Miranda Snyder is the Music Project’s founder and Executive Director. Miranda has an extensive background in publicity and marketing, having spent over a decade working at HarperCollinsPublishers. Miranda is an active community volunteer and founding committee member of the Rail Garden, an East End community garden. Miranda lives with her family in Toronto’s East End.

OUR STAFF (Note: All our staff are professional musicians and educators; we are fortunate to have the best teaching staff in Toronto!)

David Chan is our artistic director and he leads the Music Foundations, Piano, and Percussion disciplines. David is a Toronto-based percussionist, pianist, and educator.  Following the completion of a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from McGill University, David traveled and studied music in Ghana, West Africa in 2005-2006.  Since moving to Toronto in 2007, David has toured Canada extensively with his group DRUMHAND as well as the Juno-nominated Mr. Something Something; he has appeared on numerous recordings by DRUMHAND (co-founder), The Mike Field Jazz Quintet, and Shoot The Cameraman.

Saikha Baig teaches guitar at TMP. With a degree from York University, and an extensive background as both a guitar teacher and early childhood educator, Saikha is thrilled to bring her breadth of expertise to TMP. Saikha performs throughout Toronto and the GTA and we are thrilled to have her on board.

Cecilia Booth teaches ukulele at TMP.  Cecilia grew up in a family of musicians and artists in North Yorkshire. Cecilia sings and plays both recorder and ukulele. As a visual artist, she has been a printmaker, painter, and mask maker and has worked as a scenic painter and props builder for The Phantom of the Opera, Cirque du Soleil, The Lion King — and many other theatre productions, large and small. A passionate arts educator, Cecilia shares her love of the arts with children through community arts programs, in schools, and through private lessons. She continues to learn the ukulele with Doane Uschool — and is delighted to be able to teach ukulele at the Music Project and pass on her love of music, creativity, and learning.

Giovanni Campanelli teaches piano. Giovanni is a professional musician and music teacher residing in Toronto, Ontario. Since graduating from the Humber College Bachelor of Music program in 2014, he has been performing all across Toronto and the GTA both as a solo act and as a member of various bands spanning jazz, pop, r&b, rock, and world music genres. He has performed with a wide variety of artists including Ten Meter Band, Karthik, Vijay Prakash, Yiannis Kapoulas, Roach Killa, Gold Complex, Earth’s Yellow Sun, and many more. When he isn’t on the stage, Giovanni is teaching piano to students of all ages and levels. With over seven years of teaching experience, he brings his live performance expertise into the classroom to create a unique learning environment for students.

Mike Conto teaches guitar and piano. Mike holds a Bachelor of Music Degree through Humber College/Guelph University. He enjoys a regular performance schedule as well as writing and recording his own music. Mike also runs a music studio in Toronto where he does recordings and provides instruction in guitar and vocals.

Hayden Farrar is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator based in Toronto. He spends most of his time teaching, composing, and performing in a wide variety of projects that range from jazz to folk to rock to chamber music. Haydenhas completedhis Bachelor o Music from Humber College with honours in 2014, and also completed his Masters degree in performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston. While at Berklee, Hayden had the privilege of studying with the likes of Ben Street, John Paritucci, Danilo Perez, Terri Lynne Carrington, and Joe Lovano. Hayden has been fortunate enough to perform and teach at jazz fesitvals in the Dominican Republic, Montreal, China, and Panama. During the summer of 2014, Hayden was accepted on faculty at the Global Music Institute in New Delhi, India. Hayden is currently a member of the Patrick Smith Quintet, Trevro Giancola Quartet, and co-leads his quartet Penumbra as well as Tax Trio.

Ramona Gilmour-Darling oversees our vocal performance and Glee programs. A music education graduate from McGill University in voice (Honours in Music for Children, and Choral Music), she has spent ten seasons at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, and has performed at Young People’s Theatre and Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon. In 2006, Ramona took over the role of ‘Loonette the Clown’ on TV’s Big Comfy Couch.  Ramona is a multi-talented performer, director, and choreographer. In addition to her work with TMP, Ramona oversees three choirs with Sistema, a private chamber choir with youth, has created the Children’s Arts Club at Calvin/Deerpark, and is a Resident Artist Educator for Y.P.T.  Ramona also works as an Artist Educator around the city in various schools, and for Studio 180. – It is a tremendous privilege having the opportunity to create with children, get to know them and share a positive experience.  I like to foster a supportive environment where everyone feels encouraged, respected, and artistically engaged.

Morgan-Paige Melbourne accompanies our Glee program and also teaches piano at TMP. Morgan is an emerging concert pianist based in Toronto. Morgan obtained Associate and Licentiate degrees in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, has performed extensively throughout Toronto and the GTA, is a sought-after teacher and accompanist, and is delighted to bring her passion for music to TMP.

Michael Murray is a guitarist with a wide breadth of experience in many genres, having performed with such diverse artists as Sam Louis, The Art of Time Ensemble, Ten Meter Band, Garrett Jamieson, Karthik (singer), Vijay Prakash, The John Cheesman Jazz Orchestra, Ayra Duo, and more. A graduate of Humber College’s music program, he is also a prolific educator in all styles of guitar including classical and contemporary genres, and is a faculty member at Centennial College teaching guitar and ensemble.

Wendy Patel teaches piano. FULL BIO TO COME.

Mark Shannon teaches guitar and bass. Mark is a musician, composer, and producer working in Toronto’s East End. Mark runs MStudio and is also employed by one of Canada’s leading music universities, Humber College, as a Directed Study Advisor. DSAs consult with fourth year students through their final recording projects.