TRAINING/EDUCATION IN THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS: 

A lifetime of Private lessons in voice, jazz theory, percussion, piano, guitar, clarinet:  Brian Katz, Mark Kieswetter, Liane Fainsinger, Rick Shadrach Lazar, Jillian Lebeck, Bob Mover, Raúl Abreu Piñeda, Jodi Proznick, Jennifer Scott, Diane Spears, Kate Hammet-Vaughan, Rubén Vazquez, Carol Welsman to name a few, and

and, group workshops Royal Conservatory courses in theory, harmony, voice, basic piano and how to teach Kodaly, and more recently, the Latin Jazz Ensemble (Rubén Vazquez) with several performing artists including Liane Fainsinger (Dr. Barry Harris Methodology), Sheila Jordan, Nancy King, Rick Shadrach Lazar's Cuban Music Course at York University, Bob Mover (2002, Toronto) and (2022, Online JazzAbility), Ballet Creole (drum and dance masters from West Africa), Fred Kwasi Dunyo (drum and dance master from Ghana), and other guest artists from West Africa, Brazil, and Cuba, 

and 

  • training in theatre arts (scene study, improvisation, theatre for social action with William Davis Acting School, VanArts, the Improv Centre - Theatre Sports, Second City Workshops and Mixed Company Theatre Workshops)
  • dance training (many styles including ballet bar, tap, modern, West African and Trinidadian with Ballet Creole, Dance with France, Jack Billings Dance Studio, Bondy Gloria School of Dance)
  • community musical theatre performer as chorus dancer and vocalist
  • training in poetry writing (one year one-on-one mentorship program at University of British Columbia)
  • five years clarinet training, including private lessons during high school years to perform in a small chamber orchestra for Gilbert & Sullivan school productions as solo clarinetist, as well as a small high school ensemble that toured public city venues, in school concerts and big bands. 

Other Education: 

Mimi's education within the disciplines of Psychology and Education, combined with her training and work in speech-language-communication have fostered a deep curiosity in rehabiliation, communication, and social connection.  This curiosity informs her work as a vocalist and percussion-trained musician which in turn enriches her musical exploration and deepens her understanding of rehabiliation, communication, and social connection.