Meet Our Instructors!

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Piano, Flute

BA, RCM Certified Teacher, ARCT

Growing up in a musical family Kendra has been surrounded by the love of music her entire life.  Her mother was a piano teacher and took every opportunity to get Kendra up on any stage and perform to help build confidence and experience as a child.  Fast forward to today Kendra has fostered that love of music through teaching piano and flute lessons to students of all ages as well as providing music and movement classes to young children over the past 24 years.

As a music teacher, her aim is to help students develop a lifelong love of music.  In her music lessons, she provides opportunities for each student to become problem solvers and independent learners, as they find their artistic voices through learning music.  Music has a way of bringing students out of their shells and sparking individuality and she loves to watch the character development happen in each lesson.

Kendra finds it very rewarding teaching her students and loves to watch when her students grasp a concept and the satisfaction each student gets with it.  Music lessons become a unique experience for every student.  It’s amazing to watch students perform at recitals, festivals, and exams and see their confidence grow right before everyone’s eyes.

Voice, Beginner Piano

Alexander is a versatile vocalist, actor, and dancer based in Milton, with over three years of professional performance experience across North America. In 2023, he captivated audiences as part of the mainstage cast of Cats Young Actors Edition and is thrilled to reunite with Shepherd Private Coaching. Recently, he completed an eight-month contract with Disney Cruise Line aboard the Disney Fantasy, where he honed his craft and is eager to share his insights with others.

As a teacher, Alexander empowers students to define their musical journeys. Having been self-taught for much of his childhood, his passion for learning led him to explore various genres. He draws on this experience to guide his students as they discover their unique musical interests. There’s nothing more fulfilling for Alexander than witnessing a student grasp a new concept, especially when it connects to their personal experiences.

Choreography, MainStage, Recreational Dance

Piano, Flute

Minira Najafzade was born into a family of musicians and made her orchestral debut at the age of six, performing Berkovich’s Concerto in her native Azerbaijan. She is the winner of numerous prestigious competitions across France, Italy, the USA, Spain, Russia, Canada, and beyond. Minira has performed in renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Philharmonic Hall, and the Mediterranean Centre.

Minira holds two master’s degrees in piano performance — one from the Baku Academy of Music and another from the University of Toronto. In addition to her work as a pianist, she is a respected vocal coach at the University of Toronto and is active as a collaborator with singers, instrumentalists, and as a music director for operatic productions.

With over seven years of teaching experience, Minira is dedicated to creating a supportive and inspiring learning environment for students of all ages. Her teaching philosophy centers on following each student’s passion and interests, encouraging them to explore their musicality in ways that are meaningful to them. She believes in fostering creativity, confidence, and curiosity, and tailors her approach to nurture each student’s unique potential while building solid technical and artistic foundations. Many of Minira’s students successfully perform at festivals, competitions, and concerts, and achieve excellent results in Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations.

Acting for Film & TV

Alma Sarai is an actor and arts advocate working in Burlington, Hamilton and Toronto. A graduate of UTM Sheridan's Theatre and Drama Studies program, she's gone on to perform in an extensive list of theatre projects with Tottering Biped Theatre, It's a Mystery to Me and Shakespearience, as well as film and voiceover; the former, most notably, as a featured role in Canadian Screen Award Winning Short Documentary "Patty vs. Patty", the latter of which include roles ranging from popular kids' program Finny The Shark, to commercial clients like Stella Artois. She also sings with Myriad Ensemble, an upper voices choir in Burlington. 

When she isn't acting or teaching, Alma also works with various other local adult and youth programs, helping to promote youth education and development through the arts. 

Creative Director

Piano, Voice, MainStage, LeadHERship, Zumbini