Kim Williams
Kim is the owner of McKee Music as well as a piano instructor, music theory teacher, and musical theatre director.
Kim began studying piano at the age of 5. By the time she was 16, she completed Grade 8 piano and grade 2 rudiments in theory with first class honors from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Following high school, Kim entered the professional music program at Marionopolis College in Montreal. There she continued her music studies with professors Esther Master & Ken Woodman of McGill University.
After graduation from Marianopolis in 1991, Kim continued her studies at Summit Pacific College where she earned a Bachelor of Theology with a major in Church Music. During her years at Summit, Kim traveled with the college ensemble, both as a pianist and vocalist. In her first year she was hired as a part time piano teacher at the college, teaching throughout her academic tenure there. Kim also gained experience conducting the college band and choir at various times. She was a regular pianist for chapel services and special college events.
Since moving to Airdrie, Alberta in 2009, Kim has always been found teaching piano, conducting children's choirs, directing Christmas pageants, and accompanying for school choirs. She is an avid supporter of the Airdrie Rotary Festival of Performing Arts, being on the board of directors in various roles for 4 years. Kim is very proud of her students' achievements at our local festival, earning Distinctions, scholarships, and recommendations to compete at the provincial level.
In 2019, Kim had the honor of being a finalist for the Arts Educator of the Year Award for the Mayor's Night of the Arts in the city of Airdrie.
Kim is ever expanding her music business at McKee Music, which has 4 studios .The future is bright for McKee Music as Kim has her sights set high to continue offering quality music education in Airdrie.
Kim began studying piano at the age of 5. By the time she was 16, she completed Grade 8 piano and grade 2 rudiments in theory with first class honors from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Following high school, Kim entered the professional music program at Marionopolis College in Montreal. There she continued her music studies with professors Esther Master & Ken Woodman of McGill University.
After graduation from Marianopolis in 1991, Kim continued her studies at Summit Pacific College where she earned a Bachelor of Theology with a major in Church Music. During her years at Summit, Kim traveled with the college ensemble, both as a pianist and vocalist. In her first year she was hired as a part time piano teacher at the college, teaching throughout her academic tenure there. Kim also gained experience conducting the college band and choir at various times. She was a regular pianist for chapel services and special college events.
Since moving to Airdrie, Alberta in 2009, Kim has always been found teaching piano, conducting children's choirs, directing Christmas pageants, and accompanying for school choirs. She is an avid supporter of the Airdrie Rotary Festival of Performing Arts, being on the board of directors in various roles for 4 years. Kim is very proud of her students' achievements at our local festival, earning Distinctions, scholarships, and recommendations to compete at the provincial level.
In 2019, Kim had the honor of being a finalist for the Arts Educator of the Year Award for the Mayor's Night of the Arts in the city of Airdrie.
Kim is ever expanding her music business at McKee Music, which has 4 studios .The future is bright for McKee Music as Kim has her sights set high to continue offering quality music education in Airdrie.
David Lasebnik |
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David grew up in a house surrounded by music, inspired from an early age to pick up the guitar. Within a few years he had learned many songs by Van Halen, AC/DC, and other classic rock songs by various bands. As David’s time with the guitar progressed, he became interested in the attitude and improvisational spirit of blues music which was fostered in part by the guitar teachers he was taking lessons from. At the same time, he began to deepen his understanding of music by beginning to learn music theory. This lead him to desire to further his musical growth in order to pursue a career in music by attending a university music program at MacEwan University. To prepare for this, he began studying jazz and other jazz influenced styles that were required for the rigorous music program (funk, soul, r&b, fusion, latin). After passing the audition with flying colours, David learned an incredible amount about music over the next 4 years, and also had countless opportunities to play and perform with fellow peers in the program.
Upon earning his Bachelor of Contemporary Popular Music and Jazz, majoring in performance and receiving the award of first class standing, he has entered the professional music world ready to share his knowledge and passion for all the music he has learned over the years. Whether you are just beginning to learn guitar, or have been playing for years, David is passionate for and can teach songs in a multitude of popular styles and difficulty levels, practical application of guitar techniques as well as a deeper understanding of music through theory, all while catering to the musical direction that the student wishes to take. Kurt Simpson
Kurt has studied music for over 10 years. He plays brass instruments (Euphonium, French Horn and trumpet) throughout elementary, middle and High school years. Kurt especially gained valuable experience playing lead trumpet in the Jazz and concert band. Kurt received the Linda Bennet Memorial Music Award when he graduated. Kurt believes in learning through fundamentals and has a strong foundation to build from. He has taught music professionally for over a year and a half. Kurt finds teaching music meaningful and fulfilling. He has played with various small groups throughout the years and busks in Calgary when he is able to. Although Kurt is versatile in all styles, his specialty and passions is in Blues, jazz music, and especially bebop.
Rochelle Dionne Ruttan
Rochelle Dionne Ruttan is delighted to be a part of the team at McKee Music and looks forward to
welcoming voice students in January of 2022. Rochelle is a quintessential Canadian artist, entrepreneur, and highly esteemed music educator. For over 30 years, Rochelle has been developing her style and perfecting her craft. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Rochelle started her musical journey by studying voice and piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Rochelle moved to Montreal in 2001 to pursue her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Jazz specialization at Concordia University. Here she was awarded the mature entrance scholarship and nominated for the Oscar Peterson Jazz Scholarship award. She studied voice with Juno award nominee Jeri Brown and performed in combos directed by such notable jazz musicians and educators as Dave Turner and Charles Ellison. Supporting herself throughout university, she taught piano and voice at Musicircle in Pierrefonds, Quebec. After graduating from Concordia with distinction, Rochelle moved back out West. She settled in the Okanagan Valley, where she continued to refine her skills as a music teacher at Steve’s Groove School. These experiences as an educator were the catalyst to opening her own music school in 2009, Henbury Music School and later, Sing Your Song Studios in 2015. In addition to teaching voice, piano, theory and song-writing, Rochelle became accredited with Music For Young Children and taught their Sunrise program: group music and movement instruction for children aged 2-4. While Rochelle built her reputation and experience as a music educator, she never abandoned her roots as a performer and songwriter. Her time in the South Okanagan allowed her to perform as a solo artist, in duos, trios, and small combos at various wineries and events throughout the Valley. She also starred in a notable “Best of Broadway” production in Penticton in 2017, under the direction of Lynne Leydier and Soundstage Productions. When she wasn’t teaching or performing, Rochelle began hosting workshops and masterclasses on creative writing. These workshops involved close collaborations with local creatives including published author and UBCO professor Dr. Cathi Shaw. For Rochelle, music, creativity, and collaboration are deeply intertwined. Her lifelong relationship with music and artistic expression continues to this day. While she is currently in pursuit of her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, she anticipates using her love of music and creativity to help others in areas such as creative arts therapy, drama therapy, and music therapy. |
Tracy Dirk
Tracy started taking piano lessons at about 7 years old. She has played piano in churches and camps. She has accompanied soloists and directed & played for musicals. It wasn't until several years ago as an adult that she took her grade 8 exam as well as her grade 2 theory.
Living in Bonnyville before Airdrie, Tracy owned and operated a piano studio with approx. 30 students. We are happy to have Tracy back for her 5th year of teaching! Her experience and love for music and children makes teaching piano a perfect fit at McKee Music. Trista Bacon
Trista has been studying piano at McKee Music for several years. She is currently preparing for her level 9 Royal Conservatory piano exam.
Trista's excellent piano skills, and her calm and kind demeanor is a great asset to our piano teaching staff. Besides piano, Trista plays the ukulele and the tuba! When not making music, Trista is a full-fledged horse girl. She enjoys working at and competing in dressage competitions. Madeleine McKee
Maddie has taken a variety of music lessons at McKee Music over the 10 years she has spent with the business. She has performed for 4 consecutive years at the Airdrie Rotary Festival of Performing Arts, receiving Distinction multiple times for her vocal performances and Superior Standing at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival.
Maddie takes a keen interest in musical theatre, performing with companies such as StoryBook Theatre, Morpheus Theatre, Bert Church High School. She hopes to pursue theatre as a career in the future. Maddie enjoys working with technology and is the administrator of the website as well as the McKee Music Instagram page. In past years, she has also assisted the Musical Theatre classes by sharing her expertise from her experience as a young actress. Corra Wright
Corra has been playing piano for 9 years now and is studying for her grade 9 piano exam in the upcoming year. The passion that Corra has for music is evident in all aspects of her life. . She finished her grade 8 practical exam with First class honors, and her grade 8 theory exam with first class honors with distinction in June. She has been a part of the Airdrie Rotary Festival many times, competing in both piano and musical theater categories. At school, Corra is a part of both the Senior and Jazz bands . One of Corra's most amazing recent experiences has been being a part of the Young Canadians, and performing in the 2021 Bell Grandstand show at the Calgary Stampede. We look forward to Corra sharing her joy, excitement and piano expertise with her students this year.
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Jayla Winters
Jayla has been taking singing lessons since the age of ten and has always known she wanted a career in music. She was in two choirs and band class in high school as well as the Mount Royal Vocal Academy for two years. She has performed in many festivals and has been in the provincial music festival four times in both classical and musical theater categories, once winning a second place award. She completed the grade 8 RCM vocal examination with honours in 2011 after which she auditioned for music programs at various universities.
She attended the University of Lethbridge in 2012 and entered the Music and Education program with a minor in dramatic arts. After completing two years of her degree she is now taking time to gain experience teaching voice. Jayla has always had a love and passion for music, musical theatre in particular. This is Jayla's 5th year teaching at McKee Music. She is excited to continue spreading the joy of music and performance to all her students. Juli Holgerson
Juli began studying piano at the age of 7 and as a teen began to use her skills as an accompanist in church and other settings.
After earning her RCM Grade 7 piano certificate, Juli went on to complete a Bachelor of Education degree with a Music specialty at the University of Victoria. For several years Juli taught music to children ages 5-12 in the BC public school system before taking on the role of full-time stay at home Mom for her two children. Music has always been a big part of Juli’s life. When she is not using her piano skills to accompany her daughter or the Muriel Clayton Middle School choir, she enjoys playing Scrabble, walking, cycling, baking, cooking and spending time with her family. At McKee Music, Juli looks forward to passing along her enthusiasm for using music to accompany the score of life. Madeleine Canete
Madeleine has been taking piano lessons since she was 11 years old, and since then went on to learn other instruments such as the guitar and ukulele. She has been playing the guitar and ukulele for 6 years. During her junior high and high school years, she was heavily involved in her school concert band as a bassoonist, and a pianist for her jazz band. She plays guitar and piano in her church choir and youth ministry. She completed her Grade 10 RCM in August 2018, and her RCM Level 8 Theory in 2016 with First Class Honours. Madeleine is currently a music major at the University of Calgary.
Madeleine has been inspired from her own piano teacher and band director, and is eager to share that love and inspiration of music through teaching at McKee Music! Ella Johnson
Ella is in her first year at the University of Calgary, studying engineering and business. She has been actively involved in Airdrie's Air Cadet squadron for the past 7 years. She is passionate about STEM, mental health, community involvement, and of course, MUSIC!
She has been playing piano for 12 years, having achieved her level 9 Royal Conservatory certificate, as well has her level 9 History. Ella is always positive and energetic, and we are so excited to have her share her music passion and prowess with her students this year! |
