbara Leah Meyer has been a dynamic member of the Canadian and European music scenes for many years. A native of Edmonton, she has entertained a variety of audiences across Canada and throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Japan and the Middle East as a solo artist, in jazz ensembles, with big bands and symphony orchestras.

Barbara is a graduate of the Grant MacEwan music program. She has taught voice and piano for over 30 years. While living in Germany, Barbara was on the faculty at the Frankfurt University for Music and Performing Arts, Frankfurt Musikwerkstatt and Frankfurt's Scream Factory. Barbara teaches a classical, "Bel Canto" technique applied to repertoire in various genres from jazz and musical theatre to pop and country. Barbara has released and co-produced 6 CDs and was honoured to have been selected as Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1992 ARIA (Alberta Recording Industry Association) Awards.

Sherrilyn is a talented pianist with a wealth of experience in many musical genres. She grew up in a musical family in Vancouver, BC where she completed her Royal Conservatory of Music education, receiving numerous awards and accolades. Upon moving to Edmonton, she continued her musical journey studying flute, and received Grade 10 RCM level.

While raising three children she worked as a piano collaborator at Alberta Ballet School, Ballet North and numerous dance studios. She taught at Alberta College for many years assisting in the development of their early childhood music program.

After graduating with distinction in the Arts and Cultural Management program at MacEwan University, Sherrilyn stepped into the world of directing, producing multi-disciplinary productions and festivals. This inclusion of theatre, storytelling, poetry, dance and visual arts carries over into her piano teaching where she is dedicated to inspiring her students to develop their full potential and a life long love of music.

Sara is an accomplished pianist with experience teaching students of all ages. She encourages her students to learn proper technique, music theory and some music history during the lesson. She started learning the piano at age 7 and has a Music Diploma from Tehran Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tehran. She is currently working on a master’s degree in Piano Performance at the University of Alberta.

She has performed in many festivals such as Fajr International Festival and the Classic to Contemporary Music Festival in Iran, both as a soloist and accompanist. She is a prize winner at the National Youth Music Festival in Tehran and has lots of experience accompanying choirs, vocalists and other instruments. Sara enjoys listening to all styles of music, including pop and heavy metal and adapts her teaching style to accommodate the interests of her students.

Svitlana has many years of experience as an instructor and professional musician in both piano as well as violin.

After graduating from the Dniepropetrovsk Academy of Music in Ukraine, with a degree in pedagogue and performance, Svitlana, taught in the string department at the Academy. She performed in the Dniepropetrovsk Regional Philharmonic Orchestra , The Radio and Television Orchestra in Kiev and upon relocating to in Cairo she was a principle in the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. Her performance career has included tours of France, Germany, Croatia, China, Korea and Dubai.

Svitlana has trained many award winning students including winners of the International Katarovich Competition and is dedicated to inspiring a love of music in her students of all ages.

A ‘little bit country and a whole lot of rock and roll’ describes award-winning soulful powerhouse singer-songwriter Dahlia Wakefield. Like many artists from humble beginnings, Dahlia (PRON: DALE-yuh) was raised in a small rural town; she left when rock ’n’ roll and bright lights of the big city beckoned. Since graduating from the Grant MacEwan Music program where she majored in Vocal Performance, Dahlia has been a full time musician. A vocal and beginner piano coach for the past ten years, Dahlia has taught at Dance Theme in Edmonton, Cooper Studios in Sherwood Park, The Leduc School of Music, and Miss Maddi's Dance Company in Stony Plain. Music has been and always will be Dahlia’s passion, and from performing and songwriting to teaching, and she looks forward to a lifetime of music!

Kristine’s love for the performing arts started early with dance, acting, singing and piano. She is a versatile pianist and vocalist with a wide range of experience and training. After competing her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Brandon with a major in both piano and voice. she worked as an accompanist, church music director, organist, musical theatre director, and performed in hotels in Brandon as well as Edmonton. She has performed roles with Mercury Opera, Alberta Opera, and has been in the Edmonton Opera Chorus. She also has experience behind the scenes working in the production department of various theatre companies.

Kristine has always had a passion for inspiring musicianship in people around her. She welcomes students of all ages from beginners to advanced students and is comfortable teaching everything from classical to pop music. If you are looking for a dedicated teacher with a wealth of experience, Kristine looks forward to working with you!

Jocelyn recently graduated in April 2021, with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Alberta. She has studied under the direction of Robert Uchida, concertmaster of the ESO, and Guillaume Tardiff, Associate Professor and String Area coordinator of the University of Alberta. She has studied internationally with Lin He, Associate Professor of Louisiana State University and violinist with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Gregory Lee, Concertmaster of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Lynn Kuo, Assistant Concertmaster of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra.

Along with violin, Jocelyn plays the piano, flute, and alto saxophone. She has taught violin in the Music Enrichment program to both children and adults, and has been told that she is a patient and caring teacher. She is excited to teach at VCPA and is looking forward to helping her students develop their musical skills and a joy for playing!