Strings

Email:
Conservatory@MacEwan.ca

Telephone:
780-633-3811

Ian Woodman began his musical training in Edmonton when he was eight years old in the EPSB Strings Program. Lessons with ESO cellists Anna Hyder, then Tim Khaner prepared him for post-secondary studies with Claude Kenneson. Moving to Victoria to learn from James Hunter, one of Canada’s best teachers, prepared him for a professional ‘cello career.

Ian spent six years as Principal Cello of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, playing, teaching and adjudicating throughout central British Columbia. A year in Montreal, as principal of Les Jeunes Virtuoses de Montreal was followed by a move back to Edmonton in 1995 to teach cello and bass in the public schools until 2009. He has spent time building a teaching studio, becoming one of the city's busiest, most sought-after cello teachers. He maintains a busy performing career as well, freelancing as an orchestral and chamber musician throught Alberta and BC. Ian joined the Alberta College Conservatory of Music in Fall 2004.

Telephone:
780-633-3756

Joanne Yu was born and raised in Toronto. She completed her undergraduate degree in Chicago and then moved to Montreal, where she received a Master's degree in performance from McGill University. She toured three times with the National Youth Orchestra, in Europe and across Canada, and was part of music festivals in Banff, Domaine Forget, Orford, and Colorado Springs. Joanne Yu attended the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute and was recently part of the National Academy Orchestra, and was member of Orchestra London in London, Ontario. She recently moved to Edmonton, where she is already active teaching and performing. She has been invited to perform concerts with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and chamber concerts at the University of Alberta.

Telephone:
780-633-3842

Rob Aldridge ia a Double Bassist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He holds a Masters' degree in Performance from Yale University and a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University. He also earned a jazz diploma from Grant MacEwan College.

Prior to winning his job with the ESO, Rob was an assistant professor of Double Bass at the University of Ottawa. He is alumni of the National Youth Orchestra, National Academy Orchestra as well as playing for festivals in Banff, Domain Forget and Seattle. He has performed with various groups in Canada, the U.S.A, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. Rob has studied under some of the great doble bass players and pedagogues the world has to offer and loves to share his knowledge with his students.

Telephone:
780-633-3842

Ioan Tetel joined Alberta College as a double bass instructor and the ESO as assistant principal bass in 1978. Prior to moving to Canada he was a professor of double bass for 17 years at the Bucharest Conservatory of Music. Succeeding the renowned Joseph Prunner, Mr. Tetel was recognized as the most popular teacher of double bass in Romania, with many of his students going on to become successful soloists, orchestra members, chamber musicians and teachers. As an orchestra musician Mr. Tetel has been principal or assistant principal bassist for several Romanian orchestras and the George Enuscu Philharmonic Orchestra. While with George Enescu Philharmonic, he performed under the baton of such great conductors as Zubin Mehta, Antal Dorati, Charles Dutoit and John Barbiroli and he participated in many European tours. Mr. Tetel and his wife, Eleonora (a geographer for Alberta Environment) have two sons: Mihai, a cellist with a brilliant solo career, presently a cello professor at Hartford University, CT, and Director of ARIA International Summer Academy for Advanced Music Studies, and Teo, a violinist who is on the faculty of Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. Both of them performed as soloists with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Email:
 

Telephone:
780-633-3725

Jeanette Comeau completed an Artist Diploma from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto where she studied with Steven Dann. Prior to moving to Toronto, Jeanette completed a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance with Distinction at the University of Alberta. She has studied with Aaron Au and Evan Verchomin while in Edmonton. Jeanette has also completed the Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Exam.

Jeanette currently performs as a member of The Alberta Baroque Ensemble in addition to performing as a Substitute Violist in the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. She is also an accomplished solo and chamber music performer, and in February, 2011, she performed the Viola Solo for Harold in Italy by Hector Berlioz with the Concordia Symphony Orchestra.

Jeanette has taught Viola and Violin students of all ages since 2005. She is currently accepting new students ages 4 and up.

Email:
Conservatory@MacEwan.ca

Telephone:
780-633-3725

A native of Edmonton, Leanne Dammann Maitland began violin lessons at the age of four with Yoko Wong and went on to study with James Keene and Aaron Au. She received a BMus from the University of Alberta, a MMus from the Eastman School of Music studying with Prof. George Taylor, and an Artist Diploma from McGill University studying with Prof. Andre Roy.

Leanne currently plays with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as a substitute violist, and played previously with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. She has served as principal violist for the National Academy Orchestra, and the orchestras at McGill, Eastman and University of Alberta.

As a chamber musician, Leanne toured France with the Ganesh String Quartet and participated in the Montreal International String Quartet Academy, and Domaine Forget Chamber Music program. In Edmonton, Leanne has played with the Enterprise String Quartet and is manager and violist with the Vif String Quartet.

Teaching has always run parallel to Leanne's activities as a performer. She has taught children at the St. Martin Childrens' String Society, college level students at the University of Rochester, and students of all ages in her private studio. She teaches violin, viola and chamber music in Edmonton.

Email:
 

Telephone:
780-633-3874

Sarah Wilbur-Woodman began her studies on violin at age 7 and viola at 10 years old. She studied privately with Barbara Springer and Otto Joachim before being admitted to the Concervatoire de Musiqe de Montreal with Robert Verebes (MSO assistant solo) in 1980. She also had the priviledge of studying with TSO principal, Osher Green at Les Jeunesses Musicales d'Orford and privately with Leslie Malowany (MSO principal).

She has played as an orchestral and chamber musician from coast to coast, including principal viola positions with Les Jeunes Virtuoses de Montreal (1995-1996)and the Prince George Symphony (1989-1995) and plays frequently with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and local chamber groups.

As a teacher, she has extensive experience with all ages and levels on both violin and viola, including ten years with the EPSB strings program. Her busy private studio, conducting string orchestras, and her two musical daughters keep her well occupied.

Email:
Conservatory@MacEwan.ca

Telephone:
780-633-3725

A member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra since August 2010 and the runner-up in the 2009 Shean String Competition, Alissa Cheung began playing the violin at the age of four. In Edmonton, she studied with Marian Moody, Ranald Shean and Broderyck Olson. After attaining a BSc (Honours) in Chemistry from the University of Alberta in 2007, Ms. Cheung studied violin (BMus) with Thomas Williams at McGill University and with Ani Kavafian at Yale University. Other coaches and masterclass teachers include Glenn Dicterow, Pamela Frank, Malcolm Lowe, Mark Fewer, and members of the Tokyo and Juilliard Quartets.

Ms. Cheung has held principal violin positions in the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2001, 2002),the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (2008), and the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble (2008). She has also served as concertmistress for many orchestras, including the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra (2010), the McGill Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra.

As a soloist, she has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, and the Concordia Symphony Orchestra.Alissa Cheung is a certified Suzuki Teacher (Violin Books 1-4), and finds advantages to employing many different methods in her teaching. Her aim is to help each of her students develop their technique, their creativity, and their appreciation for music.

Telephone:
780-633-3850

Marie Forestier, violin instructor at Alberta College Conservatory of Music, teaches students of all ages and levels, including children as young as two. Marie prepares students for successful Royal Conservatory of Music examinations, Kiwanis Festival performances and Edmonton Youth Orchestra auditions. Marie believes that art and music contribute profoundly to the intellectual development of children and are essential parts of a well-rounded education.

Marie began her musical studies at the Royal Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland. At an early age she won a scholarship to study with Professor Kiss, founder of the Bela Bartok School in Budapest, Hungary. She continued her studies in Edmonton, Alberta with the distinguished teacher, Ranald Shean.

In addition to her work at the Conservatory, Marie performs as a violinist in numerous chamber groups, larger ensembles and orchestras. She also performs in the Forestier Duo with husband, classical guitarist Michel Forestier.

Telephone:
780-633-3825

Violinist Frank Ho (M.Mus., M.A.) enjoys a dual career as a chamber musician and teacher. He studied with Evan Verchomin and James Keene at the Alberta College Conservatory in Edmonton; with Sidney Harth and Erick Friedman at the Yale School of Music in America; and with Yfrah Neaman at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England. Mr. Ho has performed on three continents and has recorded for the CBC. He was the director of the Strathcona Conservatory of Music in Edmonton, where he also maintained a private studio. His students have been prizewinners in local, provincial, and national competitions in Canada. He is also a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Telephone:
780-951-4175

Bachelor of Music – University of Alberta

Mathias Silveira has taught at Alberta College Conservatory of Music since 1998. As an instructor, he is equally committed to helping students advance and refine their musical skills, and to helping them develop an appreciation for the technical and artistic intricacies of the art of performance.

Mathias received his bachelor of music from the University of Alberta in 1998, after studying violin with Norman Nelson and Martin Riesley. He completed his practical examinations through Trinity College in London, England in 1989. Mathias is also an accomplished performer, who has appeared as a soloist and concertmaster both locally and internationally.