Annette Bauer is a professional recorder player with a diploma in historical performance practice from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, and an MA in music from UC Santa Cruz. She completed her AOSA Orff certification from 2004-2006 at the Francisco International Orff Course with teachers and mentors Doug Goodkin, James Harding, Sofia Lopez-Ibor, Rick Layton, Paul Cribari, Christa Coogan, and Martha Crowell. After graduating from level III, Annette taught recorder and recorder pedagogy in the SF Orff Course from 2007-2017. She was an internationally touring musician with Cirque du Soleil for 8 years, and now lives in Montreal.

Dr. Nathan Beeler holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University. His research includes engaging with Indigenous music in settler classrooms, repertoire for multicultural musical experiences, and methods for secondary music education. 

Dr. Beeler is a sought-after clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator across Canada. He is vice principal of Halifax Regional Arts, one of Canada’s largest publicly funded arts programs. 

Nathan authored “Everything Matters: 50 Essays on Music Education,” and several scholarly works, including his dissertation, “Stepping Toward a Culture: Mi’kmaq Music in Settler Instrumental Music Classrooms.” In 2010, he received the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence

You can learn more about Dr. Beeler at www.nathan-beeler.ca 

Cindy Cain is an 8th Generation Indigenous Black Canadian well known for artistic achievements, upstanding presence, and participation in the community-at-large. Cindy discovered her passion for Stomp and Juba dance in high school, learning alongside girls from the Caribbean and Africa who shared their rhythms, stories, and cultural pride. Cindy immersed herself in the percussive footwork and body rhythms rooted in African diasporic traditions. These early experiences deepened her connection to movement and music sparking a lifelong appreciation for the power of community, heritage, and expression through dance. Today, she honors those roots by continuing to dance, teach, and celebrate the legacy of her ancestors. 

Christa Coogan is a teacher educator who has worked extensively in schools, refugee shelters, universities and also in theaters, creating dance and music performances with and for children and youth. She taught at the Orff Institute 1993-2002 and later at the University for Music and Theater in Munich until 2023. Christa is an active presenter throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas as a movement specialist in Orff-Schulwerk. Vice-president of IOSFS, team member in both International Mentorship Programme in OSW Pedagogy and Levels training for San Francisco (AOSA), Madrid (Orff Spain) and Singapore (SingOrff). BFA degree in Dance, The Juilliard School, NYC; MA in Dance Studies and Musicology, University of Salzburg, Austria. 

Author of MUSIQUE en fête, NATIONS en fête, TROUBADOURS en fête, PAYSAGES de la chanson française, LANDSCAPES of Haitian song, and PAYSAGES de Noël et du Temps des fêtes, according to Orff-Schulwerk approach. Doctoral studies in ethnomusicology. Lecturer for many years at Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke and Université du Québec à Montréal according to the Orff approach. Research and creation in music education / Music and dance in preschool / primary. Passion for music and traditional games, an inestimable wealth of our world heritage. Cultural missions when traveling to foreign countries (in Haïti and Senegal) through active field research.

Bethany Ellen Elsworth is a music teacher from Australia now residing in Canada.  She completed Level 4 Orff training in New Zealand and is a graduate of the 2014/15 Special Course from the Orff Institute in Salzburg. Bethany has been a levels presenter for the Australian National Orff-Schulwerk Association since 2011.  In Canada, Bethany teaches the BC Orff Intro course and the movement strand of the levels courses. In 2019 she published her first book “As simple as you make it” and recently “Hey you, make that sound!” Bethany has presented sessions in Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Japan and Singapore. 

Frances is a music educator with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. In addition to teaching music at Citadel High School, she is also a choral specialist with the Halifax Regional Arts Program. An active choral clinician, Dr. Farrell has worked with groups from across Canada offering workshops in choral improvisation, vocal technique, and most recently, the Alexander Technique as a certified teacher of this work. Frances has also published articles in Anacrusis, the Teaching Music Through Performance Series, and the Canadian Music Educator. Her choral compositions have been published by Cypress Music and Hinshaw Music. 

Kim Friesen has been teaching music with Edmonton Public Schools since 2000. She is currently the music director for the division’s Night of Music yearly music showcase. She is also course director and Level II and III teacher educator for the Orff Levels at the University of Alberta where she has been teaching since 2014. Kim’s doctoral work is focused on dismantling the Eurocentricities in music education and the development of broader mindset as to whose music is valued and valid in order to sustain the musics, languages, cultures, and communities of students.

Sophie Gaudreau-Pinsonneault has been teaching music at an elementary and  secondary level for seven years. A trained pianist and flutist, she has also been  teaching music education classes in preschoolers for nearly ten years. She has completed two levels of Orff-Schulwerk training offered by the Orff-Québec chapter, as well as  the International Jazz Course with Doug Goodkin. She has been president of the Orff-Québec chapter  for three years and is currently completing a master's degree in teaching effectiveness.

As an elementary music specialist, Sue has defined her work with students and teachers as a combination of joyful music and learning. She has her post levels training in Orff-Schulwerk and holds her Master of Education (Elementary Music) from the University of Alberta. Sue has presented workshops across Canada and the U.S and teaches Orff Level I at the University of Alberta. Sue has published several resources for teachers including F-U-N ‘n Games Galore (2014.) She is currently on the writing team for Playful, Arts and Learning and serves as editor for Carl Orff Canada’s professional journal, Ostinato. 

Andréanne currently teaches music from Kindergarten to Grade 8 within the Francophone South School District (DSF-Sud) in New Brunswick. She discovered Orff-Schulwerk while teaching in Winnipeg, which led her to serve on the board of the Manitoba Orff Chapter as Workshop Coordinator. She has contributed to the organization of Intersections 2022, Constellation 2024, and Passages 2026. A board member of COC as Francophone Liaison since 2022, she is also involved in the Ostinato and Publication committees. Holding Orff Level II certification (University of Manitoba, 2022), she has presented at regional events and is honoured to offer a workshop in Halifax. 

James Jackson is a busy Orff educator. Though retired from the elementary music classroom, he continues as an Elementary Music Mentor with Halifax Regional Arts. He is a Past-President of Carl Orff Canada, a Level I and II Teacher Educator for Levels Courses and sits on a number of National committees. He was a member of the writing team for the current Nova Scotia Elementary Music Curriculum. In 2016, James realized a dream and spent the year in Salzburg, Austria at the Orff Institute where he took the Advanced Course in Elemental Music and Dance-Orff Schulwerk.

Leah is a general music teacher in Virginia, where she has taught for 21 years. She holds an undergraduate and graduate degree in Music Therapy/Education. Ms. Kmetz completed her levels and Master Class at George Mason University and is a Teacher Educator for AOSA. 

Caroline Landry has been working in French-language education in Ontario for over 24 years. She brings extensive experience in arts education, instructional coaching, and school leadership. Certified in Orff Level II in Montreal, she firmly believes in the power of music to support the holistic development of children. She focuses on creativity and student leadership to foster school engagement. Caroline has facilitated and organized sharing and professional development sessions for the Ottawa regional Orff chapter, enthusiastically sharing her passion for the Orff Schulwerk approach.

Charlotte’s workshops have inspired music educators throughout Atlantic Canada with her extensive elementary experience using Orff and Kodaly pedagogy. She was a longtime board member for Orff Nova Scotia and the first Conference Consultant on the COC national board. Charlotte continues to serve on COC committees including The Publication Committee. An Orff Specialist with Post Level III Certification, she also instructs for Orff courses. Her mentoring/clinician position with Halifax Regional Center for Education in Nova Scotia helps her maintain a close connection with students. 

Charlotte is very happy to be sharing her knowledge and expertise with colleagues at Passages2026! 

Heather Nail has been an Orff Music Specialist for the Calgary Board of Education for 24 years. She holds Orff level three certification, and has a Master of Education degree from the University of Alberta, specializing in Elementary Music. Heather co-teaches the Introductory Orff level in Calgary, and in 2010 she was a semi-finalist in the Alberta Excellence in Teaching awards. She presents regularly at music conferences in western Canada and beyond, and in her spare time conducts the Westside Junior Concert Choir. Heather mentors emerging music teachers in Calgary, and is currently serving as the president of Carl Orff Canada. 

Connie Ohlmann has been a music educator with Edmonton Public Schools since 2002, primarily teaching elementary music and recently adding junior high general music to her teaching assignment. She completed her Master of Education in Elementary Music in 2021 at the University of Alberta, including Orff Levels 1-3 and Kodály 1 and 2. Connie’s focus for her post-graduate studies related to factors affecting student engagement and participation in music programs. Connie regularly incorporates popular music, student-selected music, and informal music learning practices into her teaching pedagogy.

Laura Ono is a dedicated music educator with over 25 years of teaching and performance experience, and is Head of Operations for the PEI Symphony Orchestra. She holds a Dalcroze Certificate from the Longy School of Music and is completing the Dalcroze License abroad. Laura also has an ARCT in piano performance and an Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education (RCM/Ryerson), with additional training in Kodály and Orff pedagogy. Formerly Training Chair for Dalcroze Canada, she founded My Musical Upbringing, a Toronto-based studio focused on Dalcroze-based musicianship and early childhood education. She is passionate about teacher training and music education.

Shawnee Paul is a musician and music educator from Eskasoni First Nation. Her musical journey began at age six, when she first sat at the piano. Inspired by her grandfather, she began fiddle lessons at age seven. Her musical interests expanded leading to studies at Acadia University earning degrees in Music and Education. 

Now teaching elementary and middle school music, Shawnee is passionate about weaving Mi’kmaq language and culture into her music curriculum. Her work aims to create meaningful, culturally rooted learning experiences for her students. Outside the classroom, she performs with Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers and The Blue Moose Band. 

Naomi Pierrard is the Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing) consultant at the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. 

She joined the department in 2020, where her responsibilities have been to support, guide, and grow the understandings of Mi’kmaw knowledge by allowing the Guiding Principle, Etuaptmumk to lead her work. She uses the gift of multiple perspectives to ensure that all worldviews are brought forward in the development of resources/curricula and professional growth and are authentic, accurate, and sacred. 

Naomi has taught students from elementary to adult. She continues to use her gift of song/music to make powerful connections with her work and with individuals she meets.

Anne-Claire is an internationally renowned opera singer and vocal pedagogue. She holds two doctorates (in vocal performance and musicology) and a master’s degree in harpsichord. With over 20 years of experience teaching voice, she is passionate about transmission and works with both elementary-aged children and adults. She conducts several choirs and leads masterclasses in vocal technique. A multidisciplinary artist, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in choral conducting at the Université de Sherbrooke to further deepen her artistic and educational commitment. 

With an extensive classical background (Master’s degree in harpsichord), a doctorate in operatic singing and musicology focusing on dance from the 17th century to the present day, Anne-Claire stands out as a multidisciplinary artist and a dedicated educator. She has been working with young people in music and drama for over 10 years. She leads several children’s and adult choirs, with whom she performs and regularly gives masterclasses in singing and vocal technique for choir directors and choirs. She recently began a Master’s degree in choral conducting at the Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec. 

Teacher Educator, clinician, author, and soon to be “Dr.” Joy Reeve is honoured to present her research at Passages 2026.  Joy’s research has focused on how standard music practices in the elementary classroom are inherently SEE practices, and how music teachers can maximize the potential of these practices for the well-being of children.  As well, she did an in depth case study of Gunild Keetman, and her contributions to the Schulwerk. Being an Orff-Keetman Schulwerk practitioner and Teacher Educator for over two decades, Joy is using this insight and experience to question and inform both areas of her research.

Donna Rhodenizer’s creativity and love of music inspired many children during her 35-year career as an elementary music specialist. Kodaly training provided the foundation for her singing-based music program. Donna composes choral repertoire, singing games, vocal studies and her Royal Recorders teaching method, published by Red Castle Publishing (co-owned with Andy Duinker), Full Voice Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music. Donna has shared her teaching expertise at conferences in the Atlantic provinces, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Hong Kong. She received the CMEA Jubilate Award of Merit and NSMEA Musica Viva Award for her significant contribution to music education in Canada.

Nicole Schutz and Tenielle Bennett are Métis music educators from Edmonton, Alberta with ancestral roots in Batoche, Saskatchewan. Together, they lead Métis Voices Ed, an Indigenous-led initiative that supports educators in integrating Métis culture, history, and music into classrooms. With backgrounds in music education, curriculum design, and Indigenous pedagogy, Nicole and Tenielle offer resources, workshops, and professional learning that centre Indigenous voices and knowledge. Their work empowers educators to build inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms grounded in story, song, and community.

Dr. Scott Sexton currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music Education at Troy University (AL, USA), where teaches courses in Music Education, Global Music, and Choir. He earned degrees in Music Education from Troy University (BME), the University of Mississippi (MM), and Auburn University (PhD). In addition, he has trained extensively in Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk teaching philosophies. Dr. Sexton has presented research and led workshops at local, regional, national, and international conferences across North America, Europe, and Africa. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.

Josh Southard teaches K-5 Music at Smoky Row Elementary in Carmel, Indiana. He was a recipient of the Smoky Row Teacher of the Year and Indiana Elementary Music Teacher of the Year awards. He has served as President for the Indiana Orff chapter, and is currently the Past-President for AOSA.

Josh is a featured presenter at Orff workshops around the US, as well as Level I, II, and III Basic Pedagogy at various teacher education summer courses. He has had articles published in the Orff Echo, and authored “Sing and Play, Stories All Day” and “One Brick at a Time” from Beatin’ Path Publications.

Dr. Patrick Ware is an American Orff-Schulwerk Association Teacher Educator for levels I –III movement and recorder and levels I & II basic pedagogy. He is currently the President-Elect of AOSA and a Past President of the Virginia Music Educators Association.  Patrick teaches PK-5 Music in Woodbridge, Virginia in the United States and is published through Beatin’ Path Publications.

Stacy Werner has 15+ years teaching choir, instrumental ensembles, piano, and classroom music. She teaches K–6 music in Alberta and is Education Director for Musicplay Online which supports music educators in enhancing their teaching practices. Stacy’s sessions across North America equip educators with tools and strategies to engage students in music learning. She is the author of the Super Simple Music Centers series and holds training in Orff and Kodály pedagogy from the University of Kentucky and the University of Alberta. Stacy worked closely with her mother and mentor, Denise Gagne. Stacy enjoys skiing, hiking, yoga and cheering her children’s hockey games.

Dr. Corina-Maria Zosim is a lecturer at UQAM and the principal of a public elementary school. She holds degrees in music, teaching, and education, and completed a Ph.D. in Arts Studies and Practices (UQAM, 2023) focusing on continuing teacher education. An active member of the Orff-Schulwerk movement, she has pursued training in Salzburg and with the Orff-Québec Association (Levels I and II). Since 2017, she has led professional development workshops for music and vocal teachers in Canada and Europe.