CMC Notes Newsletter – March 2026 - Classical Music Conservatory

CMC Notes Newsletter - March 2026

In this issue

1. Important Upcoming Dates

2. CMC Spring Recitals

3. Lusiana’s Toronto Star Article

4. Summer Camp Registration

5. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases

6. Featured Student

7. Featured Teacher

Important Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, March 3rd: Deadline for registration for the May/June 2026 Session of RCM Exams

March 16th – 22nd: March Break! CMC is closed. No lessons or classes all week. Enjoy your time off!

Monday, March 23rd: Lessons and classes resume as usual

Click HERE for our private lessons 2025-2026 CMC School Year Calendar!

Click HERE for our Musical Preludes 2025-2026 Calendar!

CMC Spring Recitals

Please mark your calendars for now for the spring recital dates below (June 7th and 14th); our recital sign-up form will be emailed to you on May 1st, so please sign up then if you’re interested!

NOTE: Recital participation is completely optional, but we encourage our students to take advantage of this opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment, to develop a musical goal to work towards and achieve, and to show your loved ones what you’ve learned so far!

SCHEDULE:

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

IN-PERSON at Roncesvalles United Church:

12:30pm: cello recital (students of all cello teachers)

2pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers – choose from 2pm or 3pm)

3pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers – choose from 2pm or 3pm)

4pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers)

5pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+)

6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass/drums recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass/drum teachers)

SUNDAY, JUNE 14

ONLINE via Zoom:

10am: all instruments & voice for any teacher

IN-PERSON at Roncesvalles United Church:

1pm: piano recital (students of Josh & Riley)

2pm: piano recital (students of Cheng-Feng, Chris & Erik)

3pm: piano recital (students of Neal, Michele & Aimi)

4pm: piano recital (students of Luan, Mark & Emma)

5pm: piano recital (students of Hiro & James)

6pm: piano recital (students of Louise & Emmett)

Our recital sign-up form will be emailed to you on May 1st – the online sign-up form must be completed by May 15th in order to sign up.

Lusiana's Toronto Star Article

CMC’s Executive Founding Director, Lusiana Lukman, has written an article for the Toronto Star exposing the dark history of abuse at the RCM and her own experiences as a student there.

Trigger warning: this article contains explicit descriptions of sexual abuse

Click HERE to read the article on CMC’s website.

Summer Camp Registration

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Music & Art Creations Summer Camp:

A magical fun-filled week for 4-7 year olds with music, art, movement, drumming and instruments exploration!

Monday to Friday from 9am to noon, $325/week.

Week 1: July 13-17, 2026
Week 2: July 20-24, 2026
Week 3: August 10-14, 2026

Please click HERE for more information or to register – space is limited to only 8 students per week!

Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases!

Alex

Alex has three upcoming gigs:

March 2 – With Patrick Smith and Dan Pitt @ Dina’s Tavern (8:30-10:30pm)
March 5 – With Picastro and Merival @ Dina’s Tavern (8:30-10:30pm)
March 31 – Garden of Forking Paths VI: Triio + Nick Fraser’s Special Topics @ the Tranzac (9:30-11:30pm)

Brenton

From Brenton:

I will be touring with cellist Stéphane Tétreault and l’Orchestre symphonique régional Abitibi-Témiscamingue during March Break.

https://stephanetetreault.com/

Louise

Louise has an upcoming performance: PLAYLIST for LOUIS

Friday, March 20, 2026 @ 7:30 p.m.

The French Baroque at its most personal, featuring chamber music first composed for the royal family in the palace of Versailles. Our program will feature works for one to three parts written by Jacques Hotteterre, members of the Philidor family, and other musicians working at the court of Louis XIV. Whatever your opinion of the Sun King’s administration of his realm, the music that accompanied his more personal activities is some of the most beautiful of the era, and a true delight to play.

Join Alison Melville, recorder & traverso; Jin Cho, traverso; Jonathan Stuchbery, theorbo; Louise Hung, harpsichord; and Felix Deak, bass viol, as they explore this wonderful soundworld and distinctive music of the early 18th-century.

Tickets: https://bemusednetwork.com/events/detail/1045

Neal

Neal is performing with West Silver Band, March 28th at 2pm

https://northdaleconcertband.ca/concert/concert-with-weston-silver-band/

Enjoy!

Featured Student!

Max Natsume-Shapiro (Guitar)

1. How old were you when you first started music lessons?

3 years old

2. Why did you choose the instrument you currently play?

I thought that guitars were the heart of the band and wanted to be the leader of all bands

3. What do you like most about your music teacher?

I like how he is able to speak to me in Japanese

4. Do you have a favourite piece to play?

No but i do like to play master of puppets

5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be?

It would be drums

6. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I play baseball and curling

7. Who are some of your musical inspirations?

My father

8. What do you like most about CMC?

That I can learn my instrument in a great environment.

If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com!

Featured Teacher!

Kenin McKay (Violin)

1. How old were you when you first started music?

Three and a half

2. Why did you want to make music your career?

I started teaching violin and playing in ensembles as a teenager, and when I went to university for music and started playing gigs it just kind of naturally expanded from there.

3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any?

None at the moment; It’s been a tough decision but I’ve decided to take a bit of a break from performing this year in order to find a better balance between work and family life.

4. What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I love seeing a student’s knowledge and confidence grow, as well as the moment their eyes light up with excitement when they’ve learned something new.

5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them?

As a mom whose own child is now taking violin lessons, I have a new understanding of the other side of things! I think for kids “practise” can feel indeterminate and undefined, meaning it can feel like it’ll go on forever, which makes them not want to even start! My daughter and I have had success with making a list of things to practise, and then ticking things off the list as we go, and 10 minutes later, we’ve done everything we said we would and we feel good about it. Not every day has to be an epic practise session, sometimes if we’re tired we’ll play through our working pieces once or twice and be done. I think the key is to try and do even a tiny bit every day, to keep momentum going. Easier said than done but it’s a work in progress and you do what you can!

6. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to read, and have a glass of wine with friends and family

7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’d love to plan a trip to Scotland, or Mexico…both places I’ve never been!

8. Anything else you want to add?

Thank you to Lusiana and Wanda for creating a wonderful and supportive teaching environment at their school. I’ve worked with so many wonderful families at CMC over the past…wow…20 years!

If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com!

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