Mary Jane founded the Calgary Music Academy Centre in 2017, the Summer Music Camp in 2017 and Performance Outreach Program in 2015. Mary Jane studied at Eastman School of Music in New York and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. She studied under Bill van der Sloot, Zvi Zeitlin, Andrew Dawes, Gerald Stanick, Jane Coop, and Stephen Chapman. She has been teaching music for 30 years, including 20 years at Mount Royal University Conservatory, and several years at music Conservatories in Vancouver and Richmond BC. Her experience has her recognized as one of Alberta's finest violin instructors, with students winning scholarships in the Calgary Performing Arts Festival, Contemporary Showcase and medals in RCM exams. She has taught both private classes, technique classes and masterclasses at the Victoria Summer Strings Camp, Valhalla Summer Strings Academy and Calgary's Summer Music Camp. Mary Jane is an RCM certified teacher in violin performance for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. She is also an RCM certified teacher in theory Rudiments at all levels. Mary Jane has been an RCM strings adjudicator since 2019 and continues to adjudicate RCM violin, viola and cello exams throughout the year. Mary Jane has been a member and performed with various groups including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (under Sergiu Comissiona, Clyde Mitchell and Kazuyoshi Akiyama), BC Ballet, Calgary Opera, and Banff Opera Orchestra, Cantare Children's Choir, Bow Valley Chorus, Black Dress Quartet, and has toured with chamber ensembles to Taiwan, Spain, Germany, United States, and Canada. She has also performed on cruise lines such as Holland America and Princess Cruises to the Carribean islands and Alaska. Mary Jane has accompanied soloists such as Jane Coop, Angela Cheng, Louis Lortie, James Ehnes, the Bee Gees and Diana Krall. Mary Jane loves to work with young people and believes in students striving for excellence in performance while sharing their talents with others. She is blessed to have a loving family with her husband and six children whom all play musical instruments.

Joshua Park started the violin at the age of eight years old and he studied with Erno Kabok at the British Columbia Conservatory of Music School. As a student, Joshua excelled and received recognition in British Columbia’s musical community. As well as being recognized in his local festivals and competitions, he was one of few students selected to perform in the Tom Lee Festival Honours performances, and was selected with scholarship to the Surrey Symphony Youth Orchestra conducted by Lucille Lewis. He would later serve as concertmaster with this orchestra. In 2002, Joshua moved to Calgary to study with Cenek Vrba, who was the concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Joshua was admitted into the academy program at Mount Royal University Conservatory and he eventually pursued a Diploma in Music Performance. During these years, he had the privilege of studying with many great coaches and guest artists. One of his favorite chamber coaches was Nick Pulos, who had great impact on his studies. Joshua continued his studies in Music Performance with Edmond Agopian at the University of Calgary and received his Bachelors of Music. He was a member of both Mount Royal Youth Orchestra and University of Calgary Orchestra. In 2013, Joshua was appointed as head music director for the Korean War Concert held at Jack Singer Concert Hall where he performed his own solo composition and played with the concert’s chamber orchestra. Today, Joshua is a member of the Civic Symphony Orchestra and plays with various local chamber ensembles. He also performs frequently at weddings, churches, corporate events, and parties. He has played live on air for Calgary’s station 101.5 Kool FM and also played live on CTV morning channel as a representative of the Civic Symphony Orchestra. In his teaching, Joshua is an avid teacher and is passionate about sharing his experiences with his students. In 2017, he participated in the ASTA conference in Pittsburgh and was delighted to learn more about violin pedagogy and experience teaching in a different way. He is excited to share various learning techniques and is experienced with working with students of all ages and levels in both private and semi-private instruction. His students successfully participate in Royal Conservatory Examinations as well as local festivals, and he believes that everyone can learn and enjoy the violin with hard work and dedication.

Barbara Smith loves children and music. She began her musical studies playing the violin, and continued that passion through University by attaining a Bachelors or Music performance and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Barbara also loves to sing and received a performance diploma in voice. Mrs. Smith trained and taught as a Suzuki instructor for several years in Toronto, and continues to teach violin lessons today. Barbara began her Kodaly education as a child under the tutelage of the renowned teacher, Lois Choksy. While singing with her own four children, she became interested in the Kodaly method. Barbara believes that music, and music literacy are powerful tools in a child's life, bringing joy, peace and confidence.

Jeongmin Park, is a violinist, violist, professional whistler, conductor, and piano technician. His musical foundation was shaped under Ulrich von Wrochem, former principal violist of La Scala Orchestra in Milan and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Later, he studied at the University of Seoul, where he refined his violin and orchestral leadership skills under Prof. Youngzun Kim, former concertmaster of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. During his university years, he gained extensive orchestral experience, performing as a guest member with prestigious ensembles such as the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra and the Korean Symphony Orchestra. After completing his studies, Jeongmin auditioned and was selected for the Republic of Korea Air Force Military Band, where he served as a violinist. Following his military service, he won a position in the Chuncheon Philharmonic Orchestra, where he performed alongside world-class musicians and participated in Korea’s largest symphonic event, the Symphonic Festival, multiple times. He was also a regular performer at the Great Mountains International Music Festival. Beyond the classical stage, Jeongmin collaborated with the award-winning world music band Second Moon on their project Bard, contributing to their album recordings. Their work earned multiple accolades, including Best Album, Best Crossover Album, and Rookie of the Year at the Korean Popular Music Awards, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall. As a versatile musician, Jeongmin has recorded for numerous film scores and commercials, earning ongoing royalties for his work. His passion for jazz also led him to serve as a panelist on a jazz music radio program in Korea. Since immigrating to Canada, Jeongmin has continued his musical journey as a teacher, performer, and conductor. He is the Artistic Director and conductor of both the St. Giles Orchestra, a professional ensemble, and the Calgary Korean Orchestra, a vibrant community-based orchestra. In addition, he is the principal violist of Electronic Symphonia and performs as part of a gypsy jazz duo. Above all, Jeongmin is a devoted husband and a loving father to three wonderful sons.

Originally from Argentina, Maria grew up playing the violin and piano. Upon moving to Canada, she was accepted at the Senior Academy at Mount Royal Conservatory. Maria studied at the University of Calgary under the direction of Edmond Agopian. Maria is currently an active member of the Calgary Musicians Association and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Alberta Music Education Foundation. She has performed and recorded solo and chamber concerts with members of the Calgary Opera, Calgary Cowtown Opera, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, Metropolitan Opera of New York, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Cirque De Soleil. She has played alongside Michael Buble for his 2014 and 2019 Canada Tour, Disturbed for their 2016, 2018 and 2019 Canada tour, Il Divo for their 2019 Canada Tour and played alongside 2Cellos for their 2018 Canada tour. She was invited to record for the Canadian Country Music Awards and was featured in the CBC Television special for the CCMA awards. Maria runs a thriving private studio in Calgary. Her students have been finalists in the Canadian Music Competition, placed in provincials at the Kiwanis Music Festival, and won medals and scholarships for RCM exams. She has prepared her students for successful admission to classical string programs and Universities throughout North America. Maria continues her active role as a teacher, adjudicator and performer hosting and playing numerous concerts and fundraisers in support of different charities. Maria resides in Calgary with her husband and 9 year old son Lucas.

Christine’s professional career began 25 years ago after graduating from University of Victoria under the direction of Pam Highbaugh Aloni, cellist of the Layfayette String Quartet . Following the completion of her degree in cello performance, she made her way back to Calgary where in addition to her love of performing she discovered a passion for teaching. It was at this time she began to pursue, develop, and refine her pedagogical skills while performing as a soloist and as a member of duets, trios at various events and weddings with her group Cadence. Christine is a committed and passionate teacher who engages in continuing education to refine and expand her pedagogical skills. In the early years of her teaching career she received teacher training from the Suzuki Associations of America program and travelled to Utah and California to study with Suzuki trainers for a number of years. She attended pedagogy classes at Rick Mooney’s National Cello Institute (author of the distinguished Position Pieces Series) where she also had the pleasure studying under Carey Cheney (author of Solos for Young Cellists Series) as well as the opportunity to observe and study under Phyllis Young (author of Playing the String Game) a pioneer in string pedagogy. Phyllis Young’s advice was invaluable to Christine and continues to inspire her teaching to this day. After teaching for a few years in Calgary, Christine founded the Lydian Studio of Music in 2002 and in 2018 because of increasing demand for her cello teaching program, she began developing an online platform which launched in 2021. The platform includes a blog and an online cello academy. "The Cello Girl," blog has articles outlining techniques and song tutorials for cello and “ I LUV Cello ” is a site that provides online cello lessons with Christine as your instructor. Thrilled to join the Calgary Music Academy in 2022, Christine is a passionate, experienced teacher and performer and works to continually foster her students musical capabilities and their love of music.

Cellist Mari Coetzee received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music degrees from The Juilliard School in New York City, studying with Richard Aaron. During her time there she also studied Baroque Cello with Phoebe Carrai in Juilliard’s Historical Performance department, received music pedagogy training under conductor Virginia Allen, and took an Honors Music Theory track, taking part in doctoral level theory courses and seminars. A frequent recitalist and chamber musician, Mari has performed across the USA, Canada, France, Switzerland, and South Africa at some of the top music venues including Carnegie Hall, as soloist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra Symphonique de Quebec, and at music festivals such as Aspen, Tanglewood, Fontainebleau, and Lucerne. Mari has been teaching and mentoring young cello players for the past 12 years. She maintains an active online studio, working with students of all ages and levels across the world, and is excited to join CMAC to work with in-person students in Calgary. As a teacher, Mari’s goal is to help her students become proficient musicians, with a solid technical background that gives them the freedom to express themselves musically. Through this process, they can learn new repertoire efficiently and effectively through practice strategies that are explored in every lesson. Ultimately, her hope is that the problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity that they will develop through lessons will have a direct impact on all their fields of interest, even beyond music. Mari currently makes her home in Calgary with her husband, their 2-year old daughter and dog Teddy. To learn more, visit www.maricoetzee.com

Ben is a passionate and energetic educator who specializes in Classical Guitar instruction as well as Acoustic Guitar and Ukulele. He has been teaching guitar for 16 years and still thoroughly enjoys it! Ben got his start teaching music with Yamaha Musica Academy when he was 20 years old, just as he was beginning to study music in university. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Calgary in 2011 where he studied under Dr. Ralph Maier and has performed in master classes with Daniel Bolshoy, Jérôme Ducharme, Pia Gazarek Offerman and Jeffery McFadden. Ben grew up taking lessons at the MRU Conservatory and played in the Kiwanis Music Festival and completed RCM Exams. As an adult, Ben has stayed active by attending guitar festivals and workshops such as - Guitar Fest West, Valhalla Music Festival, and the Calgary Classical Guitar Society concerts and masterclasses. While Ben specializes in Classical Guitar instruction and is very proud of his RCM Gold Medal winners, he also enjoys teaching rock/contemporary music and stives to meet his students where their passion lies.

Maria has been playing cello for twelve years and has completed RCM level 10. Maria has three years of experience teaching young children music lessons. She is energetic and fun to work with, while professional in her approach with parents and students. Maria has competed successfully in multiple festivals and competitions locally and internationally. In addition, she performs regularly for gigs with professional musicians. Maria is a great teacher for children beginning to learn the cello.