Arlene Watson is from Toronto and has always had a love of the piano. Her formal training began at age four and she very quickly progressed to completing the requirements for The Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 8 Examination at the age of nine years old. Arlene studied under the tutelage of Clifford Poole and Margaret Parsons at the RCM. She was on scholarship for a number of years there and entered many music competitions, performing on many stages. She also took up the violin, cello and organ. Arlene went on to a career teaching piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music for 20 years before deciding to open her own music school.

She is the Director of the Etobicoke Conservatory of Music and holds an ARCT in Piano Performance from The Royal Conservatory of Music, with studies in Kodaly, Orff and Dalcroze Eurythmics at the University of Toronto.

Arlene works closely with RCM Examinations and is the Examination Representative for the Etobicoke Centre. As such she is the contact person for examination candidates, their parents and teachers in the community.

Mike Archer is an electric and acoustic bassist from Warkworth, a small town in eastern Ontario. Mike began playing at a young age often performing with two of his brothers. They formed a rock band, Scrap Metal, (www.myspace.com/scrapmetalrocks) that had notable success locally as well as in Toronto. Scrap Metal was featured in Gasoline Magazine and also opened for April Wine. Upon entering high school, Mike became interested in jazz and began studying with Canadian rock legend Ken Tizzard (The Watchmen, Thornley). Mike gigged regularly throughout his high school years with Scrap Metal and a jazz trio that he co-led. After high school Mike applied to Humber College in Toronto and was accepted into the Bachelor of Music program on a scholarship. While attending Humber College, Mike began to play with Toronto locals and he is now gigging regularly in the Greater Toronto Area. He has performed and recorded with Don Thompson, Pat LaBarbera, and Paul DeLong amongst others. If you are interested in seeing Mike play, he is currently gigging as a part of The 24th Street Wailers (www.myspace.com/the24thstreetwailers).  Recently named finalists in the Toronto Blues Society Talent Search, The 24th Street Wailers are a dynamic up and coming Blues band.  Mike and the other members in The 24th Street Wailers also appeared on the new album (DeltaPhonic) for Electro-Fi Records with multiple Maple Blues Award Winners Chris Whiteley and Diana Braithwaite.  Mike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Contemporary Music from Humber College.

Nevin Dunn is a professional saxophone player from Nova Scotia, who is now based in Toronto. His style of performing includes Jazz, Rock, R&B, and Funk.

With a background in classical piano, he studied at the Berklee College of Music, Boston MA, on a full scholarship. Nevin's experience has taken him to Cuba promoting music education and performance through cultural exchange in local music schools on behalf of "Las Primos Project". More recently Nevin majored in saxophone at Humber College in the Bachelor of Applied Music program.

His mentors include Pat Labarbera, Jeff Goodspeed, Chris Mitchell, Mark Promane and Alex Dean. He has performed in venues across Canada, including the Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival and the Ottawa Jazz Festival with the Summit Big Band 2009.

Sarah Nicole Graydon-Pennetti, Mezzo-Soprano, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from York University where she had the privilege to study voice with Catherine Robin, Karen Rymal and Albert Greer. In addition to her studies in voice, she has studied acoustic guitar and piano and recently began cello lessons with Susan Nacache. She has seven years of experience in arts administration with The Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations including five years as the Manager of the College of Examiners.

Sarah Nicole enjoys performing as a soloist at weddings and events across the GTA. She has a love for choral singing and has sung with the Mississauga Choral Society, York University Choirs, and as a chorister for opera productions with Royal Opera Canada and Opera Mississauga. She received The Patricia and Robert Martin Award and The Orpheus Award for outstanding achievement in adjudicated vocal performance.

Lorienne Swales was born in Derby, England and began her musical education there in piano at the age of 6.

Lorienne holds an ARCT in Voice Performance from The Royal Conservatory of Music and LTCL from Trinity College, London England. She is currently pursuing the Fellowship from Trinity College. In addition, she has grade 8 Piano from the Royal Conservatory and Level 2 in Kodaly.

Lorienne has won scholarships from RCM, Canadian National Exhibition, Contemporary Showcase and the Aspen School of Music in Colorado.
Some of her Opera roles have included “San Tuzza” in Cavalleria Rusticana, “Leonora” from Il Trovatore, and “Tosca” from the opera Tosca with JHS Opera. Pantomime roles include Prince Charming from Cinderella and Gretchen in Mother Goose.

Lorienne has performed in solo recitals with Victoria Royce Presbyterian Church in their Recital Series. She has been a Soprano Soloist in a number of churches in Toronto and has 11 years experience teaching private vocal lessons as well as Choral Director.