Director, M.A. Community Music, Certification Levels I and II

Sasha took Music Together® classes with her children and was thrilled to find a music program with rich music, fun and connection. As a child Sasha enjoyed making music from a young age and has since played in all sizes of musical ensembles, from duets to symphony orchestras.

Sasha took the Music Together teacher training in 2004, and completed additional training in 2007 to become a Certified Instructor Level I. In 2013 she was awarded Certification Level II by the Music Together Center for Music and Young Children for outstanding achievement and understanding of the Music Together program and philosophy. From Sasha, "I love how enriching this program is, seeing how kids grow with it and come to love music, how it supports families and creates opportunities for amazing friendships".

Sasha recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an M.A. in Community Music, named one of the top 20 in 20 Laurier graduates. She created and leads The Circle of Music, an inclusive intergenerational choir for people living with cognitive decline, their caregivers and students.

Martina discovered Music Together through a Co-op placement where she helped out with mixed-age classes. She immediately fell in love with the program and wanted to learn all about it. She’s always loved music and dancing, as well as creating art in various forms.

Martina has been a singer from a young age, and thinks of her school’s chamber choir as a second family. She’s been all around the province with her choir for performances, and even travelled to New York City to perform at Carnegie hall in 2023!

Though Martina may be young and just beginning her career, she is incredibly excited to be working with young children and helping them learn and grow.

April is a dance teacher, choreographer, Music Together teacher, and mother.

Originally from Edmonton Alberta she relocated to Toronto after being accepted into the Faculty of Fine Arts to study dance at York University. While working as a dance teacher she became and accredited vision therapist and worked closely with children and adults who had a variety of visual deficiencies, and or developmental delays.

April has worked extensively with children ranging from 8 months onward in variety of environments including play, fitness, vision therapy, dance, and music. She has a background in physical child-development, movement, and infantile reflexes.

April discovered Music Together through a close friend, and soon began taking classes with her daughter. It was these classes that re-established her fond love of making music. During her youth April had the privilege of being involved in musical theatre productions, ballet productions, and choral ensembles, she also learned to play rudimentary clarinet. Music was and always has been an essential part of April’s career as a dancer and teacher, especially in terms of tap technique and choreography with it intricate rhythms. It was Music Together however that served as a reminder of the importance of making music for the sake of making music.

She feels working with children and getting to see them grow, explore, learn, and love what they are doing is one of the greatest blessings. 

Grace's love of music began early, singing at church, performing in community theatre and growing up in a large, musical family. In high school, she took voice lessons and became very involved in various music extracurricular activities.

While at the University of Guelph, completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology with a minor in Music, Grace embraced the local music community. She sings and writes music in the band PRRR (@prrrband), is currently learning guitar, and can often be found at local jazz and funk jams. 

Grace spent many summers working at summer camps, where she discovered just how powerful music can be in connecting with children. Her favourite part of camp was, by far, the campfire songs and lullabies. She is excited about her journey as a Music Together teacher and sharing with families ways to create fun, enriching and musical experiences both in and out of the classroom.

Instructor, B.A. Music Education, M.A.

Joy Schuster graduated, with honors, from Michigan State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Music Education. She then went on to teach in the beautiful state of Maine where she was teaching full time as a “string specialist” in Grades 3–8. In 1989, Joy immigrated to Canada where she taught with the Hamilton School Board and the Hamilton Suzuki School of Music.

Joy also played with the Niagara Symphony during her years in Hamilton. In 1993, Joy moved to Denver, Colorado, where she completed a Master of Arts in Suzuki Pedagogy. Upon graduation, she was elected a member of the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda. In 1996, Joy moved back to her home town of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she taught with the Grand Rapids Community College Suzuki program and with Music Together. In 2000, Joy moved back to Canada and began teaching at the Guelph Suzuki String School in 2004 where her duties include coaching string ensembles. She continues to teach and inspire young string musicians at the Guelph Suzuki String School. In 2019, Joy was appointed conductor of the Guelph Youth Music Center, Junior and Intermediate String Orchestras.

Joy is presently the concertmaster and personnel manager of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, conductor of the Cambridge Youth Orchestra and the newest teacher for Great Lakes Music Together.

Favourite food: Chicken
Music which always makes me dance: Music from the 80s!