Pianist Elizabeth Clarke is active as a performer, collaborator, and teacher. Her lessons combine theory and practice to help students become well-rounded, capable musicians. Elizabeth has performed numerous solo and collaborative recitals in Canada and the United States, and in 2014 was featured as a concerto soloist with the University of Victoria orchestra. She has also worked as an accompanist for singers and instrumentalists of all skill levels, and has extensive experience as a church pianist, organist, and choir accompanist. Most recently, Elizabeth held the position of Assistant Professor in Residence at Bradley University in Peoria, IL, where she taught piano, aural skills, and music history. She has also held teaching assistantships at the University of Victoria and Michigan State University, and has taught private students from young children to adults. Originally from Fort McMurray, AB, Elizabeth studied at the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus (B.M. in piano performance), University of Victoria (M.M. in piano performance), and Michigan State University (DMA in piano performance and M.M. in music theory). After many years away, she is excited to return to Alberta and join Calgary’s thriving music community.

Alyssa has been passionate about the piano ever since she first began piano lessons at the age of 5. She studied for 12 years with acclaimed pianist Dmitry Nesterov. In 2017, she successfully completed the practical piano requirements for her ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto) diploma. That same year, she began her music studies at the University of Calgary under the direction of Dr. J. Marilyn Engle. As a student at the University of Calgary, Alyssa received several scholarships, including the F. L. Fenwick Scholarship in Music, Carr Prize and Alice Cobb Scholarship. As part of her studies, she had the opportunity to attend the 2018 Coimbra World Piano Meeting in Coimbra, Portugal. During this conference, she performed at several venues, attended masterclasses and received one-on-one lessons taught by world-class instructors visiting from various conservatories across Europe and Asia. Alyssa has participated in and won prizes on multiple occasions at the Calgary Performing Arts Festival. In 2022, Alyssa joined Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre as a School and Public Programs Educator. As part of her role, she facilitates educational programs for both young students and members of the public about music and the science of sound. As an educator, Alyssa has been teaching piano and music theory for more than 7 years. Under her instruction, students have the opportunity to prepare for RCM examinations and participate in music festivals. Alyssa strongly believes in the use of various methods of piano instruction, according to the unique needs of each student. In addition to being a pianist, Alyssa is also an organist and singer. She has been studying organ performance for the past 2 years, and was a member of the University of Calgary Chamber Choir in 2017-18 and 2021-22. In her free time, she enjoys painting, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Zion Kene is a dedicated piano teacher and accomplished performer with a wealth of experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels. Having taught at respected institutions including Musica Academy Yamaha School, Avante Garde Music Studio, Carson Music Academy, and now Calgary Academy, Zion blends a strong foundation in piano technique with a creative and supportive teaching style. Currently part of the faculty at Calgary Academy, Zion inspires the next generation of musicians by connecting real-world performance experience to the classroom. Passionate about encouraging creativity and confidence, Zion believes in nurturing each student’s unique musical voice while fostering a love for both classical and contemporary repertoire. Through regular performances and active participation in the Calgary music community, Zion’s teaching is enriched with practical insights, inviting every student to find joy and self-expression at the keyboard.

Anna Pompeeva came to Calgary in January 2023 from Ukraine with her son and mother. She is a professional opera singer with more than 10 years. In 2013, she was the soloist of the Kharkiv National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Anna has toured extensively throughout Europe. She is the prizewinner of 3 international European competitions. Since relocating to Calgary, Anna has collaborated with local major music institutions (Calgary Opera and the Calgary Civic Symphony). Anna has sung in many different performances on private and public stages within and around Calgary. She is an active volunteer participant in events that support Ukrainian efforts and to popularize Ukrainian culture within our communities.

Iryna Zayarny immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 1998. She was a student of Victoria Lozova, the great Ukrainian Romantic pianist, at the Kharkiv Kotlyarevsky University of Arts. There, Iryna received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees of Music and specialized in pedagogy as well as chamber, vocal and instrumental accompaniment. She has taught piano to students of all ages, from beginners to advanced students, for over 30 years in both Canada and Ukraine. Iryna is known for her perfectionist methods and her demanding attitude toward her students. Iryna gladly works with students of all ages and always manages to uncover and develop their musical talent. Her goal is to integrate the commitment and excellence of the Russian School into her teaching platform, and she expects and provides high standards for her students. Because of this, her students are ever-present as award and scholarship winners at Kiwanis Festival and frequently achieve Honours with Distinction grades at examinations. Iryna has been much sought after as an accompanist since she moved to Calgary. She has played extensively for such organizations as the University of Calgary, Mount Royal Conservatory, Canadian Music Competitions, C3 Competition, and the Calgary Performing Arts Festival. For the past 10 years, Iryna has pursued a spectacular second career as a visual artist. Her paintings have been exhibited at such high-class events as the Calgary Stampede and Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists, as well as having been chosen for prestigious international competitions throughout North America. Her works reside in private collections as far as China, Ukraine, and the United States.​

Calgary-born pianist Teresa Serafini is the second-youngest in a musical family of seven children. Being surrounded by music from infancy, she had a natural affinity for it when she started taking piano lessons at age four. From 2005-2016, Teresa studied piano with Marianne Bleile, before starting lessons with Marilyn Engle in 2016, whom she continues to study with. Teresa also studied at the Mount Royal University Conservatory’s Academy of Music for Gifted Youth from 2010-2015. During her time at the academy, she played for many guest artists, including Catherine Ordronneau, Jean-Paul Sevilla, Gabriela Montero, Helmut Brauss, Jin Zhang, and Dmitry Nesterov. In 2020, Teresa also participated in the Coimbra World Piano Meeting in Portugal, where she received lessons from several world-class musicians from Europe and Asia. During her years at the academy, Teresa began to discover her enjoyment of collaborative music, playing in chamber groups and with vocalists. Between November 2014 and February 2016, she volunteered as an accompanist for the St. Peter’s Players’ productions of Steven Sondheim’s musical, Into the Woods, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz. She also provided live accompaniment for ballet classes at Ballet School Lakeview in 2015-2017, and has played at Fun ‘N’ Dance, another Calgary ballet studio, since 2018. From September 2018 to June 2019, Teresa was a piano accompanist for the Calgary Music Academy Outreach Program, playing with the students in regular masterclasses and monthly public performances. She has also taught piano and accompanied at the Calgary Music Academy Centre’s Summer Music Camp in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Teresa is currently in her fourth year at the University of Calgary, completing a Bachelors Degree in Piano Performance, after which she intends to pursue a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano. Having competed regularly in music competitions growing up, she has received numerous awards and scholarships from the Mount Royal University Conservatory, the University of Calgary, the Contemporary Showcase, and the Calgary Performing Arts Festival. Teresa has also performed as a four-time national finalist in the Canadian Music Competition. Over the years, she has gained a wide range of experience in solo performance, chamber music, accompaniment (strings, woodwinds, vocal, musical theatre, ballet), background music, and teaching. In her free time, Teresa enjoys many hobbies including painting with her mother, cooking, birdwatching, playing bridge and chess, and searching for obscure classical composers with her oldest brother. She is also passionate about sharing music with others and enjoys making music with family and friends during the holidays.