Meet Our Teachers
Our Team
Feel free to scroll through our Teacher Roster at Creative Expressions Music Academy. You can tap "Read More" for their biography, reviews, and teaching philosophies, and for a glimpse inside of their studio.
You will be emailed your teacher's phone number, email, and exact address the moment you register.
All CEMA Teachers have regular child abuse and criminal record checks, and professional liability coverage.
Amy Whittaker
B. Mus. & MYC
Flute & Piano
Amy Whittaker
B. Mus. & MYC
Flute & Piano
Amy Whittaker, known by her students as Miss Amy, has joined our roster of "Team Teachers" for September 2022, offering private piano lessons in her home studio in West Kildonan area.
With over a decade of teaching experience, Amy holds advanced levels from the Royal Conservatory of Music in flute, piano, theory and history, as well as a Bachelor of Music History from the University of Manitoba.
On her own, Amy teaches Preschool music in Montessori schools across the city and Music for Young Children group classes. Amy continues to be a free lance performer and clinician for weddings, funerals, music festivals, and school band clinics.
Amy has performed with the Winnipeg Music Festival, Syrinx Flute Festival, National Youth Band of Canada, Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra, and MB Provincial Honour Bands.
Amy's Studio
West Kildonan: Transcona
For our teachers' privacy, the exact location/address of their home teaching studio will be emailed to you when you register for lessons.
Annette Hay
B. Mus., RMT, UMTC
Violin/Fiddle & Piano
Annette Hay
B. Mus., RMT, UMTC
Violin/Fiddle & Piano
Annette began teaching for Creative Expressions Music Academy in 2021, opening her home to our students in the North Kildonan area of Winnipeg.
With a music education career spanning decades, Annette enjoys teaching students of all ages in private violin, piano, organ and theory lessons. Her students have won provincial gold and silver medals in RCM exams and many scholarships through the MRMTA.
She graduated from Brandon University with the Gold Medal in the 5 year Bachelor of Music Education Degree. At university she studied violin (with Francis Chaplin), piano, organ, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion techniques as well as choral and instrumental conducting.
Annette has enjoyed teaching music, band, orchestra and choir in various schools in Winnipeg and also adjudicates at AMAF Music Festivals throughout Manitoba.
Annette's Studio
Location: North Kildonan
For our teachers' privacy, the exact location/address of their home teaching studio will be emailed to you when you register for lessons.
Corey Francis
B. Mus. Honours
Piano & Owner
Corey Francis
B. Mus. Honours
Piano & Owner
Corey began playing piano at the age of 9, studying with Gloria Matthies and Loren Hiebert. From 2010-2014, he studied at Brandon University under the tutelage of Megumi Masaki, graduating with a Bachelor of Music and Level 10 Certification through Royal Conservatory of Music.
Corey has performed in Italy, Estonia, Latvia, USA and various places across Canada; however, during university, Corey suffered a serious repetitive-stress injury. He spent time systematically re-learning healthier approaches to playing piano and now shares these techniques with his students, watching them diligently for signs of stress or tension in their playing.
Corey began Creative Expressions Music Academy under the name "Piano Expressions with Corey" and filled his personal schedule and his mother-in-law's in under 2 years. A few years later, Corey now shares his curriculum and resources with 7 other teachers, and our academy is nearing 150 students! The expansion created opportunities for students to get off the waitlist and begin lessons - on any instrument or voice.
Corey's personal schedule has remained full for the last 2 years, with loads of siblings on waitlists for next year already.
Gemma Williams
B.A. Performing Arts
Voice & Music Theatre
Gemma Williams
B.A. Performing Arts
Voice & Music Theatre
Gemma has a Bachelor of Performing Arts from the University of Winchester, with a focus on Musical Theatre. She is British and relocated to Canada in 2018.
Since leaving university, Gemma has directed a wide variety of musicals for children’s drama clubs, and taught private singing lessons for years. She led a 2-Day Workshop in the UK with the cast of Mamma Mia and STOMP.
In fact, 'everyone deserves a chance to fly' is a quote from Gemma’s favourite musical ‘Wicked’. Gemma’s students “learn to fly” by finding their own voice and in singing with others. She ensures that her students learn to sing with healthy singing technique, while also nurturing their love of music along the way.
Gemma's Studio
Location: Transcona
For our teachers' privacy, the exact location/address of their home teaching studio will be emailed to you when you register for lessons.
Kristen Kaperfanick
B. Mus.
Piano, Trombone & Euphonium
Kristen Kaperfanick
B. Mus.
Piano, Trombone & Euphonium
Kristen has a Bachelor of Music with a focus in composition from the University of Manitoba and graduated in 2022. She has composed for a number of instruments and ensembles, including piano, many soloist instruments, orchestra, and most recently opera. Kristen is continuing her studies in Meteorology at the University of Manitoba.
Kristen has been studying piano for seventeen years; her music education focus is piano, but she has spent many years playing trombone and euphonium in wind ensembles and gained an appreciation for a musical community.
She has a love for learning music and finding niche interests that sparks a passion for the practice.
Kristen teaches at Annette Hay's Studio.
Location: North Kildonan
For our teachers' privacy, the exact location/address of their home teaching studio will be emailed to you when you register for lessons.
Nic Lawrenz
B. Mus.
Guitar, Bass, Drums & Ukulele
Nic Lawrenz
B. Mus.
Guitar, Bass, Drums & Ukulele
Nic Lawrenz has taught guitar and other instruments for over 20 years. He currently teaches guitar (in all styles), ukulele, bass, drums, banjo, theory, and band lessons.
Nic has a Bachelor of Performance from Brandon University in Classical Guitar and has taught in several studios around Manitoba. He's also a member of several musical projects around Winnipeg including Artists in Healthcare Manitoba as well as a few bands, duos and trios, and solo performances for weddings, personal care homes and events.
Nic loves to teach and inspire players of all ages to reach their potential while studying music that is fun, applicable and educational by nature.
Nic's Studio
Location: Elmwood
For our teachers' privacy, the exact location/address of their home teaching studio will be emailed to you when you register for lessons.
If you are interested in our CEMA curriculum but do not see your instrument listed, you can request for us to find a teacher on our Registration Form. We will begin searching once there is enough interest.