2010 Faculty

Andrea McColeman

Andrea has been a part the rich music community in Whitehorse for 2 decades. She is a multi instrumentalist (keyboard, percussion, accordion), arranger, composer, teacher and mom of 2 kids. Andrea received her Bachelor of Music from Wilfred Laurier University, studied jazz at Humber College, and continues to do independent music study. She has played, recorded and toured with countless bands and is a private music teacher as well as an artist with the Arts Edventures program. Andrea delights in helping others discover the joys of music making!

This instructor offers private lessons.

Ben Plotnick

Ben Plotnick began playing classical violin 17 years agoat the age of 5, and he has expanded his musical palette to include many other musical styles, such as Country, Celtic, Jazz, Rock, and many areas of world music as well.  At the age of 19, Ben served as Assistant Director to the Calgary Fiddlers Association. At the age of 20, his second album, “Music is Not a Museum” was released. His fusion of fiddle styles with alternative rock influences has created a genre that has never existed before. Ben spent 2006-2008 at Humber College’s renowned jazz program.

Debra Cairns

Debra is a Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alberta where she co-ordinates and co-supervises the graduate program in choral conducting, teaching undergraduate and graduate conducting, choral literature, and diction. In demand both nationally and internationally as a workshop and conference presenter, guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, her current area of research interest is the relationship of gesture to sound.

This instructor offers private lessons.

Doug Thorseth

Doug has been involved playing the guitar for over 35 years and taught for 15 of those years at the Academy of Music in Regina and studied music at the University of Regina a lifetime ago. Specializing in acoustic 12 string finger-style guitar, he has performed professionally as a soloist as well as in a variety of ensembles. He looks forward to assisting you with your guitar playing voice.  Now residing in Whitehorse, he has performed at the Alsek Festival, Arts in the Park and the Folk Society coffeehouses.

Grant Simpson

For the past 30 years Grant Simpson has been a full-time pianist, musician and entertainer, giving performances on concert stages, music fesitvals, lobby lounges and private performances.  He has toured from San jan, Puerto Rico to Sitka, Alaska, from Seoul, Korea to Brooks, Alberta, from Nanjing, China to La Ronge, Saskatchewan and the list goes on.

Helen O’Connor

Helen O’Connor is a Yukon Artist who explores a variety of media including: handmade paper, willow baskets, and sculpture. She particularly enjoys watercolor for its spontaneous beauty.  Helen holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts and English Literature as well as a Bachelor of Education from The University Of Western Ontario.  She has taught many art classes and workshops through various Yukon arts groups and the Yukon Department of Education.

Jody Peters

Born at an early age, Jody has been immersed in the music industry for his entire life.  With 11 years of classical and jazz piano training, 8 years of vaudeville, and countless hours of Rock ‘n’ Roll under his belt, he is excited to be teaching at the camp this year.  Jody has been attending the University of Alberta and has one year left for a music-education degree.

Louise Stuppard

Louise holds a M.M. degree in violin. She has performed in both Canada and the U.S.A. and is currently a member of the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra. She also maintains a busy teaching studio and is the director of the Red Deer Youth Orchestra. Louise brings a true and sincere dedication to her students, nurturing their musical talent.

Marcelline Moody

Marcelline teaches the Orff Levels Courses at the University of Manitoba, and gives workshops internationally. She completed her Advanced Studies in Music and Dance Education at the Orff Institute in Salzburg. She is active in creative composition projects involving children with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.

Martin Summers

A music educator with the Langley School District for the past thirty-two years, Martin has become well known for his outstanding enthusiasm and dedication to music education; inspiring many young musicians that have gone on to great success in multiple musical genres.  Marty is an in-demand adjudicator and clinician, working with concert and jazz bands at festivals throughout Western Canada and the Yukon.

This instructor offers private lessons.

Rick Dorfer

Violinist Dr. Rick Dorfer currently resides in White Rock, BC, where he is quickly establishing himself as a performer, adjudicator, and pedagogue. Rick is a member of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and also enjoys a variety of freelance opportunities, including recording sessions and new music performances. As an educator, Rick maintains an extensive teaching studio in White Rock, conducts the Surrey Symphony Society’s Junior Strings Orchestra, and coordinates the Surrey Symphony’s new Chamber Music Program.

Teresa MacQuarrie

Teresa MacQuarrie has taught Vocal Jazz Private Tuition at Vancouver Island Univeristy (formerly Malaspina College) for since 1981.  She currently also conducts the 89-voice College Singers (traditional choir) and 2 vocal jazz ensembles at Vancouver Island University.

She received training in classical piano and voice from age 7, and began teaching piano, voice and guitar at age 15.  She has several years of experience conducting church choirs, singing in A Cappella Plus, a local chamber choir, and leading and singing in the 5-voice vocal jazz group 5th Street Connection.

This instructor offers private lessons.

Trish Clair-Peck

Trish is a member of the Suzuki faculty at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music on Vancouver Island, maintaining a large studio of private and group students. Trish is also the coordinator of the fiddle program at the Conservatory; assisting in the development of a certificate program in traditional music. She regularly teaches at several camps and workshops in Western Canada, and is a regular instructor with the Kole Crook Fiddle Association in the Northwest Territories.