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Please review the biographies of our instructors below. Private lesson prices vary based on instructor, instrument, and lesson duration.

 

If you are unable to find an available time slot with your first choice of instructor, you are welcome to contact another instructor.

 

Please contact our office at info@mykcms.ca if you require further information or assistance.

Piano Faculty

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Leo has been playing piano since the age of 4 and has developed a strong passion for music over the years. 

 

He is currently a Grade 12 student working on his ARCT. 

In addition to the piano, Leo also plays trumpet in his school band and with the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra. He is the recipient of KCMS Scholarships and has provided pre-concert performances with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and Kelowna Community Concert Association.

 

Leo is patient, encouraging and enjoys helping students discover the joy of playing piano while developing strong music and technical skills. He is mentored by Elizabeth Wocks, Faculty Instructor.

Leo Chen

Piano

ARCT (Piano Performance)

Please email to confirm availability

Saturday

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Olya Comaniuk, a professional pianist, concertmaster, and piano instructor, holds a Master's Degree for Concert Mastership in Music and Piano Performance of Kustanai State University of Kazakhstan. Olya participated and organized multiple recitals and contests. She has been an accompanist in music pieces involving violin, cello, saxophone and other instruments including jazz bands, Choirs and Strings Ensemble.
 
Ms. Comaniuk has over 30years teaching experience within private lessons and masterclass settings. Ms. Comaniuk and her students participated in international Piano Contests in Kazakhstan. She organized workshops on pedagogical music subjects. Her students have been the recipients of numerous awards. 

 

Ms. Comaniuk is a creative instructor skilled in finding an individual approach to every student, teaching various styles of music, like classical, pop fusion, rock and jazz. She is qualified to prepare student for Royal Conservatory exams, Rock School, Harmony and Theory exams.

Olya Comaniuk

Piano

Concert Mastership in Music and Piano Performance

Please email to confirm availability

Friday | Saturday

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Jessica has been teaching at KCMS since 2008, and served as the Artistic Director from 2020-2023. She focusses on delivering engaging music lessons, and works with students and families using a variety of methods. Whether you are looking for advanced skill development in piano or just looking to dabble, Jessica is interested in making music an enjoyable lifelong journey. 

 

Apart from teaching, Jessica does extensive work as a collaborative pianist, currently working with the Spectrum Singers, the Okanagan Children’s Choir and Okanagan Youth Choir, and music ministry team for Central Okanagan United Church.

Jessica Crawford

Piano & Voice 

B.A. (Mus), ARCT (Piano Performance),

ARCT (Vocal Performance), RMT, NATS,

RCM Advanced Specialist Piano,

RCM Intermediate Specialist Theory,

Member of the BCRMTA (Kelowna Branch)

Studio is currently full.

Monday | Tuesday | Thursday | Friday | Sunday

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Paul Dykstra

Piano

​U of A, A. Mus. Performance

(Western Board of Music),

A. Mus. Pedagogy (Western Board of Music),

Finalist for the American Prize

(Concerto) 2016

Please email to confirm availability

Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday 

Paul is a concert artist and teacher who has been doing just that for 40 years in Canada and the U.S. He has taught privately during that time, been on the Faculty of St. Paul's School in Concord, NH and is a member of the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners. During the past 20 years, his American students have played at Carnegie Hall, excelled in piano examinations and competitions, and prepared for careers in music at such schools as Oberlin, Longy School of Music, Jacobs School of Music in Indiana, and auditioned at other major schools such as Juilliard and Curtis.

Paul's approach is different for every student as some students simply enjoy playing in styles other than Classical - as does Paul! Some of his varied concert achievements include: Performances with orchestra of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1, extensive chamber music and solo piano concerts, recording with world famous clarinetist Richard Stoltzman in Slovakia, playing with the disco band Tavares and cultivating a love for Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal. As a result of his multi-faceted musical experience, Paul can tailor a course of study for the most serious musician-pianist as well as the dedicated hobbyist or amateur. Recently relocating back to Kelowna to be with family, Paul is looking forward to contributing to the musical community here!

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Angela Larsen

Piano

B. Mus.

Please email to confirm availability

Tuesday | Wednesday

Angela Larsen is a freelance musician who brings her diverse professional experience and a love for music to her teaching. Angela has studied piano with Edward Parker, Henri-Paul Sicsic, Miranda Wilkins-Wong, Eugene Skovorodnikov, and Corey Hamm. She has participated in masterclass with Jean-Paul Saulnier at the Orford Arts Center and also studied song interpretation with Rena Sharon and chamber music with Terrance Dawson.

 

After earning a Bachelors in Music in piano and voice at UBC, Angela studied organ with Terrance Fullerton at St. John’s Shaughnessy. Thereafter, she held the position of music director at St. Timothy’s Anglican and St. John’s Richmond Anglican. Angela remained active in solo piano, chamber music and vocal collaboration at St. John’s Shaughnessy, at the St. Francis in the Wood Recital Series and at the Silk Purse Arts Center. She also enjoyed several years playing for voice students in the studio of Heather Thompson Price at UBC and has accompanied choirs under Dr. Mel Unger (NABC Choristers) and Bruce Pullan (Vancouver Bach Youth Choir’s Sarabande). She has sung with Elektra Women’s Choir and the Vancouver Cantata Singers and has vocal coached and accompanied for Stagecraft Musical Theater. She recently studied voice with Marisa Gaetanne.

 

Angela has had many years teaching experience at the West Point Grey Academy, the Delta Community Music School, the Langley Community Music School, and the Penticton Academy of Music. She lives in Penticton with her husband and two children. She loves the out-of-doors and enjoys exploring the B.C. wilderness with her family.

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Mattia Mihajlovic

Piano

B. Mus. - Performance Piano

Please email to confirm availability

Wednesday | Thursday

Mattia began playing the piano at the age of 6, but claims to have truly fallen in love with music when he was 12 years old. Becoming obsessed with composing, conducting, and performing, Mattia went on to earn his Bachelor of Music specializing in piano performance in 2022, studying with Dr. Brett Kingsbury at Western University. Since then, Mattia has worked as a private piano teacher with Yamaha Music Education Canada in Toronto and has run his own studio in Markham, Ontario, working with students as they completed RCM exams, competed in local festivals, and composed their own works which went on to be performed publicly.

 

Mattia is passionate about bringing music to his community; this has included organizing concerts and recitals, forming groups to collaborate with other musicians, and getting students involved in showing off their own progress. Here in Kelowna, Mattia is currently working with the St. Charles Garnier Parish to form a new choir for their masses. Mattia is passionate about working with students of all ages and abilities as they build confidence, overcome mental blocks, and develop performance skills. He is highly regarded for his patience and unique approach, focusing on nurturing deep curiosity and a strong sense of self-determination in his students. 

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Karen strives to cultivate each student’s ability to communicate through music. With a supportive learning environment, she teaches the foundational knowledge and skills required to help her students achieve their musical goals.

 

With her focus on teaching emerging piano students in the Kelowna area, she encourages students to explore and participate in opportunities, such as festivals, recitals, Royal Conservatory of Music exams, and activities offered at the Kelowna Community Music School.

 

Karen continues to further her education by continuing her RCM level 10 piano studies with Jessica Crawford at KCMS and through the RCM Teaching Certificate Program. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing and English from the University of Victoria.

Karen Reid 

Piano

B. A.

Please email to confirm availability

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |

Friday | Sunday

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Elizabeth Wocks

Piano

​ARCT (Practical)

Teachers College Certificate

Primary Specialist Certificate

Suzuki Certificate

Please email to confirm availability

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

Elizabeth studied RCM piano with Paul Daniels in Hamilton Ontario and completed her ARCT with the Western board in 1972. After completing Teachers College and primary specialist diplomas from McMaster University, she taught kindergarten in Thunder bay and Surrey B.C. for several years. Studied Suzuki piano with Mme Haruko in Seattle.

 

Elizabeth has been accompanist for Festival Singers for 25 years, Spectrum Choir, and many church choirs and worship services including Trinity Baptist for many years.

She has done a lot of accompanying for young soloists and played piano and french horn with OSO .

 

I teach many methods of piano to match individuals’ strengths and weaknesses. My basic teaching material is RCM, but includes poplar, jazz and sacred music. I teach children but love to teach adults as well.

 

I have taught at KCMS for over 35 years and have benefited greatly from the faculty collaboration and performance opportunities. Very enjoyable and rich teaching experience.

 

Personally; I have 4 children and 8 amazing grandchildren, and I love to play bridge and travel the world!

GET IN TOUCH

728 Dehart Ave
Kelowna, BC V1Y6A1

Tel: 250-860-1737

info@mykcms.ca

728 DeHart Avenue, Kelowna  |  info@mykcms.ca  |  250 860 1737

© 2026 by Kelowna Community Music School

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