Founder, Violin + Viola Teacher

Klaudia Thibault

Klaudia Thibault is an experienced violin and viola teacher in Oakville. When you take lessons with her you can expect dedication, attention to details and consistency. All levels, all ages. Because she is also managing the entire music studio, you can expect a substitute teacher approximately once a month during her teaching year. Also, she is often called in to play with the local professional and community orchestras. Her lessons are engaging. She is using music backing tracks and modern technology aids, as well as musical games. Students play in group settings to gain important orchestral experience early on. Many of Klaudia’s past students became members of the Oakville Youth Symphony Orchestra which requires level 5 and up proficiency, and continued on their violin studies at university level. She has taught hundreds if not thousands of students over the years.

Klaudia regularly prepares students for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations, festivals and music competitions. She teaches all levels of RCM violin and viola, leads a unique summer violin summer camp and also conducts orchestra classes. Klaudia discovered over the years of playing and teaching how the posture affects the performance and abilities. Klaudia’s strong emphasis on correct posture and optimal set up makes her one of a kind, dedicated and determined teacher.

Klaudia Thibault, nee Mirossayova, studied in Slovakia with Rozalia Varcholova, Anita Mirossayova and in Canada with Amalia Canzoneri and Metro Kozak. Klaudia successfully completed 10 years of violin study in Slovakia (1984-1994: equivalent to Royal Conservatory ARCT) at the Jan Pöschl School of Music in Presov. Then, she graduated from the University of Prešov (Prešovska Univerzita), Slovakia, in 2001. She holds a Master’s Degree in Musical Education and Social Studies. In the latter part of 2001, Klaudia moved to Canada where she sought to become active and has since become established in the music community. She continues her education at strings workshops in USA and Canada regularly. Her strongest pursuit is perfecting student posture to achieve improved performance.

PERFORMING AND CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE

The daughter of a violin teacher Anita and an engineer Stanislav, Klaudia has been an enthusiastic violin player since five years of age, performing as a soloist and a youth classical music orchestra concertmaster since 1987. The youth orchestra “Orchester Jana Poschla in Presov” performed in Eastern and Western Europe, and obtained high marks at national Slovak competitions and international competitions each year. Most memorable was the competition in Neerpelt, Belgium where the orchestra received the golden medal. Klaudia’s mom Anita Mirossayova acted as a conductor of this highly successful student string orchestra.

In 1993, Klaudia joined the Slovak Folk Ensemble ”Sarisancek” and then “Šarišan”, a national music and dance group, traveling and performing on violin for the next six years in nine countries around the world: in Europe (France, Italy, Czech Republic, Ukraine), South America (Brazil) and North America (USA), Africa (Tunisia) and Asia (Malaysia, South Korea). Klaudia was a founder of music section of children folk group “Rozmarija” in Presov. She successfully lead the group of young musicians to become confident in their performance and traveled with them to Finland, Sweden and many other countries in Europe.

While studying at university, Klaudia won a university violin competition in her first year of study. After this, she was the concertmaster of the University Chamber Orchestra “Camerata Academica” for the next four years. In her graduation year 2001, Klaudia compiled and produced a one-hour orchestral educational program for children about the role of different musical instruments in orchestra; in addition to spoken word, she also conducted this 50-member youth university orchestra which performed her program at the Performing Arts Centre (PKO) in Presov, Slovakia to a 600-member audience. At that time, she also conducted a children’s string orchestra of classical music at the Jan Pöschl School of Music in Presov, Slovakia.

Between 2002 – 2013, Klaudia played with the Oakville Symphony Orchestra and it was the first year she was awarded the Oakville Symphony’s Young Artist Award thanks to Ian Morrison who suggested Klaudia take up this opportunity. Klaudia was given a $1500 scholarship for which she was eternally grateful. She met a lot of new friends and fellow musicians during her years with the Oakville Symphony. Klaudia has performed on violin with the Oakville Messiah Orchestra, Dundas Valley Orchestra, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Masterworks Oakville, community orchestras and internal school orchestra at Klaudia’s Music Studio. In June 2005, she became a member of the String Quartet. She performs regularly at weddings and occasions throughout the year.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Klaudia was a member of the Oakville Symphony Orchestra’s Community Outreach Committee from 2005 – 2012. This committee introduced very successful series of mini-concerts and a full-orchestra concert for young people. Klaudia donated a quality student violin for seven consecutive years to the Poster Contest of the Oakville Symphony Orchestra as a main prize and the violin was presented to the winner at the full-orchestra concert each year. Each year, the Studio students perform at Retirement Home Residences in the community.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Klaudia’s most recent success with student is Level 10 Level violin exam achieving high mark of 81% in June 2023. Student is now in ARCT level and continues to study with Klaudia. In the past, successful exams marks were in high 80% to 90%. Klaudia teachers newly established group violin beginner classes since September 2023. One is for children, one is for adults. Advanced experienced students of studio are part of Orchestra Apollo 11 is the mixed levels mixed ages all-inclusive student orchestra established in April 2023, performing with great success.

Klaudia started to teach violin at the Jan Pöschl School of Music in Presov, Slovakia in 1997, and has been teaching continuously ever since. In 2002, she established Klaudia’s Music Studio in Oakville. Klaudia educates young students (3 years of age and up). She has been successful in preparing students of all ages and levels of experience for Royal Conservatory of Music exams, and Hamilton and Toronto music festivals.

Klaudia presents recitals bi-annually in winter and summer, giving parents the opportunity to enjoy their child’s musical progress and allowing students to perform in public thereby building stage-performance skills and confidence. She also organizes teachers concerts designed to inspire. She takes immense joy in all its achievements at concerts, competitions and festivals.

Violin + Viola Teacher

Alexis Brett

Alexis Brett teaches the violin, viola, theory and she conducts our orchestra classes. She is very successful at preparing students for all levels of Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Violin Exams. Alexis is very personable and works well with young children, tees and adults alike. Her easy, friendly and non-threatening approach earned her a great reputation at our Studio.

Alexis holds a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University, where she studied with Brett Molzan and Chantal Rémillard. She also has a Master of Music degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, where she studied with Simon Standage. She is a sought-after freelance performer, and has performed with ensembles throughout Europe and Canada.

As a teacher, Alexis has several years experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels. She believes in helping students work to the best of their abilities, but also that learning the violins should be first and foremost a fun experience, and that parental involvement is key. Alexis tailors her lesson approach to meet the individual needs of each student.

Alexis teaches all 10 RCM levels of violin, viola and has an extended knowledge of music theory. She can help students of all string instruments with their theory co-requisites for the Royal Conservatory Exams, including music harmony and history to ensure a well-rounded musical education.

Piano + Theory Teacher

Deborah Henry

Deborah received her B.Sc. from McMaster University. After further study, she received both her B. Mus. and M.A. in music criticism from McMaster University, and an M.A. in music theory from Western University. She received her Doctorate from York University in music perception.

Deborah has enjoyed an active career as both Organist and Choral Director. She is the Music Director at Maple Grove United Church in Oakville. Currently she is a piano and theory teacher, as well as our string orchestra accompanist at Klaudia’s Music Studio. Deborah is a theory and history examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is passionate about music and music education. Learning music theory and history add depth to the enjoyment of practicing, performing, teaching, and listening to music.

In her spare time, Deborah enjoys cycling, swimming, and running cross country with her dogs.

Dr. Deborah teaches all levels of Royal Conservatory of Music theory examinations. Including advanced history, harmony and couterpoint. She teaches piano to beginner students, with a goal to participate in concerts and exams, or enjoy the music of playing and improvisation on piano for pure enjoyment and fun.