Teaching on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Ella began playing the violin at the age of four and spent the next several years performing at shows and competing on the Ottawa Valley fiddle and step dance contest circuit, with many first place titles to her credit. During this time, she also worked on developing her classical violin technique, preparing for Royal Conservatory of Music levels and as a member of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy.

At nine years old she was recruited by Cirque du Soleil to perform and sing as the central character ‘Zoe’ in Quidam. For the next four years she toured all over the world with the show, and enriched this amazing musical experience by sitting in on Irish sessions throughout Europe, the UK and South America. Since then she has continued to perform with her family at a variety of shows, in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and in the northern United States.

She has also had the privilege of performing for His Royal Highness Prince Edward as a member of the Gloriana String Quartet. Most recently, Ella has been performing as The Fiddler in the popular dinner theatre show Oh Canada, Eh?!

"Ella welcomes the opportunity to delve into her repertoire of Old Time, French Canadian, Bluegrass and Celtic fiddle tunes and share these unique little compositions with fiddle students, as well as teach the fundamentals of classical violin technique."

Teaching on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Every aspect of music seems to be something Red Bird Live’s Clarissa Fortin is passionate about. From studying, to teaching, to performing, Clarissa is involved in many areas of Ottawa’s music community.

She completed her Grade 9 RCM exam in 2012, was selected as a Youth Performer at the 2017 Summerfolk Music Festival and has performed at venues and festivals across Ottawa including the Grassroots Festival and the Spirit of Rasputin’s Concert Series.

She has been teaching locally since 2017 and has experience both in private and group lessons. Clarissa is very familiar with the RCM testing system as well as the Kiwanis music festival and can walk her students through either if they are ready to take on the task!

Her passion for singing and songwriting expands across genres into classical, musical theater, jazz, and contemporary styles. She is looking forward to helping aspiring songwriters develop their songwriting skills and bringing her knowledge of guitar, piano, ukulele and voice to our community.

“My goal as a teacher is to balance technique and accuracy with creativity and self expression. I try to give students a strong foundation of technical skills that they can use to find their own voice.”

-Clarissa Fortin

Teaching on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

For almost six years, Shaun has been bringing music into the lives of others through private and group lessons. He will be bringing lessons in voice, guitar, bass, drums, and songwriting. Being a self-taught musician, Shaun loves teaching because it allows him to offer mentorship to other musicians that he himself did not have.

Having toured with his own band, Shaun will be bringing his knowledge of performance, the music industry, engineering, and production to students interested in those areas. His impressive list of accomplishments includes becoming a Top 24 finalist on Canadian Idol’s final season, winning the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot with his band Autumns Cannon, and opening for acts including Tom Cochrane, Bryan Adams, Jim Cuddy, Big Wreck, Kim Mitchell, Tragically Hip and Bon Jovi.

At the heart of his teaching you will find his desire to foster passion and confidence in his students while helping them establish a good workflow tailored to their needs. We can’t wait for you to be able to experience this for yourself!

“I am motivated to help students discover their potential, while never getting away from their true self.”

-Shaun Francisco

Teaching on Wednesdays and Sundays

Doug Gouthro has been playing guitar for 38 years, and teaching guitar for 30. He earned a Bachelor Of Music from Carleton University and has decades of experience performing.

Previously, he played in the Alt-Country band ‘The John Henrys’ who regularly toured the United States and Canada. Presently, he is lead guitarist for ‘Drifting Bird’ and frontman and leader of ‘The Psychedelic Sundaes’.

Doug offers guitar lessons in all styles and at all levels. His particular specialty is instruction in lead guitar, which includes improvisations, writing, and playing solos over chord changes.

“A Music Haiku: Music is so fun Want to play it all the time Time is well spent now”

-Doug Gouthro

Teaching on Sundays

Daniel Gracie is an Ottawa-born keyboardist known for his funky and soulful ability. With nearly 14 years of experience, he continues to explore a wide range of styles, such as jazz, R&B, rock, pop and celtic. Having recently begun his teaching career, Daniel makes it his mission to ensure that his students truly connect with the music they play, balancing freedom and creativity with theory and technique.

Daniel is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in music at Carleton University where he is studying jazz piano and music production. Through his studies, he has collaborated with many students and instructors during ensembles, recital performances and recording projects.

Outside of university, he has performed alongside a variety of local talent such as celtic fiddler Anna Ludlow, R&B singer Maesha B, and is scheduled to perform with rap artist Banggz in September of 2026. Daniel is extremely excited to join the Redbird team and continue sharing his passion for music both on stage and with students!

"Music is a powerful language that allows humans to express themselves in such unique ways. I'm driven to teach students because everyone deserves the opportunity to experience what it can do."

-Daniel Gracie

Teaching on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

To say music is an important part of Brianna’s life would be an understatement. Growing up in a musical family in Old Ottawa South, you can see Brianna performing in Barry and the Blasters alongside her dad.

Her passion for music grew during her four years studying in the winds program at Canterbury; Ottawa’s fine arts high school. Having started taking private lessons at the young age of five, Brianna now feels ready to take on the role of teacher and bring her wealth of knowledge to students of all ages and levels with the guitar, banjo, piano, bass, ukulele, and trumpet.

Alongside her love for teaching and performing, she also has an interest in production, having enrolled in the Langara College Digital Music Production program. She has experience with the computer-related skills needed for sound engineering and is ready to put all that musical knowledge to work both for herself and others.

“I’ve been supported by so many great music teachers throughout my life, and I want to provide the same sense of community and support for others.”

- Brianna Herdman

Teaching on Saturdays and Sundays

Paul started taking piano lessons at 8 years old and quickly fell in love with music. He went on to studying the piano through the Royal Conservatory of Music, and started teaching by the age of 14.

With over 15 years of teaching experience, Paul offers lessons in piano, guitar, drums, and electric bass to students of all ages and levels. He is particularly passionate about music theory and showing students how it connects with the music they actually enjoy playing.

Paul believes that learning music should be fun, creative and tailored to each person’s individual interests. Outside of teaching, Paul has performed with bands across Ontario and Quebec, and brings that real-world experience into his lessons. He wants to help his students grow, not only as players, but as musicians.

Teaching Group Progams

Born and raised in Ottawa, Bronwyn Kelly is thrilled to be back in her wonderful hometown to continue to build her teaching career with Red Bird Live.

Having studied piano, violin, and voice throughout her childhood, Bronwyn pursued her passion for music in post-secondary studies in Montreal. She holds an undergraduate degree in Music as well as an MA in Music Theory from McGill University. Upon returning to Ottawa, Bronwyn stepped away from music research and onto the stage to continue her vocal studies, earning a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance from the University of Ottawa, specializing in classical voice and opera.

While she is classically trained, Bronwyn teaches both piano and voice in a variety of genres and has extensive experience in musical theatre, folk, and contemporary styles.

She is looking forward to connecting with Ottawa’s vibrant music community through various performances and through teaching students of all ages and levels at Red Bird Live.

“I teach because I love to connect with people through passion and expression, helping others to open themselves up to the magic and wonder of music-making.”

- Bronwyn Kelly

Teaching Group Programs

Christy believes that music has the power to transform lives.

She studied voice and piano through the Royal Conservatory of music, eventually majoring in music and neuroscience at Dalhousie University with a focus on piano performance. Through both her undergraduate degree and master’s degree in Cognitive Science, she studied music’s impact on the brain and music perception.

She has experience working with all ages and abilities and focuses on creating a learning environment that is formulated specifically for the individual. Christy is passionate about and well versed in both music and learning techniques and loves to see her students thrive through their musical experience.

Christy will be teaching piano and voice.

"Music has the ability to transport humans anywhere and allows them to have experiences and emotions that are unique, empowering, and transformative."

Teaching on Tuesdays

With almost 20 years of music teaching experience, Kevin will be bringing his expertise in guitar, bass, and ukulele to Old Ottawa South.

Kevin is dedicated to building strong relationships with his students and has always been active in his community. When teaching in the Durham region, he would organize performances at hospitals to bring some Christmas cheer with his students.

His greatest passion is helping students find their love and connection to instruments, allowing them to develop music as a passion of their own. His love for music extends beyond the classroom and into performing, having performed in various bands throughout the years as well as at weddings and banquets.

We are so lucky to have Kevin as a part of our team, and we can’ wait for classes to begin in 2022.

“Music has always been a big part of my life and I enjoy sharing that with others.”

- Kevin Lippert

Teaching on Thursdays and Sundays

Jacob Meleras is an Ottawa-based singer and composer with a BFA in Music Composition from Concordia University. His musical background spans a wide range of styles, from orchestral music to pop and R&B, as well as composing for short films. This diverse experience has shaped a deep appreciation for music in all its forms.

Jacob's approach to teaching is individualized to each student, with a focus on helping the student build music into the foundations of their life. Growing as a musician can be fun and satisfying, regardless of your age and level of experience. Using musical games and exploring personal tastes are essential in keeping lessons rewarding.

Jacob specializes in contemporary vocal training, including pop, R&B, rock, and related styles. He also teaches Piano and Music Composition/Theory, and looks forward to helping you discover and achieve your musical goals.

Teaching on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Joey O’Connor is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist with 25 years of playing and performing experience. He began his musical journey at a young age and went on to study Music Performance at Cambrian College, later continuing his education at Sir Wilfrid Laurier University and McMaster University. His formal training in classical guitar, piano, and music theory built a strong technical foundation, while his curiosity led him to explore mandolin, banjo, and ukulele throughout his career.

Joey has performed with notable Canadian artists including Jully Black, The Arkells, and The Sheepdogs, and he remains an active presence in local music venues and collaborative projects. Known for his versatility and musical instincts, Joey brings enthusiasm and professionalism to every performance.

Alongside his work on stage, Joey is passionate about sharing his experience with others and supporting musicians as they grow their skills and confidence.

Teaching on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

Sangitha Perumal is an Indo-Canadian vocalist, songwriter, performer and multi-instrumentalist from Ottawa who has dedicated her life to music. She has studied at the Berklee College of Music, and is currently pursuing a BA in Music at Carleton University. She is skilled at playing piano, ukulele, guitar and the sitar, but her passion lies in voice. 

Sangitha sings several genres of music including Western styles such as pop, rock, folk, jazz and soul. She has also been studying Carnatic (South Indian Classical music) for over thirteen years. This foundation in Indian Classical music has helped her master techniques such as breath control, falsetto and runs and riffs. All of which has contributed to the powerhouse vocalist she is today.

She is an active performer and has played at various events across Canada, India and the US. Sangitha is passionate about helping aspiring artists and beginners who wish to learn and develop healthy and dynamic vocals, improve their range, and even write their own songs, to see their full potential and become confident musicians.

Teaching on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Ana is a classical and operatic vocalist with a deep passion for storytelling, movement, and lifelong vocal health.

Raised in Ottawa, she discovered her love of music through choir and soon expanded her musical world to include piano, saxophone, and solo voice. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Voice from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance, with plans to continue into a Master’s degree.

As a teacher, Ana is committed to cultivating strong technical foundations, nurturing healthy and sustainable vocal habits, and fostering confidence in musicians of all ages and backgrounds. She is continually inspired by music’s unique ability to connect people across cultures, languages, and genres. Ana is delighted to join the Red Bird Live team and looks forward to supporting students as they explore their own musical paths.

After starting singing and dancing at the age of 4, Charlotte Thompson has followed her passion for music and performing her entire life. She has obtained her Grade 8 RCM Royal Conservatory certificate in voice as well as her Advanced Rudiments in music theory. After this, Charlotte received an Enriched Diploma in Performing Arts and the Company “C” Studio Ensemble Diploma from The Canadian College of Performing Arts. She later got the opportunity to train with The Village Conservatory where she was given the opportunity to write, direct, choreograph and perform her own original work.

Throughout her career, Charlotte has performed all over Canada with companies such as The Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, Collectivus Theatre, The Victoria Fringe, and Ottawa’s own Elevator Theatre Company. Charlotte is also a self taught guitar, ukulele and piano player. 

Over the past several years, Charlotte has found passion for teaching kids, young adults, emerging artists, and people of all walks of life. She is excited to bring her expertise and passion to the Red Bird community!

"I believe everyone has a story to tell and what better vehicle to share that story than through music. My goal as a teacher is to empower folks to find their artist voice. Hopefully bridging the gap between technique, creativity and heart."

Teaching on Mondays

My name is Matthew, and I’m from Alabama, USA. I recently became a Canadian and have been in Ottawa for 12 years now.

I have taken formal music lessons since the age of ten. I earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of South Alabama, with a focus in percussion performance. My Master of Music degree came from Appalachian State University, also with a concentration in percussion performance.

My spectrum of performance encompasses Baroque timpani all the way to Progressive Metal on the drum set, and all areas in between. I’m a veteran of Drum Corps International Division I Corp “Spirit of Atlanta,” and have performed with Highland Pipe and Drum ensembles in Ontario and Quebec.

"I believe music is one of the most universally beloved of all phenomena, and I have a natural aptitude to communicate its wonders to students of all ages."

- Matthew Troncale