Elizabeth Khayutin: piano, theory, early-childhood piano
Elizabeth (Leeza) Khayutin is a teacher of piano and music theory. She began teaching at the Dundas Conservatory of Music while still a music student at McMaster University. Leeza graduated from McMaster in 2008 with an Honours Bachelor of Music and a Diploma in Piano Performance.
During her time at McMaster, Leeza performed at numerous recitals as a solo pianist, accompanist and as part of a piano duo playing the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff. She was a member of the McMaster University Choir for four years and participated in choral competitions as well as several performances with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Leeza joined the Dundas Conservatory of Music in 2005 and became the owner in 2013. Her piano students regularly participate in recitals, festivals and competitions with great success. The students who are interested in more serious piano study, achieve high marks on Royal Conservatory of Music examinations, and have gone on to study music at the university level. In 2016, she was nominated for a City of Hamilton Arts Award in the category of Emerging Artist (Arts Education and Community Arts).
Leeza teaches a number of piano styles including classical, pop and rock, as well as piano improvisation.
David Holmes: guitar (rock, country, old-tyme), tenor banjo, ukulele, lap-steel guitar
David Holmes has been active as a professional guitarist and teacher for over 40 years. He has toured North America with various dance bands playing guitar, steel guitar and tenor banjo. For the last 19 years David has been performing as part of the duo “Headin’ Home”, specializing in country rock and blues. They perform almost every weekend at legions and clubs across southern Ontario.
David spent many years teaching music and managing Waddington’s Music on John St. in Hamilton, a popular destination for musicians in Hamilton in the 1970s.
Since 1996, David has been teaching guitar, tenor banjo and ukulele at the Dundas Conservatory of Music. Many of his students have continued on with music education at the university level and have become professional musicians in Canada and the U.S.
Blend Lara: violin,viola, cello
Blend Lara is a professional violinist with a very long career dedicated to teaching and performing on the violin. Blend began his violin studies at the age of 6 when he enrolled in the Elementary- Professional Program at Artistic Lycée in Tirana, Albania. After successfully completing his grade 12 at the Lycée and passing a rigorous exam he began his bachelor studies in violin, specializing in classical music at the Albanian University of Arts in Tirana, Albania.
In 1990, after completing his studies, Blend joined the Radio Television Orchestra in Albania. While he was a member of the orchestra, Blend continued to teach strings students at the Albanian University of Arts.
Blend spent 13 years as first violin at the Albanian State Orchestra, and continued the second part of his career teaching violin to students in the Hamilton area. He is ORMTA (Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association) certified and brings a very high standard of learning for students of all ages and levels.
Blend joined the Dundas Conservatory of Music in 2008 as a violin, viola and cello instructor.
Victoria Maximov: piano, theory
Victoria Maximov began her musical studies at age 5 and has since completed her RCM Grade 10 level in Piano. In addition, Victoria has received Beginner Piano Pedagogy certification through the Royal Conservatory of Music and has performed in various competitions and festivals in Hamilton and surrounding areas.
Victoria is currently a student at McMaster University. She has been teaching piano independently since 2014 and joined the Dundas Conservatory of Music in the fall of 2017 as a teacher of piano and music theory.
Taylor Webb: voice
Taylor graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor Degree in Music and a diploma in vocal performance. While at McMaster, Taylor also co-founded the a cappella group MACappella, and developed a reputation as an exciting performer with professional and community ensembles throughout Hamilton, Brantford, and the GTA. Taylor also plays guitar and bass, and spends most of his time singing in or leading ensembles both small and large in a variety of styles.
Taylor has been teaching voice at the Dundas Conservatory of Music since the fall of 2017.
Isabella Giuliano: voice
Isabella is a young, passionate soprano from Hamilton Ontario. She has most recently completed her M. Mus in Vocal Performance and Literature from the University of Western Ontario, where she studied with Canadian soprano Jackie Short. Her time at Western was culminated by a final recital, for which she passed with highest distinction. Isabella has performed the roles of Suor Genovieffa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica (UWO), and most recently Belinda in Dido & Aeneas by Purcell (Little London Community Opera Company). Isabella will be performing the role of Susannah in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro in Lucca, Italy with AEDO in July of 2018. Isabella has made appearances in a scenes concert as Constance in the Dialogue of the Carmelites, Frasquita in Carmen and as Norina in Don Pasquale. Isabella has sung with many choirs as well with the esteemed Baroque ensemble Arcady as a Young Artist. In December of 2017, Isabella performed as the Soprano Soloist for Handel’s Messiah with the Menno Singers in Kitchener-Waterloo.
As a native of Hamilton, she received her H.B.Mus from McMaster University in 2016, where she also completed her performance diploma. She performed in the McMaster University Choir, Women’s Choir and Chamber choir. Isabella currently teaches a course in Continuing Education at Mohawk College for Vocal students, where she focuses on vocal education, vocal health, and of course performance practices.
Isabella is very excited to be teaching at the Dundas Conservatory of Music and looks forward to working with all those who are interested in studying with her!
Heather Wildeman: piano, flute, music theory/harmony
Heather has been playing piano since she was 3 years old. As a child, she enjoyed listening to classical music and learning about famous composers which lead to her enrolling in private lessons at age 4. Heather enjoys playing all genres of music, and likes to sight-read in her spare time. Throughout high-school, Heather continued her musical education by participating in junior, concert, and symphonic bands where she played the flute, and senior jazz band where she played piano.
Having completed her RCM Gr. 9 piano exam under the direction of Olga Tcherniak, Heather is currently studying with Alla Zacarelli at McMaster University where she is working towards a Bachelor in Music, Diploma in Piano Performance, and a Bachelor in History.
Heather joined the Dundas Conservatory of Music in the spring of 2018 as a teacher of piano, flute and theory.
Nigel Pugh: guitar (beginner, classical), ukulele
Nigel’s teaching career began when he was studying classical guitar and music history at Lakehead University. Having previously studied social work, psychology and counseling greatly aided in Nigel’s transition into becoming a teacher. This experience continues to guide his teaching sensibilities. In addition to mastering the guitar, Nigel has studied a number of pedagogy texts including, “Musical Teaching Styles,” “Teaching Towards Musical Understanding,” “Observing Young Children,” and “Teaching with the Brain in Mind” .
As a classical guitarist, Nigel has performed at a number of private events, weddings, restaurants and other small venues. In 2008, Nigel spent time as a guitarist aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. He is also part of several duos playing a variety of musical styles from classical, folk, rock, and alternative.
The guitar can be a challenge to teach on account of its breadth. It is an incredibly popular instrument and there are almost an infinite number of opinions, theories and pedagogy for its instruction. Being classically trained, Nigel prefers to emphasize good musical fundamentals, music reading, theory, rhythmic training, basic improvisation and musical interpretation. At the same time he appreciates the drive and zeal of a new student who just wants to “rock out” or jam on a 12 bar blues. Ultimately, Nigel’s philosophy is to teach the essential guitar techniques within the context of his student’s interests.
Nigel has been teaching guitar, bass and ukulele at the Dundas Conservatory of Music since 2017.
Twila Vanderkooy: saxophone, clarinet
Twila holds a Bachelor of Music from McMaster University, where she focused on woodwinds and guitar.
She has been teaching in the Hamilton area since graduation and enjoys helping students foster their love for and their ability to express themselves through music.
In 2018, Twila joined the Dundas Conservatory of Music as a teacher of clarinet and saxophone. She specializes in a variety of styles including classical, jazz, pop and rock.
Joel Affoon: piano, beginner saxophone
Joel is currently attending McMaster University studying Classical Piano with a specialization in Music Cognition and a minor in Mental Health. He is involved with the McMaster University Concert Band where he plays alto saxophone, and has been a guest pianist for the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 2018-19 season. Joel is an advocate for public performance for himself as well as for others. During Joel’s free time he enjoys doing research in the field of music and the mind as he aspires to go into Music Performance and Rehabilitation research.
Joel has been teaching at the Dundas Conservatory of Music since 2019.