Mary Kenedi

Mary Kenedi made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1983. She has her Licentiate Diploma, Bachelor of Music in Performance and Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Toronto. She also has a Diploma from the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. She has taught at the Royal Conservatory for 25 years and was on the board of Examiners. She taught for 8 years at the McMaster University in Hamilton. Mary performs and records the music of Bart6k and Canadian composers. She has also commissioned works from Canadian composers. She performs internationally in solo and concerto appearances.

Rosalind Mills

Rosalind Mills is a singer and music theatre director. As a singer, she has performed in numerous venues around Toronto including: The Ed Mirvish Birthday Party, The Oakville Waterfront Festival, The Rivoli, The Art Gallery of Ontario and many others. Rosalind’s music direction credits include: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Treasure Island, Don’t Tell Mama, A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum, Rock Live! Pinnochio, From A.M.U (tour and CD-ROM) – Metro Committee on Child Abuse, and reviews of The Sound of Music and Guys and Dolls.

Kevin Sommerville

Kevin, originally from Toronto, is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto’s Jazz Performance Program, where he had the privilege of studying with some of the countries premier drummers, including Terry Clarke, Bob McLaren, and Barry Elmes. Kevin performs at various local venues, including the Rex Hotel, The Horseshoe, and The Drake Hotel, among others. His versatility as a drummer has seen him active as a show band drummer on cruise ships, in Broadway revue shows, various jazz ensembles, and backing numerous singer/songwriters. Having studied theory, arranging, and advanced improvisation, he provides a wealth of knowledge to his loyal student base.

Rebecca Hennessy

Rebecca Hennessy, Trumpeter, has a Jazz Diploma from Malaspina University College and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto. She has performed widely in venues nationally and has participated in many recording sessions both as soloist and in jazz orchestras. She has been teaching both privately and as a Jazz Clinician in Ontario as well as in British Columbia.

Milan Brunner

Milan Brunner has a Masters Degree from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in the former Czechoslovakia. He has performed extensively both as soloist and principal flautist in orchestras internationally. He is presently playing in the Toronto Philharmonia, under Kerry Stratton, as well as performing with his chamber group. He has recorded for both EMI and OPUS labels.

Sheila Smyth

Shelia Smyth is a violist and violinist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance from the University of Toronto. She furthered her studies with renowned specialists abroad, becoming a Baroque specialist. She performs actively with various ensembles and orchestras internationally. She is assistant principal violist of the Talisker Players and principal violist of both the Nota Bene Period Orchestra and Opera York. An active chamber musician, she has been heard in performance on CBC and CFMX.

John Milosh

Veteran conductor of all types of student orchestras and ensembles. John is a regular performer in a string quartet, and is the concertmaster of the Trinity Chamber Orchestra.

Rima Basov

Rima Basov holds a degree from the Belorussian State Conservatory of Music and has completed an internship at the Gnessen Institute in Moscow, studying with Alexander Piatigorsky. Her studies qualified her as soloist and chamber musician. She has performed with many orchestras, both in the former USSR and in Canada. She is a founding member of the Institute since 1995.

Michael Savona

Michael Savona is an outstanding young guitarist of today’s generation. He has performed in Germany and in major cities across Canada both as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition to receiving many scholarships and awards for his playing, Michael has been invited to play at numerous music festivals and university/college workshops.

Michael received his Bachelor degree from “The Glenn Gould Professional School” and his Masters degree from the University of Ottawa in guitar performance. He has participated in many international guitar festivals and has performed in master-classes for guitar legends such as David Russell, Manuel Barruecco, Leo Brouwer and Norbert Kraft. He has also attended the Humber College Jazz program in Toronto. Michael regularly gives workshops and master-classes at the university and colleges and has adjudicated for performance exams at the University of British Columbia as well as Kiwanis music festivals in Toronto, Ottawa, Sudbury, Guelph, Norfolk, and Walkerton.

Michael is presently on the Board of Directors for The Toronto Guitar Society.

Hal Rodriguez

Hal is an outgoing teacher, guitarist, bassist, and composer who is well versed in many styles of popular music including rock, pop, blues, metal, funk, and jazz. He brings a cheerful attitude to his lessons and emphasizes teaching a student’s favourite songs, as well as the fundamentals of music theory and technique so that the student develops a well rounded foundation for continued growth. He has studied with eight-time Juno nominated jazz guitarist Michael Occhipinti, four-time Juno nominated songwriter Mladen Alexander, and premier fusion guitar virtuoso Greg Howe. Hal actively writes, performs, and records with various musicians in the city and is currently continuing his jazz studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.