Kathryn is one of our Directors at Inspire Arts Academy. She holds a degree in Flute Performance from the University of Victoria and has been teaching and performing Flute and Piano full time for the past 17 years. Kathryn's passion is to make music a life long part of her students lives by allowing them to have fun and enjoy learning new music while teaching them to communicate in their own musical voice. She also encourages ensemble playing from chamber music to orchestral performances and hopes to develop a rich ensemble program at Inspire Arts. Kathryn specializes in preparing students for auditions, festivals and Royal Conservatory of Music Exams up to the ARCT level. Inspire Arts Academy is the fruition of her dream to bring the very best of instructors together in a creative and energized environment that enhances the musical experience for the community of Surrey.

Paula is one of our Directors at Inspire Arts Academy. She has been a full-time teacher in our community for the past 11 years with a wait list of students. Paula holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia with a major in Opera Performance.  Paula has performed for numerous Fringe Festivals, in Edmonton and Athabasca Alberta; as Rose Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s “Street Scene” at the Arts Club, and she has performed with Vancouver’s Sing-along Messiah. Inspire Arts Academy is the realization of her long-time vision to create an encouraging environment for students and Instructors to flourish, nurture talents and raise the bar for Performing Arts.

Elizabeth comes to Inspire with a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet performance from UBC and is a Registered Music Teacher. She has been a Church Music Director for 25+ years, and brings with her 30+ years private teaching experience that includes Exam, Festival and Recital preparation. Elizabeth enjoys teaching all ages, has successful and positive experience working with special needs students such as blindness or autism. Elizabeth’s philosophy is that Music teaching is about inspiring a lifelong passion for music, and that along the way students learn discipline, skills, coordination and the joy of striving for perfection.

Laurel has been teaching Violin in our community for the past 13 years. Laurel was educated at the Royal Conservatory of Music (with Honours) and holds her degree from the University of British Columbia. Laurel brings the students of Inspire her extensive training in the International Suzuki Method as well as Music Theory and the Royal Conservatory of Music Exam preparation.

We are very happy to add Chris to our impressive list of Inspiring Instructors!  Chris comes to Inspire Arts Academy from KPU’s Music program. He shares an emphasis on quality, a passion for teaching, and a desire to play music continuously.  Chris is an accomplished Jazz Combo and Big Band Drummer, Wind Symphony Percussionist –including Timpani, Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone, Djembe, Bongos, and Cymbals. For the past 3 years, Chris has enjoyed being the drummer for Lowkey –a Jazz Quintet, performing throughout the lower mainland.

Tristan began his post-secondary music education at Capilano University where he obtained diplomas in piano, voice and conducting. He later graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice from University of Victoria, where he received the Bea Scott Voice Scholarship in 2014. He was also the recipient of the City of White Rock Award for Music in 2010. Aside from his vocal studies, Tristan is an accomplished pianist, organist and guitarist, having received instruction in classical and jazz at both universities. He has sung with several highly acclaimed vocal ensembles such as Laudate Singers, Vox Humana, and more recently the Vancouver Opera Chorus. Furthermore, Tristan has been actively teaching and performing for many years, having appeared as a tenor soloist with the UVIC Orchestra and Chorus, UVIC Chamber Singers, and the Vancouver Bach Choir.

Keely is a working musician who has spent her life consuming, living and breathing performing arts. She first discovered her love for performing through musical theatre and piano at a young age, while other instruments and voice soon followed. Keely has been playing bass professionally in both her own band and for others for over five years now. She has also directed, stage managed and acted in a variety of productions. The crossover of her interests gives her invaluable versatility. She holds her Bachelor of Arts from SFU and advocates for the importance of performing arts in our communities. Keely looks forward to helping her students discover a similar passion for music and theatre.

Jaideen is a piano, guitar and voice teacher here at Inspire. Jaideen is currently studying music therapy at Capilano University and is completing her 1000 hour internship. Jaideen has practiced music therapy with seniors in long-term care homes, teens, adults with mental health disorders, and with children of all ages. Jaideen integrates many music therapy techniques into her teaching at Inspire helping students develop a healthy relationship with music while advancing their skills. 

Dean Scott is a highly sought-after musician and educator, firstly for his skill as a master trumpet player, and secondly as a teacher of all brass instruments, as well as saxophone and clarinet. He is experienced in diverse number of musical styles and is known for his ability to ground his students in a solid technical base. He communicates effectively with all age groups and is at ease running an efficient, yet fair rehearsal environment. He has taught at Inspire Academy for five years, and teaches at Fountainview Academy (Lillooet, BC), and is formerly a faculty member at Trinity Western University (Langley, BC). He is frequently sought after as a band clinician and brass specialist for band and orchestra programs.

As a solo performer, Dean is known for having a strong, pure tone and an exceptionally broad range – a trait necessary for big band lead playing. He is also known as a proficient piccolo trumpet player and is a lover of baroque and classical music. While doing his undergraduate work at Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA) Dean toured Hungary as a trumpet soloist and ensemble member of their Collegium Musicum, playing works by Bach, Scarlatti, and Michael Haydn. Currently, he is co-founder of SHEANDO ENSEMBLE, where he performs trumpet and soprano repertoire with Dolores Scott, his wife and artistic director of Young People’s Opera Society of BC.

Morgan Misic’s passion for acting is undoubtedly her greatest asset. She started her career here in Surrey at the young age of ten working as a background performer on multiple movies. She began taking acting lessons the following fall to improve herself and her desire to become a working principal actor. She’s had numerous opportunities working with industry professionals thanks to graduating from Capilano University’s Acting for Stage and Screen Program. She has pursued her acting education in New York City studying at the Neighborhood School of the Theatre. Upon returning she managed to start a successful small independent Theatre Company “Quand Même”, where she produced, directed and starred in. Morgan continues to audition for Film/TV here in the lower mainland with CUE Agency.

Hyun Seung Son is a DMA (Doctor of Musical Art) candidate of UBC School of Music and a native Korean Baritone.

He achieved his Master’s degree at the Mannes College of Music (Class of 2003) in New York City and his Bachelor of Music is from Chung-Ang University in Seoul, Korea (1999). He studied with Nancy Hermiston, James Patrick Raftery, Peter Barcza in Canada and MO. Joseph Collaneri, MO. Ted Taylor, Ruth Falcon, Thomas G. Cultice, Susan Woodruff Versage, and Susan Caldwell in New York City.

He sang various Italian opera roles and Arias for Concert and Opera in New York City; ‘Count’ from “The Marriage of Figaro”, ‘Scarpia’ from “Tosca”, ‘Rigoletto’ from “Rigoletto”, ‘Dulcamara’ from “Lelisir D’amore”, etc. He sang ‘John’ from “Counsel”, ‘Music Teacher’ from “Ariadne auf Naxos”, ‘Micahele’ from “Il Tabarro”, ‘Ponchel’ from “Silent Night”, ‘Speaker’ from “Magic Flute” with UBC Opera. He also has musical theatre repertoire to teach like “Miss Saigon”, “Les Miserable”, “Into the Woods”, “Phantom of the Opera” and many other musical theatre music. He performed world premiere musical productions in South Korea.

Chris was born in Montreal Quebec and moved to BC when he was five. Soon after, his love of music surfaced. His mother played jazz piano and his father played British invasion guitar mixed with the blues. So from an early age Chris had plenty of influences to choose from. When he was nine years old, his brother gave him a fretless bass and he received more guitars from his parents for birthdays over the next few years, including a fender Stratocaster when he turned 16.

After playing in bands during high school, Chris attended Capilano University where he studied jazz. Following university, he played professionally in live studio situations for the next 20 years.

He then switched from studio work to teaching and has been giving lessons for the last six years. Chris takes great pleasure introducing people to music, watching them develop their skills and talents and hearing the tangible results.

Chris developed his musical ear very early. From the age of nine he was learning songs off the radio and from his favorite albums. After his time at Capilano University Chris immediately got a gig with a band playing guitar and didn’t stop touring and playing locally in various bands on various instruments for the next 15 years. Chris’s broad experience with different musicians audiences and musical styles makes him a great fit for the rock band program. He has experience on guitar vocals keyboards bass and drums. Also having been a member of different bands he has an idea as to what works as far as arrangements go not to mention how to keep morale up and energy high.


Chris finds it very satisfying to teach students how to take a song and make it their own while still being faithful to the original version.

Samantha Dowdell is an educator and multi-instrumentalist who loves working with beginner students wanting to get their first handle on an instrument.

Samantha completed her teaching degree at UBC specializing in the Middle Years (ages 9-12). She has worked closely with and is inspired by vocalist teachers and choir directors such as Carrie Tenant, and Chersea.

Samantha is a middle school teacher during the day, teaching English, Math, and her favourite subject: Science. She is session musician by night, working with a variety of pop, RnB and folk acts throughout the lower mainland.

As a professional vocalist, she has had the pleasure of singing venues all over the lower mainland, including the Vogue theatre on the Granville strip and the Festival of Lights at English Bay. With over a decade’s worth of teaching experience, working with kids and adults is what Samantha feels like she has always done, and will always do.

James graduated from the University of KPU with a Bachelors of Music. He started playing the electric bass twelve years ago and soon picked up the double bass shortly after that. Playing rock music has always been his first love and he still plays with his light blues, funk band named HydroTaxi. He has also played with numerous jazz bands, including the Bruce James Orchestra and the Kwantlen jazz ensemble.

James has taught private lessons out of his home studio and in other students homes for the past couple years. He believes that music should be something that is an enjoyable and fun process for the student. He enjoys helping students find their passion for music.

Sevan Kochkarian is a lyric coloratura soprano from Vancouver BC. Sevan began her musical journey at the age of 8 when she was enrolled in piano lessons and joined the Vancouver Children’s Choir. At the age of 11 she started her private voice lessons and started dance classes at Precision Dance Academy. In her teenage years she studied at Vancouver Academy of Music with an Emphasis in Opera before heading to McGill University getting her bachelor’s and Master’s in Opera and Voice performance. Sevan has been seen performing all over Canada and Europe. Some of her roles include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Morgana in Alcina, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Mabel in Pirates of Penzances, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Rita in Rita, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Paquette in Candide and many more. Opera Canada has written two reviews on her hailing her voice: “Beautiful and sings with a huge range of emotions” and claiming to have played her characters with “Sensitivity, and nuance and a true feeling of desire”. Sevan also studied at the Vancouver Acting School + Railtown Actors Studio for 5 years and was with Premiere Talent Agency doing TV and Film work. In addition to Opera, Sevan also has a huge passion for Musical Theatre and has performed in countless productions. Her roles include Eponine in Les Misérables, Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal, Ariel Moore in Footloose, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Mayzie La Bird in Seussical, and more.

While she still is performing, Sevan is eager and excited to share her knowledge with the next generation of performers and hopes to inspire them to pursue their dreams in performing.

Miss Cindy is a fun and insightful music instructor, performer and stage choreographer. Her initial training was classically, in piano and voice. She later directed youth choirs while attending Grant McEwan College in Edmonton, AB for her Dance Diploma.  She then furthered her musical education at Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, CA, with a strong focus on vocal training, where she found further opportunities to perform, and participate in recording projects. 

She has since entertained in pop/rock bands, jazz trios, and musical theatre productions, where she was able to use her ability to act, dance and sing all on one stage. However, she equally enjoys developing, encouraging and promoting young talent. In 2013 she produced and directed the Okanagan Performing Arts Showcase, providing young emerging artists exposure and further experience ‘on stage’ and in studio. She currently performs as a back-up singer /dancer for the JOE COCKER EXPERIENCE, and lead singer in a local funk/rock band, and jazz trio.

Cindy has been teaching and ‘inspiring’ students for 16 years. She has choreographed stage movement for bands and theatre groups in Kelowna, taught musical theatre in Langley and has been called upon regularly to adjudicate teen talent competitions and hold workshops at local colleges on subjects such as the music business, approaches to song writing, sound therapy and understanding the mechanics of vocal production.

James Tseung is a multi-instrumentalist specialised in drum set, composer, and arranger originally from Hong Kong, finishing his music degree in percussion at Trinity Western University.

His playing experience includes concert band, jazz combo, church worship team, rock/pop band, and theatre production.

Other than performing, James also composes for films, art projects, and the TWU jazz combo. One of his highlights of being a composer is composing for the 50-foot high bell tower located at TWU. Over the years he has been using both digital audio workstation and scoring software to compose, where he currently has five releases of his original works on streaming platforms.

James is looking forward to inspiring his students to express themselves using music as a language, and cultivate a lifelong relationship with music.