Voice Class
Dominic Bertucci

When Dominic Bertucci first embarked upon a new career as a singer, it was as a lyric tenor. Initially, Mr. Bertucci appeared in lyric operas such as Albert Herring, Colas et Colinethe, and Lucia di Lammermoor. He has also performed the tenor solo in the Messa di Gloria by Mascagni, Joan of Arc by Paul Paray and made numerous guest appearances in various opera galas featuring Verdi, Puccini, Ponchielli and Saint Saens. In November of 2000, Mr. Bertucci made his debut in verismo opera singing the role of Turridu in Cavalleira Rusticana. He sang Alvaro in La forza del destino and the title role of Ermani the next year. Mr. Bertucci’s performance schedule has allowed him to do some teaching as well. He was on faculty at both the University of Windsor and later, Macomb College.

Classes
Patricia Birch

Patricia Birch is an active member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association. Mrs. Birch holds an Associate Teacher’s Diploma in Pianoforte from Trinity College of Music, London, England; and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and French, from University of Wales, UK. She is currently on staff at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Art. Mrs. Birch has held teaching positions with Loretto College, St. Albans (UK), Maritime Conservatory of Music (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Acadia University (Wolfville, Nova Scotia), as well as maintaining a significant body of private students.

Classes
Christine Chesebrough

Christine began her musical studies at age 2 when she began lessons on the piano. Her interest in music soon became a passion and also started lessons on both the organ and violin. She completed the RCM exams on violin and piano and was also proficient on the organ receiving scholarship to Albert College preparatory school in Belleville. Christine attended the University of Western Ontario on scholarship receiving an Artist Diploma, a Bachelor of Music Education and a Masters of Music Performance with violin being her main instrument. She has also participated in Chamber Music studies through the University of North Carolina and has travelled to both Switzerland and Italy to study. She has since been featured in chamber concerts at Stratford Festival and RBG chamber series. Christine has established herself as a violinist having played with Windsor Symphony, Orchestra London, Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and plays regularly with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. She has served as concertmaster for Drayton Theatre Productions and has been featured onstage at Stratford Festival. She teaches at Merriam School of Music and it the current Music Director/Organist at Brant Hills Presbyterian Church in Burlington. On a lighter note Christine has had the privilege of playing with Anne Murray, Diana Krall, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah McLaughlin, David Foster and most recently with the Four Canadian Tenors in their PBS television special. In her spare time, Christine could be found antique shopping or searching for the latest culinary delight.

Piano Classes
Ruth Dallas

Ruth graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music and received her ARCT in 1967. After a short career in another field, she began teaching piano full time. As well as teaching privately and at Canada’s oldest boarding school, Ridley College in St. Catherine’s, Ruth also manages one of the largest private music schools, The New Conservatory of Music, in Toronto, Ontario. Ruth has been adjudicating at various music festivals throughout Ontario for most of her career.

Guitar Classes
Steven Ellement

Steven began taking instruction in guitar at the age of 8 years old. He has continued to play since that time, including while on a learning sabatical to Germany where he also played competitive hockey. Steven was a member of the group, MODES, travelling with them to Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; and various other venues throughout Ontario inclusive of the Great Lakes Regional Music Festival. Mr. Ellement holds an Honours Degree in History from McMaster University and a B. Ed. from the University of Toronto. He has been teaching history at Robert Bateman Secondary School in Burlington for 10 years. He has adjudicated at the Greater Hamilton Music Festival previously and has administered music exams in both guitar and piano.

Classes
Murray Edwards

Murray Edwards taught for more than 50 years. He provided workshops and teacher training seminars for teachers as well as performing both adjudication and examination duties throughout Canada and the United States. Murray began his musical studies with his father and later studied with Dixie Dean. Mr. Edwards wrote and published a highly regarded course of study for guitar. Murray operated a full teaching studio in Welland, Ontario as well.

Classes
Paula Elliot

Paula Elliot was the principal flutist for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra for many years and a flute instructor at McMaster University. Prior to coming to Hamilton, she was principal flutist of the Winnipeg Symphony and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, she has appeared with many orchestras including the Toronto Chamber Players, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (in Carnegie Hall), CBC Winnipeg Orchestra and the Hamilton Philharmonic. She has combined her two loves of travel and music with performances in such diverse locations as Austria, Germany, England, Spain, Jamaica, China and the former Soviet Union, many as a member of the American Flute Orchestra. Mrs. Elliot has been the teaching assistant and administrator or many master classes for Peter Lloyd and Geoffrey Gilbert, both in the USA and Canada. Adjudication experiences include the Kiwanis Festivals of Ottawa and London, final exams of the Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec and competitions for the National Flute Association. Her teachers have included Geoffrey Gilbert, James Pappoutsakis and Peter Lloyd. She has also participated in master classes with James Galway, Marcel Moyse and Jean-Pierre Rampal. She holds music degrees from Oberlin College (B. Mus.), New England Conservatory (M. Mus.) and, in addition, she has a B.A. (Honours German) from McMaster.

Classes
Mike Ford

Mike Ford is a Juno-nominated artist whose concerts and recordings are garnering critical and popular acclaim coast-to-coast. Known to many as 1/4 of the eccentrically successful folk-pop-vaudeville band Moxy Früvous (with whom Mike has entertained countless festivals, theatres, clubs across North America and Europe and recorded 7 acclaimed albums), Mike is immersed in a whole new career phase with his rollicking Canada In Song project. In June of ’08, he released his most accomplished album to date, the sonically vibrant and thematically charged Canada Needs You, volume two - a 12-song musical journey through 20th Century Canada. His three solo albums, stars shone on toronto (featuring musical homages to Jane Jacobs, The Oak Ridges Moraine & Tooker Gomberg among others), Satellite Hotstove, and the MapleMusic Recording Canada Needs You, volume one (a Juno-nominated romp through pre-1905 Canadian History) are filled with provocative original compositions delivered in a multitude of styles. He performs to sell-out club crowds and festival mainstages across Canada. He has also recently graced festival stages as a ‘swing’ member of The Arrogant Worms, and has teamed up of late with multiple Juno-award-winning singer David Francey, writing and performing new ‘Great Lakes’ songs for their Laker Music Project. Mike lives in east Toronto with his wife Therese and step-daughter Jacqueline. He has worked in or visited every region of this incredible country and is dedicated to sharing his enthusiasm for Canada’s land and history with people of all ages.

Classes
Susan Gudgeon

Susan is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Opera Department. As well as receiving her Advanced Diploma in Jazz and Ballet, Susan has garnered a number of Awards and Scholarships including the Lillian Steinberg Award, the Herman Geiger-Torel Scholarship, and the Arnold Walter Opera Scholarship. Her Mercantile Recording, released in 1980, “Loving Toi – Murray Schaefer (Ishtar)” was a Juno Award nominee. Her professional experiences include many performances in productions ranging from Beethoven’s Mass in C Major with Musica Gloria; Tommy with Tivoli Renaissance Productions; Passion According to St. John, Requiem, Lord Nelson Mass, and Dover Beach with the McMaster String Quartet; and many more with productions by the Canadian Opera Company, The Guelph Spring Festival, Stratford Festival, Theatre New Brunswick, Southern Alberta Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, Studio Theatre Hamilton, Edmonton Philharmonic, Saskatoon Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Winnipeg Opera and many others. Susan currently teaches singing in the Hamilton and Burlington area. Her students have performed in numerous shows in the local theater productions.

Classes
Russell Hamel

Mr. Hamel began his studies at the age of 6 on the accordion. He was an outstanding student and won numerous awards, ultimately achieving first runner-up in the Massachussetts state Championship in 1974, thus qualifying for the U.S. Nationals. He began teaching in 1972 and, after graduating with honours from Lowell State Teacher’s college (now University of Lowell, MA) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1975, has continued teaching private music classes. After moving to Canada in 1982, he furthered his studies by taking advanced piano classes. As a student of motivation, Russ believes his real strength is getting his students to reach their highest potential. His classes are a unique blend of thorough self-disciplined work with a fun and enjoyable twist. As a teacher, Russ has won many awards including two as the top music teacher at the annual Canadian Music League Festival, given to the teacher whose students score the highest marks and win the most awards in their classes.

Classes
Paul Hampson

Paul has been performing, composing, and teaching music for 20 years. After studying at the Toronto Guitar Institute, Paul went on to study at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario and completed his degree at the University of Western Ontario. Performing in both the United States and Canada, the classically trained guitarist has worked with music legends such as Long John Baldry, Nazareth, The Black Crowes and U2. His first CD, 1999’s “Through the Window” sold on every continent and he has completed his second self titled CD. Paul is currently on staff at Studio Arts in Burlington, Ontario.