Meet Our Team

Our teachers are among the most talented in the industry.
​It would be our pleasure to put our extensive experience to work for you and your family!

ANN BLENNERHASSETT
piano/voice

Ann Blennerhassett is a soprano at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Born to musical parents, Ann has been playing, singing and performing onstage since childhood. She was won numerous awards from festivals and competitions such as NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), Kiwanis Toronto, Peel, Newmarket and Burlington Music Festivals. She has performed in opera productions and in concert in Canada, the United States and Germany and has been featured on Toronto`s Classical 96.3 FM and Buffalo`s Classical WNED 94.5 FM. Aside from performing, Ann loves teaching students of all ages and levels, and seeing young musicians reach their potential. Her biggest goal as a teacher is to inspire her students to want to achieve more on their own volition and to see them aspiring not just to play or sing, but to become well-rounded musicians. And though she maintains that being a musician is hard work which requires discipline, it should also be enjoyable and rewarding. She believes that classical technique and theory are essential building blocks for any style of playing or singing.

MICHAEL HODGSON
BMUS
Piano/Voice/Guitar

Michael Hodgson has been teaching privately for over 12 years and has performed for audiences across Canada, the United States, Sweden and Germany in the operatic, oratorio, art song, choral and contemporary genres. His teaching method emphasizes technique, confidence and an over all aim towards providing consistent progress and a sound foundation. While educating his students on necessary genres of music for steady progression, Michael also includes music that pertains to his student's personal interest to keep their motivation and interests in mind. Michael received his Bachelor of Music from Queen's University, studying voice under Canadian baritone Bruce Kelly. He is comfortable teaching students of all ages, in all styles of music. He believes that being a well rounded musician is a much needed asset and because of this he makes himself as fluent as possible in all genres of music to be able to cater to any students needs. Having the privilege of working with a wide variety of skilled musicians in the past has allowed Michael to study numerous teaching methods and philosophies. It is through these means that he has solidified his own methods and feels that he can provide a unique, friendly and effective learning environment for students of all ages. Above all else, music is his undying passion and he feels that being able to pass on and teach what he has learned over the years is a treasure all in its self. Having had teachers who love their craft and love to teach has inspired him and he practices that mentality in his teaching.

Chris Tanaka-Mann
BEd
​Piano/Guitar/Voice

Christopher Tanaka-Mann is a musician, educator, arranger, vocal coach, clinician, and performing artist. While specializing in voice, Chris also plays piano and guitar. As a teacher, Chris has taught voice, piano, and guitar privately, as well as English, Music, and Philosophy in some of Ontario’s secondary schools. He is a proud member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, singing with several different groups that specialize in the barbershop style of music. He has had the opportunity to lead choruses and music programs around Ontario in music and singing, and continues to search for more avenues for this kind of clinical education. As a performing artist, Chris is most notably the tenor of Yonge Guns, a quartet that sings a cappella music. The barbershop quartet performs around Ontario and the world, competing in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s quartet contests regularly. Most recently, Yonge Guns won the provincial competition, and now sets its sights representing Ontario and Canada in the International Quartet Contest! Chris teaches voice and performance privately, as well as providing beginner piano and guitar lessons. He recently worked as a Singing Ambassador for the Waterfront Business Improvement Area, and now works for Taddle Creek Montessori School and also as a nanny for a private family. He is a certified Ontario Secondary teacher.

LUIS FIGUEROA
​AMD GUITAR/DRUMS

---

At an early age Luis decided that music was going to be the path he was going to choose as a career. Beginning his journey with the drums at 9 years of age, he quickly decided that the guitar should be his next challenge. All happening at once, he joins the school band, the church choir, the jazz combo, the funk and punk bands with his friends, all of these elements making up his overall musical integrity. Fast forward to today, having worked on over a dozen albums and projects, and having 9 years of teaching under his belt with post-secondary education coming from the renowned Jazz program at Humber college in Toronto majoring in percussion, Luis refines his techniques. Recently getting on board with Featherstone Music to teach guitar full time there is no sign of Luis slowing down. Luis finds his passion in the production of music electronically and organically but always finds time for session work, teaching and his country/folk rock outfit "The Idaho Stop"

ANDREW MENINO
BA
Guitar/Bass/Piano

Andrew is a student in the 2nd year of the Bachelor of Music program at Humber College majoring in Bass Performance. He graduated from the Introduction to Commercial Jazz Performance Certificate program at Humber College with honours in 2016. He has performed with many groups such as the Chinguacousy Concert and its sister Jazz band, the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra and various student bands, one of which was led by the great Hilario Duran. He has also been a member of the Musicfest Canada Nationals staff since 2015 and has been the Audio and Recording Tech Team Supervisor since 2016; he is set to become the next Technical Director. He aspires to become a Sound Designer specializing in Video game audio and composition, however, he hopes to work in studios that will work with the latest in technology to complete projects for all media platforms. Andrew hopes that the passion he has for music and audio can be sparked in the same way with his students using a curriculum that is both structured and flowing that is curated to each individual, while using the deployment of a positive environment as the base of every lesson.

PINAR AYVERDI

BMus
​
Piano/Voice/Flute

Pinar is a 4th year undergraduate music (flute and piano) student at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about drawing audiences deeply into the art of music. Her works as a soloist, chamber musician and other orchestral players has taken her to many different cities and countries throughout Europe and the America. She performed in different type of classical music settings both as a soloist and chamber musician throughout her education since 2001. She received ‘Best Composition Award’ in high school in 2013. A well-qualified and inspirational teacher can not only rise the quality of teaching but also develop a culture of learning and high aspiration right across a school’s musical department. Pinar has excellent subject of knowledge and a strong desire to provide her students with a world class education. She is guaranteed to be able to stretch all of her students to their fullest potential. Committed to expanding the role of what it means to be a 21st century musician, Pinar’s work often takes her beyond the concert stage and into the community. She appears as a performer and teaching artist at community centers, hospitals and correctional facilities in Toronto and is proud to serve in this field. 
 York Mills Collegiate Institute, Summer Sounds Music Festival (2017)
Created, planned and taught daily music lessons including beginner band and private flute lessons while maintaining student interest and discipline 
Created effective and engaging lesson plans
Commended by teachers and school principal for creative instructional activities
 
 - Private teacher from 2012-2018 Private Studio/home Teaching
Conducted private music lessons. Taught music to school aged children. Tracked progress, collaborated with parents and worked with students to prepare for school band, contests and special concerts. 
Students won awards for music contests and gained recognition as leaders in perspective ensembles

Elizabeth Hutt
​Piano

Elizabeth Hutt comes from a family of musicians which allowed her to become familiar with all genres of music from a young age. She started teaching group and private piano lessons when she was in high school and now she has over a decade of skills and experience. Teaching group piano has taught her patience and discipline all the while creating a fun atmosphere for students. Her students have gone on to test in RCM curriculum and even pursue careers in musical education. Every year since teaching Elizabeth has organized recitals with up to 60 students. She loves pairing up friends for duets and even triplets! Elizabeth is a charismatic and engaging teacher while making sure that each student is learning to their full potential. She is able to recognize her students strengths and work towards bettering their weaknesses. As the eldest sister in her family, Elizabeth has a lot of experience caring for younger children. She took the responsibilty of tending to her two younger siblings and babysat for others. She is able to recognize their needs and adapt to the circumstances by building a nurturing relationship with them. As a result she creates a creative and supportive environment for students of all ages with which she can share the love of piano, a skill they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

Madi Trupp 
BA Music
Voice, Guitar, Ukulele, Piano

Madison is a musical theatre fanatic. She graduated in 2016 from Burman University in Lacombe, Alberta with a BA in Music, where she studied under Dr. Wendolin Munroe. She regularly was a top performer in the local festivals, as well as being a regularly featured soloist with the Choral Union at Burman University. She is an active musical theatre member and has performed as Winnifred (Once Upon A Mattress), Lucy (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and Golde (Fiddler on the Roof). She is currently a member of the Toronto Mendelssohn choir, as well as being part of the local theatre community. Madison has expended her musical learning into piano, guitar, and Ukulele and previously she played the Clarinet as well in the Burman Orchestra. Madison recently had to created her own early childhood music introduction program while working with Royal Bear Daycare in Oshawa, ON. Madison loves working with all levels of student and passing on her love of music. She sees music as an adventure and is excited to take her students with her and help them grow and discover music for themselves.

Camila Milla
BMus
​Composition/Guitar/Piano

Camila is a chilean music composer, film music writer, guitarist and educator. She started playing guitar at thirteen years old and performed in various stages in her home country since she was 18. She started teaching by her second year of music school and also started being invited to play in several projects including rock bands, contemporary music festivals and to write music for short films and animation films. After a couple of years teaching in-home, she started working as the head guitar teacher in a music academy, teaching all ages. At the same time she started a bachelor in Education so she could also work as a secondary school teacher. Camila has been working a lot through social media as a solo artist as well. This way, in 2018 the USA/Japanese brand Ibanez Guitars made Camila part of their family giving her the opportunity to be one of the first girls from South America being part of their artists catalogue. She enjoys teaching all kinds of music styles and their students interests, motivating them to exercise their technique and understand the discipline in a close and entertaining way. This way build their self confidence and encourage them to be curious and creative. Sharing her passion for music, Camila feels very lucky to be able to teach and learn from her students every day.