About

Welcome to Avalon Music Academy! For over 20 years we have served the Hamilton, Dundas, and Ancaster regions by providing high quality music instruction for all ages and abilities. We pride ourselves on the patience, experience, and professionalism of our staff, and on the well-being and growth of our students.

There are no memberships or hidden fees - what you see is what you get! Weekly lessons are conducted on a one-on-one basis, though parents are welcome (but not obliged!) to attend. Group lessons offer a chance for students to play with others, creating friendships and skills that will last a lifetime.

At the heart of all we do is a love of music, which is what we hope to inspire and instill in our Avalon community!

Krista is the proud owner of Avalon Music Academy both in Ancaster and in Dundas, where she has taught private voice and piano lessons for the past eighteen years. In addition to her work at Avalon, Krista is also the Talent Coordinator for CHCH's popular television show 'Tiny Talent Time' and was the Youth Coordinator at Theatre Ancaster for many years, creating both the popular Stage 2 Saturdays Broadway and Skill Builders programs. Krista holds a diploma in Musical Theatre from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Redeemer University, with a double major in Theatre Arts and Music. Still active on stage, Krista regularly performs with local theatre companies as well as in Hamilton’s live music scene.

Tom started playing bass guitar at the age of 11 with his church choir. Once in high school he took up tuba, trombone, and trumpet and at the age of 14 began playing with the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra on tuba. He also played tuba and trombone with the Toronto Wind Ensemble. In 1997 he moved to Vancouver and spent years working as a session player and in 2010 he started working for Fbass (a boutique handmade in Canada bass producer), teaching at their bass camp and working with their artists. He currently calls Hamilton home and continues to perform both live and in sessions.

Mike has been teaching at Avalon for nearly 20 years. He is a film composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was the guitarist, songwriter, and singer of Juno-winning band The Killjoys, and currently fronts the band Sematary Spawn. He is also a guitarist for proto-punk pioneers, Simply Saucer.

Nancy Hope is a professional vocalist, songwriter, and artist with a passion for helping singers unlock the full power of their voice. Nancy received a Bachelor of Music Degree with Honours in Voice Performance from Humber College in 2020. She has been performing as a solo artist and in multiple wedding/corporate bands the past 10 years which has made her a versatile singer performing in multiple genres such as pop, rock, country, and R&B. She has performed in the GTA, Nashville and Mexico, and as the top 100 on Season 2 of Canada’s Got Talent. When not teaching, she continues to pursue her career as a performing artist and is currently releasing new music.

Matt Soliveri is a professional drummer and instructor based out of Hamilton Ontario. Matt’s journey as a drummer began nearly 20 years ago, playing in numerous local acts before studying Music at Mohawk College. After completing his music degree, he began performing and recording with some of Canada's top artists such as Alessia Cara, Jesse Labelle, Brian Melo, and joining the award-winning roots-rock band The Redhill Valleys in 2017. Above all else, Matt has a never-ending passion for drumming as an art form which he hopes to pass onto future generations of drummers and musicians alike.

Josh began his professional career as a musician at age 15, and soon after he started touring with bands nationally before attending Mohawk College to pursue a diploma in Jazz performance. After Graduating in 2006 Josh put his main focus on gigging/ recording and touring internationally. Over the past close to 20 years he has played with many artists such as Leaving Sangster, LoFi, Then General Lee, Katelyn Dawn (Canada's Next Top Model), Red Light King, Fiction and many more.

Brandon Wild has formal education in classical piano, jazz guitar, music theory, and music cognition. He is experienced in teaching a variety of styles, whether it be classical, jazz, pop, folk—even medieval plainchant!

Alexandra Moushi is a pianist, composer and teacher with 9 years of experience and knowledge gained at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts. Alexandra earned her Grade 9 piano and Grade 8 theory certification from the Royal Conservatory of Music and currently working towards her ARCT. A graduate from Mohawk College's music program, she has earned her diploma in Classical Piano and has been teaching piano and theory with students of all ages and abilities.  Alexandra has prepared multiple students for piano exams and believes that it is never too late to start learning.

Julian Grande is a drummer and music instructor from Hamilton, Ontario. Having played from a young age, Julian has developed a passion for performing and teaching across styles including rock, funk, jazz, and progressive music. He is currently studying Computer Science at the University of Guelph while pursuing a minor in Music. Julian enjoys helping students build their skills, confidence, and appreciation for drumming in a fun and supportive environment.

Frances is a graduate of the Applied Music program at Mohawk College and obtained First Class Honours in Grade 10 Piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has been a clarinetist with the Hamilton Concert Band and the McMaster Concert Band and for six years was the Music Director at a New Thought Church.  For 23 years she taught visually impaired clients at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Fredric is the Director of Music at St. Paul's United Church, Dundas, Ontario. In addition to being organist, he directs many other community groups. He holds both Associate (Peaker Scholarship) and Fellowship degrees from the Royal Canadian College of Organists. He was a featured composer in Organ Canada. He is the past President of the Hamilton Centre of the RCCO, served on the RCCO national examinations committee and lead music workshops.

Hilary holds an Honours BMus in Voice Performance from Western (2023) and is a music teacher with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. In addition to voice, Hilary has also studied piano, guitar, flute and ukulele. Being an Avalon Alumni herself, music has always been her primary focus including working in many capacities with Theatre Ancaster both on stage and off. Hilary is excited to share her love of music with all her students! 

Jessica teaches voice, piano, theory and public presentations, guiding students through the Royal Conservatory of Music levels and exams. A lifelong learner and a strong advocate for music education, Jessica continues to study advanced voice, sings in a local choir and is a board director for a music festival.

Malcom is a guitar player and music teacher with a profound passion for education and learning. As a Mohawk College graduate, his teaching approach is based on personal challenge, curiosity and versatility - his students understand the possibilities of their instruments and the many ways they can express themselves through music. Malcom teaches the balance between the mechanical motions, mental processes and emotional responses of playing an instrument - no matter the genre.

Clara has been playing violin for 12 years and is currently a member of the Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Through her own experience learning the violin, she understands that developing technique takes patience and consistent practice. She also enjoys helping younger students build confidence and develop strong fundamentals at their own pace. She hopes to create an encouraging environment where students can enjoy music while steadily developing their skills.

Taylor Frisina is a Hamilton-based performer, choreographer, vocal and piano teacher. She is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she earned her Master’s degree in Musical Theatre. Since returning to Canada, Taylor has continued to perform across the Hamilton and Greater Toronto Area, with credits including Monty Python’s Spamalot (Lady of the Lake) and Into the Woods (The Witch), as well as appearances as a soloist with orchestras across the GTA. Taylor is deeply passionate about teaching and mentoring young performers. She focuses on building strong technical foundations while helping students become confident, expressive, and connected to the material they’re working on. Taylor is extremely passionate about creating an environment where students feel safe to take risks, explore their artistry, and develop a genuine love for music.

Parker is an experienced guitarist with a background in song writing and an education in audio engineering from the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology. He plays both electric and acoustic guitar, with a strong background in rock, metal, and fingerstyle playing. Parker takes a song-based approach to learning, helping students build their skills by learning music they genuinely enjoy.