Our Teaching Staff

Violin

"I always hope that my students will continue living with music regardless of whether they will become professional musicians or not. Music instills spiritual harmony and a creative attitude to life allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the world around."

Holding the Master of Music degree from Glinka State Conservatory in Russia, Anna performed with the Nizhny Novgorod State Philharmonic Orchestra for several years as First Violinist. She also taught violin to secondary school students and worked with other orchestras touring France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and the Scandinavian countries. Among the highlights of her artistic career are joint performances with M. Rastropovich and Y. Bashmet. In Canada, Anna continued teaching at musical schools, delivering private lessons, and performing with Sinfonia Toronto, Oshawa Symphony, Brampton Symphony, Oakville symphony, Koffler Chamber orchestra and others.

Voice, Piano

"With music we can share our feelings and open a window on the inner world of our souls"

Valentyna graduated from Gorky State Conservatory (Gorky, Russia) as a choir conductor and piano instructor. She worked with choirs leading them to successful performances in national competitions. For over twenty-five years she worked in a Kiev teacher’s college teaching piano, voice and music theory. Valentyna and her husband Yosyp moved to Canada in 2001. She is now a Canadian citizen and she has continued her career as piano and voice instructor and choral conductor. Valentyna has had many successes with her students, one of whom won the prestigious Silver Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She has been teaching at Manotick School of Music since 2002.

Piano

"For me the best musical experiences come with the exploration of new musical styles and types. The most important things for students to bring to their music lessons are curiosity, open mindedness and a desire to discover."

Bill completed his piano studies with the Royal Conservatory of Music and graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Carleton University. His diverse musical activities have included performing Classical and Jazz piano and Rock keyboards, recording, accompanying, choral work and directing musical ensembles of various kinds. He has a keen interest in different musical styles and genres including music from other parts of the world. Bill has taught piano and electronic keyboards privately in the Ottawa area for the past twenty years. He founded the Manotick School of Music in 1991.

Guitar

"Musicians are not workers, nor are we practitioners: we are players. Accordingly, music should be understood primarily not as work, or practice; but play."

David has been playing, writing, and performing for over 35 years. He has played clarinet for the R.C.M.P.’s musical ride, piano at a Greek restaurant and on the stage of Ottawa’s legendary Le Hibou coffehouse, and he has played guitar in hundreds of venues and festivals across North America. The producer of Austin Celtics, a compilation of Celtic music featuring musicians from Austin, Texas, David has been a featured player on The Best of Celtic and was Hornpipe Magazine’s main music reviewer for seven years. Currently he plays guitar and vocals in Widening Gyre, a Celtic-Canadian fusion band. David teaches primarily folk, singer-songwriter, classic rock, Celtic and fingerstyle acoustic guitar. His academic credentials include BA, MA (York), MA, PhD (USC), and he has lectured at York University, USC, University of Texas (Austin) and Carleton University (Ottawa).

Piano

"If you can tap your fingers, if you can tap your foot, if you can sway back and forth you have rhythm. If you have rhythm, the world of music is at your finger tips. It just so happens that the piano is made for those finger tips."

Olga has been teaching music for over twenty years in both private and school settings. She has taught one-on-one lessons as well as group lessons for younger children. She has experience with the Orff method and traditional Royal Conservatory instruction. As well as her interest in piano music Olga also has a keen interest in the music of her native Greece.

Drums

"Music is the best."

-Frank Zappa

"Drums are the best."

-Jamie Gullikson

Jamie has played a lot of music in his life. He has been lucky enough to work with choirs, dancers, big bands, jazz combos, experimental musicians, poets as well as many bands from rock to reggae to Dixieland. He has done workshops with people with special needs, dancers as well as Balinese Gamelan. Jamie is a proud member of Gamelan Semara Winangun a community group devoted to playing Balinese music. He currently thumps the tubs for musical maniacs, "The Flaps".

Trumpet

"I have a great deal of experience from my years in Ukraine and I wish to bring this experience to my Canadian students."

Yosyp came to Canada in 2001 after a long and distinguished career as a musician and teacher in Ukraine and Russia. As a part of that rich and vibrant musical world Yosyp played in song and dance bands, symphony orchestras and opera and ballet theatres including more than 25 years with the Symphony Orchestra at the Kiev Operetta. Yosyp was also a full-time teacher at several music colleges in Ukraine. He continues to be a member of the Ukrainian Guild of Professional Trumpeters. Yosyp is now a Canadian citizen and he has continued his musical activities in this part of the world as a teacher and performer. He currently plays in the Maple Leaf Brass Band, performs regularly at his church and teaches. He has been with the Manotick School of Music for the past four years.

Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Recorder

"Music isn’t about the notes on the page, it’s about the feeling"

Doug studied Jazz at Humber College in Toronto. He has spent many years performing at home and abroad with bands around Canada and the U.S. During this time he has played a wide variety of musical styles including Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Pop, Funk, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Classical music. Nowadays he performs closer to home and devotes his time to composition, recording, performing with his various Jazz and Blues groups and, of course, teaching, which he has enjoyed doing for the past fifteen years. Doug has been teaching that the Manotick School of Music for the past three years.

Piano

"Playing the piano is a pleasure, especially for anyone with music on the brain."

For Julia, both music and formal academic classes are equally important. By 17, she completed grade 10 piano studies with the Western Conservatory of Music — and after high school classes, she taught several of her music teacher's students. Julia received a bachelor of arts degree with a music major from Carleton University. Subsequent studies in fine arts at York University allowed more time to study music scores and the effect of music in films. Recently Julia has taught piano lessons again and discovered the thrill of making music all over again.

Guitars, Bass

"It's really hard to stay in a bad mood when you're playing music"

Dave grew up in a family where music was always part of what was happening. But the major event that set his path was one Sunday in February, many years ago, when he begged his parents to let him stay up later than usual; the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show showed him that there was more to music than he had realized. Since then, Dave has played pop, rock, jazz, and classical guitar, with a love of the folk and blues roots of most modern music. He also admits to being a pretty good bassist.

Guitar

"If music be the food of love, play a guitar solo"

Currently studying for a performance degree at Carleton University, Nick Miller has already been studying music for 8 years of his life from rock guitar to classical voice techniques to jazz piano. Always interested in every kind of genre, Nick has been playing downtown Ottawa and the surrounding areas since 15 with a band he led combining metal with jazz, flamenco and reggae. In high school he participated in every extra-curricular music group, eventually running coffee houses and coaching the junior jazz band as well as playing in competitions. Gaining experience by studying harmony, both with a teacher and on his own, he also started playing opening for established bands such as Exodus, Shadows Fall and 3 inches of Blood. He continues to practice all facets of music including studying the sitar and violin and his bands Sonburst and Obduracy have been drawing acclaim and praise from the Ottawa metal community.