Heidi was born in Calgary but attended elementary, middle school and high school in the Netherlands and Australia. She began playing as a Suzuki student at age 5. Heidi holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance with a minor in Viola from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, a Masters level Advanced Certificate in Performance from the University of Toronto (Teachers: Lorand Fenyves and Katharine Rapoport). She recently attained her Bachelor of Education (St Mary’s University, Calgary) and holds her Alberta interim professional teaching certificate. Heidi graduated from St. Mary’s University with Honors and was named to the Dean's List (2020-2022). She was awarded the Jason Lang scholarship for her academic accomplishments and the Steve and Irene Groch education excellence award for her interest and involvement in the areas of fine arts and music. It is Heidi’s goal to pursue her dream to offer high quality string programs in schools.
Early in her career, Heidi taught as part of the music faculty at Mentone Grammar and Cranbourne Christian College (Casey Grammar School) in Melbourne. She has also taught for the Conservatory of Central Illinois, North York Suzuki School of Music in Toronto for nine years, been a substitute teacher for the Royal Conservatory in Toronto and run a string program for 6 years at Glenmore Christian Academy in Calgary. Heidi has been invited to be a guest clinician at numerous workshops and summer camps in Melbourne, Toronto, Calgary and British Columbia.
Reflective practice is a big part of Heidi’s teaching and playing. She is always interested to learn more about current practices in pedagogy and teaching to continue to inspire the young musicians she works with. In 1995 Heidi completed her primary level accreditation to teach violin with the Australian Talent Education Association of Australia. Since then, she has done advanced training through the Suzuki Association of the Americas, including their Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) course. In 2008 Heidi fundraised and organised a trip to Japan with her private studio students and their families to participate in the Matsumoto Summer School founded by Dr Suzuki.
Heidi has attended and participated in the violin and viola intensive string pedagogy retreats at University of Indiana Bloomington, the Magic Mountain Music Farm practice marathon retreat for artist musicians and teachers in upstate New York, and the Juilliard, Starling- Delay violin teaching symposium. Through these opportunities Heidi has had the privilege of learning the art of violin pedagogy from some of the most respected teachers in music education: Brian Lewis, Rebecca Henry, Mimi Zweig, Brenda Brenner, Burton Kaplan and Kurt Sassmannshaus. Heidi’s students have been consistently successful in Royal Conservatory of Music examinations and competitions and have been offered opportunities to perform as soloists with reputable orchestras. Many of them have received scholarships for their playing and some have gone on to pursue professional careers in music.
Heidi has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra player in Australia, Illinois and Toronto. She has also been invited to perform in concerts and participate in masterclasses in Poland, Romania (George Enescu’s Estate) and Germany. Heidi has been invited to perform in the orchestra for Symphony of the Kootneys concerts, has performed as a sub with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and been featured in the CBC television special for the Canadian Country Music Awards, to name a few highlights. She continues to enjoy many freelancing opportunities in and around Calgary.
Early in her career, Heidi taught as part of the music faculty at Mentone Grammar and Cranbourne Christian College (Casey Grammar School) in Melbourne. She has also taught for the Conservatory of Central Illinois, North York Suzuki School of Music in Toronto for nine years, been a substitute teacher for the Royal Conservatory in Toronto and run a string program for 6 years at Glenmore Christian Academy in Calgary. Heidi has been invited to be a guest clinician at numerous workshops and summer camps in Melbourne, Toronto, Calgary and British Columbia.
Reflective practice is a big part of Heidi’s teaching and playing. She is always interested to learn more about current practices in pedagogy and teaching to continue to inspire the young musicians she works with. In 1995 Heidi completed her primary level accreditation to teach violin with the Australian Talent Education Association of Australia. Since then, she has done advanced training through the Suzuki Association of the Americas, including their Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) course. In 2008 Heidi fundraised and organised a trip to Japan with her private studio students and their families to participate in the Matsumoto Summer School founded by Dr Suzuki.
Heidi has attended and participated in the violin and viola intensive string pedagogy retreats at University of Indiana Bloomington, the Magic Mountain Music Farm practice marathon retreat for artist musicians and teachers in upstate New York, and the Juilliard, Starling- Delay violin teaching symposium. Through these opportunities Heidi has had the privilege of learning the art of violin pedagogy from some of the most respected teachers in music education: Brian Lewis, Rebecca Henry, Mimi Zweig, Brenda Brenner, Burton Kaplan and Kurt Sassmannshaus. Heidi’s students have been consistently successful in Royal Conservatory of Music examinations and competitions and have been offered opportunities to perform as soloists with reputable orchestras. Many of them have received scholarships for their playing and some have gone on to pursue professional careers in music.
Heidi has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra player in Australia, Illinois and Toronto. She has also been invited to perform in concerts and participate in masterclasses in Poland, Romania (George Enescu’s Estate) and Germany. Heidi has been invited to perform in the orchestra for Symphony of the Kootneys concerts, has performed as a sub with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and been featured in the CBC television special for the Canadian Country Music Awards, to name a few highlights. She continues to enjoy many freelancing opportunities in and around Calgary.