Meet Our Arts Instructors

From a young age, the stage was Emma Best’s second home. Her first stage was the dance floor at Centennial Community Centre in New Westminster, where at age three, she took her first dance class. Her penchant for performance grew with each year of dance, allowing Emma to graduate high school as not only an honour student and scholarship recipient, but also as a celebrated member of both drama and dance. At Boswell Dance Academy, as a competitive dancer and soloist for eight years, Emma has been awarded numerous high score titles, as well as taken part in R.A.D (Royal Academy of Dance) Ballet exams, completing up to Advanced One. She has mastered technique in ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern/contemporary, stage, tap, and hip hop. After three years as a teaching assistant, Emma is now thrilled to be instructing dance students of her own. By returning to a place very similar to where she took her first dance steps, Emma is grateful for this opportunity to enrich the lives of young future dancers.

Piper started in ballet at age three, soon moving into jazz and lyrical, followed by tap, contemporary, and pointe. She is classically trained in the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) ballet syllabus and completed Pre-Primary to Advanced One exams. She has also been a member of Dance Collective’s Company program, where she competed at local competitions such as Peak, Dance Power, and Synergy, as well as traveled to dance conventions to learn from renowned faculty such as Stacey Tookey and Denise Wall. Outside of the dance studio, Piper has been a student at SFU for the past five years and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Legal Studies Certificate this June.

Danielle has a strong passion for the arts; especially dance. She's trained in all styles, including hip-hop, tap, jazz, stage and acrobatics. The opportunity to teach students has taken Danielle's creativity to new heights. Ten years ago she brought her versatility and energy to teaching Acro Dance and Jazz Dance at Bonsor, and continues to be an integral part of the team.

Ginger Lin discovered her passion for K-pop and Korean culture in 2015. Fueled by her love for dance and BTS, she began teaching herself K-pop choreography in 2016. Since then, she has taught at various dance studios, conducted workshops for non-profit organizations, and performed at numerous cultural festivals. With over three years of professional teaching experience, Ginger has had the incredible opportunity to perform on stage with popular groups like ITZY and IVE at KCON LA and welcomed the J-pop group Epithymia as special guests in her class. She is deeply committed to fostering a welcoming community while sharing her love for K-pop and educating others about its vibrant culture.

Jenny graduated from the Canadian College of Performing Arts with a Diploma in Enriched Arts. Trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern/contemporary dance and acrobatics, Jenny has been dancing for over 13 years. She's expanded her talents to musical theatre, acting and hip hop. Jenny has travelled to China to teach performing arts at a summer camp in Guangzhou and toured across BC and Alberta, performing in children’s theatre with Story Theatre Co. She learned American Sign Language (ASL) to share her love of arts with students who are deaf or experience hearing loss. She's introduced ASL workshops into Story Theatre Co.'s school programs. Jenny teaches at both Edmonds Community Centre and Bonsor Recreation Complex.

Heather is a graduate of the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School in London, England and the National Ballet School of Canada Teacher Training program. She also holds a Contemporary and Choreography Dance certificate, achieving her Intermediate and Associate diplomas in the Cecchetti Method in 2000. Heather teaches creative ballet and ballet at Edmonds Community Centre.

Sydney started her dance journey at the young age of 3 in baby ballet class. From there, she spent her elementary and high school years dancing at the competitive level in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary and lyrical. Sydney has won numerous awards at local, provincial and national competitions and has completed her classical ballet training up to RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) advanced 2. Sydney started assistant teaching when she was 14 at her local studio in Victoria, and shifted into teaching jazz, tap, acro and ballet at age 16. Currently, she dances in a semi-professional program in Vancouver and is looking forward to teaching in Burnaby alongside her own training.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Simon Fraser University. She's been a dancer for over 20 years, training in ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre and modern/contemporary dance. Before becoming a dance instructor at Edmonds Community Centre, Danielle trained and taught dance in Canada, the US and Australia, participating in workshops and teaching summer camps.

Piano

Leanna Bombarda is a classical pianist from Calgary, Alberta, with 15 years of piano study and 7 years of teaching experience. She also plays guitar, bass, ukulele, and has performed percussion in university ensembles. At 15, she completed the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) ARCT theoretical subjects. Leanna teaches piano and music theory to a diverse range of students, from age 3 to 60, and her students have excelled in RCM exams. She graduated as a piano major from Capilano University in Fall 2024 and has previously studied at the University of Calgary. Leanna is currently pursuing further education at the University of British Columbia’s School of Music. Additionally, she has mentored new music teachers and served as an adjudicator for competitions. She has participated in numerous recitals and festivals, winning second place in the Capilano University Music competition.

Guitar, drums, ukulele and piano

Multi-instrumentalist Mark Campbell is a guitarist, bassist, drummer and keyboard player from Vancouver, BC. As a child he studied music at the Douglas Academy of Music under David Lund. He went on to study classical at Douglas College and jazz at both Capilano University and Vancouver Community College. He graduated the RCM classical guitar level 10 exam with first class honours. Mark toured and played across North America for over ten years with the musical groups Roots Roundup, Ngoma and Freeflow and currently fronts the Mark Campbell Quartet. His studies have taken him as far afield as India and South East Asia.

Mark has been a teacher since he was a teenager and has a deep passion for instructing others. Discovering each student’s unique gifts and process of learning is a continuous journey that he finds deeply motivating and inspiring.

Cello

Surim is a highly accomplished cellist and an instructor. Surim received her Bachelor of Performance degree and a minor in piano performance from the Akademie für Tonkunst in Germany, where she studied with Professor Peter Wolf and Carina Stangorra. She then went on to earn her Master of Performance degree from the Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg, Germany where she studied with Professor Jakob Spahn and Professor Alexander Ruder. Since then, Surim has performed in many prestigious concert halls in Germany and Italy such as the Meistersingerhalle, Heilig-Geist-Saal, Kurhaus Wiesbaden, Frankfurt Cathedral and Teatro Curci. Surim has also participated in many international music competitions and masterclasses, winning awards such as the Franz-Hoffman Award in the Mozart Kammermusik Competition and the Second Place Award in the Citta di Barletta International Competition.
 
As a teacher, Surim values the importance of developing a strong relationship with each of her students and strives to create an encouraging and fun learning environment. She recognizes that every student is unique and aims to tailor her teaching approach to each student’s individual needs and learning styles. She believes that music is an ever-evolving art form and that it is important to keep up with the latest trends and developments. Whether a student is a beginner or an advanced musician, her goal is to help them reach their full potential and achieve their musical aspirations.

Violin and viola

Pavel holds a Master of Music from the George Enesco University in Romania and has studied at the University of Victoria, taking Master’s level courses in violin and chamber music with members of the Lafayette String Quartet. He has a distinguished international career as a musician and a reputation as a first class instructor whose students have won awards at local and provincial festivals and enjoyed great success in concerts and Royal Conservatory exams. Pavel's teaching is based on more than 30 years of study and research that includes Classical German from Carl Fleisch: the modern French from Ysaye; the Eastern European from Enerco and Oistrach; the North American from Ivan Galamian; and application of the Suzuki methods. Pavel is a sought-after teacher because of his proven techniques to help students play with relaxed and effortless efficiency, his limitless patience and gentleness–especially with younger students, his ability to tailor his teaching to suit each student's needs and his vast store of musical knowledge. Pavel teaches at both Edmonds Community Centre and Bonsor Recreation Complex.

Guitar and ukulele

Alex is a versatile guitarist, adept at rock, country, jazz, funk genres and fingerstyle technique. Alex has received accolades for his talent and he's won many awards, including a third place finish at the 2012 Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition. He has extensive experience teaching both privately and at various studios and summer camps like the UBC Summer Music Institute. Alex teaches guitar, ukulele and banjo to all ages and all levels in a wide variety of contemporary styles at both Edmonds Community Centre and Bonsor Recreation Complex.

Piano

Michael holds a Diploma of Jazz Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Capilano University and UBC. He's taught music for over 10 years, including lessons for children with special needs and/or disabilities, and early learners ages 3 and up. Michael first gained experience as a side musician for multiple projects, performing at concerts, charity events, weddings, music festivals, conventions and clubs. He's also an experienced studio musician who's been involved in every step of producing an album–going on to launch his own project with missingNo, a band that has gained a worldwide audience--recording 3 albums and many music videos. Michael teaches Piano Basics and private piano at Edmonds Community Centre, Bonsor Recreation Complex and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. He's eager to help students learn an instrument for their own enjoyment or to embark on their own musical career.

Piano

Iris is a fun, and experienced educator dedicated to discovering the different learning styles of each student and making lessons fun and enjoyable while grasping the concepts learned. She completed her undergraduate at UBC, has undergone a valuable mentorship program from UBC School of Music, inspiring her to research more pedagogy training from famous composers like Forrest Kinney. She had the honour to learn from Forrest Kinney and he has been her inspiration to continue his legacy on “Pattern Play,” an art of piano improvisation. Iris is certified in the curriculum for Music for Young Children (MYC), Musikgarten, Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM). She has been teaching for over 15 years and as a side hobby, she enjoys playing the harp. 

Iris believes we can all make music and learn to express our feelings with music. Her recent teaching experience involves using adaptation to customize lesson plans and developing flexible and playful strategies to support students with diverse abilities. After gaining valuable teaching insight as a Behavioural Interventionist, an Educational Assistant and Inclusion Teacher for schools inclusive of Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School, she founded an Adapted Piano Program in 2022.

Piano

Angela holds a Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 Piano certification, an ABRSM Piano Diploma and she's currently studying for a Bachelor of Music degree at SFU. She's been playing the piano for over 20 years. Angela is a very involved teacher–she's always looking for new and unique ways to introduce music to her students. Watching them gain confidence as they improve their technique provides all the motivation she needs. Angela teaches piano at Bonsor Recreation Complex and Edmonds Community Centre.

Voice and preschool music

Kevin Takahide Lee has a Bachelor's of Music in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia and a Master's of Music in Voice Performance from The University of Western Ontario and is involved with productions throughout BC, Alberta and Winnipeg. Kevin teaches for the City of Burnaby working with students (and parents) to provide a well rounded educational experiences. 

Piano and violin

Vivian has been teaching the piano and violin to students of all grades for over 10 years, from preparatory to post-ARCT. Her students have received RCM gold medals in the piano and violin, performed in gala concerts including the Kiwanis, and have been involved in chamber music and youth orchestras in the community. Vivian holds RCM ARCTs in piano and violin performance (2011, 2012), and graduated with her bachelors.

Vivian enjoys witnessing each student’s growth as they fulfill their goals. She believes the most important factor in the learning process is that students are engaged and look forward to lessons, having a lifelong appreciation for music.

Guitar and ukulele

Craig has been a professional musician, composer and educator for over 30 years. He has played guitar, bass and drums, in a multitude of Jazz, Rock, Folk and Country groups across Canada, and has toured throughout the world. Craig has toured and recorded with Frazey Ford, the Washboard Union, Kent McAlister and the Iron Choir, Joel Kroeker, the Cape May, Ridley Bent, Camaro 67, Kingsway and the Great Outdoors. 

A graduate of Mount Royal University in Calgary, he obtained his Music Diploma in 1993. Since 1991 he has been teaching guitar, bass and drums to all ages, both privately and through various music schools in western Canada. He currently teaches through the City of Burnaby at Edmonds Community Centre, and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

Voice, guitar and ukulele

A guitarist, singer, and educator, Marc holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Jazz Studies from Capilano University. Marc has performed professionally across Canada since 2013 for clients such as VIA Rail, Calgary Transit and, most recently, Trout Point Lodge in Nova Scotia. His guitar skills have led to sponsorship deals with Godin guitars and the Kyser Capo guitar series. As a performer, Marc plays frequently in the Vancouver area. He just released his first professional single, now available on streaming platforms under the name "ReeVay". For more information on Marc's music, please visit reevaymusic.com. As an instructor, Marc focuses on technique and repertoire development, taking care to position music as an enjoyable part of a child's overall development. Marc currently teaches at Edmonds Community Centre and Bonsor Recreation Complex.

Piano and voice

With over 10 years of experience teaching voice, piano and songwriting at all levels in schools and music institutions as well as running performance workshops, musical theatre classes and ensembles around BC, Caitlin's resume as a music instructor is diverse. Caitlin is a 2014 graduate of VCC's Jazz/Contemporary Voice Major program with Minor studies in Classical Voice and a seasoned performer with over 20 years of hands-on performance experience. Caitlin has taken years to hone her craft to provide highly personalized lessons based on the specific goals and needs of each student and has a proud reputation for kick-starting countless music careers.

Caitlin's approach to instruction takes inspiration from many places - including starting her performance career in musical theatre at 14, working as a hired session recording artist from the age of 19, co-producing a summer long Yukon music festival at 24 and performing in countless genres over two decades including rock, pop, funk, big band and New Orleans jazz, soul, musical theatre, opera and more. Caitlin's goal in lessons is to instill a deep love for music in each of her students and to equip them with strong skills that they can use for life. She welcomes students of all levels, styles and abilities and currently teaches at Edmonds Community Centre.
 

Piano

Siuyee holds an Associate Diploma (ARSM) in Piano Performance with distinction from the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and a Bachelor of Business Administration from SFU. Siuyee is a dedicated piano teacher who believes playing piano should be fun and enjoyable. She is excited to share her passion for music with her students of all ages.

Piano and flute

Georgia is a graduate of the Schulich School of Music at McGill University with a Bachelor of Music. She is a passionate music instructor and enjoys seeing her students learn and grow. She studied flute with Carolyn Christie at McGill University, as well as Brenda Fedoruk and Suzanne Snizek in Vancouver. Georgia holds an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music Diploma in Piano Performance, and has completed her Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Level 10 studies. She has studied piano with David Vandereyk and Rosemary O’Conner. She has also attended flute masterclasses at the Orford Music Academy and Domaine Forget. Georgia is a dedicated flute and piano teacher and is happy to help students build a strong musical foundation while sharing a love of music with students. She is excited to inspire her students to express themselves through music and develop their own creative voice.

Guitar

Chris has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Jazz Guitar) from California Institute of the Arts where he studied with Charlie Haden, Wadada Leo Smith and Larry Koonse (to name a few). Before attending CalArts, Chris completed the contemporary guitar program at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles and the classical guitar program at Capilano University in North Vancouver.

As a performing musician, Chris focuses on improvisation and spontaneous inspiration. As a music educator, his philosophy is one of encouragement, patience and helping students develop solid musicianship and playing skills.
 

Piano

Pearl has completed her grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) studies in piano and theory, and now teaches various RCM levels to students. With 20+ years of teaching music, Pearl is a versatile instructor whose students appreciate her patient, creative and confident teaching style. Whether she's helping students learn their favorite pieces or preparing them for exams, she loves to instil a deep appreciation of music in her students through theory and practice. Pearl teaches at both Edmonds Community Centre and Bonsor Recreation Complex.

Piano

Robert holds a Bachelor of Music degree from UBC and a Master of Music majoring in piano performance and pedagogy from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Prior to university, Robert participated in many festivals and competitions while completing his ARCT Piano Performance exam, achieving First Class Honours with Distinction and a Conservatory scholarship. Robert is an experienced piano and music theory teacher for students of all ages and abilities. His lessons demonstrate his joy in sharing his knowledge and passion for music.

Violin

Hazel is an accomplished violin instructor. Hazel has performed across Asia, Europe, and North America. As an orchestral musician, she has performed with members of the Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. She has worked under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, Maestro Christoph Eschenbach, Robert Spano, Vasily Petrenko, and Hugh Wolff. In addition, she also collaborated with renowned soloists such as Stefan Jackiw, Alisa Weilerstein, Yefim Bronfman, Daniil Trifonov, Gil Shaham, Zlatomir Fung, James Ehnes, and Augustin Hadelich.

In 2021 she was invited to attend the Aspen Music Festival as a fellowship recipient and has worked closely with world renowned violin pedagogue Paul Kantor, faculty of The Royal Conservatory of Music and Rice University. In 2020, she also received honorable mentions in the Young Artist Audition of Musicus Society.

Hazel graduated from Manhattan School of Music where studied with Peter Winograd, the first violinist of the American String Quartet, and Sheryl Staples, Principal Associate Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic. In addition, she also studied jazz violin with grammy award winner Regina Carter. She was a recipient of the Kraeuter Violin Scholarship, Janey Fund Charitable Trust Scholarship, MSM Scholarship, and the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme.
 

Piano

Anican Yu possesses a natural aptitude and deep passion for music, captivating audiences with his exceptional piano performances. He holds a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the Schulich School of Music, complemented by a double major in Music and Education, with a minor in Psychology from UBC. Anican’s versatility has led him to perform extensively across Canada, from solo and chamber performances to collaborations with renowned musicians and various jazz ensembles. He has contributed his talents to esteemed orchestras such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Institute, UBC Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the West Coast Symphony and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.

Since 2017, Anican has been dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians through his own Piano Studio. He advocates for musical diversity by blending the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum with jazz and beginner piano lessons.   This is Anican’s first year teaching at Edmonds Community Centre and we are thrilled to have him as part of the team.
 

Visual arts

Karen is a professional mixed-media artist. She's participated in workshops for school children and the Studio 101 Project through the Eastside Culture Crawl. She works at her Parker Street Studios in East Vancouver. Karen is also a coordinator and instructor for the Baker Drive Afterschool Art Club in Coquitlam and a Fine Art instructor at Edmonds Community Centre where she enjoys sharing her passion for art and teaching children.

Visual arts

Devan has immersed himself in the world of 2-D Animation, Comics, and Illustration for countless years. Ever since childhood, his love for fantasy, manga, anime, and comics has driven him to doodle everywhere. Devan is currently making a comic; if you'd like to learn more check out devandiroccodraws online. Devan firmly believes that creativity has boundless avenues of expression, and looks forward to exploring and creating art together!

Theatre

Jonathan Guhl has been a performer since he put on his first play for the neighbourhood at 5 years old. A Graduate of Capilano University's Acting for Stage and Screen program, Jonathan has spent most of his professional career in front of a camera, or working with youth; teaching everything from drama and improv, to martial arts and homesteading.

Theatre

Julia is an enthusiastic and experienced actor who has taught all things drama since 2014. Born and raised in Burnaby, Julia has been teaching with the city since 2020. Julia specializes in short-form improv, musical theatre, and ensemble work grounded in play for kids, teens, and adults 19+. Julia takes pride in creating welcoming and fun learning environments, with a focus on inclusion and goofiness. 

Select credits (as of 2024) include The Perfect Bite Vancouver - A Dinner Experience Inspired by Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Secret City Adventures in collaboration with NETFLIX), World Enders, Sigma Acapella (Rushed Productions), and The Marvelous Wonderettes (Vagabond Players). 

Julia has studied improv and theatre with various organizations including The Improv Centre, Tightrope, Instant Theatre, Improvcamp (The Canadian Improv Games), and SFU. When she isn't on stage or teaching, Julia also works as a recreation leader and freelance writer.

Visual arts

Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU. She has enjoyed teaching for over 5 years. Her continuing studies include visual culture studies, philosophy, sociology, pedagogy and publishing. Vanessa has experience with a variety of cartooning and art techniques, including Manga and Eastern storytelling. Vanessa teaches our after-school Drawing and Cartooning Programs at a variety of Burnaby elementary schools and at Edmonds Community Centre and Shadbolt Centre for The Arts Outreach Programs.

Visual arts

Mona holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and a Bachelor of Education from SFU. She's a practicing interdisciplinary artist, photographer and certified teacher. As a skilled facilitator and instructor, Mona teaches unique visual arts programs in Greater Vancouver. She has a passion for the arts and believes in its profound effect on people who engage in it. She works with individuals from diverse communities, helping them empower themselves through art. Her exhibitions include photography installation, mixed media, drawing, painting, sculpture, text and environmental art.

Visual arts

Tami Murray received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (now Emily Carr University of Art and Design). A working artist, Tami has studied drawing, printmaking, book making, ceramics, sculpture, painting and photography. Her focus in the last decade has been on mixed media art making. Tami splits her creative time between teaching the next generation of visual artists and creating her own art.

Visual arts

Karen is a printmaker based at Dundarave Print Workshop on Granville Island. She also collaborates on various community art projects and teaches visual arts to children and adults at Edmonds Community Centre and Bonsor Recreation Complex. Her practice explores the process of creative and personal development–specifically, the process of transformation and its relationship with structure and boundaries.

Visual arts

Irina Samarukava is a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for sharing the process of creating hand-crafted projects with others. Irina loves exploring new mediums and art forms and experimenting with projects both big and small.  She is versatile in teaching different arts and crafts such as drawing, watercolor and acrylic painting, knitting,  felting, batique and origami folding. Irina was born in Belarus, East Europe  where she obtained her bachelor degree in Fine Arts. Irina has been teaching art at an elementary school for over 12 years, and since moving to Canada in 2003, she has been teaching students of different ages in her private studio. Recently Irina has joined the Art team  at Edmonds community Centre and at Shadbolt Centre for the Art in Burnaby.

Creative writing

MacKenzie Sewell is a writer and writing teacher based out of the Greater Vancouver Area. She has a total of 11 years of teaching & coaching experience, including experience working with children with autism and other special needs. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in creative writing from UBC, where she specialised in both Poetry and Young Adult Fiction. She is currently a graduate student working on her Master’s degree in creative writing. MacKenzie's favourite children’s book is Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery!