Faculty Biographies

Bénard, Tanya

Tanya Bénard holds a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts. While pursuing a career as a professional clarinetist, Tanya became interested in the Alexander Technique, and eventually graduated from the Toronto School of the Alexander Technique as a certified teacher. Tanya is a frequent presenter on the Alexander Technique; recent presentations include the Suzuki Association of Ontario's provincial conference, and at the RCM Art of Teaching Conference. She brings to her practice as a teacher of the Alexander Technique a wide range of experience as a music educator, having taught music and movement to children in a variety of settings and maintained a private practice as a clarinet teacher for a number of years. In addition to maintaining a private practice as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, Tanya currently works as an assistant teacher at the Toronto School of the Alexander Technique and serves on the faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music. For more information, please visit www.alexandertech.ca.

Bigler, Carole

Acclaimed piano pedagogue and lecturer Carole L. Bigler studied Suzuki pedagogy with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and has been teaching Suzuki piano since 1971. She travels worldwide presenting seminars on the psychology of learning, piano pedagogy and the Suzuki Method. A member of the International Platform Association, Carole is noted for her stimulating lectures and keen insights into teacher-parent-child relationships. She has co-authored Studying Suzuki Piano: More Than Music (Warner) and Ornamentation (Alfred). Bigler~Lloyd-Watts Mastering the Piano will be published in 2007 and is currently being presented as Applied Pedagogy at Queen's University, Kingston, ON. Carole has taught pedagogy at major universities throughout the United States and Canada and has given presentations at national, state and local conferences for the Music Teachers National Association and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. She was the principal guest tutor for The Suzuki Talent Education Association in Australia in 1992 and 1995, and in New Zealand in 1993. Carole is an honors graduate in music from Syracuse University, New York, and did graduate work at Ithaca College, Cornell University and Elmira College. She studied piano with Sidney Sukoenig, George Pappe-Stavrou and Ernst Bacon and organ with Arthur Poister. Carole is a faculty member and coordinator of the Master's Degree Program in Suzuki Piano Pedagogy at Ithaca College, New York. She held the post of organist for the First Congregational Church in Coming, New York, from 1967 to 2006. Carole is married and has two children.

Blanc, Rose-Marie

A dedicated Suzuki Piano teacher, Rose-Marie Blanc started teaching the Suzuki method in 1982. Before this, she was involved with the traditional method for many years. Meeting Valery Lloyd-Watts the same year, learning from the experience of her mentor was one of the most enlightening of her piano career. Rose-Marie started to teach the Suzuki Method in a French immersion public school in Richmond Hill, Ont., {B.A.P.S.}, where she opened one of the first Suzuki Piano programs in the public school system. She has been the musical director of the Suzuki program there for 20 years, joined by her husband and violin teacher Jean Blanc. This year the school will celebrate 20 years of successful Suzuki teaching, with former students, which become themselves composers and professional players. Rose-Marie also teaches at her home studio during evenings and weekends. For the past 12 years, Rose-Marie and Jean Blanc have been co-directors of the Beethoven Society for Pianists, Greater Toronto Chapter, bringing the music of Beethoven to the community. For Rose-Marie, the love of teaching her students makes her daily job a celebration of life.

Brennan Hagy, Chris

Chris Brennan Hagy is a Suzuki violin teacher with an active private studio. Chris began playing Irish traditional fiddle in 1985. She studied the fiddle with John Kelly of Philadelphia. Chris also studies with Dolly Koritzer as a current teacher/mentor and John Carty (fiddle). She played for years with the Philadelphia Ceili Band for their Friday night ceilis and also with the S.P.U.D.S. (Summit Pick Up Dance Society) for Contra dances. Chris has performed professionally at various private and public venues in the Philadelphia area for many years. She has also coordinated the Philadelphia Ceili Group's Irish Festival youth performers (The Next Generation) for the last 9 years. Chris has offered a free monthly youth lesson/session at the Commodore Barry Club in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. Chris has taught at the Central Pennsylvania Suzuki String Institute for the last 4 years. Chris has studied with Brian Conway, Liz Carroll, James Kelly and other leading traditional Irish fiddlers. In 1996 she released a CD entitled Live at the Mermaid, Chris Brennan Hagy & Friends. Chris has been on faculty with More Than Music for the past five years.

Burczyk Allen, Christine

Dr. Christine Burczyk Allen is Assistant Professor of Music at Northwestern State University of Louisiana where she teaches applied piano, coordinates the group piano and piano pedagogy area, and serves as the choral accompanist. Dr. Allen received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from University of Kansas and her Master of Music degree from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. In May 2005, Dr. Allen completed the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where she was a student of Constance Knox Carroll and Dr. Jennifer Hayghe. Prior to her appointment at NSU, she served on the faculty at William Woods College in Missouri and spent several summers as a staff accompanist at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, MI. In NSU's Dept. of Music, Dr. Allen was the 1999-2000 recipient of the Johanna Magale Endowed Professorship at NSU and as such traveled to Poland to study with internationally recognized pianist/composer Andrzej Dutkiewicz. Dr. Allen performs both as a soloist and accompanist for faculty recitals and as accompanist for the Northwestern Chamber Choir. She has performed as soloist with the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony and with several orchestras in Michigan. In 2002, Dr. Allen performed the Grieg Concerto in A Minor with the Menomonee Falls Symphony in Wisconsin and the Grosse Pointe Symphony in Michigan. Dr. Allen is an internationally recognized teacher and clinician in Suzuki Piano Pedagogy and is a registered Teacher Trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has appeared at workshops and conferences throughout the United States, including Alaska, and Canada. An MTNA certified teacher, Dr. Allen has served on the LMTA State Certification Board and is currently Chair of the MTNA Collegiate Artist Performance/Chamber Music Auditions.

Clarke, Donna

Donna Clarke, pedagogue and workshop clinician began teaching in 1963. A graduate of the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music and Teachers College, she joined the faculty of More Than Music in 1989. Donna teaches in her private home studio in Ancaster, Ontario.

Compeau, Jodie

Jodie Compeau has taught a music program to support the Ontario Arts Curriculum for grades K - 8 for the past eight years in elementary schools throughout Kingston. Jodie runs a summer camp that celebrates the arts called Creation Station. She has also been teaching piano for the past 11 years. Jodie is currently a part time student at Queen's University, BA minor in music. She studied two years in piano performance at Queen's University under Ireneus Zuk and Jorge Suarez.

Cox, Ric

BA in Sociology, Ric Cox is employed by KAIROS as a full-time substance abuse counsellor for youth in Kingston. Ric has been part of the Bigler~Lloyd-Watts faculty since 1999.

Dimopoulos DiCocco, Stephani

Stephani Dimopoulos DiCocco is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC in 1984, with undergraduate degree in Fine Art and Art Education. She is also a graduate of Boston University with a Master's degree in Art Education in 1986, as well as achieving a Master's in Educational Administration from the State University at Albany in 1996. She was one of two teachers selected Statewide to participate in the production of an Education film series called New York Wired/Crossroads, which aired on PBS in 1997. Stephani is currently involved in developing interdisciplinary curriculum with the Guggenheim Museum to be used nationally by school districts in Art, English and Social Studies. Stephani is a full time art teacher at Scotia Glenville High School in Scotia N.Y.

Frackenpohl, Sandi

Sandi Frackenpohl received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the Crane School of Music in Postdam, New York, in music education and piano pedagogy. Through the years she has taught music class and chorus at all levels K12, directed the Syracuse University Children's Training Choir for a year, and has had a private piano studio for many years. Sandi is currently teaching K-4 general music and 5/6 chorus in the Port Byron School District. She also facilitates parenting workshops for Every Person Influences Children.

Hill Duncan, Martha

Martha Hill Duncan graduated from the Houston High School for Performing Arts and The University of Texas at Austin where she studied voice, piano and composition. She continued her studies in Toronto with Sam Dolin. Several of her works are based on early Canadian poetry. In 2004 three of these songs for voice and piano were performed as finalists in the Diana Barnhart American Song Competition and most recently, her work Star Prayers was a co-winner in the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Competition. Ms. Duncan lives in Kingston where she maintains an active piano studio and conducts the women's choir Aurora. www.marthahillduncan.com

Izbitskaya, Nadia

Dr. Nadia Izbitskaya started her musical career in Ukraine as a professional artist. She was a Conductor and singer in the Kiev Chamber Choir for five years, and later worked as an Assistant Professor at the Kiev Institute of Culture. For the last seven years she has been inspiring young musicians at her music studio in Kingston. This will be her fourth summer enjoying tuning the voices of participants in the More Than Music Program.

Jewell, Margot

A native of Toronto, Margot obtained her Bachelor of Music and her ARCT studying violin with Marta Hidy and Victor Martin. She received her Suzuki teacher training from many inspiring pedagogues including Sandy and Joan Reuning, Christophe and Judy Bossuat, Helen Brunner, Linda Case, Ronda Cole, Geri Arnold, and for three months in Matsumoto Japan with Shinichi Suzuki. A Baroque specialist, Margot has also studied baroque violin with Jean Lamon and Kevin Mallon of Tafelmusik. Margot is an active freelance musician, having performed with groups such as the Hamilton Philharmonic, Toronto Sinfonietta, Symphony Niagara, Te Deum Orchestra, the Aradia Ensemble, and the Talisker Players. For over 30 years Margot has enjoyed working with young people and their families, first at the Hamilton Suzuki School where she taught violin and was also the director. Then in 1982 she founded the Etobicoke Suzuki School of Music, where she presently teaches and is director. Margot taught for many years for the Toronto District School Board as a visiting artist at the Etobicoke School of the Arts. Margot is a festival adjudicator across Ontario and is a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music. For 25 years she has been in demand for weekend workshops and week-long institutes with Suzuki students held at various Suzuki schools and universities across Canada. She also has been a faculty member of Huckleberry Music camp, and for the last 14 summers, at National Music Camp. Margot has served a number of terms as a board member of the Suzuki Association of Ontario. She is mother to two grown-up Suzuki students.

Kimmett, Karen

Karen-Michele Kimmett is a graduate of the University of Toronto, the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, and Ithaca College where she received her Master's degree. She has taught in numerous workshops around the world, and is a teacher trainer for the European and Suzuki Association of the Americas. Ms. Kimmett co-founded and directed the Institute Suzuki de Paris for ten years before returning to Canada to create a studio with the acclaimed Canta Arya Strings in Kingston, ON. As well as adjudicating music festivals, she conducts teacher training courses at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, in France as well as in South Africa. Ms. Kimmett in collaboration with Sue Hammond of Classical Kids and Canta Arya Strings, will premier a musical tribute to the children of Mamelodi at the Westben Festival.

Kossler, Adam

Adam Kossler began his musical studies with the violin at the age of two years old at the Suzuki Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. At the age of three he began studying guitar with his father, a Suzuki guitar teacher. Throughout high school Adam was active as both a performer an teacher in his home town of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He now studies under the award winning performer and player, Dr. Elliot Frank, at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Adam has also participated in master classes with such players as William Kanengeiser, Bruce Holzman, Jason Vieux, and Frank Koonce. He has been a finalist in several major national and international guitar competitions.

Kutscher, Jane

Jane Kutscher, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Findlay College in piano performance, is in great demand as a workshop teacher. She is also known for her stimulating supplementary group classes which she has created, developed and presented internationally. In addition to being a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the National Federation of Musicians, she is president of the Westerville Women's Music Club and adjudicator for Guild and Federation auditions. Jane is a registered teacher trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Lloyd-Watts, Valery

Valery Lloyd-Watts, MM (Wis), ARCT, ARCM, LRAM, has been a professional pianist since the age of twelve, studying privately in Vancouver, BC, at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, the Royal College of London and the University of Wisconsin (Madison). She has co-authored Studying Suzuki Piano: More Than Music (Warner) and Ornamentation (Alfred). Bigler ~Lloyd-Watts Mastering the Piano will be published in 2007 and is currently being presented as Applied Pedagogy at Queen's University, Kingston, ON. Valery has recorded the entire Suzuki Method piano repertoire, as well as many recordings for Alfred. All levels (1-7) of Mastering the Piano have been published by Alfred. For over thirty years, Valery has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Australia. She has performed for the BBC in England and is heard often on the Canadian Broadcasting Company in Canada and on National Public Radio in the United States. www.valerylloydwatts.com

McAvaney, Thomas (T.J.)

Thomas J. McAvaney holds a Bachelor's Degree from Marywood College and upon receipt of his Master's Degree in performance and Suzuki pedagogy from Ithaca College, NY, directed the Quinte Suzuki School in Belleville, Ontario. Highly-regarded throughout North America as a guest student orchestra conductor, he currently directs the New Hartford High School Orchestra, NY. In addition to performing as a violist with the Utica Symphony and Delta Chamber Ensemble, he is a certified All-State String Adjudicator and member of the New York State music teachers Executive Council.

McConnell, Linda

Like successful Suzuki students, Linda McConnell grew up in the environment of a musical home.  Playtime often involved dancing to classical music being played on the stereo and she always loved singing in choirs. After a childhood of studying piano with Royal Conservatory of Music teachers, she graduated with a Grade 10 performance certificate and furthered her education by completing a Bachelor of Music degree at McGill University.  It was during those years that Linda was introduced to the Suzuki method.  Intrigued by the philosophy, rediscovered at Suzuki Kingston after years of teaching piano traditionally and through Susan Gibbon's encouragement, she began her journey of Suzuki Teacher Training with Carole Bigler in 1995.  Since then, she has completed all levels of training with some of the finest Suzuki Teacher Trainers including Christine Allen and Valery Lloyd-Watts. Now a seasoned Suzuki teacher, Linda has nurtured students in Napanee and Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Currently, she lives with her husband in Kitchener and is an associate teacher for the Burlington Suzuki Association and is on the faculty of the Guelph School of Music.  She volunteers as a member of the Suzuki Association of Ontario's Board of Directors. Committed to the Suzuki philosophy, Linda continues her ongoing personal and professional development and believes wholeheartedly in parents as partners.  She is thrilled to be joining the Faculty 2008 of Summer Music Festival.

McPheron, Emily

Emily McPheron is excited to be returning to the Institute for her second year on staff, after enjoying many years of music-making as a student there. She is currently in her second year of university, studying piano and voice at the university of Ottawa, where she also accompanies a number of vocalists and instrumentalists. This May, she will be joining Martha
Hill Duncan's choir "She Sings!" as an accompanist on their New York tour. Along with maintaining a broad musical interest, Emily has also been a dedicated camp counsellor and outdoor adventure leader with the Gould Lake Outdoor Centre, RKY Camp and the all-girls camp Tanamakoon in Algonquin park. She enjoys working with children of all ages, having lead wilderness trips with kids ages 6-18. She looks forward to more wonderful experiences this summer as accompanist and co-teen program coordinator.

Mitchell, Laurie

Laurie Mitchell is a graduate of the Faculty of Music at UWO and the Institute of Child Study, UT. She also studied the Suzuki Violin Method in the U.S. and Japan. Presently, Laurie has a studio of beginner to advanced violin students, is a string director of the Prelude Strings and the La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra (LJYO.ca), performs regularly with Celebration Strings and the Northumberland Orchestra, and teaches music and special education for the K.P.R. District School Board. She has adjudicated and taught Suzuki violin workshops in Ontario, New York and Pennsylvania for several years.

Palmer, Anne

Anne Palmer is a member of the Kingston Symphony, The Classically Hip Woodwind Trio and Espresso Flute and Classical Guitar Duo. She has been teaching flute classes with the Limestone Board of Education (Kingston) since 1990 and also has a studio of private students. She is on faculty at the Kingston Summer Music School and the National Music Camp in Orillia.

Perry, Richard

Richard S. Perry received his Bachelor of Art degree from Bard College and his Master of Arts from Teacher's College, Columbia University. He recently retired from the Corning-Painted Post Area School District after thirty-six years of vocal music education. He remains as choir director at the First Congregational-United Church of Christ in Corning, New York, and continues to teach chorus, voice, recorder, and jazz at institutes throughout the United States and Canada. His service to education has earned him the honor of Paul Harris Fellow given by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He lives in Corning and is the father of three grown men, and five small grandchildren.

Schaefer, Cam

Cam Schaeffer is a classroom teacher in the public school system, in addition to teaching piano privately. Cam Schaefer writes and illustrates children's stories and teaches art and music in the public school system. He performs in a variety of jazz and blues settings in and around the Kingston area. A graduate of the Humber College music program, he has also studied with Maureen McTier and Frank Falco.

Scott, Clayton

Clayton C. Scott graduated in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music where she is currently a member of the Board of Examiners. She adjudicates at piano competitions and festivals and conducts workshop classes in music history, piano performance and musicianship throughout North America. In 1992, she developed Music Through the Ages, a highly acclaimed music history course for the young music student. She has co-lectured the Mastering the Piano Pedagogy Course with Valery Lloyd-Watts weekly in Fall, 2006, at Queen's University. For more information visit Clayton's website at www.claytonscottmusic.com.

Selway, James

James Selway has often specialized in directing musicals and operettas involving young people and has directed Gilbert and Sullivan productions at Suzuki Kingston for many years. For Singers Onstage!, the summer program of the World Children's Choir, a professional children's choir in the Washington, D.C. area, he has produced many G & S productions and has also staged the musical Narnia and the opera Hansel and Gretel. Mr. Selway is Associate Conductor and pianist for the World Children's Choir and has performed with the Choir at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and at the White House. He has been a Suzuki piano teacher for twenty years and maintains a full studio in Falls Church, Virginia. Mr. Selway is a graduate of the Juilliard School and The Catholic University of America. Mr. Selway is the composer of many songs for solo voice and choir. Recently his song “With One Dream,” written following the September 11 attacks, was recorded by the World Children's Choir, singers from service bands in the Washington, DC area, and orchestra. www.harnesselwayarts.com

Smock, Claire

Claire Smock is an Honors graduate of Ithaca College with a Master's degree from Harvard University. A faculty member of 171 Cedar Arts center, Corning, New York, she has created and implemented the highly regarded music program, Music and Your Family. She appears regularly as an accompanist and music director for various performing groups and also teaches elementary school music and private piano.

Smolen, Sera

Sera Smolen, soloist, collaborator, chamber musician, improviser, orchestral musician and recording artist, is an active performer of numerous genres of music, including four centuries of classical music. She has studiedimprovisation extensively with many teachers, and has performed in the US, Canada, Europe and India in numerous collaborations as an improvising musician. In addition to premieriing new music, interdisciplinarity is a passion, bringing her to collaborate with dancers, sculptors, painters and poets. Smolen received her PhD in music education from the Union Institute in 2000. She currently teaches at the Kanack School in Rochester NY, in her suzuki cello studio in Ithaca, NY, and as a guest clinician around the US and Canada. She has tought at Mansfield University, Alfred University, and Hobart and William Smith College. She is the assistant director of the New Directions Cello Festival and is a founding member of the Binghamton Cello Festival.

Szczesniak, Michel

Michel Szczesniak is artistic director of the Kingston Symphony Chamber Players, accompanies the Kingston Choral Society, the Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, teaches privately and at Queen's University. Solo appearances have been with the Winnipeg, Victoria, and Kingston Symphony Orchestras, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Banff Centre, and CBC Radio.

Thor, Erik

Erik Thor graduated this year, completing his Bachelor of Music in vocal performance at Wilfrid Laurier University. His first original work, the libretto for the one act opera To Daniel by Glenn James, premiered this February under his direction and coproduction. Erik is currently working as a recording engineer in his own studio, as well as working towards his next original production, music theatre. Erik is returning to Bigler~Lloyd-Watts Music Camp for his third year on faculty after being a student for many years.

van Allen, Kathy

Kathy van Allen is an active member of the Kingston music community. She maintains a private studio, conducts a community choir and accompanies a variety of musicians and students in Kingston. Kathy looks forward to the enriching professional and personal associations of Bigler~Lloyd-Watts Music Camp every year.

Wilcox, Michelle

Michelle Wilcox has guest conducted several county music festivals throughout New York State. As a certified Suzuki Instructor, she has served as a faculty member at the Kingston Suzuki Institute in Ontario, Canada, and is a guest clinician for Suzuki Workshops in the Northeast. Her performance experiences include the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Virginia, and she is presently a member of the violin section of the Utica Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Wilcox is also a member of the Delta Chamber Ensemble. She currently teaches strings in the New Hartford Central School District, and has also taught in the Ilion Central Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from SUNY Potsdam, and a Master degree from Ithaca College, with an emphasis on Education and Suzuki Pedagogy. Mrs. Wilcox resides in Lee Center with her husband, Lindsay and three daughters.

Home | Calendar | Programs | Teacher Programs | Enrichments | Scholarships | Application Info | Accommdation & Meals | Faculty Bios | Reg.Form