Cosmo School of Music Group Program Teacher Profiles
Alison Neale
Instruments: Early Childhood Music
Group Classes Taught: Music Garden
Education: Advanced Level American Sign Language; Diploma
in Musical Theatre; Honours Bachelor of Music (BM); Licensed Kindermusik Educator
Style: Popular, Folk
Languages: English
Alison Neale is a strong believer in putting children first! In her efforts to connect with youth, Alison has helped with outreach efforts and orphanages abroad, and worked with youth of all ages here at home. Alison has assisted developmentally delayed students with personal life skills training, has acted as an elementary youth tutor, has assumed the role of youth mentor for high school students (through the Pathways to Education™ program and Girl !mpact initiative), assisted with fundraising efforts for un-wed mothers and marginalized youth (with Rosalie Hall and the Beauty Night Society), as well as lending her energy and support to large campaigns such as the Easter Seal Telethon, Jacob’s Ladder Foundation and Sick Kids Hospital. Alison chose to augment her professional development by studying American Sign Language & Deaf Culture, attaining her certification as a signing instructor with My Smart Hands™, and attaining her license as a Kindermusik® educator.
Alison is proud to be a part of the Cosmo School of Music team! Having studied music, dance, theatre and circus arts, Alison connects quite naturally with the energy and spontaneity of youth. Alison has a starring role on Treehouse TV’s 4 Square, is the current Youth Program Coordinator with Soul2Sole Latin Dance Company, has worked with Planet Dance Entertainment (entertaining privately and publicly for corporations such as TD Meloche Monnex and the Children’s Aid Society of Canada), has instructed ballroom & Latin dance in 5 school boards with Future Steps, and has graced many stages as a featured singer and dancer, while appearing on both the small and large screen.
Cathy Macchia
Instruments: Piano, Theory, Violin
Education: Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto
(ARCT), The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM)
Style: Classical, Popular, Broadway
Languages: English, Romanian
Cathy has been playing the violin and piano for 25 years. She has competed
and won first place in numerous competitions around Europe. In addition to
her solo playing, Cathy has toured Europe and the United States with several orchestras.
In 1996, Cathyhad the opportunity to perform at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Cathy understands the individual needs of each student, she has a patient and understanding
approach to teaching. She belives a positive approach is needed in order to
embrace learning the complexity of music and to enrich each student's musical experiences.
Diane James
Instruments: French Horn, Piano
Group Classes Taught: Orff Ensembles, Pre-School Music Classes, Montessori, Brass and Musical Theatre
Education:Honours Bachelor of Music in Performance, French Horn, University of Toronto, Teaching Certificate from Association of Montessori Internationale, (Ages 2.5yrs – 7yrs)
Style: Classical, Pop Music, Ensemble, Broadway, World Music
Languages: English
Diane James received her Honours Bachelor of Music in Performance, French horn, from the University of Toronto. Following graduation, Diane was awarded a long-term Canada Council grant to study horn privately in Los Angeles. Diane has played in numerous Canadian orchestras and chamber groups and continues to freelance in the Toronto area.
While working as a performer, Diane fell in love with children and took her A.M.I. Montessori teacher training for ages 2 ½ to 6 years. She has been working with children as a classroom teacher and music specialist since 1985. Diane is a certified Orff and Musikgarten Specialist and has additional training in Kodaly and Dalcroze pedagogy.
Diane has developed curricula and taught classes for babies, toddlers, preschool children and students up to age 12. She writes her own music arrangements for the children incorporating Orff mallet instruments, recorder, brass, voice and assorted percussion. In addition, Diane has also for many years been directing music theatre productions for children. She teaches private lessons to all ages on brass instruments and piano.
Diane is married to a clarinet player, and is the mother of 2 sons, both studying music at university.
Evelina Soulis
Instruments: History, Piano, Theory
Group Classes Taught: Harmony 1 & 2, History 1 & 2
Education: Honours Bachelor of Music (BM), Wilfrid Laurier
University
Style: Classical
Languages: English, Greek
Evelina has studied privately for approximately three decades and has been teaching piano and theory since 1986. Aside from performing with various bands in and around the GTA (pop, dance, disco, classic rock, top-40) on a regular basis, she also performs as a solo act for various private functions (classical and contemporary music). She has also been involved in the theatre, accompanying performances as a pianist.
Junlin Bu
Instruments: Early Childhood Music
Group Classes Taught: Music Garden, Orff Ensemble
Education: Early Childhood Education (ECE) Diploma, George
Brown College; Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education, RCM/Ryerson,
Toronto
Style: Folk
Languages: English, Mandarin
Junlin has been teaching young children in a TDSB setting for over 7 years. She has shared her love of music with children 1-6 years of age throughout Toronto, teaching music classes in a variety of child care and community centres. Her complementary expertise in both child development and music education enables her to create developmentally appropriate music programs for children to enjoy and learn from.
Mehrnoosh Hassanloo
Instruments: Piano, Orff
Education: Bachelor of Music Degree; Azad University, Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education; Royal Conservatory of Music/Ryerson, Orff Specialist; RCM, Kodaly Certificate (level 2), RCM
Further training: Hochschule fur Musik, Wurzburg, Germany
Style: Classical, Pop
Languages: English, Farsi
Mehrnoosh attained her Bachelor of Music degree in Iran and her specialist certificates in Orff, Kodaly and Early Childhood Music Education from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. An Orff Specialist, Mehrnoosh brings a variety of teaching techniques to her piano teaching. Mehrnoosh has been teaching for over 12 years and strives to make music making fun for all her students!
Sosun Suh
Instruments: Early Childhood Music, Piano
Group Classes Taught: Music Garden, Group Piano
Education: Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education, RCM/Ryerson, Toronto, Masters in Music Education, Diploma in Music Therapy, Honours Bachelor of Music in South Korea
Style: Folk, Classical
Languages: English, Korean
Sosun is an enthusiastic music educator. Sosun’s educational experience includes teaching music in grade school and daycares for over 15 years. She tries to understand each student who has a different musical background. She is also an active musician as a Heagum(; traditional Korean 2 string fiddle) player, a pianist and a conductor of children`s choir. She has released two Haegum albums.
