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.

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.

Sosun Suh

Instruments: Early Childhood Music
Group Classes Taught: Music Garden, Group Piano
Education: Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education; Masters in Music Education; Diploma in Music Therapy; Bachelor of Arts in Korean Traditional Music
Style: Folk
Languages: English, Korean

Sosun graduated at the top of her class from the Chugye University for the Arts where she studied Haekeum, a traditional 2-string fiddle. She also received a Masters in Music Education. Sosun’s educational experience includes teaching music in grade school and daycares; as well as conducting the Godstar Children’s Choir in Toronto. Sosun is an active performer, working with the Toronto Fusion Music Team.

Veronica Materi

Instruments: Orff, Piano
Group Classes Taught: Music Garden, Orff Ensemble
Education: Bachelor of Music (BM) in Performance; Bachelor of Education (BE); Orff Specialist Certificate; Kodaly Pedagogy Certification; Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education
Style: Classical, Folk
Languages: English

Veronica's teaching career, which spans twenty years, began in Saskatchewan where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1996 Veronica moved to Toronto to continue her education in the Artist - Teacher Program at the Glen Gould Professional School and then completed the Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education through the Royal Conservatory of Music and Ryerson University. In addition, she earned an Orff Specialist Certificate, completed Kodaly Pedagogy Certification and pursued Dalcroze Eurhythmics training. In 2005 Veronica earned a Bachelor of Education degree from OISE at the University of Toronto with an Elementary Teaching Certificate. She pursued International teaching positions that took her to The American International School in Gaza, Palestine and Bilkent University Preparatory School in Ankara, Turkey.