Teachers

Heidi Kettner, Choir Teaching Artist

Heidi Kettner was born and raised in the Lower Mainland, where she enjoyed making music from a young age. Her musical journey began with piano studies before she started her vocal training at the Chilliwack Academy of Music in her teens. She later spent a year enrolled at S. K. Lee College on the campus of the Vancouver Academy of Music, before completing her Bachelor of Education with a Music Specialization at Burman University in Alberta. Heidi enjoyed spending many years serving as a classroom music teacher, band, and choir director before taking time off to facilitate her children’s home learning education. Her approach to teaching encompasses the passion she has for instilling a life-long love of music and learning in her students. Heidi lives in Abbotsford with her husband, son, and daughter.

Doug Robertson, Musicianship Teaching Artist

Doug grew up in North Vancouver, where he was involved in church music programs from a young age. He studied at Capilano College – which is now Capilano University – and then at the University of British Columbia, earning an associate of arts degree, a degree in music, and a teaching diploma. Doug subsequently had a 36-year career as a music specialist first, then as a classroom teacher, in four public school districts in Alberta and BC. Since he retired in 2016, Doug has been doing TTOC  work (teacher teaching on call – what used to be called substitute teaching) in the Fraser Valley. He and his wife raised their family in Yarrow and have been happy to call the small community at the foot of Vedder Mountain home for the last 33 years. Doug is joining BMA as a sessional teaching artist to teach our students how to play the recorder.

Jennifer Schaubel, BMA Junior Teaching Artist

Jennifer brings a versatile mix of passions and talents to the Bakerview Music Academy. Her training began at the age of five at the Vancouver Academy of Music, where she studied piano, violin, and Kodály well into her teens. Most of her life has been dedicated to advocating for and working with children and at-risk youth. When the creative spirit that exists in every child is nurtured and inspired, the seeds of endless possibilities become rich for development. It is these very seeds that Jennifer is dedicated to planting with the Juniors at BMA.

Ruthanne Clements, Cello Teaching Artist

Ruthanne Clements is a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where she began playing the cello at age of five guided by the Suzuki method. As she progressed, Ruthanne began performance with numerous ensembles such as the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra, and the Saskatchewan Honour Orchestra. She was also the principal cellist of the Okanagan Youth Symphony and played in the Kelowna Pops Orchestra.

Over the years, Ruthanne has studied with various well-known Canadian cellists such as Cameron Lowe at University of Regina and Ian Hampton at Trinity Western University. She played in the Trinity Western University Orchestra and was their principal cellist for a time.

She is a graduate of Trinity Western University where she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She also teaches cello at Bakerview Music Academy. This past year, Ruthanne launched a new arts organization called Mosaic Arts and a new music ensemble, the Capriccio Life Ensemble. Ruthanne lives with her husband and her cat in Abbotsford.

Chris Savage, Violin/Viola Teaching Artist

Chris Savage has been playing violin for the past 10 years, and studied with Dr. Calvin Dyck for six of those years. After playing with the Abbostford Youth Orchestra from 2012-2016, Chris studied Violin Performance at Kwantlen Polytechnic University from 2016-2017. Chris has taught at multiple music schools in BC and in Ontario, and was previously a Teacher Assistant at BMA during the 2016 season. Besides teaching, Chris loves to perform, putting on successful concerts throughout the year, as well as performing for weddings, banquets, and other events in the Fraser Valley. Chris’ hobbies include studying other instruments such as guitar and piano, wearing colourful suits, and adding to his large collection of dress shoes.