Cassa Musical Theatre (Ages 9-21)

Location: Rehearsals and Performance at GCA Theatre, 16520 24 St SW, Calgary AB
2027 Dates: July 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 & 29 from 9:00am-3:00pm

Performance: July 29, 2027 at 7:00pm
Early Bird fee: $429, after June 15 $469

Are you ready to shine on stage? Join our Musical Theatre Program and immerse yourself in a world of song, dance, and drama! Train with top professionals and receive one-on-one mentorship as you master essential skills like story and character exploration, vocal techniques, solo and group singing, choreography, and set design. This comprehensive program culminates in a spectacular final performance, where you’ll showcase your talents before a live theatre audience and a professional band. Don’t miss this chance to make your musical theatre dreams come true!

This summer’s musical will be announced soon. Stay tuned! ‍

The date of our Open House and Casting Workshop will be announced in the new year.

Spaces limited—Register now!

Don’t let your financial situation be a barrier to joining us. Apply here.

Experts: Jane Dennison, Lyudmyla Heath, Deanne Walsh, Michelle Delisle, Karen Scarlett, Lillith Mitchell

Assistant Coaches: Justine Cherry-Delisle, Tess Coleman

Mentors: Eleanor Reckseidler, Abram Schwonik, Jordan Runions and Savannah King

Mentors-in-Training: Ruby Cassam, Sofia Dennison, Kaslyn Chan, Luke Giardino, Aiden Heath, Hiyab Zeru and Sophia Roggensack

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 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 composer of the year will be Frédéric Chopin. Students will learn more about the featured composer and may perform a piece written by Chopin during the program.

Guest Artist: Jared Dunn

Experts: TBA depending on enrollment, along with Linda Kundert

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) Pedagogical Alliance: Psychological Principles of Learning

What defines excellent teaching for today's students? This lecture is about how teachers can use lessons to effect significant improvement through the psychotherapy concept of working pedagogical alliance. 

3) 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.

4) 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. 

5) 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: Jared Dunn

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

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 ‍

Brentview Baptist Church‍ ‍

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 composer of the year will be Frédéric Chopin. Students will learn more about the featured composer and will perform a piece written by Chopin during the program.

Guest Artist: Jared 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 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 composer of the year will be Frédéric Chopin. Students will learn more about the featured composer and may perform a piece written by Chopin during the program.

Guest Artist: Jared Dunn

Experts: Joseph Fridman, Linda Kundert, Darcy van Helden, Dr. Karen Gerelus, Marianne van der Sloot and Carlo Santos.

Instructor/Supervisor: Georgeanne van Helden