Our Speakers

Dr. John Burge, a Canadian composer and pianist, completed his Associate Diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music while still in high school in Calgary, Alberta, and holds degrees from the University of Toronto (BMus and MMus) and British Columbia (DMA). He has composed a large body of instrumental and vocal music in all genres including opera. Many of his orchestral works, such as Snowdrift, The Canadian Shield and Rocky Mountain Overture, have been performed by orchestras across Canada and internationally. His string orchestra work, Flanders Fields Reflections, as recorded by Sinfonia Toronto, received the 2009 Juno Award for the Best Canadian Classical Composition. Since 1987 he has been teaching at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where he is a full professor and was the Director of the School of Music (now named the DAN School of Drama and Music). Since 2013, Red Leaf Pianoworks has been publishing his solo piano music, with a number of these piano pieces listed in conservatory syllabi and publications and used as test pieces for competitions. An active music festival adjudicator and clinician, John Burge enjoys working with musicians young and old, greatly enjoying the opportunity to share musical ideas and insights.

A passionate advocate for Canadian music, John Burge was an executive member of the Canadian League of Composers from 1993-2007 (holding the position of President from 1998-2006). Since 2009, he has been a board member of the SOCAN Foundation which supports the creation, performance and achievements of Canadian music. Closer to home in the Kingston area, has was a founder board member of Cantabile Choirs of Kingston and a past chair of the Music at Port Milford Summer School and Festival based in Prince Edward County. In 2014 he was inducted as a Fellow into the Royal Society of Canada for his contributions to composition and arts leadership in Canada.

Eleanor Gummer holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from McGill University and has performed across Canada and in Europe. Ms Gummer has been teaching children of all ages for over 40 years with many students receiving awards and pursuing careers in the music industry. She is the author of Pianokids®, Violinkids® and Guitarkids® and is involved in the research of forgotten and under-represented women composers. Eleanor is an adjudicator and examiner for Conservatory Canada and is the founder and director of Whitby School of Music.

Gloria Chu is a dedicated pedagogue, adjudicator, examiner, speaker, composer, and performer. She holds two master’s degrees: MA in Piano (Ottawa) and MA in Strings (Chichester). She has been recognized by Steinway & Sons with a Top Teacher Award and is the recipient of the Royal Conservatory of Music Teacher of Distinction Award for her leadership as a music educator. Gloria has given presentations at city, provincial and national conferences including The Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations (CFMTA) National Conference, National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) Piano Conference, Music Conference Alberta, Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ARMTA) Calgary and CFMTA Connecting Canada Professional Development. Her innovative teaching methods motivate students to develop confidence in expressing their unique voice in both music and life.

BC composer Lorna Paterson is known for her "interesting and original; attractive and refreshing" work in pedagogical composition. Her pieces have been selected for the Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Syllabus and grade books for over 25 years, as well as Conservatory Canada, and Alliance of New Music Projects. Lorna received her MMus, BMus (with distinction), LMus(Western Board), and ARCT and taught piano at several conservatories and music schools in BC and Alberta. She was featured composer at Edmonton Contemporary Showcase, Victoria Piano Summer School, South Fraser RMT and Victoria RMT. A review of Lorna's album, Contemporary Piano Collection Volume 1 states: "This collection is a gold mine!"-The Canadian Music Teacher Sept. 2023.

Nita has taught piano, theory, history, keyboard harmony, and analysis for over 30 years. Lecturing to school groups and music teachers, Nita has presented topics of interest to amateur and professional musicians. Nita has extensive experience performing with choirs, chamber ensembles, orchestras and frequently serves as accompanist for the Performing Arts BC annual competitions. The Chilliwack Arts Council awarded Nita the Heart of the Arts award in 2003 for "outstanding service to the musical life of our community."

Tamara is a self-started businesswoman, author, musician, consultant, speaker, and disability advocate. Her broad range of experiences and expertise spans multiple fields, challenging conventional perceptions of disability. She has been legally blind since birth, losing the majority of her raining vision in her early teens, and has other physical disabilities that impact daily life. As a professional performing and studio musician since the age of 9, her performance has crossed boundaries from classical, to pop/rock, and folk and continues to evolve. In her 17 years as a music teacher, Tamara has cultivated a passion for working with young musicians, particularly those with physical and cognitive disabilities. Her goal is to develop musicality in every student, challenging tevery student's percieved beliefs about their own capabilities.

Our Speakers

Dr. John Burge - Keynote Speaker - Adjudicator - Masterclass

Anita Perry

Eleanor Gummer

Gloria Chu

Glory St. Germain

Lorna Paterson

Nita Pelletier and Joyce Janzen

Tamara Vandendool Cable