Meet the Teachers!
Fiddle / Violin
Adrianna (she/her) is a sought after educator with over 10 years of teaching experience in violin, fiddle & piano. She directed her first music camp as a teenager and has since taught private lessons and workshops throughout North America.
Adrianna is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston where she studied with Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky + Matt Glaser among others.
Adrianna is fascinated by music’s ability to create lasting friendships and unite a community, and strives to encourage creative collaborations among her students.
adriannaciccone.com
Adrianna Ciccone
Voice / Piano
Catarina Ciccone
Catarina (she/her) is a multi-hyphenate performer & teacher. She received her Bachelor of Music Theatre from Queen's University and completed certification in Voice Function 101 & the Mechanics of Mix & Belt from Maddie Tarbox Studios.
As a teacher, Catarina takes a student-centered approach celebrating individual skill sets while also empowering students to develop a sense of confidence & agency in their musical journey.
As a performer, Catarina has worked in theatre, film & television in both Ontario & the East Coast, most notably as Jules in the North American Premier of Bend It Like Beckham The Musical. Catarina remains an active professional in her field. Her ongoing work enhances her teaching pedagogy, making her both an accomplished actor and a skilled teacher.
catarinaciccone.com
Violin
Emilie Benigno
Emilie (she/her) is a violinist/violist from Ithaca, NY, currently living in Halifax. She received her B.M. in violin performance and her M.M. in Suzuki Pedagogy and Performance from Ithaca College. She has studied with Carrie Reuning-Hummel, Calvin Wiersma, Kyle Armbrust (viola), Susan Waterbury, Fritz Gearhart, and Sylvia Arahmjian.
She is a passionate teacher with over 10 years of experience and she is committed to teaching students at any age and level. She aims to help each student find their unique voice with music and to use the violin or viola as an expressive tool.
She actively seeks opportunities to connect with diverse audiences. From bringing symphonies to small towns, conducting the Ithaca College Gamer Symphony Orchestra, to performing brand new compositions alongside longstanding masterpieces at Alice Tully Hall in New York City, her performance experience reflects her values as a musician and she encourages her students to think outside the box when it comes to how they can share music with others.
emiliebenigno.com
Piano
Màiri Chaimbeul
Màiri Chaimbeul (she/they) is a JUNO-nominated multi-instrumentalist and educator from the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Màiri has taught private lessons and workshops in the UK, Europe, North and South America, and taught at Berklee College of Music in Boston from 2018-2021.
In teaching, they aim to create a supportive environment for expression and learning, fostering creativity and independent thought in whatever musical path the student might be interested in.
Màiri is also in-demand as a performer and can be heard regularly in duo with leading fiddler Jenna Moynihan, CFMA-winning prog-grad group Aerialists and the NS-based improvised music group Quilting.
mairichaimbeul.com
Piano
Rachel Webster
Like most young children, Rachel’s (she/her) music career began with piano lessons. By the time she reached high school, she knew she wanted to continue her training in music, but was interested in a new instrument. With the guidance of an incredible music teacher, she developed her skills on the clarinet, and chose to pursue music even further by auditioning for Wilfrid Laurier University’s music therapy program.
Throughout her time at WLU, she studied clarinet under the direction of Ross Edwards and Peter Shackleton, as well as played in the WLU Wind Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jessica Kun. She was given opportunities to learn other instruments as well, such as guitar, bass clarinet, and a variety of percussion instruments. These opportunities were a result of being a music therapy student.
She is passionate about providing an individualized and positive learning environment for her students. This may look like following a curriculum, to picking and choosing elements they want to work on, to just straight up jamming! She firmly believes that music can bring out the best in everyone.
rachelwebstermusic.ca
Piano / Voice
Molly (she/her) is a music educator and vocalist based in Halifax. She is a graduate of Acadia University (BMus) and Memorial University (BMus Ed). More coming soon!
Molly Anderson
Mr. Peanut
Studio mascot, harp enthusiast, sunbeam seeker.