Exceptional Musical Arts Programming in Calgary
Energize yourself through music with immersive programs designed by award-winning experts for all ages and stages.
Cassa Piano Immersive (Ages 9-19)
July 12-16, 2027 9:00am-5:00pm Recitals: Thursday July 15, 2027 at 6:00pm or 7:30pm & Friday July 16, 2027 at 2:00pm
Early Bird Registration Fee: $479, Fee After May 15: $529
Cassa Piano is an exciting five-day experience for pianists level 3 RCM/CC and up, to explore the many facets of piano playing in a supportive, fun atmosphere that promotes a positive attitude towards practising and performing. Students are coached in prepared solo repertoire and new ensemble pieces. Students attend classes in musical style, interpretation, memorization, technique and performance anxiety. Classes in choir, art, and improvisation are also offered.
The Cassa Piano composers of the year will be Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann. Students will learn more about these featured composers and may perform a piece written by either Chopin or Schumann during the program.
Guest Artist: Jarred Dunn
Experts: Joseph Fridman, Linda Kundert, Darcy van Helden, Dr. Karen Gerelus, Marianne van der Sloot and Carlo Santos.
Supervisors: Georgeanne van Helden
Special Guest Instructors: Jennifer Aumentado (Piano Improvisation Instructor), Lorna MacLachlan (Choir Director), Leanne Simpson-Cole(Movement Instructor)
Cassa Piano Mentors: Abram Schwonik, Kaslyn Chan, Joel Cook, Lucy Zabawski, Nate Lopaschuk
Cassa Guitar Immersive (Ages 9 - Adult)
July 5-9, 2027 9am-12pm Brentview Baptist Church
Fees: Early bird $249, after May 15 $299
Ignite your passion for music this summer with Cassa Guitar Immersive, a fun and engaging half-day program designed for players at all skill levels. Students will dive deep into the world of guitar through hands-on instruction, creative exploration, and collaborative music-making—all in a supportive environment.
With small teacher-to-student ratios, each day blends skill-building and creativity, helping students grow in confidence while developing real musical ability. Students will learn proper technique, chords, scales, strumming and picking patterns, rhythm, and music theory, while also exploring improvisation, and ensemble playing.
What Students Will Experience
Daily guitar instruction tailored to skill level
Learning popular songs across multiple styles
Rhythm training and ensemble playing
Music games and creative challenges
Performance skills and confidence building
The week culminates in a casual showcase, where students get the chance to perform for friends and family to celebrate their progress.
Whether you are picking up a guitar for the first time or ready to take their playing to the next level, this immersive program offers the perfect mix of learning, creativity, and summer fun!
Expert: Brett Gunther
Cassa Creative Music (Age 10 - Adult)
In Person: July 5-9, 2027 9:00am - 3:30pm
Early Bird $349, after May 15 $399
Brentview Baptist Church Cassa Cabaret — Live Band Performance & Reception July 9, 2027 7:00 PM
Have you ever wanted to compose your own music? Do you have ideas for songs, melodies, rhythms or chord progressions that you would like to be able to develop into a complete piece? Are you a player or singer who would like to explore your own musical creativity, but do not know where to start?
Explore songwriting, composition and improvisation while learning how musical ideas grow into complete pieces. Guided by experienced composers and musicians, students develop their creativity and showcase their original work in a showcase.
The Cassa Cabaret performance with a live band will take place on July 9, 2027 7:00pm at Brentview Baptist Church.
This program is for students, aged 10 to adult. Some musical experience is helpful, but it is not necessary. All instrumentalists and voice students are welcome to attend.
Experts: Lorna MacLachlan, Lyudmyla Heath
In-Person: July 12, 2027, 9am-4pm - lunch is included. Brentview Baptist Church
Fee for Teachers: Early Bird $99, after May 15 $119. Fee for Students: Early Bird $49, after May 15 $89.
Online: July 19-20, 2027, 9am-12pm
$89 both sessions, $49 per individual session
Cassa Piano Pedagogy
Cassa Pedagogy offers a thoughtful and enriching exploration of artistry, interpretation, and student development in piano teaching and performance. Through a series of engaging sessions, we examine the intersection of musical insight, technical mastery, and pedagogical understanding to inspire reflective teaching and meaningful musical growth.
The 2027 Piano Pedagogy Sessions will explore the following topics:
1) Advanced Technique: Practice Habits and Repertoire
The phase of technical learning that happens between intermediate to advanced concert repertoire is an important one to grasp. Jarred Dunn will offer tips for the concert repertoire from years of advanced teaching of preparing for competitions and competitive conservatory auditions.
2) Hearing and Understanding the Pedal
Demystify the "soul of the piano" by listening to and employing all types of pedaling. This will be rooted in repertoire examples and demonstrations.
3) The Art of the Chopin Études
Chopin’s fingerings reveal that his approach to piano playing differs from how it is presented in numerous editions of his music. Demonstrations at the piano will compare Chopin fingerings with editors' fingerings, leading to broader questions of editorial fidelity to Chopin’s style and the best editions to teach Chopin.
4) Teaching Robert Schumann's Piano Music
The contemporary interpretation and pedagogy of Robert Schumann’s piano literature remain heavily compromised by an antiquated, reductionist trope: that his music is a mirror of clinical insanity. In masterclass, students often repeat superficial, pathologized narratives, leading to distorted performances. This lecture revises Schumann’s piano works and his historical pathology from these persistent misconceptions.
Guest Artist: Jarred Dunn
Cassa Online Piano Immersive (Ages 9-Adult)
Online: July 19-22, 2027
Early Bird Registration Fee: $349, Fee After May 15: $399
Online Cassa Piano is an exciting four-day experience for pianists level 3 RCM/CC and up, to explore the many facets of piano playing in a supportive atmosphere that promotes a positive attitude towards practising and performing. Students receive some online masterclasses and talks from our Cassa Guest Artist and Expert throughout the week.
Students from age 9 to adults are welcome to join this exciting online piano program. The Guest Artist talks and online masterclasses will culminate with a recital performance on July 22. Dependent on enrollment, students may be split into different age groups for their performances.
The Cassa Piano composers of the year will be Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann. Students will learn more about these featured composers and may perform a piece written by either Chopin or Schumann during the program.
Guest Artist: Jarred Dunn
Experts: TBA depending on enrollment, along with Linda Kundert
Cassa Adult Piano (for Students Age 18+)
July 13-15, 2027, 9:00am-5:00pm Musicale: Thursday July 15, 2027 at 2:00 pm Brentview Baptist Church
Early Bird Pricing: $349, Registration After May 15: $399
Cassa Adult Piano is an exciting three-day experience for adult pianists to explore the many facets of piano playing in a supportive, fun atmosphere that promotes a positive attitude towards practising and performing.
The Cassa Piano composers of the year will be Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann. Students will learn more about these featured composers and may perform a piece written by either Chopin or Schumann during the program.
Guest Artist: Jarred Dunn
Experts: Joseph Fridman, Linda Kundert, Darcy van Helden, Dr. Karen Gerelus, Marianne van der Sloot and Carlo Santos.
Instructor/Supervisor: Georgeanne van Helden
In-person: July 11, 2027 7:00pm (Brentview Baptist Church)
Adults $25, student/senior $20, family (4-6 members) $60 - Tickets available online or at the door.
Join us for an evening of artistry, nuance, and captivating musical storytelling by pianist Jarred Dunn.
This concert is generously supported by Cassa Musical Arts Sponsors, with all proceeds of ticket sales dedicated to support the musical arts programs at Cassa (Charity No.88490 6249 RR0001). That means 100% of your ticket purchases go to enrich our programs for our students. Patrons are encouraged to attend the concert at 7:00pm and the post-concert mingle, where they can meet our instructors, students, mentors-in-training, and mentors, and learn more about our programs.
Come experience outstanding music led by our 2027 Guest Artist, and support our Cassa musical arts programming!
Photos on this page courtesy of: Gus van Helden, Leia Guo and Justin and Sash Photography
March 13, 2027 from 9:00am to 1:15pm (Alberta Time)
Students are invited to participate in an online piano masterclass with our 2027 Cassa Piano Guest Artist, Jarred Dunn, on March 13, 2027.
Each student will receive a full one-hour session with Dr. Dunn. This masterclass is open to students of all ages and experience levels.
Pianist Jarred Dunn won first prize and concerto award at the 7th Lithuanian International Chopin Competition in Vilnius and is a prize winner of the Jan Hoffman International Competition (Kraków). He also won piano and chamber music prizes at D. Vitti, Verona Zinetti, and Rome International Competitions. Described as “a piano sound-colour magician” (Muzikos Barai), “an incredible performer” (TVP), and “technically perfect” (Belarus Radio), he is a Yamaha Artist, Tonebase Artist, and made the CBC Top Thirty Under Thirty list. He is heard on CBC, New Classical 96.3FM, WWFM and WQXR New York, RadioFrance, Belarus First Radio, 98.7 WVMO, PianoPod, and elsewhere. He records for ATMA Classique and Lexicon Classics.
His discography includes Schumann Daydreams (Lexicon), received by the CBC as “Superb” (Tempo) and Górecki’s World of the Piano (ATMA) which was nominated for OpusPrix Contemporary Classical Album of the Year. Other credits include Chopin’s Diary: The Mazurkas, which Fanfare called, “Some of the best Chopin since Rubinstein,” and Brahms in Solitude, for which Piano Professional and LaScena Musicale described him as,
In his repertoire are over forty concerti. He has performed with orchestras in North America and Europe. As a chamber musician he has collaborated with ATMA Quartet, pianists Anna Górecka and Maria João-Pires, cellists Marc Jaermann and Jessica Korotkin, and violinist Anna Kuk. He studied chamber music with Urszula Stańczyk, Marek Moś, and Peter Longworth.
He has been sought for lectures and master classes at The Juilliard School, Royal College of Music (London), Guildhall School, Oberlin College-Conservatory, SMU Meadows, Bydgoszcz Academy, Katowice Academy, and others. He has also taught master classes at the Pre-colleges of the Peabody Institute, Mannes College, and others. He is Artistic Director of Kallmünz Summer Piano Festival. He teaches and performs at summer programs such as Semaine International Piano et Musique de Chambre (Switzerland), Chetham’s International Summer School (UK), and others. He is also a juror for national and international competitions. He is on the Alumni Committee of Aspen Music Festival and School.
His first book was published in 2026: Górecki’s Solo Piano Music (Bloomsbury) and he is currently writing another. His articles are published in pedagogical journals and he presents at conferences annually. While completing his Doctorate at Schulich School of Music of McGill University on a Doctoral Excellence Fellowship, he was invited to its faculty. His artistic work is supported by Canada Council, FRQSC, and the Bader Foundation. He is the recipient of numerous distinctions and awards for his artistic, scholarly, and pedagogical achievements.
Dr. Dunn studied with Andrei Gavrilov, Maria João-Pires, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, Anna Górecka, Andrzej Jasiński, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Dorothy Taubman, and Jacob Lateiner.
Learn more about Jarred at: https://www.jarreddunn.com/
Note: Cassa welcomes observers to Cassa Masterclass. Audience registration is free, and we gratefully welcome any donations here. (Our suggested donation for auditors is $20, and a tax receipt will be issued.) Please register to receive your zoom audience link.