Our Instructors
We believe everyone has talent!
Philip Kashap, Violin/Viola Instructor
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Violinist Philip Kashap moved from Saskatoon to Huntsville in the fall of 2012. In Saskatoon he built up a large studio which consistently produced some of the best violinists in Saskatchewan. His students have won some of the most prestigious awards in Canada including first prize in the Eckhardt-Grammaté Competition and first prize in the National Finals of the Canadian Music Competition, and many have gone on to successful careers in music.
Mr. Kashap grew up near Boston and San Francisco, and attended Yale University as an undergraduate and Yale School of Music as a graduate student. He holds both a BA and MM in Music from Yale. He has played professionally since his teenage years, and performed as chamber musician and violinist in many orchestras and touring groups. |
Philip Kashap, violin & viola instructor
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Suzuki-certified in Levels 1A, 1B, 2,3,4,5,6,7, 1-3 Overview and Teacher’s Practicum, Mr. Kashap has long experience using the Suzuki Method. (He was also one of the first North American Suzuki students himself!) He enjoys using this method and teaches the full Suzuki violin repertoire as well as the complete Royal Conservatory Syllabus through the ARCT level. He has taught students from 2 to 80 years old, from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. Though primarily a classical violinist, he enjoys a wide array of styles. Known as a patient, kind and meticulous teacher, Mr. Kashap welcomes students of all levels who wish to have fun while achieving their personal best.
Tricia Balmer, Cello Instructor
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For over 25 years Tricia has worked with children in a musical context. She particularly enjoys working with her Suzuki families and seeing the children grow from the young ages of 3 & 4 to the late teen years. Tricia also teaches adult cello students and enjoys seeing them realize their musical ability late in life.
Tricia has performed in groups such as the Rochester Youth Orchestra, Ottawa Symphony, Nepean Symphony, Symphony Niagara, Oakville Chamber Strings, as well as many chamber ensembles. She enjoys chamber music and freelances in the Toronto and Huntsville areas. Tricia holds the following certifications:
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Tricia Balmer, cello instructor
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Tricia worked as a strings specialist (violin, viola, cello, bass) for the Toronto District School Board from 1989-2001 where she taught up to 400 middle school students a year (school grades 6-8) and conducted ensembles of 50 string players and 100-140 strings and band combined. Feeling the need for more specific violin skills she enrolled in violin Suzuki Teacher Training in 1989 to prepare for her first year of school teaching. Tricia fell in love with the Suzuki Method and continued her violin studies through book 2. Realizing she might want to become a Suzuki cello teacher, Tricia started cello training in Canada as well as the United States and Europe. She continues to train and observe other teachers regularly.
Tricia has been teaching with Etobicoke Suzuki Music for more than 20 years and has grown the cello program (from 5 students in her first year to approx. 25-30 students at present) to encompass children from age 3 to 17 and levels from pre-twinkle to Suzuki book 10 and beyond.
In 2001 Tricia retired from TDSB and became a full time Suzuki cello teacher with Etobicoke Suzuki Music, as well as a part time cello teacher and conductor for the Suzuki String School of Guelph where she conducted three levels of string orchestra for six years. She has also been teaching in the Huntsville, Ontario Suzuki program for the past three years.
Tricia has led cello, ensemble and conducting workshops for Montreal Suzuki, Suzuki Niagara, Toronto District Secondary Schools, Toronto District Middle Schools, Toronto Catholic District Schools as well as Ottawa and Perth Suzuki programs, and has served as an adjudicator for London Kiwanis and the Royal Conservatory Non-Competitive Festivals. She has taught for many summer music camps and Suzuki Institutes, including:
Tricia has been teaching with Etobicoke Suzuki Music for more than 20 years and has grown the cello program (from 5 students in her first year to approx. 25-30 students at present) to encompass children from age 3 to 17 and levels from pre-twinkle to Suzuki book 10 and beyond.
In 2001 Tricia retired from TDSB and became a full time Suzuki cello teacher with Etobicoke Suzuki Music, as well as a part time cello teacher and conductor for the Suzuki String School of Guelph where she conducted three levels of string orchestra for six years. She has also been teaching in the Huntsville, Ontario Suzuki program for the past three years.
Tricia has led cello, ensemble and conducting workshops for Montreal Suzuki, Suzuki Niagara, Toronto District Secondary Schools, Toronto District Middle Schools, Toronto Catholic District Schools as well as Ottawa and Perth Suzuki programs, and has served as an adjudicator for London Kiwanis and the Royal Conservatory Non-Competitive Festivals. She has taught for many summer music camps and Suzuki Institutes, including:
- Huckleberry Summer Music Camp
- Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute
- Etobicoke Summer Music Camp
- Atlantic Canada Suzuki Institute (St. John’s, NLFD)
- Oakville Performing Arts Camp
- Miles Nadal Jewish Community Suzuki Summer Music Camp
