Meet Our Teachers

Marie Calvert has a B.Mus from U.B.C., a M.Mus. from W.W.U. (Bellingham), an A.T.C.L. and L.T.C.L. from Trinity College of London, and a Professional Teaching Certificate for B.C. schools. She also has training in Suzuki Piano, Kodaly, and Orff pre-school music methods. For over twenty years she has taught at her home studio, in the Public School System, and at various music schools in the Greater Vancouver Area such as the Vancouver Academy of Music, St. James Music Academy, and the Langley Community Music School. In addition to teaching, she coaches, accompanies and plays chamber music.

Alan Crane holds a Bachelor of Music (University of Western Ontario) and a Master of Music in Piano Performance (University of British Columbia). For over thirty years he has been teaching a full range of students from young beginners to pre-professionals, and adults. In addition to being on the faculty of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music, Mr. Crane teaches part-time at the Langley Community Music School where he has served for many years as Coordinator of the Piano Program. As well as teaching, Alan Crane is a co-director of the popular series West Coast Chamber Music and is an active performer & accompanist.

Ruth Cornish holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia and is a longtime member of the British Columbia Registered Music Teacher's Association. She has been welcoming flute, piano, and theory students of all ages and abilities for over 30 years. While her students consistently perform well in recitals, festivals, and exams, she is happy to help students reach their goals, whether they want to learn music for fun and enjoyment, improve their school band playing, or pursue more intensive studies in music.

Ross Curran has a B.Mus. from the University of Victoria, Orff Schulwerk Level I (U.B.C.) and Orff Schulwerk Level II (Hamline University). He has taught as a pre-school music specialist and taught flute, saxophone, clarinet and recorder lessons throughout the Lower Mainland for many years. As a performer, Ross has played in concerts, dance bands, chamber music ensembles, film music and on C.B.C. radio.

Bonnie Dodds has a Bachelor of Musical Arts, Bachelor of Education and Artist's Diploma in Voice Performance from the University of Western Ontario. She has taught voice for 30 years at various locations, including Vancouver Community College, Mount Royal Conservatory of Music, the Gwen Greenway School of Music and at her private studio. In addition, she performed for several years with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, the Vancouver Opera Chorus, as a freelance oratorio, recital and opera singer. Her experience has taken her across Canada, including the Banff School of Fine Arts, the USA, China, Russia and England.

Libby holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from The Australian National University's Conservatory of music. She has extended training in early childhood music group classes (ages 0-8), piano studies, directing children's choirs and vocal group classes. Whether students are learning voice, piano or both, Libby believes in making learning a fun, accessible and an immersive experience. Her goal is not only to grow musical skills but also foster a lifelong love for music in all students. She uses her creativity to develop engaging avenues for students to learn the most challenging aspects of music in an enjoyable way.

Lacri Galagan is a professional classical pianist and educator with over 10 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from TUAMK (Finland) and a Master's in Classical Piano Performance from the Sibelius Academy. She is a recipient of the Steinway Inspirational Scholarship and Third Prize winner in the national Leevi Madetoja Piano Competition. Her teaching combines the Finnish Piano School methodology with the RCM curriculum, emphasizing technique, improvisation, exam preparation, and advanced repertoire. Her students benefit from a student-centered, supportive learning environment.

Clara Shandler holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Scholarship from the University of British Columbia and has been an active teacher and music coach in Canada and Cambodia for over a decade. Clara adapts her teaching to accommodate physical injuries or limitations, allowing each student's love of music to flourish without pain or burn-out. As a performer, Clara transcends the boundaries of many different genres and encourages her students to do the same. Whether studying Bach or the Beatles, Clara's students cultivate a wide range of musical skills while having fun, connecting with their inner voice and nurturing their own sense of self expression.

Rodney Sharman teaches music composition, flute, and recorder from his home studio in East Vancouver (Coast Salish territory). He sings, conducts, composes, plays recorders and flutes. He has been Victoria Symphony Mentor-Composer in Residence, Composer-in-Residence of Early Music Vancouver's "New Music for Old Instruments", the Victoria Symphony, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Composer-Host of the Calgary Philharmonic's New Music Festival, "Hear and Now". Sharman teaches compositional technique in all its aspects, helping students bridge the gap between their imagination and technique, assisting artistic growth without getting in the way of finding their personal voice.

Sarah Westwick began studying the violin at age three at the Vancouver Academy of Music. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in performance from U.B.C. She has also studied music in London England, at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Prague. She is a member of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, is a freelance violinist and enjoys playing chamber music. She has teacher training qualifications and experience in both the Suzuki violin and viola methods. She is passionate about sharing music by female and BIPOC composers from Canada and around the world.

Brian Wong was introduced to the violin at the age of nine through his elementary school's strings program. He grew to love the instrument and the sound of the large ensemble, playing in various senior honour orchestras throughout high school. Brian continued his musical studies completing a Bachelor of Arts in Music at UBC. He cherished his time there, gaining a breadth of knowledge while enjoying a wide range of classes from composition to jazz theory to ethnomusicology. Since graduation, Brian has been teaching violin privately and has gained certification in the Suzuki violin method. As a teacher, Brian hopes to share his love of music and to share the philosophy that great potential exists in every child.

Andrew Yang is a RCM Certified Teacher in Piano and Theory, holding specialist designations in Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced levels. His students are prize winners in various international youth competitions, including appearances in New York's Carnegie Hall. He was a Gold Medal Recipient of the Licentiate Diploma (LRCM) with the RCM in the North American Region. He has made solo concert appearances with the Chopin societies across Canada and performed as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of Chopin's birth. Andrew is an active performer and collaborative artist, with annual appearances in concerts in the US.