CASS Who’s Who - Where are they now?
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Nadine Cirankewitch
Nadine attended Musical Theatre Showtime (MTS) in 2004 and 2006. She has been the MTS Stage Manager since 2008. She has continued on in performing arts, attended Mount Royal University and got an Acting Diploma in 2007. She traveled for a year throughout India and New Zealand before deciding to go back to school. Nadine is currently at the University of Lethbridge completing her BFA/BEd degree. She will graduate in 2012 and is hoping to be a high school drama teacher when all is said and done.
CASSA had a huge influence on Nadine and still does to this day: “It made me realize how important drama can be to students; it gives them a place to be creative and a place to be yourself. Every year that I come back to help I get more and more excited to be a drama teacher and give the children that I teach the same great experiences that I had while attending CASSA.”
Sarah Davis
A former piano camper from 1998 to 2003, Sarah recently visited Graz, Austria, and was in Salzburg for a tour of Mozart’s house. She said it was quite a thrill and brought back many fond memories of playing Mozart’s pieces.
Sarah finished her honours history degree at U of A this spring, wrapping it up with a two and a half month term in Cortona, Italy, where U of A has a satellite campus of about sixty students in an old monastery. Her undergraduate thesis was on “The War Measures Act in Canada.” She is currently touring Italy and will be going on to the Czech Republic and Lisbon, finally working her way over to Spain for a month to test her Spanish language communication skills.
David Dixon
David Dixon is a dedicated musician and enthusiastic music lover. In high school, he played piano for a musical theatre pit band, as a choir accompanist, and won his school's Talent Show in grade 12 playing his own composition. Upon graduation, he pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering at the U of C, where he continued to accompany community choirs and was the pianist for the University of Calgary Jazz Big Band for two years. As of spring 2011, David is working towards his ARCT diploma in piano performance while he also works full-time downtown with Nexen as an engineer-in-training. Dedicated to the arts in Calgary, he has volunteered to raise $20,000 for the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition as a competitor in their ProAm competition.
David Dixon Participating in ProAm competition for Honens September and October 2011
You can learn more and support David (or any of these contestants) by clicking here.
Melinda Hadi
Melinda was a CASSA camper in 1997 and 1998 while studying piano with Linda Kundert-Stoll and violin with Elaine Henchell. She fondly recalls the summers of sharing and making music. In 2005, Melinda graduated from Queen’s University with a BSc in Biochemistry and a BA in Global Development Studies. She was also fortunate to have the opportunity to play in the second violin section of Queen’s University Symphonic Orchestra.
In September 2010, Melinda is expecting to complete her MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK. Melinda’s passion in international health issues has brought her to many diverse parts of the world including Guyana, Northern Canada, Zambia, and currently Kenya for her MSc dissertation. Throughout her work and travels, Melinda continuously looks to connect with others through music including recently taking some colleagues, who had never seen an orchestra before, to a London Philharmonic Orchestra Rachmaninoff concert. Just as it is a pleasure to share in someone’s first concert experience, Melinda remembers the thrill of bringing together a piano ensemble with the encouragement of CASSA staff and fellow campers.
Sharon Fast
Sharon Fast was a piano camper in the summer of 1998. Ten years later she returned to CASS to attend the Adult Piano Camp. Both were tremendous experiences that brought back many fond memories!
Sharon has a diverse background in both music and the sciences. She attended the University of Calgary and graduated with an honours degree in physics and a music minor. During this time, Sharon continued studying piano, receiving first-class honours on both her Grade 10 piano and Piano Teacher’s A.R.C.T. diploma under the instruction of Linda Kundert-Stoll. She then continued to study music performance with Charles Foreman at the University of Calgary for 2 years. Throughout her musical studies, Sharon taught piano lessons through her family-owned music studio, Up Tempo Music, in Okotoks, Alberta.
After graduating from the University of Calgary, Sharon attended the University of Alberta to complete a masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology. At this time, she also married her loving and ever-supportive husband, Owen.
Sharon works full time as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Alberta Health Services, and also continues teaching piano. Her most recent musical accomplishment was the completion of her Performer’s A.R.C.T. diploma in June 2009.
Angela Schroeder
Angela was a CASSA participant in Year One of the program. “I am currently an assistant professor and the Director of Bands at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. I teach conducting to undergraduate and graduate students and conduct the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Summer Band and Academy Winds and Percussion ensembles. I completed my Masters degree in Wind Conducting in 2004 at Northwestern University in Chicago, and my Doctorate in Wind Conducting at the University of North Texas in 2007. I am very busy as an adjudicator and clinician for bands from across Canada and the U.S., and have guest conducted numerous ensembles across Western Canada.
My greatest accomplishments to date include marrying my husband Geoffrey (5 years in December) and having our son Joshua in January 2009. I love being a mom above all else and hope that my son will one day be able to make a living by working at his passion which I so enjoy doing every day.
What I remember most about my time at CASSA is working with Ingrid Clarfield and her infamous "bum" chords. Her passion for music and teaching really inspired me to pursue advanced music education, and working with her was perhaps the first time that I really understood the true nature of artistry and developing individual musical expression. I also remember fondly working on piano ensemble music with 3 incredible colleagues, and finding a lot of joy in music making that I won't forget.”
Suzanne Thurlow
Suzanne studied piano with Linda Kundert-Stoll from 1998 to 2001, completing her grade X piano exam. She then chose to focus on developing her career. Though she was no longer taking lessons, she stayed involved with music: teaching piano, accompanying for a church choir, and singing with Calgary's Savridi Singers for a couple seasons. After obtaining her professional designation in the insurance industry, she then decided to formally study piano once more. She contacted Linda, and while juggling full-time work and other obligations, obtained her ARCT in 2009. In May 2010 she went to New York City to participate in a residency at Carnegie Hall, singing Mozart's Requiem under the baton of John Rutter along with 200 other choristers.
Suzanne was a Piano Camp participant in 2001 and 2009, and also attended the Piano Pedagogy Workshop in 2008. She feels these programs are invaluable, especially to adult students. With the various commitments competing for one's time and energy, it's all too easy to relegate musical goals to the back-burner. Spending a view days with CASSA's dedicated team of clinicians & teachers gives one ideas, techniques & inspiration to last the whole year. The CASSA "experience" can be anything you want it to be: a chance to meet other musicians, a supportive environment to battle one's fears of performing, a cramming session to prepare for exams, an opportunity to be part of an ensemble, or all of the above!
Currently, Suzanne and her husband have taken time off from their careers to fulfil a lifelong dream of traveling around the world. For several months, they plan to backpack around Southeast Asia, India, Turkey and Europe. After their travels, Suzanne is looking forward to jumping into some new musical adventures, involving both singing and piano.
Jonathan Yung
Jonathan was a camper from 1996 to 2000 and then a Piano Camp Assistant from 2002 to 2006. In spring 2010 he finished his last year of undergraduate studies in chemical engineering and graduated from the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. He will be starting his career as an engineer-in-training in June with an oil & gas exploration and production company called Apache Canada.
Over 2009-2010 year at school, Jonathan was involved with a student energy club call the Petroleum & Energy Society. He was appointed the VP Internal Relations for this club where his primary role was to help recruit and mentor students who are interested in starting a career in the energy industry. His goal was to help them develop a foundation of knowledge and build relations with key contacts from industry so the students can enter the workforce with the appropriate set of skills under their belt. Being in a mentorship role was not new to Jonathan as he gained experience in this area through his time working as an assistant teacher for the CASSA piano camp. Jonathan was also involved in an affiliated group called the Alberta Student Energy Conference Planning Committee in which he was the Program Chair for this event in March, 2010. Jonathan was successfully designed, implemented and executed the day and evening program for the one day conference.
Although Jonathan has been heavily involved in engineering related matters as of late, he still maintains his hobby of playing the piano. He was a member of a student club called Schulich Soundstage, which is composed mainly of engineering students who share musical talents. Jonathan performed at the club’s concerts. Jonathan is very proud to have been a part of CASSA and it is an experience that he truly values. He is happy to see that the organization has expanded in recent years and that an increasing number of students are receiving quality musical education through its programs.
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