Our wonderful volunteers!
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Connaught Public School
Cathy Doolan Georges Khalaf Vicki Kohse Morgan Mees Dmitri Ng Rosemary Scully Vincent Massey Public School Nicole Bergen Garrett Fairman Nina Hadžimustafić Libny Laele Promi Paul Manor Park Public School Juliahna Hill Jahnusha Shiraam Alison Wu |
York Street Public School
Katie Cardwell Nimi Durowaye Olivia Facchin Ashley Hagerman Monica Kim Emma McBride-Williams Alex McSween Clarissa Ngo Hannah Poisson Ava Rahimpour Antonia Romaninisn Sara Saba Emily Tran Bryan Marr Queen Elizabeth Public School Catherine Costain |
Our awesome executives!
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Co-Director
Nina Hadžimustafić MSc. Biochemistry How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 5th year! Why did you want to join HCPP? Musical education is a wonderful thing for children, but it is also a great luxury and is unfortunately not available to most. I joined HCPP because I believe that anyone that desires to learn to play piano should have the opportunity to do so because music has had a very positive influence on my life. What do you want to accomplish in the position this year? This year my goal is to successfully expand our program to tackle not only financial-based accessibility in music, but also health-related accessibility in order to increase the network of individuals that can experience playing piano. What’s your favourite piano piece? My favourite piece has always been Barcarolle (June) by Tchaikovsky (Click here to listen!), but the piece I’ve most enjoyed playing is Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso, Opus 14 (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent… Most of my spare time is spent composing new music! |
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Co-Director
Tiffany Lau Computer Science How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 2nd year with HCPP! Why did you want to join HCPP? In a nutshell, I wanted to join HCPP to help make music accessible to more children in our community. Music has been this amazing part of my life growing up, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to study music. I believe that every child should have this wonderful opportunity to discover music and to grow this potential passion. What do you want to accomplish in the position this year? My main objective this year is to build a stronger connection between our executive team, volunteers, and participating schools to keep providing the students with an unforgettable experience of discovering music through piano lessons and successfully expanding this program to reach more children in our community. What’s your favourite piano piece? I have many favourite piano pieces, but "River Flows in You" by Yiruma is one that means a lot to me. Your free time is usually spent… Hanging out with friends, crocheting small animals, playing the Chinese zither, and mostly daydreaming! |
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Co-Director
Aaron Groh Law and Music Combined Honours How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 3rd year with HCPP! Why did you want to join HCPP? I’ve been studying music since I was 4 years old, and it’s something I’ve always been, and always will be, extremely grateful for. I’ve also been volunteering and working with youth for a number of years now, and this is the perfect program to share what I’m so passionate about, with children who may otherwise not get this opportunity. What do you want to accomplish in the position this year? This year, I'll be working to expand the program into the south-east areas of Ottawa, and establish us as a club with Carleton! The more children we can provide lessons to, the better for everyone. What’s your favourite piano piece? My favorite piano piece is Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Franz Liszt (Click here to listen!), or perhaps Un Sospiro, also by Liszt (Click here to listen!). Your free time is usually spent… Studying, reading, practicing piano, or playing volleyball! |
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Co-Director in Training
Laura Mardiros Biomedical Sciences How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 1st year with HCPP! Why did you want to join HCPP? Music has been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I had the opportunity to take piano lessons. Through these lessons, I not only learned how to play an instrument but also important life skills such as patience, discipline and using constructive criticism as a way to better myself. Playing piano was also my favourite way to unwind and deal with stress. I joined HCPP because I would like to be able to offer this same luxury to other children, in a more accessible way. What do you want to accomplish in the position this year? My goal is to fully learn the ropes to be as good of a co-director as possible next year (as I'm currently in training). I hope to be able to ensure that the executive team members all feel comfortable in their roles and apart of a team. I also hope to be able to achieve whatever goals my students will want to take on, whether it be learning a longer piece or being able to read a few notes. What’s your favourite piano piece? Ancora by Ludovico Einaudi...really anything by Ludovico Einaudi! Your free time is usually spent… Studying, reading, painting, hanging out with friends! |
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Senior Advisor
Valeria Dimitrova Masters of Arts in Music How long have you been part of HCPP? 8th year in HCPP Why did you want to join HCPP? To give kids the chance to cultivate confidence and practice their passion! What do you want to accomplish in the position this year? Help this program flourish. My big dream has also for this program to expand to French-speaking schools in the Ottawa area too! What’s your favourite piano piece? "Idylle" from "10 Pièces Pictoresques" by Emmanuel Chabrier (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent… If not reading or studying, I often spend time with family and friends. 🤓 |
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Director of Communications
Sophia Lo Nursing How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 4th year volunteering with HCPP! Why did you want to join HCPP? After hearing about how these individuals took the time to teach piano to those who may not have the chance to learn otherwise, I knew that this was an organization I had to be a part of. Music has been a huge part of my life for a long time and I hope to share my passion for it with future generations! What do you want to accomplish in the position this year? My hope is that through this role, I'm able to share what we do and inspire others to join HCPP and grow with us! What’s your favourite piano piece? Without a doubt, my favourite piece is La fille aux cheveux de lin by Claude Debussy (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent… Eating! I love trying new types of food, restaurants, cafes, all of the above! |
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Fundraising Officer
Clarissa Ngo Biomedical Science How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 1st year with HCPP. Why did you want to join HCPP? My own exposure to music & piano as a child has given me a lifelong hobby that still has such a positive impact on my life now. I joined HCPP to help share the benefits of music education with children that may not otherwise have access to it! What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? I hope to plan more events to raise funds for the program, and use these events as an opportunity to promote the program to more university students! What is your favourite piano piece? Chopin - Waltz Op.69 No.2 (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent... Hanging out with friends, studying, reading, or going to the gym! |
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Graphic Designer
Miranda Charles Masters in Spanish How long have you been part of HCPP? 6th year in HCPP Why did you want to join HCPP? I joined the HCPP in my first year to get back in touch with piano. Now, as I am entering my Masters I'm proud to say that I have been with the club for 6 years as the graphic designer. What do you want to accomplish in the position this year? I hope to continue designing for the HCPP and create new initiatives to help the program grow. What’s your favourite piano piece? Claude Debussy's Arabesque No.1 (Click here to listen) Your free time is usually spent… Painting and listening to music. Generally with a cup of tea in my hand! |
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Hospital Program Coordinator
Rahna Rasouli Biomedical Science (Minor in Music) How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 1st year! Why did you want to join HCPP? Music is something deeply human, and something that has had a very significant impact on my life for the past 16 years. Despite its beneficial impact on so many people, music lessons are still inaccessible to many. HCPP is doing amazing work in creating equal opportunity locally, and this is something I hope to advocate for a long time! What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? I want to expand the reach of HCCP to children in the hospital who do not have access to music lessons! I hope that this can bring both routine and happiness to hospitalized children. What is your favourite piano piece? Fantaisie Impromptu Op. 66 by Chopin! (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent... Playing sonatinas 5x faster than they're supposed to be played because I have no teacher to tell me not to anymore...or doing some weird stuff in the lab! |
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Volunteer Recruitment Officer
Ruth Abebe Health Sciences How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 2nd year volunteering with HCPP. Why did you want to join HCPP? I wanted the chance to share the gift of music with children who may not have the opportunity. Music is such an important part of my life and I wanted to be part of a club that could give children the chance to learn an instrument, providing them with a chance to develop their skills and confidence. What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? As Volunteer Recruitment Officer, I will strive to expand the reach of the program to as many children as possible by recruiting more volunteers. What is your favourite piano piece? Summertime by Oscar Peterson (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent... Reading, listening to music and playing piano. |
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School Coordinator - Connaught Public School
Rosemary Scully Honours Biology How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my 2nd year with HCPP! Why did you want to join HCPP? As a child, I always enjoyed learning how to play the piano and I wanted to help other children experience the joy of music and piano playing the same way I did. HCPP is a great organization that makes that possible! What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? I hope to create a theory curriculum that can make the process of starting to learn piano smoother for both the students and teachers. I also hope to have many volunteer piano teachers at Connaught! What is your favourite piano piece? Beauty and the Beast by Alan Menken arranged by Phillip Keveren Your free time is usually spent... Reading! I love sitting down and enjoying a good book. I also enjoy really enjoy spending time with my family! |
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School Coordinator - Vincent Massey Public School
Sophie Gregoire-Mitha Biomedical Sciences How long have you been part of HCPP? This is my first year with Heart of the City Piano. Why did you want to join HCPP? I wanted to join HCPP because I love music, it's a huge part of my life, and I wanted to be able to help other people experience the joy it can bring to your life. What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? I hope that through my position, I can smoothly coordinate volunteer teachers and students so that these students can benefit from getting music lessons. What is your favourite piano piece? Reverie by Debussy (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent... Reading, hanging out with friends, and watching Netflix. |
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School Coordinator - Manor Park Public School
Juliahna Hill Biology How long have you been part of HCPP? 3 years in HCPP Why did you want to join HCPP? I originally wanted to join HCPP because I had believed that it would, for one, to have the chance to give the gift of music to the children and awaken their musical talents, and two, keep me accountable for maintaining my piano skills even with the everyday business of life. While this is true, I have found that this philosophy have shifted throughout my time with HCPP, my reason being for wanting to stay involved with the program is because of the pride that I feel when I have to opportunity to be the one to give the tools of musical skills to my students and to watch them grow in their musical talents and confidence. There are no ways to describe how amazing it is so see how happy they are after their performance at the end of the year piano recital! What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? Knowing that there is a large interest for piano lessons at the Manor Park school, and the fact that the aren't enough volunteers to accommodate this, I would like to accomplish recruiting more volunteers to Manor Park this year, so that all the interested students could be accommodated. What is your favourite piano piece? Currently, my favorite piano piece is Dvorak's Humoresque Opus 101, No.7 in G flat major (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent... Reading, studying, exercising, educating people via articles and social media about environmental impact and its solutions, and helping and of course practicing the piano. |
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School Coordinator - York Street Public School
Alex McSween MSc Mathematics How long have you been part of HCPP? 4th year in HCPP Why did you want to join HCPP? I love working with kids and I love piano so it was a great opportunity to combine those two things! What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? I hope to get the vocal program established at York Street and I hope to integrate a little bit more theory into the piano lessons so the kids are getting a well rounded experience. What is your favourite piano piece? Anything from Charlie Brown Christmas! Your free time is usually spent... My mathematics research takes up most of my time but I also love to garden, bake and am learning to crochet! |
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Vocal Program Coordinator - York Street Public School
Bryan Marr Biomedical Science How long have you been part of HCPP? 2nd year in HCPP Why did you want to join HCPP? I wanted to make a difference through my passion for music! What do you want to accomplish in your position this year? This year I hope to get the vocal music program up and running. What is your favourite piano piece? Comptin d'un autre été: L'Après-Midi by Yann Tiersen (Click here to listen!) Your free time is usually spent... Either studying or singing. |
