Presenter Biographies
Heather Nail
Heather Nail has been an Orff Music Specialist for the Calgary Board of Education for 24 years. She holds Orff level three certification, and has a Master of Education degree specializing in Elementary Music. Heather co-teaches the Introductory Orff level in Calgary, and in 2010 she was a semi-finalist in the Alberta Excellence in Teaching awards. She is currently the 1st vice president of Carl Orff Canada, and presents regularly at music conferences in western Canada and beyond. In her spare time, Heather conducts the Westside Junior Concert Choir and mentors emerging music teachers in Calgary.
Amy Curtis Pfitzner
As an elementary music teacher of thirty years, Aimee Curtis Pfitzner has defined her work with students and teachers as a combination of joyful and purposeful music and learning. She holds a Masters of Music degree from UNC-Greensboro and completed Level I Orff -Schulwerk Training at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, Level II and III at University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and Master's Level at the University of Memphis. Aimee is a frequent presenter at music workshops and conferences in the US and internationally and is an approved Level 1 Teacher Educator. Her multiple resources for music teachers are available from Beatin' Path Publications. She is passionate about music making, singing, gardening, adoption, and anything and everything creative; painting, zendoodling, making jewelry, and sewing. When not teaching or singing, writing music or creating, she can be found musically musing on her blog, www.ofortunaorff.com.
Martina Vasil
Martina Vasil, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Music Education and Director of Graduate Studies for the University of Kentucky (UK) School of Music. She directs the summer music education program at UK, which includes training in modern band, Orff, and Dalcroze. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses at UK, including general music and modern band courses and a summer course on Orff Schulwerk and popular music. Martina is an Orff Level III certified teacher and long-time member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. She earned her levels at Eastman School of Music with Jim and Mary Helen Solomon, Karen Medley, and Janet Robbins. Martina started the first All-State Elementary Modern Band ensemble in the state of Kentucky and is past president and a current board member of the Association for Popular Music Education. Her BMME and PhD in music education are from West Virginia University and her MA in music education is from Eastman School of Music.
Garth Prince
Garth Prince is a JUNO Award-winning Namibian-Canadian performer with years of experience in community building through interactive music workshops in schools. He encourages cultural diversity in work and play environments, appealing to children of all ages and abilities. Prince is on a mission to preserve African music for future generations and help non-Africans discover languages, cultural insight and stories from the Motherland.
https://garthprince.com/
https://garthprince.com/
About Workshops
Calgary Orff Chapter hosts several educator workshops annually. In 2024-2025, these will run in August, October, January, and March. These are held in-person at Altadore School, and run from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, with the exception of the August workshop. Our Welcome Workshop on August 27 will be held in-person at Griffith Woods School from 4:30 - 6:30 pm, with a Refreshment Social at 4:00 pm.
For details on how to register for these upcoming workshops, please see the Workshop Registration page.
For details on how to register for these upcoming workshops, please see the Workshop Registration page.
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