Classical Music Archives - Victoria Conservatory of Music

Angela Carter joins the Victoria Conservatory of Music Faculty as an esteemed member of its Alumni, having started piano at the Victoria Conservatory in 1968 with Marjorie Tebo, and theory and ear training with Rodney Webster in 1971. Completing the Piano Teacher Training Program in Piano in 1980, receiving First Class Honours with Distinction, with Winifred Scott-Wood, Allen Reiser and Edward Parker, Angela completed the Victoria Conservatory/Camosun College Classical Piano Performance Program with Robin Wood, May-Ling Kwok and Alma Brock-Smith in 1982. Angela continued studies in jazz piano with Richard Bird and vocal training with Maureen Branch. Angela teaches piano […]

Karen Hough

May 9th, 2022 |

Karen Hough has joined the Victoria Conservatory of Music Faculty in 2022 and teaches horn at the VCM’s main location. She was born in Nanaimo as were 3 previous generations of her family and raised in Victoria. She earned her Bachelor of Music Degree from The University of Victoria. She went on to study at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto in the Orchestral Training Programme. She received her Master of Music from Yale University and was the first horn player ever to receive Yale’s prestigious Artist Diploma. She spent a year as Artist in Residence at The Banff Centre. Summer […]

Easy Recorder Band

February 4th, 2022 |

A recorder class for players who have had some lessons and would like to meet other musicians. Play easy duets, trios and quartets for soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Must be able to read music. New Students ** Please contact the instructor prior to registering by calling out front desk: 250.386.5311

Aimi Howden

December 1st, 2021 |

Aimi is a passionate educator with many years of experience, teaching piano, theory, and history to students of all levels and ages since 2014. While living in Toronto, she studied various teaching methods and taught for two music schools including the Classical Music Conservatory in Roncesvalles, and the University of Toronto Piano Pedagogy Program, where she meticulously developed private and group lesson plans. Aimi is an active performer in solo and chamber works and especially enjoys her work as one half of the Harrison Garden Duo, exploring two-piano compositions with her incredible duo partner, Jany Lu. […]

Jenny Sinaj

November 27th, 2021 |

Jenny (Xheni) Sinaj has recently joined the Keyboard Faculty of VCM’s Ann & George Nation Conservatory School of Classical Music, and currently teaches at the VCM’s Westhills/Langford location and online. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Victoria, and for over 5 years has taught students of all ages and levels in Canada and in Europe. “Music has greatly shaped my life and has been a source of immense joy. It has taught me discipline, commitment, and many other life lessons. I believe I can help pass on the same lessons to my students. Each student is unique, and their input should always be considered throughout the whole journey.” […]

Amy Laing

October 27th, 2021 |

Originally from Nanaimo B.C. Amy earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton Florida, and her Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Prior to the shakeup of 2020, Amy was enjoying her first season as Principal cellist in the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario. She played regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, the Windsor Symphony, Niagara Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, and also held a six-month contract with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax. In 2011/12 Amy served as acting […]

Hannah Craig

September 20th, 2021 |

Hannah Craig considers it a very distinct privilege to be studying music during a time in which the world requires art with great desperation. Cello has been the crux of Hannah’s life for as long as she can remember, having been born into a family of great musical talent. Prior to attending university she was a scholarship student under the tutelage of her mother, Joowon Kim, and David Hetherington at The Conservatory’s Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists. In 2013, she began her undergraduate studies at McGill University in the studio of Matt Haimovitz. It was during […]

Edwin Gnandt

July 15th, 2021 |

Awarded the designation of “Professor Emeritus of Piano and Music” from Ambrose University in Calgary, Edwin Gnandt continues to enjoy a collaborative career in music as pianist, accompanist, author, adjudicator, competition juror, workshop clinician and international speaker. He adjudicates festivals across Canada – most recently the Edmonton Music and Performing Arts Festival, as juror for the Canadian Music Competition (CMC), the National Steppingstone Competition, the Bosendorfer (BC) Piano Competition and the Steinway Junior Competition. In September of 2022, Mr. Gnandt served as the Keynote Speaker and Competition Juror for the BCRMTA Provincial Piano Conference. He has been praised by the San Fransisco […]

Alexander Richards

May 10th, 2021 |

Dr. Alexander Richards is an active pedagogue and performing artist, having appeared in concert in Canada, the United States and Europe. As a concert saxophonist, Alexander has been a featured soloist with ensembles at the University of Victoria Wind Symphony (2011), the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble (2013), and at the University of North Texas. In addition, Alexander has presented recitals, in both solo and chamber music capacities, at many prestigious festivals and conferences, including the Darmstadt International Musikinstitut, the Texas Music Educators Association conference, and many North American Saxophone Association conferences. As a both a performer and pedagogue, Alexander […]

Stevan Paranosic

March 26th, 2021 |

Stevan Paranosic is the Principal Trumpet of the Vancouver Island Symphony. Previously he performed as Acting 2nd Trumpet with the Victoria Symphony for 7 seasons and has appeared with trumpet sections of the Vancouver, Kamloops, Prince George, and Okanagan Symphony orchestras. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Windsor and a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia. A big fan of brass chamber music performance, Stevan is active as a member, arranger and organizer of many brass groups. He is a core member of the Festive Brass quartet, which performs at The Butchart Gardens […]