Lynn Gracey is currently an elementary music teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board in Ontario. She serves as a mentor and coach to music teachers in Thames Valley and has served on several working committees to advocate for quality music programs for all students. After graduating from The University of Western Ontario (B.MusEd, B.Ed), Lynn spent five years teaching music in secondary schools in Huron County, Ontario and for the last several years has taught band, vocal, and recorder music to grades 4-8 students in West Lorne and London, Ontario. She currently is co-founder of the TVDSB Junior Honour Band for students in grades 7-9. When there is a pause in her busy life, Lynn likes to travel and care for her garden.

Katie Nicholl is a 7-12 music teacher at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener. She teaches 7-10 vocal programs and 7-12 wind ensemble programs. In 2020, she graduated from the Masters of Community Music program at Laurier. Katie enjoys teaching people of all ages the joys of music. She is a qualified kindermusik teacher, and conducts a senior adult handbell choir. In her spare time, she enjoys playing clarinet in local bands, reading and spending time with her husband and 2 children.
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Josh Geddis is the music teacher and band director at St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School in Clinton, Ontario. He has also worked at the system level as a Pedagogical Support Teacher for the implementation of de-streaming and school literacy/learning coach. Along with his teaching credentials, Josh also holds a MA in Community Music from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Certificate in Piano Technology from the University of Western Ontario. Josh is an independent recording artist who has shared the stage with Joel Plaskett, Serena Ryder, Jeremy Fisher, Elliott Brood, and more. Josh lives in Bayfield Ontario with his wife Jessica and their three children: Nolan (11), Kyle (9), and Jordyn (6).
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Lesley Pontarini is a music specialist and teaches K-8 music in the Peel District School Board. She also has a private music studio where she teaches RCM piano and theory. She has served on the OMEA board since 2017, and also serves on the Kodály Society of Ontario’s Board of Directors. In 2021, she co-chaired the OMEA conference, Con Fuoco, in Niagara Falls. Outside of music education and advocacy, she is an avid vegetarian cook, enjoys reading and sharing her love of music with her daughter.

Alycia Pindar has served your OMEA in various roles on the board and now currently serves as the Treasurer. Alycia has taught K-12 Music in the Durham District School Board for her entire career beginning in 2007. She currently teaches Primary Arts at Fallingbrook Public School in Whitby.

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Carolyn has served on the OMEA board of directors in a variety of roles since 1999. She retired in 2016 following a 31-year career teaching secondary school instrumental, vocal music and guitar. She is a saxophonist and drummer who regularly performs in the Sudbury area. Depending on the season, Carolyn is often  outdoors, enjoying some travel, hiking, camping, paddling or shooting photos.

Danny Vaz is the Music Teacher & Director of Triton Music at Nantyr Shores Secondary School. He graduated from York University in 2017, and spent the following year teaching music in Northampton, England.  His experiences in the classroom made him fall in love with Band, & the transformational effect it has on everyone involved. Community, memories, learning experiences, & joys that come from being in an ensemble can’t be found elsewhere. He considers his students as some of his best teachers, & when he isn’t conducting & talking about music, he likes to ride his motorcycle, paddle a canoe, & watch Liverpool FC.

Iris Janssen is currently a Masters of Music student at Western University, and has completed a concurrent degree program in a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts. After finding her passion with community ensembles and music in school, she has been dedicated to learning and teaching to continue that passion for future generations. She teaches private studio lessons in voice and piano, and has conducted both choirs and bands throughout her studies. While being an active member and volunteer of the OMEA and past president of the Don Wright Faculty of Music’s Music Education Students’ Association, she has worked and volunteered throughout the community as event planner, copy editor, and more. In her spare time, Iris is an active chorister and theatre-goer.

Dr. Jane Saunders enjoyed a (nearly) 30-year career of teaching mostly band and strings, as well as jazz, vocal, and guitar in her hometown of Thunder Bay (Lakehead Public Schools) – where she now works as a (retired) supply teacher. She completed her music education studies at The University of Western Ontario (H.B. Mus.Ed.1988), The University of Windsor (B.Ed.1989), The University of Minnesota (M.A.1994) and Lakehead University (Ph.D. 2004). Jane is a sessional instructor at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, working with future teachers (music and otherwise). She is a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association and conducts the Thunder Bay Community Band (a 50-piece adult concert band) – just for fun!

An award-winning teacher with close to 30 years of experience, Jeannie Hunter is the Head of Special Education and Fine Arts at Nepean High School in Ottawa.  In addition to degrees in music and education, she holds a certificate in Arts Administration.  Jeannie has taught instrumental music, percussion, vocal music, band, choir, guitar, piano, orchestra. jazz and music for community living.  In her additional capacity as a community music educator, she has worked with students aged 5-80.   A career-long advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, Jeannie was the founding director of Brookfield High School’s ‘World Voices Choir’ which partnered with social justice organizations to use music as a tool for social change. 

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Kelsey Regier teaches instrumental music at Stratford District Secondary School in the Avon Maitland District School Board. After graduating from Western University, Kelsey taught for three years in London, Ontario before moving to Stratford to become the lead music teacher of her program. She directs the Gr. 10-12 symphonic band, Gr. 9 concert band, jazz band, and seasonal marching band, while facilitating small ensembles such as various rock bands, vocal groups, and a jazz combo. For six years before working in the school boards, Kelsey maintained a large private studio of students where she prepared many for post-secondary auditions. She continues to enjoy teaching woodwind and piano lessons in her spare time.

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Kevin has served on the Board of Directors OMEA as President, Regional Workshops, and Membership Director. Kevin now serves the OMEA board as Membership Director, is Past President of the Arts Education Consultants of Ontario (ARTSECO) and is a former Chair of the ETFO Arts Committee. He is currently the proud Principal of Stonebridge PS in York region.
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Laura Lee Matthie has been a dedicated music educator with the Simcoe County District School Board since 1995. Currently the Arts Leader at Orillia Secondary School, she leads the SHSM–Arts & Culture program, teaching grades 9–12 band, guitar, music technology, and jazz band. Laura Lee directs various ensembles, including saxophone quartets, guitar, and percussion groups, as well as junior and senior concert and jazz bands. A longtime member of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA), she has served as treasurer, president, and has organized many conferences & workshops. Recognized for her excellence, she has received the 2018 MusicCounts Teacher of the Year Award, the 2021 Beckwith Award for Education, and the 2024 Orillia Community Builders Award. She is passionate about finding innovative ways to inspire her students.

Lauren Simmons is Assistant Curriculum Leader for Anti-Oppression and Student Voice at Leaside High School in the TDSB, where she has taught Music and English for over fifteen years. A frequent presenter at OMEA conferences and contributor to The Recorder, Lauren previously chaired Vibrations 2012, attended the 2019 OMEA Leadership Retreat, and worked on several curriculum writing projects. She is a workshop presenter for provincial OSSTF equity workshops, a TDSB Arts Mentor and Digital Lead Learner, and a member of the GTA anti-racist music teacher collective. She has completed six marathons, enjoys reading and listening to podcasts, and is the parent of a theatre kid.
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Makiya is at the beginning of her teaching career, meaning she quite consistently moves from LTO to LTO. At the beginning of the year, she was at Featherston Drive Public School, teaching music to grade six through eights. Then, she joined a Developmental Education program at Ridgemont High School, where she enjoyed bringing music into the learning of multi-language learning, and learners of all abilities. There are many more classrooms she has been in throughout the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, and there will be many more! In every instance, she uses her music education to enhance communication, learning, and fun.

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Mark is the Ontario Regional Manager, Educational Services for Long and McQuade and serves as the Canadian Music Industry Education Committee President and representative on the OMEA board. He also sits as the Industry Rep on the CMEA Board of Directors. Mark has been involved with OMEA Conference site selection and contracts since 2006 and received the OMEA Award of Commendation in 2019.

Michelle Naarden is a music specialist with Thames Valley District School Board teaching grades 4-8 music, as well as Primary Learning Support with Special Education. She has taught Voice, Recorder, Ukulele and Winds while exploring the world through music in her program. Over the last few years, Michelle has written and supported with music resource development around Indigenous Music, as well as music from around the globe. Michelle believes in doing the impossible as inspired by Walt Disney and continues to push the limits of ethno-music practices. When there is some down time, Michelle enjoys to travel, visit a Disney Park and kick a soccer ball around-sometimes all at the same time!

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Sarah Hoy teaches instrumental music, guitar, and voice at London South Collegiate Institute within the Thames Valley District School Board. Sarah is a graduate from Western University where she studied flute. Sarah is passionate about engaging in her local music community which has led to a variety of endeavors including: hosting a radio show at CHRW Radio Western promoting local and Canadian artists, volunteering with El Sistema Aeolian, sitting on the board for London Music Hall of Fame, her work with the Digital Creative Arts Centre as the assistant to a program offering Co-operative Education and SHSM opportunities and beyond.

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Dr. Tony Nam-Hai Leong is a former president of the OMEA and currently manages the Awards, Scholarships & Merchandise portfolio. He is currently an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream at the University of Toronto Scarborough and Head of the Arts at Sir Oliver Mowat C.I. with the Toronto District School Board.