2023/24 Students
This year's students enjoying the November Concert at Township Classics with our founder, violinist Gwen Thompson Robinow (front row, left).
Emma Beilstein is a student in grade nine at Mount Doug for the 2022-2023 school year. She attended Arbutus Global Middle School, she spent three years playing alto saxophone for the Arbutus concert band, one year playing for the Avalanche Jazz band, and one year playing for the Summit Jazz band as the first alto sax.
Emma has been learning under the instruction of Micheal Mazza and Jennifer Hill, and has had the privilege of learning under Paul Delmore, Erik Abbink, and Kelly Montgomery. At an elementary level, she has had the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Judy Onuma. Emma likes all types of music, from the Glenn Miller Orchestra, to Billy Talent and Volbeat, to Taylor Swift. Emma recently preformed in the Arbutus Night of Music held at the Farquhar Theatre.
Emma will be working with Alexander Richards.
Emma has been learning under the instruction of Micheal Mazza and Jennifer Hill, and has had the privilege of learning under Paul Delmore, Erik Abbink, and Kelly Montgomery. At an elementary level, she has had the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Judy Onuma. Emma likes all types of music, from the Glenn Miller Orchestra, to Billy Talent and Volbeat, to Taylor Swift. Emma recently preformed in the Arbutus Night of Music held at the Farquhar Theatre.
Emma will be working with Alexander Richards.
Jules Dawkins is a student in grade 12 at Esquimalt High School. Under the instruction of Jennifer Treble and Kaehlen Allison, he plays tuba and bass trombone in the Senior Concert, Senior Jazz, and R&B bands. He has been a tuba mentee to Scott Gordon since September of his grade 11 year. Jules enjoys playing low brass instruments and hopes to continue with his music education in university.
Jules will be working with Scott Gordon.
Jules will be working with Scott Gordon.
Elsa Gibson is 15 years old. She is in the Challenge Program in the 10th grade at Mount Doug secondary school. She has been playing clarinet for four years and constantly challenges herself with new techniques and pieces. She enjoys playing in various genres, such as classical and jazz. She looks forward to learning new techniques and skills in this program.
Elsa will be working with Melissa Goodchild.
Elsa will be working with Melissa Goodchild.
Calder Huband has attended Colquitz Middle School for the past three years and will be going to Spectrum Community School beginning fall 2022. During his time at Colquitz, Calder has played trombone under the direction of Kelly Montgomery in Concert band and Jazz band. In May 2022, the marching band placed first in the Esquimalt Buccaneer days parade.
In addition to trombone, Calder has a passion for musical theatre. He performed in the Senior Choir with Caroline MacKenzie, and in his senior year at Colquitz, played a lead role in Newsies Jr. In the summer of 2022, Calder took part in the Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People musical theatre intensive, in a production of Side Show.
Calder likes science, he can solve a Rubik's cube, and won the Middle School SD61 Rube Goldberg Challenge in 2020.
He's looking forward to starting High school in the fall and meeting all the new people.
Calder will be working with Scott McInness and Amaya Sydor.
In addition to trombone, Calder has a passion for musical theatre. He performed in the Senior Choir with Caroline MacKenzie, and in his senior year at Colquitz, played a lead role in Newsies Jr. In the summer of 2022, Calder took part in the Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People musical theatre intensive, in a production of Side Show.
Calder likes science, he can solve a Rubik's cube, and won the Middle School SD61 Rube Goldberg Challenge in 2020.
He's looking forward to starting High school in the fall and meeting all the new people.
Calder will be working with Scott McInness and Amaya Sydor.
Rachael Lamothe is a 17-year-old soprano who has been singing for 12 years. She has had the honor to partake in theatre with Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People, won awards in both musical theatre and classical with the Greater Victoria Music Festival, and was a member of the Victoria Children’s Choir for 6 years. Rachael is ecstatic about being given another opportunity to be a mentee in the Youth Mentorship Program.
Rachael will be working with Anne Grimm.
Rachael will be working with Anne Grimm.
Emilia Vozian plays the flute and is currently in Grade 11 at Mount Douglas Secondary School, participating in both Concert Band and Jazz Band under the instruction of Doug Awai. Previously, she was a student of Jennifer Hill and Michael Mazza in several music ensembles during her time at Arbutus Global Middle School.
Emilia is thrilled to have previously been a mentee to Mary Byrne. In spring of 2023, Emilia performed at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival, recieving the Intermediate Excellent Performance Award. Emilia also studies piano with Anna Kratofil, earning First Class Honours with Distinction for her past four RCM piano exams, most recently having completed Level 7. She also enjoys playing around with composition.
As of now, Emilia is eagerly looking forward to being involved in the 2023-24 Collegium Program at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, alongside the Youth Mentorship Program with TCAC.
Emilia will be working with Mary Byrne.
Emilia is thrilled to have previously been a mentee to Mary Byrne. In spring of 2023, Emilia performed at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival, recieving the Intermediate Excellent Performance Award. Emilia also studies piano with Anna Kratofil, earning First Class Honours with Distinction for her past four RCM piano exams, most recently having completed Level 7. She also enjoys playing around with composition.
As of now, Emilia is eagerly looking forward to being involved in the 2023-24 Collegium Program at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, alongside the Youth Mentorship Program with TCAC.
Emilia will be working with Mary Byrne.
Samuel Shanbo He was born in 1994 in Victoria BC and began piano at age 6 and clarinet at age 11. He is the winner of the 2017 BC Provincial Festival for senior woodwinds, a prize winner with the Vancouver Women’s Musical Society, and has been awarded a number of honors and scholarships, most notably the prestigious British Columbia Graduate Scholarship. A full-time professional musician, Samuel is a member of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.
As a diverse musician, Samuel has attended festivals such as Domaine Forget, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute, and the Beijing International Music Festival Academy, and has performed in masterclasses for such musicians as Yehuda Gilad, Keith Adam Lipson, and Carlos Ferreira.
An alumni of the Harry Ainlay high school music program, Samuel continued with music into university and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria and a masters degree from the University of British Columbia. His primary teachers include Patricia Kostek, Jose Franch-Ballester, Eric Abramovitz, and Sam Boutris.
In his free time Samuel enjoys playing video games, and between 2013-2015 was signed as a professional gamer for the premier American organization compLexity Gaming, a subsidiary of the Dallas Cowboys football team. In 2018, he was one of 12 North Americans to qualify to attend the Blade and Soul world championship qualifiers at ESL studios in Leicester, England, and in 2021 was awarded from hundreds of applicants a $10,000 USD esports scholarship+apprenticeship by the Association of Pacific Rim Universities and YESports Hong Kong esports company.
As a diverse musician, Samuel has attended festivals such as Domaine Forget, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute, and the Beijing International Music Festival Academy, and has performed in masterclasses for such musicians as Yehuda Gilad, Keith Adam Lipson, and Carlos Ferreira.
An alumni of the Harry Ainlay high school music program, Samuel continued with music into university and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria and a masters degree from the University of British Columbia. His primary teachers include Patricia Kostek, Jose Franch-Ballester, Eric Abramovitz, and Sam Boutris.
In his free time Samuel enjoys playing video games, and between 2013-2015 was signed as a professional gamer for the premier American organization compLexity Gaming, a subsidiary of the Dallas Cowboys football team. In 2018, he was one of 12 North Americans to qualify to attend the Blade and Soul world championship qualifiers at ESL studios in Leicester, England, and in 2021 was awarded from hundreds of applicants a $10,000 USD esports scholarship+apprenticeship by the Association of Pacific Rim Universities and YESports Hong Kong esports company.