Halifax

Private piano and theory lessons, from Beginner to ARCT levels. Group theory classes. These include Harmony, Counterpoint, Music History, Analysis, Piano Pedagogy, Rudiments and Composition. Dr. Wanzel is also a Clinician, Researcher, Adjudicator, Examiner and Coach.

Mygonghae Yoon

Violin

Patricia Bryson

Piano, Adjudicator

1211 Cromwell Rd
Halifax NS B3H 4L1

902-423-5172
patriciabryson85@gmail.com

Jin Bryson

piano, rudiments
English/ Chinese (Mandarin)

295 Torrington Drive

Halifax, NS B3M 2V4

902-222-2529

Jin.bryson@outlook.com

Jin Bryson

Michael Coburn

Piano

I am an experienced teacher, festival adjudicator, and performer offering lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced piano students, as well as theory. My focus is on fostering self-confidence and musical artistry by developing the control which allows for fluent self-expression. I bring energy and enthusiasm to each lesson as I support students in creatively searching for solutions and celebrating their successes.

Why do I love teaching? Because I want every student of mine to know how amazing they are as a person. I want to help them discover that if making music is interesting to them, they can absolutely do it and do it well. I want them to come to know that their self-improvement is inevitable when they are consistently focused on moving towards their goals. I want them to see first-hand that no matter how well they play, they can always find improvement. Perfection is a myth, and that is a beautiful thing because they can always keep learning. But most of all, I teach because when an interested student is regularly taking steps towards their goals, it is fun for everyone.

I have been teaching for nearly twenty years and adjudicating for a decade. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance with Distinction from the University of Calgary where I was featured as a soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and an ARCT diploma from the Royal Conservatory. Before teaching piano lessons in Halifax, I worked in Calgary as the Piano Faculty Director at Chinook School of Music, the Director of Music at Parkdale United Church, and the Artistic Director of Cum Vino Cantus Choir.

56 Tuscany Run
Timberlea, NS B3T 0L3

Phone: 403-714-1274
Email: michael.a.coburn@gmail.com
Website: https://coburnpianostudio.ca

Susan Diepeveen

Piano, Rudiments

6193 Shirley St.
Halifax NS B3H 2N3

902-266-6193
diepeveen@eastlink.ca

Madeleine Gaudette

Piano, rudiments

6526 London Street
Halifax, NS

Phone: 902-214-0204
Email: madeleinegaudette@gmail.com

Madeleine Gaudette

Shahien Hamza

Early Childhood, Harmony, History, Piano, Rudiments, Music for Young Children

1 Northcliffe Lane
Halifax NS B3M 2Z5

902-443-3980
shahien_hamza@hotmail.com

Jennifer King

Piano, Pedagogy, Coach, Accompaniment, Clinician, Adjudicator, Examiner

Torrington Dr.
Halifax NS B3M 1Y2

902-445-2661
Email: jenniferkingpiano@gmail.com
Website: http://www.jenniferkingpiano.com

Dr. Nicole Jordan

voice, conducting, pedagogy, adjudicator

Dr. Nicole Jordan spent her formative years in Halifax, Nova Scotia then made her career in
England and The Netherlands as a vocalist, performing artist, and academic. She holds a PhD in
Performance Studies/Music Psychology from the University of Sheffield (UK), an MSc in Music
Psychology from Keele University (UK), and BMus from Acadia University (CAN). “Dr. J” has
been a Professor of Voice at the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University
since 2022, where she also directs the DalChorus and advises on equity, diversity, inclusion and
accessibility (EDIA) in the arts. She is a member the boards of the Nova Scotia Choral
Federation, Halifax Camerata Singers, and on the Canadian Music Centre’s Accountability for
Change Council. She continues to pursue her passions for singing, choral music, community
engagement, and advocacy for underrepresented performing artists in Nova Scotia.

www.nicolejodran.ca

nicolejordan@me.com

902-580-1463

Dr. Nicole Jordan

Laura Klien

Laura Klein

Strings, Suzuki Violin

6040 Willow Street
Halifax NS B3K 1L9

902-422-6754
laurenklein@mac.com
FiddlerOffTheRoof.com

Cholpon Nazaralieva

piano, history, analysis, aural musicianship, pedagogy, rudiments, other

Cholpon Nazaralieva is a dedicated and highly experienced piano and music educator with a deep passion for inspiring a love of music. With extensive training from the Kyrgyz National Conservatory, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in piano in performance and a Master’s in Music Education. Cholpon possesses the skills to guide students from their very first lesson to advanced levels and support every student in reaching their music goals.

Throughout her career, Cholpon has held diverse roles, including piano and music theory teacher and accompanist for choirs, vocalists and instrumentalists in the opera and ballet theatre. Crucially, she has also taught full time at international schools in Asia for over 12 years at the primary and secondary level. Cholpon was responsible for designing music curricula, coordinating performances, and organizing large-scale student concerts. Her experience includes training and accompanying school choirs and orchestras, as well as working with high school students on their internal assessments.

Cholpon's goal is to help every student reach their full potential by creating a stimulating and nurturing environment. Whether a student is just beginning their musical journey or preparing for a major performance, she provides personalized instruction tailored to their individual needs, fostering both technical skill and a lifelong appreciation for music.

cholpon.nazaralieva@gmail.com

1030 South Park St., B3H 2W3

Skippy Mardon

Composition, Organ, Piano, Rudiments, Strings, Accordian

26 Emerald Cres.
Halifax NS B3R 2K4

902-477-4266
skippym@eastlink.ca

Skippy Mardon

Lisa Pattison

piano, rudiments, accompanist

Lisa has been teaching Piano and Rudiments since 1990. Currently, she teaches local students in her private studio in the Rockingham area as well as distance students from out of province by video conference.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Education, a Bachelor of Science and a Piano X Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She taught public school for 5 years before beginning full-time private studio piano teaching while also home educating her own sons.

For more information about the complete program offered by Lisa please visit her website. PattisonPiano.com

Norman Crescent
Halifax NS B3M 3Y8

902-431-7564
Email: pattisonpiano@gmail.com
Website: http://www.pattisonpiano.com

Jennifer Publicover

Flute: classical/modern, traditional/Irish/Celtic, and Baroque; also directs early music and traditional music ensembles, woodwinds

2114 Creighton St. Apt. 3
Halifax, NS B3K 3R4

jenpublicover@eastlink.ca

902-209-2397

https://www.jenniferpublicover.com/

Jennifer Publicover

Lynn Stodola

Piano (advanced), University, Adjudicator, Clinician

Pianist Lynn Stodola is an active soloist, chamber musician and collaborative pianist, having performed throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. Her performances have received critical acclaim from the New York Times: “excellent pianist - first class performance, intense and technically commanding” and the Chicago Sun Times: “stunning debut...Ms Stodola showed herself possessed of intelligence, bravura and beauty of spirit”. She has appeared regularly in many international music festivals, including Juneau Jazz and Classics (Alaska), Music and Beyond (Ottawa), as a guest artist in the Ateneum Series (Venice, Italy), Scotia Festival Music Room Chamber Music Society and the Cecilia Concert Series. Her work as collaborative pianist has assisted in the careers of many performing artists and her guidance as teacher and mentor has helped many young artists achieve successful musical careers in the U.S., Canada and abroad.

In 2009 she was recipient of the first Hugheen Ferguson Distinguished Teacher Award presented by the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Association, and in 2018 was named NSRMTA Teacher of the Year. In 2019 Ms. Stodola was awarded Teacher of Distinction" by the Royal Conservatory of Music. Recently retired Professor of Piano at the Fountain School of Performing Arts, Ms. Stodola now devotes her time to teaching young gifted pianists, many of whom have won numerous awards locally and nationally at the Kiwanis Music Festival, the FCMF National Finals Competition, the Canadian Music Competition and the CFMTA National Final Competitions.

Ms. Stodola holds degrees from the American Conservatory of Music (B.Mus.) and the Juilliard School (M.Mus, post graduate Professional Studies).

1785 Pryor St.
Halifax NS B3H 4G7

902-425-5472
lynn.stodola@dal.ca

Lynn Stodola

Megan Thibeault

Piano, Rudiments,History, Harmony, Analysis, Aural Musicianship

Megan Thibeault is a versatile pianist who is passionate about exploring new ways to present, collaborate and explore music that reflects our current society. Originally from Newfoundland, her musical endeavours have brought her to perform and study throughout North America. She has premiered many solo and ensemble pieces while collaborating with a wide range of composers from Canadian emerging artists to internationally renowned such as Steve Reich, Georg Friedrich Haas and Missy Mazzoli. She was a two time competitor at the Canadian Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition and has performed and studied at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity, the Bang On A Can Summer Festival, the Orford Music Academy as well as the New England Conservatory’s Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice.

As a teacher Megan is an enthusiastic and positive educator who encourages her students to discover the joys of music while helping them advance to their fullest potential. She loves exploring a wide range of repertoire with her students and strives to build a deep appreciation for music that lasts. Megan completed her Masters of Music degree with acclaimed pianist David Jalbert at the University of Ottawa. She also holds an Artist Diploma at the University of British Columbia under the tutelage of Corey Hamm. She has pursued further studies with contemporary piano music experts Nicolas Hodges, Stephen Drury, Anthony De Mare, Winston Choi, Vicky Chow, Simon Docking and Louise Bessette along with some of Canada’s great classical pianists Maneli Pirzadeh, Jane Coop and André La Plante.

As a chamber musician Megan has worked and performed with the Bang On A Can All-Stars, the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra and toured with the Acadia University Wind Ensemble. She has worked with many collaborative musicians throughout her studies and projects. She is the recipient of many Arts NS and Canada Council for the Arts grant awards. Currently Megan is one of the co-artistic directors of Halifax based ensemble Alkali Collective and enjoys a fruitful career working with composers and performing new music alongside of her piano studio.

5662 Bloomfield St
Halifax, NS

Phone: 902-471-5530
Website: http://meganthibeault.com

Megan Thibeault

Cindy Thong

Piano, University, Clinician, Adjudicator

Canadian pianist Cindy Thong leads a polyvalent career as a pedagogue, researcher and performer. She has performed throughout Canada, in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy, and has also been a finalist and prizewinner in numerous competitions such as the Concours Hélène-Roberge and Canadian Music Competition. She has also made appearances at the Orford Music Festival, Banff Arts Centre, Gijón International Piano Festival and Euro Music Festival, amongst others.

Alongside her performance and pedagogical activities, Cindy maintains a keen interest in performance psychology and mental skills training. In particular, her dissertation pertained to the neuropsychology of learning and the optimization of practice methods, deconstructing and analyzing models related to enhanced efficiency. She has regularly been invited to lecture and offer workshops on these topics and related subjects at institutions such as the University of British Columbia and York University, and continues to expand this interdisciplinary work in collaboration with other domains, such as research for arts and health interventions.

Cindy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Montréal (Canada), where she was also awarded the Prix d’interpretation en piano upon graduation. She also holds a Master of Arts in Music Performance from the Haute École de Musique de Genève (Switzerland), as well as a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the University of Montréal. Her primary teachers include Jimmy Brière, the late Dominique Weber, and John Hansen.

Having participated in numerous festivals and master classes throughout North America and Europe, Cindy has also worked closely with artists such as Robert MacDonald, Jacques Rouvier, Bernd Goetzke, Dang Thai Son, Stephen Kovacevich, Ronan O’Hora, Marc Durand, Benedetto Lupo, Alexander Kobrin, Evelyne Brancart and Dalton Baldwin, among others.

Cindy is currently on faculty at Acadia University and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. She is also the Artistic Director of the Acadia Piano Intensive program,

56 Walter Havil Dr.
Halifax, NS B3N 0C3
Email: cindy.thong@acadiau.ca

Cindy Thong

Diana Torbert

Piano, Rudiments, Accompaniment, Adjudicator

Diana Torbert received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Converse College in South Carolina and her Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York, with further studies at Aspen Music School in Colorado. Her musical career has encompassed a wide range of solo and ensemble performances with orchestras, chamber groups, instrumentalists and vocalists, choral groups and opera.

Since moving to Halifax in 1987, she has become well known as a pianist, teacher and adjudicator. Ms. Torbert has performed frequently with Symphony Nova Scotia and on many concert series in the region. She is well known as a collaborative pianist in the musical community of Nova Scotia and at Dalhousie University’s Department of Music. She is the pianist for Rhapsody Quintet, who have released six CD’s: the newest one, “Passion” was just released in October, 2012. “Rhapsody in Red” won the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia’s Best Classical Recording Award in 2005. “Rhapsody in Red” was also nominated for Best Classical Recording at the East Coast Music Awards in 2006. “Rhapsody by Request” – also won the 2009 “Classical Recording of the Year” from the Nova Scotia Music Awards. Rhapsody Quintet has performed twice as guest artists with Symphony Nova Scotia, and on many concert series in the Atlantic Provinces and in Ontario.

Ms. Torbert has taught hundreds of students from beginning to professional levels during her 40- year teaching career and continues to maintain a large private studio in Halifax. She is currently the Past President of the Halifax Chapter of the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers Association.

6009 Inglis St.
Halifax NS B3H 1K9

902-429-7075
dianatorbert@gmail.com

Diana Tobert

Krista Vincent

Early Childhood, Choral

72 Saskatoon Drive
Halifax, NS

Phone: 902-445-5083
Email: vincent.krista@gmail.com

Krista Vincent

Carol von Syberg

Piano, Rudiments

504-1540 Summer St.
Halifax NS B3H 4R9

902-423-0017
carol.vonsyberg@ns.sympatico.ca

Carol von Syberg

Chantel Wagschal

Piano, Rudiments

5648 Kane St.
Halifax NS B3K 2B4

902-209-8659
lechantel@hotmail.com

Chantel Wagschal

Dr. Lorna Wanzel

Private piano and theory lessons, from Beginner to ARCT levels. Group theory classes. These include Harmony, Counterpoint, Music History, Analysis, Piano Pedagogy, Rudiments and Composition. Dr. Wanzel is also a Clinician, Researcher, Adjudicator, Examiner and Coach.

Dr. Lorna Wanzel grew up in England. She now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she maintains a very successful private piano theory teaching studio. She has over 40 years of teaching experience to students of all ages and levels.

Dr. Wanzel is a former President of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations and Past President of the Nova Scotia Registered Music teachers’ Association. She started the NSRMTA Research Group, the first of its kind in the world, and has presented research papers on various topics, including motivation and retention of students in the private music studio. She has presented research papers at international and national music education conferences in Australia, Portugal, Italy, Latvia, China, Greece, UK, USA and Canada. She is a recipient of the prestigious CFMTA Distinguished Teachers Award and has been made a Life Member of the NSRTMA.

Dr. Wanzel’s Master of Arts Degree thesis “Private Piano Pedagogy and Educational Theory” was completed at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and her Doctor of Education thesis “Independent Music Teachers Building Professional Knowledge Through Collaborative Research” was completed at the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Her desire is to see each of her students reach their highest potential and to attain a life-long love of music.

6158 Lawrence St.
Halifax NS B3L 1J6

902-423-8908
lwanzel@bellaliant.net

www.lornawanzel.ca