Risa Waldman - Director
Risa has an extensive professional career in Musical Theatre having performed on stages across Canada, the U.S. and as far away as Japan. Born in Toronto, her background includes studies of Piano,Cello, Music Theory & History through The Royal Conservatory of Music, Developmental Psychology and Children's Literature at The University of Toronto. She is also a graduate of the Banff Centre for Fine Arts.  Risa has taught various disciplines of dance for many years and is actively involved in Children's Television and Theatre as a choreographer and director. Risa became a registered Music Together teacher in New York City and the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ awarded Risa the Music Together Certification Level I status for outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy and parent education.

Josie Vint was, according to her mother, born singing. She was born in Toronto, and raised in Ajax, ON. Her music and movement background includes studies in piano (Royal Conservatory), clarinet, dance (ballet, tap, jazz), and choral singing. Josie graduated with high honours from the Music/Theatre program at Sheridan College in Oakville where she received extensive training in voice/dance/acting/ stage performance. Before becoming a mother of two, she performed in musicals, and plays including children’s theatre, and as a solo singer in small nightclubs. Josie became a registered Music Together teacher in London, ON. She is overjoyed to be a part of the Making Music Together Centre and to be associated with such fine teachers who are devoting their skills to helping families discover the joy of active music making!

Hannah Evans moved to Toronto from England to live and work in Canada. She graduated in music from Sheffield University, UK in 2008 and has also recently completed her Masters in Psychology of Music. Hannah's whole life has been music, music, music! She plays piano, flute and sings but has picked up many other instruments along the way! She loves to sing and has always been involved with many choirs and performances. She has previously taught pre-school music classes, open workshops for children under 5, as well as running her own sessions with a group of children with autism in a therapeutic setting. She loves making music with children and since becoming a registered Music Together teacher in Rochester, NY she is excited to be part of Toronto's Music Together classes!

Akemi Akachi is a Japanese descendant born and raised in Mexico. She completed her Bachelor degree in Composition at Las Rosas Conservatory in Mexico in 2004. Akemi has been involved in the creation of multi-disciplinary projects with choreographers and dancers. Her pieces have been performed in different venues both in Mexico and Canada. She has taught music theory, ear training and sight singing to children and university music students and had the opportunity to teach early childhood music education to preschoolers. She moved to Toronto to earn her Master's degree in Composition at the University of Toronto, graduating in 2008. In 2009 she joined the Nagata Shachu taiko (Japanese drumming) ensemble and became a professional taiko performer and instructor. She became a registered Making Music Together teacher in Princeton NJ and is very honored to be part of the Making Music together family. She is passionate about teaching and loves being able to share and make music with children!

Véronick (or "V" as she is known to the little ones) grew up in Kingston, ON studying voice, dance and actively performing in community theatre. She attained an Associate (Teacher's) Certificate from the British Association of Teachers of Dancing in Jazz, Tap, Majorette and Ballet, worked as a voice and dance teacher, and was the lead singer for a local band. Her love for the performing arts led to her to Toronto where she is now a graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and working as a Triple Threat Performer and voice teacher,as well as the Artistic Administrator for one of Toronto's emerging theatre companies.  Véronick became a registered Music Together teacher in Rochester, NY. She adores sharing her passion for the performing arts with young children and is thrilled to be teaching once again!

Cara Halpin, Administrator Coordinator

Cara began her musical experiences at a young age singing in choirs and playing the piano, which instilled a life-time love of choral music. During university, Cara worked in the administrative offices of the Toronto Children's Chorus while completing both her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at U of T. Most recently, she taught both vocal music and kindergarten at Blythwood Public School in Toronto. She currently enjoys singing with her two young children at home and strongly believes in the dynamic music making philosophy of Making Music Together.

Julie Lennick - Administrative Assistant 

After almost being born during a live radio broadcast on CBC, Julie likes to say that she began her performance training in the womb, and she hasn't stopped since! She has appeared in numerous productions over the past 30 years, playing everywhere from the Haliburton Highlands to the Orillia Opera House, as well as venues in Toronto and the surrounding GTA. She began studying dance at the age of 6 (ballet, jazz & tap) and more intensive voice training in her twenties. Julie studied Fine Arts at The University of Guelph and has taken several workshops & improvisation courses which she still paticipates in whenever possible. Julie is thrilled and excited to be a part of the Making Music Together team!