Congratulations to Our Cassa Guitar Immersive Winner!

Congratulations to Allie Marcoux, the winner of our Cassa Guitar Immersive Summer Program draw! Allie has earned the opportunity to join us this summer for an exciting and enriching guitar experience at Cassa Musical Arts.

During the program, Allie will learn from expert guitarist and instructor Brent Gunther, who will guide students through technique development, musical expression, and collaborative playing. The Cassa Guitar Immersive program is designed to help guitarists grow in confidence and skill while exploring a wide range of musical styles.

Open to students of age 9 to adult and various experience levels, the program provides a supportive and inspiring environment where participants can refine their guitar technique, expand their musical knowledge, and connect with fellow musicians. Whether students are just beginning their guitar journey or looking to deepen their abilities, the immersive format allows for focused learning, creativity, and musical discovery.

We are excited to welcome Allie this summer and look forward to seeing her musical journey unfold at Cassa!

If you’re interested in joining Allie and Brent this summer, you can learn more about the program and registration through: Cassa Guitar Immersive.



Celebrating Our Partnership with ARMTA

The Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association (ARMTA) has been a strong supporter of Cassa Musical Arts since our inception in 1993. Over the years, this relationship has helped strengthen music education in our community and provided meaningful opportunities for both our instructors and students.

Many members of the Cassa teaching team are proud ARMTA members. Through this shared commitment to high standards in music education, we continue to foster an environment where students receive exceptional instruction and mentorship.

ARMTA has also played an important role in supporting Cassa’s operations through financial contributions. In addition, their generous scholarships provide valuable encouragement to our students, helping young musicians pursue their studies and celebrate their achievements.

This past month, ARMTA featured an article from Cassa that highlights the many benefits of music education during the summer months. The feature also showcased the wide variety of summer programs we offer, designed to help students continue learning, stay inspired, and grow musically throughout the season.

We are incredibly grateful for ARMTA’s continued support and partnership. Their dedication to music education helps make opportunities like ours possible, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration for years to come.

Thank you, ARMTA, for championing music education and supporting our community of musicians.

Read ARMTA’s full March Issue of Impromptu Magazine here. Cassa’s article is featured below.

Teachers: Know anyone with great potential?

Cassa’s musical arts programs nurtures talent and enables the creation of original works. Students access support from industry experts for collaboration, connection and skill-building. From musical theatre performance, songwriting, piano and guitar skills, and everything in-between, our programs create inspiring experiences for youth to develop their skills in all aspects of musical arts. Participants build team and leadership skills and establish lifelong connections. Connect your students with us and watch them soar!

Cassa is a registered Charitable Organization with an active Board of Directors that practice high regulatory and inclusivity standards along with exceptional impact measures.

Bursaries are available for students requiring financial assistance.

Elevate Your Playing — Join Our Guest Artist Masterclass with Gregg Pauley

Are you ready to take your piano skills to the next level? We’re thrilled to invite intermediate to advanced pianists of all ages to a special online Guest Artist Masterclass featuring internationally respected performer, teacher, and mentor Gregg Pauley!

  • Date: April 18, 2026

  • Time: 9:00 am – 1:15 pm

  • Cost: Free for observers (student masterclass participants cost is $120/hour)

Student participants will receive focused and personalized feedback designed to strengthen technique, interpretation, and performance confidence. Observers — including teachers, parents, and fellow musicians — are welcome to attend at no cost and will benefit from the shared learning experience.

Masterclasses are a powerful way to grow as a musician. They foster artistic development, encourage thoughtful interpretation, and inspire new approaches to performance.

Space is limited. We encourage interested students and observers to register soon to secure their place in this enriching musical experience.

Learn more and register here.

Online Masterclass with Gregg Pauley Online Masterclass with Gregg Pauley Online Masterclass with Gregg Pauley
Online Masterclass with Gregg Pauley
from $0.00



Thank You, Joseph Fridman — See You in Calgary This Summer!

A heartfelt thank you to Joseph Fridman for leading this past weekend’s inspiring masterclass. We’re also grateful to the many students, teachers, and piano enthusiasts who attended and contributed to such a vibrant learning environment. The session sold out quickly, and we were delighted to extend the class to accommodate additional participants — there is always a lot to learn from Mr. Fridman.

We are especially thankful to Mr. Fridman for generously sharing his time and expertise with our Cassa learning community. For those who would like to continue learning from him, he will be traveling from Edmonton to join us this summer in Calgary for our in-person Cassa Piano Immersive and Adult Piano programs at Brentview Baptist Church.

This summer’s distinguished faculty will also include Dr. Laura Bell, Linda Kundert, Darcy van Helden, Dr. Karen Gerelus, Marianne van der Sloot and Carlo Santos, along with special guest artist Gregg Pauley. As always, enrollment is limited to maintain low teacher-to-student ratios, so we encourage you to register soon to secure your spot.

Register today by clicking on the programs below!

Piano Immersive Piano Immersive
Piano Immersive
$479.00
Adult Piano Adult Piano
Adult Piano
$349.00

The Broader Impact of High-Level Music Education

High-level music education plays a vital role in developing cognitive flexibility, collaboration, and creative leadership. These outcomes align directly with public-interest goals across education, mental health, and workforce readiness.

Cassa Musical Arts embeds these benefits within a creator-first model that supports original musical theatre development. Through mentorship, training, and performance opportunities, young artists gain professional skills while contributing to Canada’s cultural landscape.

Support from partners and funders allows Cassa to reduce barriers to access, support neurodivergent learners, and invest in sustainable pathways for original creation.

The result is not only stronger artists, but stronger systems.

Register for Cassa Musical Arts Programs today!

https://www.cassamusicalarts.com/cassa-musical-arts-programs

Sharing the Sound: Introducing Our New Social Media Manager!

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Karen Gerelus to the Cassa Musical Arts team as our new Social Media Manager!

Karen is passionate about amplifying the voices and stories within Cassa—celebrating music, learning, and the meaningful relationships that grow through our programs.

Be sure to follow us to stay up to date on the latest news and happenings at Cassa!

Welcome Regina Chan, General Manager of Cassa

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news with the Cassa Musical Arts community: Regina Chan has joined Cassa as our new General Manager.

Regina’s connection to Cassa runs deep. As a teenager, she attended Cassa Piano Immersive—then known as Piano Camp—an experience that helped shape her lifelong appreciation for music. Years later, that connection has come full circle. Today, Regina’s own children are avid music enthusiasts who attend Cassa programs every year. Her personal journey gives her an authentic, lived understanding of the impact Cassa has on students and families across generations.

Professionally, Regina brings strong leadership experience and an operational mindset to Cassa. As our General Manager, she joins our small but mighty Cassa team to support and deliver creative, high-quality programming for our community and beyond.

Please say hello to Regina at our next event! We’re excited for what lies ahead and we are grateful to continue building, growing, and making music together.



Why Serious Music Training Is Also Serious Fun

High-level music education challenges you in the best way. It pushes your focus, your creativity, and your ability to work with others.

At Cassa Musical Arts, students learn by doing. You collaborate, analyze, experiment, and create original work. You gain skills that matter whether you pursue the arts professionally or take these strengths into other fields.

This is a place where your ideas are taken seriously and your growth is supported.

Bring your curiosity. We will meet you there.

Register for Cassa Musical Arts Programs today!

https://www.cassamusicalarts.com/cassa-musical-arts-programs

Help Shape the Future of the Musical Arts: Join Our Board as Treasurer

Do you believe that music has the power to connect, inspire, and transform communities? Are you passionate about supporting artists and expanding access to the musical arts? If so, we invite you to consider joining the Cassa Musical Arts Board as our next Treasurer.

Interested? Please review our posting below and contact us at info@cassamusicalarts.com

Let’s work together to ensure “that” musical arts continue to flourish—for today, and for generations to come!

Congratulations to our Cassa Students on their ARMTA Achievement!

We are so proud to celebrate our students’ outstanding achievements with the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ARMTA). Congratulations to Wynn Phung (Bronze Medalist, Advanced Piano), Kaslyn Chan (Silver Medalist, Advanced Piano), and Sorena Cook (ARCT Graduate) for their exceptional accomplishments. These achievements reflect months of dedication, focused practice, and a genuine love of music.

Congratulations to all our students on this well-deserved success. We look forward to seeing how you continue to grow and shine in your musical journey!

A New Harmony: Classical Guitar Society of Calgary & Cassa Musical Arts Inspire Musicians Across Calgary

We’re thrilled to announce a new collaboration between the Classical Guitar Society of Calgary (CGSC) and Cassa Musical Arts (Cassa) that celebrates creativity, learning, and connection through music.

Founded in 1974, the Classical Guitar Society of Calgary was established with the goal of fostering enthusiasm for, and exploration of, classical guitar music. CGSC regularly brings some of the world’s finest classical guitarists to Calgary to perform concerts and to lead masterclasses, enriching the city’s cultural and educational landscape.

Since 1993, Cassa Musical Arts has delivered high-quality musical arts programming within the community. Beginning in 2023, this partnership has enabled Cassa to offer a week-long, half-day guitar program led by CGSC’s Artistic Director, Brett Gunther. At Cassa Guitar Immersive, students dive deep into the world of guitar through hands-on instruction, creative exploration, and collaborative music-making in a supportive and inspiring environment.

With small teacher-to-student ratios, Guitar Immersive balances technical skill-building with creativity, helping students to grow in confidence while developing strong musical foundations. Participants learn proper technique, chords, scales, strumming and picking patterns, rhythm, and music theory, while also exploring improvisation and ensemble playing.

Cassa is proud of this collaboration with CGSC, which brings together the best of both organizations: CGSC’s deep roots in performance and community engagement paired with Cassa’s dynamic, education-focused programming. Together, they are expanding opportunities for guitarists of all levels—from beginners just discovering their passion to seasoned players seeking new creative challenges—to learn, perform, and grow.

Whether you’ve come to love classical guitar through a CGSC event or have been inspired by Cassa’s musical arts programs, there has never been a better time to connect with Calgary’s guitar community and explore where your musical journey can take you.

Learn more about CGSC and explore their latest events here.

Cassa Guitar Immersive runs July 6–10, 2026. Register today!

Guitar Immersive Guitar Immersive
Guitar Immersive
$249.00

Congratulations to Cassa Piano Instructor - Dr. Karen Gerelus!

We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Karen Gerelus, whose article, “Envisioning a Future Musical Self: Identities of Dropout and Continuing Adolescent Piano Students,” has been named MTNA e-Journal Article of the Year for 2026.

Her publication examines how imagining a future musical self influences students’ present musical experiences. Drawing on two studies, the findings show that students who continued piano study had a stronger musical identity and long-term vision, while those who dropped out struggled to see music as part of their future. Read her publication here.

We congratulate Karen on this well-deserved honor and thank her for advancing important conversations about student identity, persistence, and the future of music education! Dr. Karen Gerelus will be one of the instructors on the 2026 Cassa Piano Summer Programs team.

Register for Cassa Piano Immersive and Cassa Adult Piano today to learn more from Dr. Karen Gerelus and other Cassa piano experts!

Why High-Level Music Education Matters

Research consistently shows that sustained music education supports cognitive development, emotional intelligence, and academic success. Students who engage deeply with music develop stronger executive functioning, pattern recognition, memory, and self-regulation.

At Cassa Musical Arts, we intentionally connect these benefits to real creative practice. Students are challenged to analyze, interpret, collaborate, and reflect — skills that serve them far beyond the stage.

Cassa offers a space where high standards and compassionate teaching coexist.

Performance is not the end goal.
It is the visible outcome of deep learning.

Register for our programs today!

Join us for an Online Piano Masterclass with Joseph Fridman!

Are you a pianist seeking fresh inspiration, expert guidance, and a chance to grow your artistry? Cassa Musical Arts is thrilled to present an Online Piano Masterclass with acclaimed pianist and educator Joseph Fridman!

  • Date: February 22, 2026

  • Time: 9:00 am – 1:15 pm

  • Location: Zoom (fully online, accessible from anywhere!)

Whether you’re an intermediate or advanced pianist, this masterclass offers something special:

  • One-on-one performance coaching – Each student receives a full hour of personalized feedback, helping you refine technique, musical expression, and performance confidence.

  • Learn from a seasoned expert – Mr. Fridman has earned two Master’s Degrees – as a pianist and opera director – both from the world-renowned St. Petersburg State Conservatory (Russia). He is a concert pianist, teacher, vocal coach and accompanist, currently residing in Edmonton, Alberta.

  • Free audience access – Everyone is invited to observe! Register to receive your Zoom link and watch the masterclasses in action — this is perfect for teachers, parents, and fellow musicians.

Don’t miss your chance to learn from Mr. Fridman from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re ready to refine your repertoire or simply love watching great music come to life, this online masterclass is an opportunity to elevate your artistry in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Reserve your spot today and join us online February 22! Register and learn more, by clicking here.

Congratulations to our Cassa Musical Arts Students!

Congratulations to Cassa Musical Arts students Maya, Serenity, Davin, Olivia, Joel, Kaslyn, and Aurelia on their participation in the Kawai Piano Stars Competition! We are incredibly proud of each student for their dedication and hard work.

A special congratulations to Serenity Zhang for earning the Regional Intermediate Top Prize—an outstanding achievement!

A huge thank you to Brian Schmidt for hosting the awards event, and to Dave Mitchell in Vancouver for running the Kawai Piano Stars event that will take place again next fall.

Introducing our 2026 Piano Guest Artist - Gregg Pauley

We are thrilled to welcome Gregg Pauley as the piano guest artist for this year’s Piano Summer Programs. With a distinguished career as a performer, teacher, and mentor, Mr. Pauley brings a wealth of artistry and experience that will inspire pianists of all levels.

Gregg Pauley was born and raised in Southern California where his piano studies began at the age of four. A graduate of The University of Southern California (BM, 1989) and Mason Gross School of the Arts (MM, 1991), Mr. Pauley’s primary teacher was world renowned pianist Ilana Vered. In addition to his work with Ms. Vered, Mr. Pauley had the good fortune and pleasure of working with many other great artists including Andre Watts and Jean-Yves Thibodet. In addition to participating in festivals in Aspen (1986-87) and Rutgers Summerfest (1990-1994), Mr. Pauley served as Director of Programs for Music Fest Perugia (2008-2012).

He has performed extensively throughout the US including performances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center), Merkin Hall, Steinway Hall, and Yamaha Artist Studios in New York City. In addition, Mr. Pauley has performed in venues from Maine to Florida to California, as far north as Calgary, Canada. During his tenure as Director of Programs at Musicfest Perugia, Mr. Pauley was a featured soloist in concerts at  the Sala dei Notari and the Basilica di San Pietro. He has also made concerto appearances with the Portland Symphony (Maine), the Granite State Symphony and NH Philharmonic, as well as many other orchestras throughout the eastern seaboard. Mr. Pauley has been heard on WNYC and WQXR (NYC), WEVO (NH), WKPM (ME) and on CBC radio and television in Calgary. 

Mr. Pauley maintains two private studios in Swampscott, MA and Newmarket, NH. His students have been prize winners in local, state and national competitions and have performed at both Zankel Hall and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, NYC, Merkin Hall, NYC and at Boston’s historic Symphony Hall. He is on the faculty at Vivace! International Music Festival, (vivacefoundation.org) and is a former faculty member of Tufts University, St. Paul’s School and the Concord Community Music School. Mr. Pauley is in demand as a masterclass teacher and competition adjudicator.

We are honored to have Gregg Pauley join us this summer. Cassa summer piano participants can look forward to insightful masterclasses, individualized musical guidance, and the opportunity to learn from an artist whose passion for piano performance and pedagogy is both deep and inspiring.

Learn more about Cassa Piano Immersive, Cassa Adult Piano, Online Cassa Piano Immersive and Cassa Piano Pedagogy and register today!

Cassa Musical Arts Supports Young Writers and Composers Through New Program: Cassa Creates

Cassa Musical Arts (Cassa) has a long history of supporting local composers and playwrights. Each year, the Cassa Musical summer program showcases original musicals created by artists from our community and offers young performers the chance to bring new works to life on stage.

With generous support from Calgary Arts Development and the Rozsa Foundation, we are excited to expand our commitment to emerging creators through a brand-new initiative called Cassa Creates.

Led by Meredith Taylor-Parry and Michelle Delisle, Cassa Creates is designed to nurture budding young composers, musicians, and playwrights as they develop their own musical theatre works. Through mentorship, hands-on workshops, and guidance from guest experts, participants will learn how to transform creative ideas into fully realized musical productions.

This program continues Cassa’s mission to empower the next generation of artistic voices—helping young creators grow their skills, collaborate with peers, and see their original stories come to life.

For more information on Cassa Creates, please visit: https://www.cassamusicalarts.com/cassa-musical-arts-programs/cassa-creates-musical-theatre-productions


Registration for this program is ongoing. For inquiries, contact Michelle Delisle at 403-669-8153.

Mark Your Calendars: Cassa Musical’s “Whispers at Golden Groves” Performance is this Thursday!

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of music, drama, and heartwarming storytelling! The Cassa Musical production of Whispers at Golden Groves takes the stage this Thursday at 7:00 PM, and you won’t want to miss it.

Bring your family, friends, and fellow arts lovers to witness the incredible talent of our performers in this original production!