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Our faculty

The Mount Royal Conservatory is proud to have a faculty that consists of accomplished professional performers and pedagogues. We believe that our commitment to quality instruction sets the standard for similar programs throughout Canada, and we are proud of the accomplished and acclaimed faculty who contribute so much to achieving that goal.

Faculty information is arranged by program type or instrument. Wherever possible, direct e-mail links to individual faculty members have been included.

Administration

Paul Dornian,
Director, Mount Royal Conservatory
Sheldon Nadler,
Manager, General & Orchestral Programs
William van der Sloot,
Manager, Choral & Academy programs
Albert O'Neil,
Manager, Conservatory Support Services

Program Coordinators

Academy of for Gifted Youth

Academy Program Support
Claudia Hasan-Nielsen

Accompanying
Susanne Ruberg-Gordon
Artistic Advisor
& Sr. Academy cello
John Kadz
Bass
Sheila Garrett
Brass
Laurie Matiation
Cello
Beth Root-Sandvoss
Chamber music
John Thompson
Concert Series
Kathy Dornian
Guitar
Murray Visscher
Intermediate & Associate cello
Beth Root Sandvoss
Junior Strings
Aleksandra
van der Sloot
Piano
Rolf Bertsch
Theory
Veronica Tapia-Carreto
Viola
Nicholas Pulos
Vocal Arts
Elaine Case
Woodwinds
Lauren Eselson

General Programs

Choral Program
Jean-Louis Bleau
Early Childhood Strings
Diane Lane
Kodály Musicianship
Anita Perlau
Music with Your Baby
Sarina Rommedahl Rudzik
Orff
Holger Mauthe
Organ Studies
Neil Cockburn
Piano
Susan Hlasny
Speech Arts
Jennifer Orr
Strings
Brad Mahon
Suzuki Piano
Elsie Ng,
Claudia Woo
Theory
Veronica Tapia-Carreto
Winds & Brass
Voice
Corinne Buschmeyer

Summer Programs

Morningside Music Bridge
Maimie De Silva
Morningside Music Bridge
John Kadz
(Artistic Co-Director)
Pender Island Flute Retreat
Gwen Klassen
MusicMakers!
Anita Perlau
Suzuki Summer Institute
Pat Huck
Summer Jazz Workshop
Rubim de Toledo
Classical GuitarFest West
Murray Visscher
Summer Theory Prep Class
Erin Berko
Cowtown Opera Summer Academy
Edith Pritchard
Drumset Educational Camp
Tyler Hornby
Blues Guiar Workshop
Ralf Buschmeyer
Calgary Piano Institute
Marianne Bleile

Support Staff

Gina Allen,
Registration Clerk
Trish Blaker,
Supervisor, Registration & Budget
Shelley Davis,
Registration Clerk
Miriam Fabijan,
Administrative Assistant,
Conservatory Support

Kirsten Garcia,
General & Orchestral Program Liaison
Claudia Hasan-Nielsen,
Academy & Choral Programs Support
Elizabeth Mason,
Facilities Secretary
Sarah Matheson,
Registration Clerk
Stephania Romaniuk,
Administrative Assistant to the Director

Stephen Shepard,
Registration Clerk
Oli Siska,
Administrative Assistant,
Theatre Services Scheduling & Rental Contracts
David Soltess,
Graphic Artist & Designer
Melanie Watson,
Marketing & Communications Consultant

Conservatory instructor Nick Pulos
Accompanists

Academy

Susanne Ruberg-Gordon,
Coordinator, accompanying
Marianne Bleile
Kathy Dornian
Julia Haager
Ami Longhi
Akiko Tominaga
Iryna Zayarny

General

Brass

Laurie Matiation,
Coordinator, Academy Brass
Natalie DeJong
Michael Eastep
Howard Engstrom

Choral Programs

Jean-Louis Bleau,
Artistic Director, Mount Royal Choral Program & Youth Choir Director
David Ferguson,
Mount Royal Kantorei Choir Director
Mackenzie Fraser,
Calgary Boys' Intermediate Choir Director
Paul Grindlay,
Calgary Boys' Choir Artistic Director
& Touring Choir Director
Holger Mauthe,
Calgary Boys' Choir Young Singers Director
Elizabeth Paynter,
Mount Royal Children's Choir Director

Kathryn Berko,
Calgary Boys' Choir Principal Accompanist
Mary Buckley,
Kantorei Accompanist
Dana Hagg,
Mount Royal Youth Choir Accompanist
Jeannie Park,
Mount Royal Children's Choir Accompanist
Monica Micallef,
MRU Choir Association Manager
Robyn Sheldrake,
Kantorei Society Manager

Early Childhood Programs

Anita Perlau,
Coordinator,
Kodály Musicianship
Diane Lane,
Coordinator, Early Childhood Strings
Elsie Ng,
Coordinator,
Suzuki Piano
Sarina Rommedahl Rudzik,
Coordinator,
Music with Your Baby,
Music & Movement

Kim Aull,
Suzuki Guitar
Marissa Feria,
Suzuki Piano
Patti Frizzell,
Music with Your Baby, Music & Movement
Katrina Grigoriu, Early Childhood Strings
Olena Kilchyk
Holger Mauthe,
Music with Your Baby, Orff,
Music & Movement
Morag Northey,
Early Childhood Strings

Vallerie Ross,
Kodály Musicianship
Teresa Sabiston,
Orff
Liza Scriggins,
Early Childhood Strings
Judit Szanto,
Kodály Musicianship,
Music with Your Baby
Carmen Morin,
Suzuki Piano
Claudia Woo, Suzuki Piano
Azadeh Zanjani, Kodály Musicianship
Sylvia Zavzavadjian, Kodály Musicianship

Harp

Gianetta Baril

Jazz

Music Appreciation

James Istvanffy

Music Theory, History & Composition

Orchestral Program

Sheldon Nadler,
Orchestra Coordinator
Ben Neumann,
Coordinator, Jr. Orchestra Program
Conductor, Preparatory Strings, Pre-Chamber Strings (A and B) and Chamber Strings
Jeremy vanDieman
Conductor, Junior Strings Orchestra
Edmond Agopian,
Artistic Director, Calgary Youth Orchestra
John Thompson,
Conductor, Conservatory Strings

Organ Studies

Neil Cockburn,
Coordinator

Percussion

Piano

Rolf Bertsch,
Coordinator, Academy piano
Susan Hlasny,
Coordinator, General Programs piano
Kathy Dornian,
NMC Coordinator
Alexandra Andrievsky
Colleen Athparia
Marissa Feria
Charles Foreman
Ariel Gonzalez
Julia Haager

Speech Arts & Drama

Strings

Edmond Agopian,
CYO Artistic Director
Sheila Garrett,
Coordinator, Academy double bass
John Kadz,
Coordinator, Academy sr. cello
Diane Lane
Coordinator, Early Childhood Strings
Brad Mahon,
Coordinator, Strings
Nicholas Pulos,
Coordinator, Academy viola
Beth Root Sandvoss,
Coordinator, Academy cello
John Thompson,
Coordinator, Academy strings
Murray Visscher, Coordinator, Academy guitar

Voice

Elaine Case,
Coordinator & Artistic Advisor
Academy vocal program
Corinne Buschmeyer
Coordinator,
Voice (General Programs)
Jason Erhardt
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Mark Hahle
Winston Noren
Jacqueline Serpas
Vocal Academy

Woodwinds

Lauren Eselson,
Coordinator, Academy woodwinds
Stan Climie

Associate Branch Instructors

The Conservatory has established Associate Branch Studios throughout the City of Calgary to provide a wide range of Conservatory-quality private instruction within local neighborhoods. Associate Branch instructors provide the same high-quality Conservatory instruction as our on-campus private instructors.

For an Associate Branch instructor nearest you, browse through the Associate Branch Faculty listings below, or call The Conservatory at 403.440.6821.

Northwest

Southwest

Southeast