Dan Morin, a lifelong Calgarian, is an established figure in Calgary’s music landscape. Mr. Morin has been an Associate of Mount Royal Conservatory as a Piano Performer since 1981, when he was awarded the Board of Governors Gold Medal for receiving the highest marks in advanced Piano Performance.
“It was an exciting time for Calgary’s musical development. I studied under Peter Turner but was strongly influenced by the time I spent with Dr. Leonard Leacock, Elfie Gleusteen, Wolfram Linnebach, Alexandra Munn, Anton Kuerti and Dale Jackson. These mentors were true musicians, focused on developing in their students a lifelong love of music.”
Mr. Morin is also an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto, since 1981. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in a ranking of all Canadian performance examinations.
In his Graduation Performance, the Head of the Examining panel was none other than Edward J. Parker, one of Canada’s most influential pedagogues. Mr. Parker described the performance:
“An interesting and demanding program, always competent and technically assured. There was much to be admired; a convincing realization of the lyric and dramatic elements with dazzling technical means to carry out your intentions.”
In 1984, Mr. Morin also achieved outstanding recognition for his studies in Piano Pedagogy. He was deemed a lifelong Associate of the Royal Conservatory, University of Toronto and Mount Royal Conservatory in Piano Pedagogy.
Mr. Morin’s expertise has led students to excel in competitions and examinations, achieving success both nationally and internationally. He takes great pride in working with students of all ages, currently teaching a class ranging in age from 4 years to 75.
Beyond teaching, Dan has held significant roles in the music community. He played a key role in the inaugural Honens International Piano Competition:
“We were given seed money of $5 million. I was working with bankers, oil companies and business people. It was the Alberta Registered Music Teachers who really got behind the idea and brought the competition to life. It gives me great satisfaction to see how the Honens has grown into one of the most prestigious competitions in the world.”
Dan’s teaching influence extends beyond the classroom. Many of his students have become teachers and performers, but they have also become lawyers, doctors, engineers and business people.
“Life is rich, filled with many different pursuits and possibilities. I have explored a number of different ventures myself. In 2001, I taught English in Shenyang, China. SAIT was initiating exchange programs so students could come to study in Canada. In 2012, I invented a product that is used in the oilfields throughout North America. I might be able to claim I am the only piano teacher in Canada with patented products in petroleum production.”
Over the last 30 years, Leon Leontaridis has toured and performed with groups such as: The Canadian Tenors, Destino, Calgary Opera, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Cowtown Opera, Vivace, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, GhostBoy, piano and violin sensations Roy Tan and Rosemary Siemens, and as the solo artist The Gentleman Leon.
Some of his touring highlights include performances in: Carnegie Hall, the Beijing Olympics, Miss America Pageant, Children’s Miracle Network, Disney World, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. He has performed in cross-Canada tours with The Rankin Family and Canadian Country Music superstar George Canyon.
Leon holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Victoria and has been part of the voice faculty at The Conservatory of Music at Mount Royal University.
He is a highly sought-after vocal coach and has worked with performance companies such as: Storybook Theatre, The Young Canadians, Revv52 and Kantorei. Leon is married to Susan Leontaridis and has 4 talented daughters to share his passion of music with.
Acclaimed as Calgary’s finest jazz pianist, composer, arranger, instructor, music industry professional, and author – Sheldon Zandboer is known as one of Canada’s most versatile musicians. Specializing in jazz piano and widely recognized as one of Canada’s premier jazz talents, he has been working behind the scenes on many recordings, theatre projects, song writing projects, jazz concerts, sound design, and film soundtracks.
Sheldon has performed globally since 1975 which makes him out to be one of the most experienced keyboard player/pianists in Canada.
Sheldon has performed jazz before Queen Elizabeth, as well as the other members of the British Royal Family, international dignitaries, Heads of State and publicly on 4 continents. His songwriting has extended into the European pop market and has composed music for a film that is on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.
His groundbreaking jazz training book The Tao of Jazz Improvisation adopts eastern philosophy and training techniques, which enables the young to advanced professional to reach a higher level of performance and creativity.
The City of Calgary has recognized and listed Sheldon as one of Calgary’s preeminent artists on their official tourism website.
Her piano trio, Trio Armonioso was formed at McGill university in 2015. They garnered immediate success, winning the Schulich Chamber Music competition in December 2015. The group has been invited to perform in various concert series including McGill’s Café Concert Series as well as a residency and performances at the Mozarteum’s 2016 Chamber Music Festival in Salzburg, Austria.
He studied jazz guitar at MacEwan university in Edmonton with Bob Cairns before studying with Ralph Maier at Mount Royal University (obtaining the final Diploma in classical guitar performance to be bestowed by that institution), and at the University of Calgary where he obtained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He received several academic grants and awards, and In 2015 he was a recipient of the prestigious Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship.
Emily Haug, a native Calgarian, embarked on her musical journey at the age of five with classical piano lessons. Her introduction to music came through her grandfather, a multifaceted musician who served as an organist, choral conductor, and Brass musician. Under the guidance of Dr. Peter Jancewicz at Mount Royal College, Emily excelled in her piano studies, completing Royal Conservatory Examinations in piano, history, and theory. Notable achievements include securing first and second places in Classical and Twentieth-Century piano classes at competitions like the Calgary Concerto Competition and the Calgary Kiwanis Festival.
Charlotte Pallister creates a warm, welcoming environment where students feel supported as they engage in a meaningful musical journey at the piano. Her approach emphasizes partnership, guiding each student with care, clarity, and a deep respect for their individual learning style.
Charlotte holds an ARCT in Vocal Teaching and Performance, an ARCT in Theory, her Elementary Piano Specialist Designation, and Level 9 Piano with First Class Honours with Distinction through the Royal Conservatory. She also holds Level 3 certification in Music for Young Children, supporting her work in both private and group instruction.
Her background in the arts is extensive and varied. Charlotte has volunteered with the Calgary Performing Arts Festival as an adjudicator assistant, directed choirs in seniors’ homes, and worked as an accompanist for school music programs. As a performer, she has sung with Spiritus Chamber Choir and Revv52, where she also contributed as a movement coach and actress. Her artistic experience extends into dance, including Ukrainian dance with Dunai, as well as training in step, tap, flamenco, country, and ballroom.
Charlotte’s teaching is rooted in developing the whole student. She combines strong technical foundations with creativity, adaptability, and encouragement, using a range of teaching methods to meet students where they are. Her students build musical imagination, develop a refined sense of touch at the instrument, and deepen their understanding of music through theory. Alongside this, they establish consistent practice habits and gain confidence whether playing for personal enjoyment or working toward examinations.
Working with Charlotte offers students an immersive and engaging musical experience, grounded in both structure and joy.
She is a certified piano teacher of Royal Conservatory of Music for Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Level.
