Bass Instructor

Steve Wallace is one of Canada’s foremost jazz bassists. Most of his career took place there and internationally, playing clubs, touring and recording with such American greats as Zoot Sims, Ray Bryant, Scott Hamilton, Rosemary Clooney, Woody Herman and many more.

Percussion Instructor

Born and raised in Powell River, BC, Adam Robertson is a versatile drummer, percussionist and composer with strong West Coast roots. In 2020, he completed his Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Studies at Vancouver Island University and remains an active member of the island music scene as both a performer and educator.

Saxophone Instructor

Cayleigh Borsboom is a bookseller by day and a musician by night. She spent two years at Humber College in Toronto studying under the greats of the Canadian music industry before making Courtenay her home. Books, nature, board games, jazz, and friends that are family are what fill her heart with joy.

Jazz Piano Instructor

James holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from VIU and has studied piano with Phil Dwyer, Bob Murphy and Steve Smith.

More recently James has been the keyboardist of the high energy dance band Johnny Inappropriate, the pianist for VIU’s Vocal Jazz Choir directed by Rosemary Lindsay and is the organist with the Duncan Symonds Trio.

Trumpet Instructor, Island Jazz Director

Originally from Montreal, Greg holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University and a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from McGill University.

CYMC Musical Theatre Director

Lori Mazey teaches Theatre Arts and Dance at G.P. Vanier Secondary School in Courtenay, BC. She has her degree in Theatre, her Master’s in Educational Leadership, and is an Associate of Trinity College in London for Speech Arts.

CYMC Music Director

Carol Anne Parkinson is a joyful singer, voice teacher and conductor.  She earned her Bachelor of Music from UBC in 1995 and continued to study with master teacher Arlene McIntyre from 2000-2005.  

Co-Musical Director

Dustin is a pianist, accordionist, singer, and, as of late, music director. He grew up in the Comox Valley but now lives on W̱SÁNEĆ land in Victoria.

CYMC Choreographer

Paul Gerritsen began his training at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in Calgary before graduating from the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

Instructor

Born and raised in Victoria, BC, Ceilidh began playing violin at the age of five and has built an accomplished career in both classical and traditional Irish music. She studied at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and later at the University of Ottawa, where she continued her training in violin performance. Along the way, she performed with ensembles including the Sooke Philharmonic and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, while also gaining international teaching and performance experience in Ireland.

Instructor

Originally from Burns Lake, BC, Erin is a freelance cellist, session musician and cello teacher, now settled in beautiful Victoria, BC. As a young artist, she performed her solo set at the “Listen Up” Festival in Vancouver and was selected to record her compositions at CBC Radio 2.

Instructor

Campbell River native, Tyson Doknjas, is an active freelance violinist and private teacher in Victoria. He is a member of the Victoria Symphony and performs with various groups on Vancouver Island, including Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Baroque, Pacific Baroque Festival, and Aventa Ensemble.

Instructor

Violist Jessica Pickersgill’s passion for music began at a young age and has since blossomed into a genuine desire to help others fall in love with music through her performance. As a result, she has performed for audiences in Canada and around the world, including Italy, Russia, and America.

Welcome to another spectacular year at Comox Valley Youth Music Centre!

As Executive Director, I would like to personally welcome you to the incredible experience that is CYMC. I am honoured to be able to be a part of the awesome team that makes this camp all that it is. Here at CYMC we believe that music and the arts are an integral part of the human experience. Every person should have the chance to engage with music, not just as a listener, but as a performer or creator. Music education is not merely about learning notes and rhythms; it’s about developing discipline, perseverance, confidence, and creativity – skills that are invaluable in all aspects of life.

Our commitment is to provide top of the line instruction from our incredible faculty, for an intensive, inclusive, and well-rounded education in Classical Strings, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. We here at CYMC believe that our camp provides a strong and supportive community that fosters connections that are kept throughout the rest of our students lives.

Whether this is your first time picking up an instrument, or you are a returning member honing your craft, I encourage all of you to immerse yourself fully in the experience that CYMC and music has to offer.

Thank you for being a part of our community! Lets make beautiful music and memories together!