Musician Bios
Click on each teaching musician's name to read the biography.
Meet:
- Jan Amsel (Alberta)
- Samantha Whelan Kotkas (Alberta)
- Rosemarie Siever (Alberta)
- Sherryl Sewepagaham (Alberta)
- Mary Fearon (Alberta)
- Arlene Shiplett(Saskatchewan)
Jan Amsel (Alberta)
Jan Amsel holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from the Hartt College of Music. She studied with Andor Toth and Leonard Posner at the University of Texas and Charles Treger at Hartt College. She is currently a member of the 1st violin section of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kensington Sinfonia, and in a violin/cello duo with CPO cellist Tom Megee. In the summer, she has performed in the Aspen Music Festival, the Banff Festival and the Oregon Coast Music Festival. Ms. Amsel created and is the host of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra's highly successful Saturday Morning at the Symphony series. She also serves on the CPO Education/Outreach, Program Planning and Player's Committees, and is very active doing educational chamber performances in Calgary schools. In addition to examining throughout Canada as a member of the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners, Ms. Amsel has adjudicated festivals throughout Alberta, British Columbia and in Ottawa, and frequently leads Master Classes. She has taught private and group classes for the Calgary Suzuki Talent Education Society, as well as in the University of Texas String Project. She was also a founder of the Mount Royal College Preparatory Academy program. Ms. Amsel is currently a branch teacher of Mount Royal College Conservatory, and also maintains a private studio.
Samantha Whelan Kotkas (Calgary)
M. Music, B. Music Trumpet and Music Alive Program Teaching Musician
Born in Canada, raised in Africa and educated in Calgary and Houston, Samantha has been praised for creating truly unique and totally engaging experiences for young audiences. She has traveled internationally as a creative consultant and professional musician. For the past fifteen years, Samantha’s creative efforts have focused on combining her love of music with her desire to enhance arts education in Alberta. Samantha has produced and performed children's presentations for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Pro Musica Society, the National Arts Centre of Canada, the National Symposium on Arts Education, the Calgary Stampede Showband, and the Banff Centre for the Arts.
In September 2010 Samantha was appointed the position of education advisor for the Calgary Pro Musica society, one of the leading chamber music presenters in Canada.
As a Teaching Musician for the National Arts Centre of Canada, Samantha currently consults and performs in many Alberta Schools. She also teaches private trumpet lessons at her Sun Spot Studio.
Samantha performed the World Premier of her fifth rocky mountain fairy tale, Winter Solstice, with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2006, a performance she later duplicated with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on January 19, 2008. Winter Solstice was conceived and created by Samantha for full symphony orchestra and showcases the talents of Canadian composer Keon Birney and Canadian visual artist Lynne Huras. Winter Solstice is the culmination of many years of working with orchestral musicians and Samantha’s dedication to bringing the sound of great music to children in a fun, accessible and educational way.
In 2009 she released her second CD, a jazz fairy tale CD entitled “more rocky mountain fairy tales”, to a sold out crowd in Calgary. Her high energy and fun filled performances have made her a crowd favorite for small and large audiences alike.
If you would like to know more about Samantha Whelan Kotkas please visit her website at www.storyfair.com
Rosemarie Siever (Alberta)
Born and raised in Edmonton, Rosemarie Siever holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Alberta where she studied with William Street. She also received First Prizes in Saxophone Performance and Chamber Music from the Bordeaux Conservatory (France), studying under Jean-Marie Londeix. Rosemarie has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the NOWAge Orchestra, and has recorded for CBC Radio (Alberta in concert, Two New Hours, Wednesdays at Winspear). Her freelancing career has allowed her to perfrom across Europe and North America.
Rosemarie Siever can frequently be seen in Edmonton, teaching clinics and performing with the Retrofitz (60's soul/70's disco at www.retrofitz.ca ), and the studio b quartet. She teaches privately and in schools, and has taught at Augustana University College and MusiCamrose Summer Camp. Rosemarie is a Teaching Artist for Learning Through the Arts, a branch of the Royal Conservatory which emphasizes teaching core curribulum concepts through an artistic approach, and she has been a Teaching Musician for the National Arts Centre of Canada since 2006, giving school presentations in both French and English.
Sherryl Sewepagaham (Alberta)
Sherryl Sewepagaham is of First Nations Cree/Dene ancestry from northern Alberta and is an Aboriginal Music Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Sherryl received her B.Ed from the University of Alberta and received national Orff-Schulwerk certification from Carl Orff Canada. She is an experienced elementary music teacher, choir director, and a member of the Alberta Premier's Council on Arts and Culture. Sherryl has been recognized for her traditional songwriting and co-writing with numerous music awards and nominations, including a 2005 Juno nomination, with the Edmonton-based Aboriginal women’s trio Asani. Sherryl is currently the music creator for a children’s cartoon series and a short live animation film. Her passion lies in music education, and she is currently creating a resource collection of children’s Cree and Blackfoot drum songs. Most recently, Sherryl wrote the music and lyrics for the National Arts Centre’s Music Alive Program song, to be shared with elementary schools across Canada.
Mary Fearon (Alberta)
BEd, BMus. French Horn and Music Alive Program Teaching Musician
Mary Fearon was born in Edmonton and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta. While living in Toronto, she performed with many groups including the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony, the Toronto Pops Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the York Brass.
Since returning to Edmonton, she has been a regular performer with the Edmonton Symphony, the Citadel Theatre, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and numerous chamber ensembles. As a soloist she has been heard in recital at Alberta College, All Saints' Anglican Church, Canadian University College, Festival Place, King’s College, and the McDougall at Noon concert series.
Ms. Fearon has been a guest artist at The Call of the Wild Horn Festival in Cold Lake since its inception in 1998. She has been heard on Our Music, CBC1, and had performed in the Wednesday at Winspear series. She is currently working on a solo CD recording.
Ms. Fearon has been the horn instructor at Alberta College since 1994, and is also in demand as a clinician and adjudicator. In the fall of 2006, she founded Horns A Plenty, a horn choir with over 20 members. She is married with three daughters (two who also play the horn), and an energetic Brittany Spaniel named Beau.
Arlene Shiplett (Alberta)
Arlene Shiplett was born and raised in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. She became involved in music at an early age with piano lessons, choir and both school and private band programs. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 1986. Arlene became a member of the Saskatoon Symphony in 1992. For several years Arlene taught Band in rural Saskatchewan and played in the Symphony. Since 2000, she has narrowed her focus to teaching horn at the University of Saskatchewan as well as private teaching and coaching.
Arlene has performed with Prairie Virtuosi, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Brandon Chamber Orchestra, Saskatoon Philharmonic, Saskatoon Opera, North Saskatchewan Wind Symphony and Saskatoon Concert Band.
Her recent accomplishments include winning the Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award, conducting the mass horn choir at the Call of the Wild horn conference, and performing with the International Brass Quintet at the International Peace Gardens. Arlene may be seen every summer performing on the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum's Steam Calliope - one of a few in playing condition in North America. She is married to Lee Springett. They have no children and 7 horns.
