MEET THE TEAM
We can't wait to meet you!
All of our teachers are highly qualified and thoroughly screened through the TPS Background Check service.
Jessika Whitfield
director
Jessika not only owns 'J' with a 'K' Music but also teaches piano, voice, theory, and group classes. She has extensive experience teaching students of all ages, and she strives to tailor lessons to each student’s needs and musical goals. Jessika's students have received top marks in competitions throughout Toronto, and a number of her students have been accepted to schools such as the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts and the musical theatre program at Queen's University.
As a certified Zumbini instructor, Jessika also designs and leads J with a K Music's Zumbini classes and summer camps, which combine music and movement to create an original and unique program for kids.
When she is not coordinating the studio's in-school programs, recitals, lessons, and events for J with a K Music, Jessika is busy being the proud representative of Rockschool in Ontario!
ABIGAIL KIRTON
voice
piano
UKULELE
BRASS
Abigail is a passionate, enthusiastic music educator and music-maker! Originally from London, Ontario, Abigail grew up singing, dancing and acting with (and eventually music directing for) the Original Kids Theatre Company.
She recently completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Voice) from the University of Toronto where she studied with Peter Barnes and is currently pursuing her Masters of Teaching (Music/English) from OISE.
Abigail believes that music-making should be an exciting and fun experience, and loves to support her students in exploring their musical selves. When she isn’t in class or practicing her instruments, Abigail can often be found belting show tunes in her car or watching the latest Netflix fantasy series.
david sullivan
Piano
COMPOSITION
tHEORY
"My fundamental goal as a teacher -- whether teaching individual, dual, or group lessons -- is to maintain a studio that students see as a safe place to learn and create. I want my students to feel welcome when learning. I encourage them to explore different styles of music so as to allow them to develop their own voice. The ongoing development of students’ confidence and versatility are my priorities when teaching."
David is a classically trained musician with a BFA in Music, which he received at York University. He completed all exams offered by the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) up to and including level 10 for practical piano performance, and received the Teaching Elementary Piano and Teaching Intermediate Piano Certificates from the RCM. David plans to continue discovering music with higher education and is currently applying for enrollment in the Masters of Music in Piano Pedagogy and Music Education at York University (?).
While playing with the Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra, David branched out to other genres. The most eye-opening and exciting discovery for him was improvisatory music. It lit a spark that will never go out! Learning how free music can be has enhanced his knowledge as a musician and added a new level of flexibility to his teaching.
YOGI TRIPATHI
Piano
guitar / ukulele
drums
Yogi is a well qualified and inspirational music facilitator who can not only raise the quality of teaching but also develop a culture of learning and fostering creative behaviour.
He possesses over 8 years of experience in the musical arts industry as a performer and educator, supplemented with his Master of Arts degree in Community Music. Yogi exhibits excellent subject knowledge and a good sense of humour.
He believes in prioritizing discussion to aid better comprehension, and as a teacher has spent years honing this skill, specially with younger learners.
victor xu
piano
music production
theory
Victor has been playing piano since he was eight years old. Since then, he has developed an extensive knowledge and expertise in classical, jazz, and contemporary piano. As an avid composer, Victor's works are performed in commercials and independent films, such as So Long Sally. Recently, he performed alongside Canadian Soprano Measha Bruggergosman in concerts across Canada. Victor has his BFA from York University in Jazz Performance.
Victor not only composes music but also produces and works as a sound designer. Victor’s expertise has been featured in online commercials as well as the works of Canadian singer, Chris LaRocca. His experience with audio programs (such as FL Studio, Ableton, Reason, and Garageband) allows him to teach recording, editing, mixing, and producing skills across a wide variety of genres.
Victor's varied musical background allows him to identify a student's strengths so he can create a uniquely personalized curriculum. As an experienced teacher, he encourages his students to develop skills like improvising, composing, and learning by ear. These are tools he hopes they can use in pursuit of their own musical interests.
Victor encourages all students to play music they enjoy listening to!
golzar karimpour
piano
music theory
Golzar Karimpour was raised in a musical family and developed a love for music at a young age. She started taking lessons when she was five years old, and she soon discovered the magic of piano and classical l music. Throughout her music education, Golzar gave award-winning performances in concerts, recitals, and competitions. She received her Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music certificate in Piano Performance and Theory.
Golzar is passionate about teaching and the beauty of sharing her musical knowledge with others. She has earned accreditations in teaching and body language lessons, and she has prepared her students for concerts and music festivals. Many of Golzar’s students have achieved first-class honours in RCM examinations at every level. Golzar’s primary teaching goal is to spread the love and joy of music to students of all ages.
Tim mundy
Piano
Voice
SAXOPHONE
UKULELE
Tim is a passionate, outgoing, and enthusiastic musician and teacher. He has taught children music for multiple years, and he hopes to continue the practice after he finishes his studies. Tim currently attends the University of Toronto where he takes courses in jazz education. He approaches his music lessons with optimism, and he intentionally creates goals for his students that are suitable for their learning level.
Tim’s primary instrument is the saxophone. He fell in love with the instrument at an early age, and he continues to pursue his dream of mastering the saxophone while he attends university. Tim has performed standards, big band charts, and classical pieces at a number of venues, including the Rex hotel. He has a deep understanding of the instrument as well as its usage within the music world today.
Erik Samuel
guitar/ukulele/Bass
piano
Drums
Erik Samuel is a drummer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist with over a decade of professional freelance performance and teaching experience.
Erik found his love for music in his late teens and has since been performing, touring, and recording with a variety of musical projects. His music experience is vast, ranging from rock, reggae, R&B, jazz, Brazilian, west African, dancehall, and countless others.
He is presently based in Toronto, ON, where he completed his studies at the prestigious
Humber College. Erik's sense of humour and openness make him a fantastic teacher for students of all ages.
sarah d'cunha
voice
piano
ukulele
Sarah is a classically-trained musician and professional actor with a great deal of passion and respect for teaching. She received her training at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, studying under Jean Macphail and Frédérique Vézina while completing a double major in Theatre Performance. In addition to providing students with the context necessary to establish good performance habits and safe singing, Sarah practices a kinesthetic approach to teaching to ensure that emerging artists receive a comprehensive and versatile musical foundation.
Though her BM degree reads as “classical”, Sarah’s musical experience is not limited to a single genre. Her performance career began in musical theatre when she was five years old, leading her to sing on acclaimed Toronto stages such as Roy Thomson Hall, the Princess of Wales Theatre, and Mirvish’s temporarily-erected Roundhouse Theatre. Musical theatre was a gateway to a variety of other vocal styles, and Sarah’s musical repertoire now includes folk, rock, and popular music.
Sarah encourages her students to ask many questions, believing they are key to shaping smarter and more creative musicians. Her wide background in the arts (including clowning!) has taught her to welcome laughter and just a little bit of silliness in her lessons – it makes it easier to try new things!
Anastasia lantsova
voice
piano
Ukulele / Guitar
Anastasia Lantsova is a classically trained pianist and vocalist. Originally from Russia, she got her first music degree in Moscow at the Moscow State College of Jazz and Contemporary Art; she studied both classical and jazz music as a vocalist. After moving to Canada four years ago, she graduated from a Berklee partner program in Charlottetown, PEI. Currently, Anastasia is a second-year student pursuing her bachelor's degree from Humber College as a piano player.
Teaching music has always been one of Anastasia’s greatest passions. She has years of experience teaching piano, vocals, music theory and ear training. Anastasia has prepared her piano students for RCM exams of various levels. Her aim in teaching is to create a comfortable environment for every student, where they can enjoy the process of learning music as well as find their own voice and sound. Anastasia is excited to be a part of the J with a K Music Team, and she can’t wait to share her musical experience with her students!
joshua clemenger
voice
piano
ukulele/guitar
Joshua Clemenger began his musical journey in community theatre and choir before he began playing the piano, ukulele, and guitar. He attended the University of Toronto to earn his masters in music, and he has been performing professionally in the Toronto area for over three years. Most recently, Joshua sang the role of Camille de Rossillon in The Merry Widow with Opera York, Zsupan in Toronto Operetta Theatre’s The Gypsy Baron, and Gonzalve in Opera in Concert’s production of L’Heure Espagnole. Joshua also performs with the g Orpheus Choir, Annex Singers, and Opera in Concert as a soloist in other projects.
Joshua has been teaching for years, and loves to teach all kinds of music. First and foremost, he believes that music should be fun; students learn far better when they're enjoying themselves. Learning the skills and language to collaborate with other musicians adds to the celebration of music making.
Joshua enjoys teaching people of all ages. His students have sung leads in musicals, played concerts with their rock bands, and brightened holiday parties with carols. He can help you to prepare for exams, learn a new role, or take your musicianship to the next level. Whether you have a lofty musical goal, or just want to jam around a campfire, Joshua is eager to help you gain the skills and confidence to make music your own way.
Katrina Hindle
piano
voice
DANCE
Katrina is a Toronto-based musical theatre performer and teacher. She has always had a passion for being on stage, and she finds so much joy in sharing that passion with her students. She is a graduate from the Eastwood Collegiate Integrated Arts program, where she was a vocal, dance, and drama major, and a graduate from the Triple Threat program at the Randolph College for the Performing Arts in Toronto.
Throughout her life, she has performed competitively as both a dancer and a musician, and she has received a number of awards and scholarships for her work, including an opportunity to perform on Broadway in New York City. She has also performed with the K-W Symphony, NIKE HANGtime Fitness, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest. Her most recent and favourite performing credits include Legally Blonde: The Musical (Pilar), Seussical: The Musical (Bird Girl), and Guys and Dolls (Hot Box Dancer). You can also catch her this spring playing the title role in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.She has trained in every style: ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, acro, and musical theatre.
When she is not performing, Katrina loves teaching students of all ages. She enjoys bringing her positive and bubbly energy to her lessons, and she prides herself in her ability to really push her students to become their best. She is so excited to bring her passion for music, movement, and teaching to the J with a K Music Team!
beatrice campbell
voice
piano
group classes
Beatrice Campbell has a background in music and theatre! For nearly ten years, she has worked professionally in both the teaching and performance world. She likes to brag that her first role was that of Miss Shining Star when she was only five years old. Her first large role as Sandy in Grease is what solidified her passion for performance. Since then, she has had a myriad of roles in theatre and television, most notably: Mimi (Rent), Lindsey/Besty (Clybourne Park), Maria (Paranormal Witness; Syfy) and Susan (Paranormal 911; A&E). You may also see her in commercials for Lonestar Restaurants and JBL Speakers. She has trained with such names as Marshall Button, David Rotenberg, and Justin Collette (of Broadway’s School of Rock).
When she is not performing, Beatrice teaches students of all ages. She has worked as a Cast Director at Innovative Arts, as a musical theatre teacher at Ovation! Performing Arts, and, most recently, as the Kinder Kamp Director at the FLATO Markham Theatre.
daniela agostino
Admin assistant
Italian-Canadian soprano Daniela Agostino holds a master’s degree in Performance and Literature from Western University, where she studied with soprano Jackalyn Short. She was the winner of the London Opera Guilds Scholarship in 2016. Daniela enjoyed many performance highlights during her studies, including Gretel from Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, and First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. In 2018, Daniela performed as Second Spirit in BROTT Opera’s production of The Magic Flute. In early 2019, Daniela joined Opera York in their production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, playing Zerlina. This season, Daniela debuted with Toronto Operetta Theatre to perform in Lehar’s The Merry Widow as Valencienne. Most recently, Daniela joined Southern Ontario Lyric Opera as Barbarina in their production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and she reprised her role as Valencienne with Brott Opera's production of The Merry Widow. She also played La bergère, une pastourelle, la chouette and la chauve-souris in Voicebox: Opera in Concert’s production of L’enfant et les sortilèges. In December, she returned to Toronto Operetta Theatre to sing Arsena in The Gypsy Baron, and she tackled Charles Wilson’s opera Kamouraska as Aunt Angelique in February with Voicebox: Opera in Concert. She looks forward to premiering
Michael Rose's new musical A Northern Lights Dream as Festa in the 20/21 season. Daniela has had the pleasure of being a part of the Against the Grain summer intensive, as well as participating in MYOpera’s masterclass intensive in French Opera.
Daniela enjoys being a part of the J with a K Music team, and she is always eager to connect with our music students. Through her organizational skills and enthusiasm for community engagement, Daniela brings a positive energy to our music teachers and students!