Our Instructors
Serena eades
Director/Violin/Fiddle Instructor (Vancouver, Gibsons)
Serena has been teaching music for 26 years and believe in the power of an educator to inspire and guide budding musicians towards excellence and fulfillment through music. Her unique style reflects a lifetime of studying western classical music and various folk idioms. With a B.Mus. from the Berklee College of Music and a B. Mus. from Brandon University in addition to many years in the music industry she is at home as a performer, recording artist and educator. She is known as a member of Delhi 2 Dublin, and has performed with many artists around the world. Serena’s distinct sound is rich, full bodied, textured, and animated.
B.Mus. Berklee College of Music 2014
B.Mus. Brandon University, MB/La Universidad de Colima, Mexico 2005
Tegan Ceschi-Smith
- Violin/Chamber Ensemble Instructor (Gibsons, Sechelt)
Tegan Ceschi-Smith is passionate about student-focused engaging and inspiring music education. Her love of the violin and of making music with others started young, at the age of 4. With an interest in a diversity of music and 16 years of teaching experience, Tegan is an enthusiastic instructor and learner, with a solid foundation in classical repertoire and technique. She has collaborated with numerous dancers and artists, and has branched out into jazz, rock, punk, and fiddle. She has played with a number of orchestras including the Guelph Symphony and the National Youth Orchestra.
M.A. in Music Education - University of British Columbia
B.A. in Women, Music, and Social Change” - University of Guelph
ARCT - Royal Conservatory of Music
Brigitte Ouellet
Violin/Fiddle Instructor (qathet/Powell River)
A fiddler since she was five years old, Brigitte is an enthusiastic teacher with five years experience who aims to help each student develop a lifelong love of music. She has a solid foundation in classical technique and a broad fiddle repertoire, and works with her students to find the style of music that appeals to them.
Brigitte was brought up in Acadian traditional music and has branched out into a variety of folk styles from Celtic to blues. She has contributed to a dozen albums as a session musician and performed across Canada, Ireland and the USA with a variety of acts.
Janice Hamilton
Violin/Fiddle Instructor (Gibsons)
Janice is a classically trained musician with a passion for learning, teaching, and performing. Her journey began in Hong Kong where she obtained Grade 8 piano with the Royal School of Music, and later in Canada, Grade 10 with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her first instrument is piano and her second, violin.
Since 2012, Janice has focused largely on Celtic genres and plays lead fiddle for the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra, and with the musical ensemble Kilbirnie Station. Janice currently studies with the renowned Scottish fiddler Pete Clark, leads a weekly adult Fiddle Group in Gibsons, and has an in-depth appreciation for the challenges and rewards that studying and playing music has for early and especially adult learners.
JOHN KASTELIC
Viola/Violin/Fiddle Instructor (qathet/Powell River)
John is an active violinist, violist, and composer, who recently relocated from Vancouver to Powell River, BC. He has over 10 years of teaching experience, teaching students of all ages, from 5 to 70. His background is in classical music, primarily performing chamber and orchestral music. He has also worked extensively in folk, fiddle, pop, rock, metal, and improvised music as a performer, composer, songwriter, and recording artist. He is the violist with the Black Dog String Quartet and front-man with his fiddle-folk-rock band Salt Thief.
B.Mus University of British Columbia 2010
Danielle Léonard
Violin/Fiddle Instructor (North Vancouver)
Danielle is an experienced educator and performer. She has been a music educator for over 10 years now and her educational pedigree comes in the form of a B.A. in Music and French Studies from Queen’s University, as well as a B.Ed. from the University of British Columbia. Danielle is a seasoned performer in various Celtic and Canadian styles and has toured across Canada and the United States. Furthermore, she works with a variety of groups and artists both in the studio and on the road. Danielle brings with her a great passion for fiddling and a collaborative approach to create a lively and enriching experience with the SEAOM. She is also the director of the North Shore Celtic Ensemble Intro and Strings & Things Ensembles.
Joy Morgan
Violin/Fiddle Instructor (qathet/Powell River)
Joy Morgan, a passionate violinist of 14 years, began her musical journey in Nanaimo, BC, under Trish Clair's guidance. Relocating to Powell River in 2014, she continued studies with Cathy Reckenberg. Grateful for her mentors' teachings, Joy has showcased her talent at the Festival of Performing Arts, reaching provincials in 2020 and 2021.
Encountering the Serena Eades Academy of Music during this time, Joy took lessons with Tegan Ceschi-Smith. Joy is now happy to join the SEAOM team as an instructor, and is excited to share the transformative power of violin playing, Joy emphasizes the limitless learning potential the instrument offers.
EMILY DUBOIS
Administrative Assistant
Emily helps keep everything rolling smoothly behind the scenes so that the teachers can focus on what they do best - teaching!
In addition to keeping everything on track at SEAOM, Emily is a musically ambitious fiddler. Many fiddle camps and the connections they create have nurtured Emily’s passion for collaboration, performance, and teaching young fiddlers.
Dip. in Contemporary Music Performance (Victoria Conservatory) Camosun College
Certificate in Arts and Entertainment management (Capilano University)
If you ever have any questions please Emily at admin@serenaeades.com