Get Inspired!
August 21-25, 2023
Ready to get inspired, try new things, and meet new people? Then welcome to Calgary Piano Institute, a unique Camp where campers ages 7-18 can explore their favourite instrument while enjoying a fun-filled experience. If you are ready for an unforgettable camp adventure, consider spending it here with us.
Call the MRU Conservatory to Register
403-440-6821
Something for Everyone
Juniors: Gr. 1-3
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Daily Musicianship classes to develop stronger reading skills, listening skills and historical knowledge
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Private lessons and masterclasses
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Introduction to the harpsichord
Intermediates: Gr. 4-6
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Introduction to harpsichord
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Private lessons and masterclasses
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Technique classses
Seniors: Gr. 7-9
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Intermediate harpsichord
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Extended lesson time
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Piano Technique classes
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Masterclasses
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Harpsichord/ musicianship classes
Advanced: Gr. 10 and up
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Students at this level have a unique opportunity to choose an area of interest besides their lessons and masterclasses:
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Composition
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Theory
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History
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Solo repertoire (extra private lessons)
(All grades refer to RCM levels)
Advanced Students Receive the Royal Treatment!
Students registering in the Advanced Program will have individualized programs designed to address their personal interests. Each Advanced student will choose an area that is of particular interest to them in addition to the regular program with lessons and Masterclasses. Options include: Performance, Harpsichord, Theory, and Composition
Meet The Team
Marianne Bleile
Founder/Artistic Director
Marianne is a well-recognized figure in the Calgary music scene. She has been motivating students in a wide variety of settings for 35 years. Having earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary, she has collected several awards and considerable recognition as a pedagogue and accompanist. She has worked with young musicians across the country. Her unique ability to draw out the best in each student has put her in high demand as a piano instructor as well as an accompanist.
Music has the power to transport us to another time and place. Marianne loves to harness that power to inspire young people. Through music, she helps them develop skills that will benefit them throughout their life, at the piano and beyond the piano. Students become aware of their own strengths and develop a sense of accomplishment. They grow as individuals who know how to achieve long term goals and the satisfaction of reaching those goals. She is the founder and artistic director of the long standing Calgary Piano Institute.
As a collaborative artist, Marianne has had extensive experience working with strings, voice, and choirs. As a long time accompanist for Calgary's Mount Royal University Program for the Gifted, and esteemed organizations such as the Cantare Children's Choirs, she has played with students across the province as well as in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
As a freelance performer, Marianne enjoys playing for weddings, special events, chamber concerts, and more.
Dimitry Nesterov
Dmitry Nesterov arrived on the Canadian music scene in 1992 when he became a Laureate in the first Esther Honens Calgary International Piano Competition. Since settling in Canada with his family in 1994, Mr. Nesterov has impressed audiences, critics and colleagues alike with concert and recital work. He has appeared as a soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony, the Lethbridge and Red Deer Symphonies as well as with numerous orchestras in Russia.
Mr. Nesterov is a frequent guest at the Banff Arts Festival and the Mozart Festival in Kelowna, BC, and has collaborated with the Alberta Ballet, New Works Calgary, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, flutist Patrick Gallois, pianist John Kimura Parker, and conductors Hans Graf, Mario Bernardi, Claue Lapalme, Kirk Muspratt, Jean Larouge, Alex Pauk, Bernard Labadie, Sara Jobin. He can be heard on CBC Radio.
Mr. Nesterov's recent engagements include performances as soloist with Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Alberta Ballet as a guest soloist in Lady of Camellias (all-Chopin program with performances in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver), performances in Millennium Foundation Concert Series, Alberta in Concert series, and numerous recitals throughout Alberta with his wife, violinist Olga Kotova, in Duo Solista.
Dmitry Nesterov is a graduate of the Central Music School in Moscow, Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the University of Calgary. He is a dedicated teacher and teaches for the Mount Royal University Conservatory in Calgary.
Dale Jackson
Dale Jackson graduated from Mount Allison University with an A.M.A. (Associate Mount Allison) in Piano Performance and continued his studies in London, England and New York. He studied with Dr. Edwina Behre (a student of Leschetisky), Eric Gritton (a student of Teresa Carreno) and P. Szeliga (a student of Mark Hamburg).
Mr. Jackson has given solo recitals across Canada, the United States and England. He has accompanied many international singers in recital. Mr. Jackson is now on faculty as a Branch Teacher at Mount Royal Conservatory in Calgary, Alberta.
Many of his students, such as Dr, Heather Schmidt, Dr. Vincent Ho, Dr. Greg Caisely, Roanna Tay and Anita Wilson, are now pursuing national and international music careers.
Mr. Jackson is in great demand as a teacher and clinician and has adjudicated from coast to coast at local and provincial festivals. He has given many workshops on the Baroque period, performance and ornamentation. He was a screening juror for the Esther Honens Calgary International Piano Competition.
He has been a faculty member of the international Morningside Music Bridge summer program at Mount Royal College, teaching piano and chamber music.
His students are consistent winners in the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival and C.M.C. competitions. Several of his students have won the coveted Rose Bowl, indicative of the most artistic performance in the Kiwanis Festival. Several students have performed concerti with both the Calgary Philharmonic and Civic Orchestras. Cynthia Widder and Irene Wong won Gold Medals from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music for receiving the highest mark given in Canada on the A.R.C.T. exam in piano performance.
In 2010 Mr. Jackson was presented with a Recognition Award for Excellence in Music Education for the Province of Alberta by the Alberta Music Education Foundation.
His big hobby is riding and showing his horse in dressage competitions.
Mr. Jackson loves teaching and his motto is "above all, enjoy and make music."
Sylvia
Zavzavadjian
BMus (Piano Performance), DipFA (Kodàly)
Early Childhood Faculty
- Kodàly Musicianship
- Music with Your Baby
-Accompanist (General Programs)
Sylvia graduated from McGill University in Montreal and obtained her Kodàly training from the University of Calgary. Sylvia has taught as a preschool/kindergarten music specialist at the Calgary French and International School and she has been a Kodàly instructor and an accompanist at Mount Royal University conservatory since 2005. She loves working with children and believes that learning through singing is a fundamental step in developing musicianship. She is now back in Calgary after spending over two years in Montreal and is very eager once again to be part of the Mount Royal family to pursue her love of teaching.
Justin
Luchinski
Justin Luchinski began an active career in early music performance in Montréal while completing his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at the Schulich School of Music, McGill University. Before moving back to his hometown in 2020, for over half a decade Justin was a regular rehearsal keyboardist with Opera McGill’s baroque opera productions, and had regular season concerts, performances at the Montréal Baroque Festival, recording projects, and nation-wide touring with Les Méandres, the ensemble of which he is a co-founder.Since returning to Calgary, Justin has worked with Early Music Voices, String Theory Music Collective, Kensington Sinfonia, performed at the National Music Centre, taken part in the Instrumental Society of Calgary and ProArts concert series, collaborated with various musicians from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and stepped into the role of Co-Artistic Director of the Chamber Muse Historical Music Society of Calgary.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
PARENTS SAY:
"I wanted to say what a great success the piano camp has been for our family. The kids have thoroughly enjoyed it and I see so many positive signs."
"(He) is definitely the most motivated I have ever seen him about piano. It is thrilling!
Thank you for all your time and effort - we`re so looking forward to today."
"It was a really good experience for my girls and opened our eyes to the quality of teachers out there, as well as what students can accomplish if they work hard! I would love to have the girls continue learning and being exposed to this calibre of instruction."
STUDENTS SAY:
"Now this seems so achievable - it`s just the way they teach it so it no longer seems too difficult to get to"
"I loved playing the duets!"
"I particularly enjoyed my chamber group."
"I learned a lot more than I thought I would!"
"Nice teachers"
"I made some new friends"
"Recreation was fun, too!"