OUR TEACHERS
"Education isn't just about feeding the brain. Art and music feed the heart and soul" - Julie Garwood
Katie Korfmann
Owner & Teacher, RECE
Katie has over 22 years of music experience and started performing professionally at the age of 12. She is passionate about educating future generations and passing on her love of music to all ages. Katie customizes each lesson to the student's goals while simultaneously keeping each lesson fun.
Grace Hetherington
Violin, Vocals, Guitar, Ukulele (Online only)
Grace is a dedicated music teacher,
performer, artist, photographer and actress from St.Catharines, Ontario. Grace’s main focus is the fiddle (Celtic, Old Time, Bluegrass…etc) but also teaches classical violin, guitar, ukulele, song writing and voice. Grace keeps her lesson light and fun but educational at the same time.
Thomas Wade
guitar/ukulele/drums/bass/music production/songwriting
Thomas’ life-long love for music was born when he strummed his first guitar at age four, and while other youngsters were playing hide and seek, he was performing weekly throughout southern Ontario with a popular family band from Burford.
Eventually graduating Fanshawe College’s Music Industry Arts Music Production program in London, Thomas set out as a touring musician, into the recording studio, and on to Nashville, honing his craft as a songwriter with some of the most renowned teachers.
Thomas is a multiple award winning, Juno-nominated artist and songwriter. For the past two decades he has been mentoring music lovers of all ages both as a teacher and a music producer, using years of professional knowledge to help students find their way to the joy of making music with an organic, less-is-more teaching style, always adhering to a simple principle: let the love of music lead the way.
Claire Collins
Piano, Voice
Claire is a 2023 Graduate of Western University with her Bachelor of Music Education.
She has been playing piano for 15 years and pursuing singing since she first joined her high school choir. Since studying classical voice she has learned the art of technique and proper vocal health, as well as comfortability with varying musical genres. Claire has experience with Royal Conservatory exams for both piano and voice and can oftentimes be found learning a new instrument; there’s always more to learn!
Her goal as a music educator is to foster a safe environment to create, learn, and celebrate music.
Sharon Schipper
Piano
Sharon began piano lessons at 9 years old and was immediately drawn into the love of learning to play. With over 10 years of teaching experience, she truly enjoys teaching all ages and abilities incorporating note reading, rhythm, theory and an endless supply of passion into each lesson. Playing duets with her students is also something that Sharon loves to teach in her lessons.
Receiving her teachers certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (under Dale Wheeler) was an experience Sharon throughly enjoyed and would love to pass down to her students. She also has experience playing for church services for 35 years and directing a children’s choir.
Sharon is looking forward to meeting students and extended family members to share her great love and passion for music!
Thom Speck
Early Childhood Music
Thom has honed his skill as a musician and a performer through a diverse career. After studying Musical Theatre Performance at Sheridan College, Thom went on to tour extensively throughout North America, sharing the stage with such greats as Fred Penner, Robert Munsch, Matt Dusk, and comedy legend Jay Leno. He has been a regular anthem singer for the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs, has released multiple albums and is certified GOLD in Canada. Before moving to his new home in Dundas Ontario in 2020, Thom ran parent/tot music classes throughout the GTA with Rainbow Songs Inc, sharing his ‘inventive, engaging and caring’ energy to the delight of the many families he worked with.
When he isn’t entertaining the demanding audience of his two young daughters, you can find Thom playing with his Celtic band Screeched Inn. He is thrilled to have found a new musical home with Katie’s Music Studio.
Dalyce Dostal
Flute, Piano, Theory, BMus
Dalyce is a passionate and enthusiastic music lover who loves to share her passion for the arts with others. She is a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and received a Bachelor of Music degree for Community Music. Music theory is a key part of being able to play any instrument and she loves to help students who want to understand music theory at a deeper level than simply reading sheet music. It can come in handy when wanting to write your own songs or to compose your own pieces of music. She believes that music can be taught and learned in different ways and lessons should be flexible to what the student wants to achieve in order to preserve their passion for the arts. Music lessons should be a fun place for students to express themselves and nurture their passion for music.
Kirsten Wegner
Piano, Voice
Being a recent graduate of Lakehead University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, Kirsten is excited to share her passion for music with her students. Her musical experience began at the age of 6 when she started taking both piano and voice lessons, and she has never looked back since! Kirsten has been involved with the Royal Conservatory of Arts, Kiwanis Music Festival, and has achieved a ARCT level proficiency in voice. Bedsides voice and piano, she also has experience teaching ukulele and flute in a group and private setting. Music has been intertwined in many aspects of her life, whether it is in the form of composing, teaching, or performing and has been a huge positive influence in her life. Her goal is create a positive environment for students focusing on their individual goals, needs, and preferences, while having fun in the process!
Ross Wooldridge
Piano, Clarinet, Saxophone
Born 1962 in Hamilton Ontario, Ross Wooldridge showed early musical ability, taking piano lessons by age four. Self taught on clarinet at age 13, he took up the saxophone at 16.
Attending Mohawk College and Humber College, Ross honed his arranging and composing skills. Afterwards he added to his portfolio the skills of Producer, Conductor, Transcription specialist and Educator.
Ross is an active performer and is the leader of Toronto's Galaxy Orchestra. Notable are his critically acclaimed recordings Tribute to the Benny Goodman Sextet Volumes 1 and 2, Scuttlebutt – a Tribute to Artie Shaw and his Gramercy 5 and two Dixie Demons recordings “Live at the Rex” and “Fossil Fuel”.
Ross teaches elementary school band classes for the Toronto District School Board and is passionate about sharing his practical approach to learning to play music.
Allyson Brown
Drama
Our drama teacher, Miss Allyson Brown, has extensive training in drama, dance and singing. Her education stems from an Honours Drama degree from McMaster University, Mohawk (creating comedy), Marilyn Szwec School of Dance, Tammy Beach Dance School, Singing lessons (Bach Academy, Ray Lyell, Reggie's Music School), Clown training, Sears and Switzer (Voice and Auditoning), Second City, and training from acclaimed Broadway teacher and casting director, Ginger Howard Friedman (scene study). She has also worked with Actraworks, Dave Dayler Player's Guild, and Dundas Little Theatre School programme in technical theatre and scene study. She a member of A.C.T.R.A. and is a professional actress, performer, and clown. Allyson has also studied writing, children's literature (degree), teaching, and is a professional writer and director. One of her plays was even performed at Hamilton Place. Her mentors are Ted Danson and Arlene Martel, who have been very supportive of her efforts. When she is not performing or writing, she enjoys working with children and teaching.
Crystal Glowala
Piano
Crystal’s love of piano started with lessons at the age of 4, later achieving her Grade 8 from the Royal Conservatory by age fourteen. Coming from a large musical family, gatherings always included a family jam with a wide range of instruments; piano, guitar, banjo, accordion, spoons, and violin – all of which were played by ear. Crystal has shared her gift of music as a church organist/pianist and through volunteer work. She also enjoys the challenge of working out the chord progression to her newest favourite song! As a teacher, Crystal hopes to grow a love for music in her students and aims to provide an environment that fosters trust, promotes self-respect, and is rooted in experiential learning beyond the keys.
Desiree Schneider
Admin
Desiree has been playing the piano for over 20 years. She has her grade 9 Royal Conservatory of Music, and has a niche for improv playing. Once she obtained her Grade 9 Royal Conservatory, she took lessons in improv with a highly skilled teacher. She started accompaniment for Kiwanis, Royal Conservatory exams, and musical recitals at the age of 14. Her goal with lessons is to make it positive for the student while catering the lesson to fit the student's needs. She has a passion for learning, with her students and in her personal life. Various genres are incorporated into her lesson plans. She is classically trained and teaches the Royal Conservatory method alongside many other classical books. She strongly believes music is supposed to be enjoyable, and a way to express yourself.
Naomi Kroesbergen
Piano
Raised on a farm in the small town of Lynden, ON, Naomi Kroesbergen was introduced to music at a very early age and was enrolled into piano lessons at the age of five. Being homeschooled from kindergarten through high school, gave ample opportunity for more time spent on lessons and practicing, and in grade 8, Naomi came under the piano tutelage and mentorship of Russian teacher Olga Tcherniak of Ancaster, ON.
Naomi has performed at numerous music festivals, competitions & exams since the early grades, and received The Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto diplomas for Elementary and Intermediate Pedagogy at the age of 18. She has been teaching students of all ages since grade 8, accompanied various choirs, solo instrumentalists, vocalists, small ensembles and frequently plays for weddings and church services.
Her goal in both teaching and accompanying, is to broaden the horizons of musical understanding and nurture a deeper appreciation for the gift that music has been to her personally, and to give it back to others in whatever capacity and opportunities may arise.
Elena Van Laren
Violin
Elena has been immersed in music her whole life and has a great passion for the violin. Her Mom is a very accomplished pianist and homeschooled her throughout elementary school. Elena was able to spend everyday practicing her violin, quickly building up her knowledge for both classical violin (Suzuki Method) and fiddle music. She has performed at various events at church, for community gatherings and professionally at weddings. She looks forward to sharing her love for music to all her students in a fun and supportive environment.
Laura Lepper
Piano
Laura has a passion for music that she loves to share with her students through fun uplifting classes. Piano has always been present in her life and she also loves to play the saxophone, Completing Level 10 RCM, Laura is confident teaching students of all ages and has many years of experience sharing her passion of music.
As a graduate of York University with a Masters in Geography, Laura teaches sessional university courses on the environment, social justice and public health. Laura also works with children in daycares, tutoring and alternative education settings.
Her approach to music education involves being guided by students’ unique interests and needs, creating a positive environment which empowers their self-esteem and love of musical learning.
