WELCOME!
WEBSITE INTRODUCTION
GROUP INTRODUCTION
MEET THE TEAM
Born in Toronto, Ontario Canada, Andrew Brown graduated from Andrews University in 2015 with a B.Mus in Music
Education. He started playing piano at a young age, but his musical interest sparked when he attended Crawford
Adventist Academy, where he was involved in their music department. He currently directs the bands at Kingsway College
and College Park Elementary School located in Ontario, Canada. Over the course of his college studies, Andrew was
actively involved in the university ensembles. He served as the undergraduate assistant to wind symphony director Alan
Mitchell. Andrew Brown completed his student teaching at Andrews Academy and Ruth Murdoch Elementary School
under the mentorship of Byron Graves. Andrew also studied piano under the direction of Chi Yong Yun and Trina
Thompson.
Born in Altona, Manitoba, Canada, Carrie Stoesz graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of
Music in Elementary Music Education and a Bachelor of Education. She started playing the piano at seven
and discovered a passion for improvisation. Prior to university studies, Carrie studied with Linda Metelsky at
the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Carrie currently teaches Elementary Music at
Capitol Hill School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. There she has collaborated with a variety of artists to direct
the school in the composition and performance of an opera. Carrie is actively involved in the community as
a choral and orchestral accompanist.
Jeff Biggar proudly hails from Cobourg, Ontario and is in the final stages of the Masters in Music Education program at
Western University. Holding undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Classical Guitar Performance from the
Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Jeff currently teaches at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario. As a
freelance musician, Jeff has performed as a soloist on cruise ships out of the Caribbean and Australia as well as regular
performances throughout the Northumberland and Greater Toronto Area. A proponent of informal learning, Jeff has
enjoyed bridging the gap between this format of music education and the exploration of inclusivity in this course.
www.jeffbiggar.com
Xiao Dong, born in China, started playing the violin at seven years old. Xiao graduated from Henan
University with a Bachelor of Music in 2014. From 2015 to 2018, Xiao majored in violin performance at
Soochow University School of Music, under the direction of violinist Guillaume Moko, who is the former
concertmaster of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO), and cellist Dr. Hekan Wu. Upon completing her
masters degree from Soochow University, Xiao began a PhD program at Western University, Canada. As a
private violin teacher, Xiao is exploring a more inclusive and diverse teaching model. Instead of using a
dominant western classical music teaching system, her interest lies in facilitating student voice through
different music and culture.
Born and raised on the Canadian prairies, Stacy Allan is a music teacher and choral director from Regina, SK, teaching at
Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School, as well as conducting the Regina Ladies' Choir. Stacy studied at the University of
Regina, completing a Bachelor of Music Education (2005) and a Master of Music in Conducting (2018), where she studied under Dr. Dominic Gregorio. Stacy realized that she desired more in-depth training in the field of education, which led her to Western University and the Master of Music Education program. A vocalist by trade, Stacy loves singing with the a cappella choir, Wascana Voices, and being involved in Regina's amateur musical theatre community.
Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School, as well as conducting the Regina Ladies' Choir. Stacy studied at the University of
Regina, completing a Bachelor of Music Education (2005) and a Master of Music in Conducting (2018), where she studied under Dr. Dominic Gregorio. Stacy realized that she desired more in-depth training in the field of education, which led her to Western University and the Master of Music Education program. A vocalist by trade, Stacy loves singing with the a cappella choir, Wascana Voices, and being involved in Regina's amateur musical theatre community.