MEET YOUR MUSIC TEACHERS
Now in his tenth year of teaching in Unionville High School’s music department, Larry Beckwith has been called a “musical polymath” for his wide-ranging experience and interests. He holds undergraduate and graduate music degrees from the University of Toronto, where he studied musicology and violin performance. He has been a music producer for CBC Radio Music, a sound designer for professional theatre companies, an arts administrator, professional singer in the Tafelmusik and Elora Chamber Choirs, professional baroque violinist, reviewer and columnist for The Wholenote magazine, sessional instructor at univesities of Toronto and Guelph, director of programming for the 2002 Toronto International Choral Festival and co-artistc director of the Music at Sharon series at the Sharon Temple from 2010-2012. In 2003, he founded the critically-acclaimed Toronto Masque Theatre and has since mounted over 30 multi-media productions of repertoire from the 16th-21st centuries and, with the assistance of the Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council, has commissioned seven significant new pieces of masque-inspired music theatre, the latest of which – The Lesson of Da Ji by Alice Ho and Marjorie Chan – won a prestigious Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Opera In June, 2013. He has also conducted two productions for the Toronto Operetta Theatre. Larry is currently on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Strings Association. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Teri Dunn, and their daughters, Alison and Juliet.
David Ioannou, an educator, professional jazz & rock singer, classical musician, arranger and composer, brings a wealth of experience to teaching. A graduate of The University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Vocal Performance, David also earned his Bachelor of Education from The University of Canterbury, and has studied privately with premier vocal coach Elaine Overholt for years. He is in constant demand for his exquisite voice. He has performed at many of Toronto’s most well known venues, including The Rex & The El Mocambo. Not only has he recorded two albums as soloist in the Downbeat Award-winning U of T Vocal Jazz Ensemble, David is also a classical musician who plays String Bass and French Horn at a professional level, and is an original member of The Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra. David has been a resident vocal coach at Elaine Overholt's Big Voice Studios and co-owner of Reddoor Studios for the past many years. He has also worked as a voice clinician in Canada and New Zealand and his arrangements and compositions range in style from pop to big band. David has prepped singers for everything from university auditions to recording contracts with major labels such as EMI and indie labels to prepping vocalists for international touring. Above all, David is a perceptive and gifted teacher with an amazing ear for bringing out each singers strengths. Working with the voice is his passion and David's goal is to have each student address their own physical and emotional blocks in order to find full freedom and their highest performing potential. Music Education has played a large role in Bob Leonard's life, both as a student of music and as an educator. He is a graduate of Humber College’s music program(double major-piano and percussion), has an Honours BFA (Music) from York University, and B.Ed from the University of Toronto. Bob was hired from university as the Head of Music at Thornlea S.S. and held the position for 20 years where he guided a significant number of students into careers in music and related fields. Leaving Thornlea, he taught a year at Langstaff S.S. establishing their stage band program. He then came to Unionville S.S. thirteen years ago and has taught band, Musicianship, Showtime, guitar, jazz band, and most notably taken the lead role in the development of the Arts Unionville Piano Program. The standards set by this program continue to attract many young and talented musicians from across York Region. Within the last two years, Bob has pursued his other “passion”, African drumming. As a certified Lead Facilitator, Bob has conducted workshops and drum circles for all ages and abilities. In May of 2012 he organized a Drum Circle for the Unionville Staff as part of a PA day activity. He is also a member of the Georgina Drum Circle, which is a professional percussion ensemble that studies and presents traditional West African rhythms to the community. Bob as well as an accomplished pianist is a professional drummer and percussionist. Outside of teaching Bob still works as an organist and choral director having held the position at a number of different churches. He has also been active over the years in teaching privately and leading music programs for younger children with his spouse. Bob is an avid music collector most notably jazz, R & B, world music, rock, funk and folk. He is also passionate about any book or magazine about music and musicians and liberally shares his vast quantity of music trivia with any student! Bob is also the proud dad of 3 daughters, all whom have graduated with Fine Arts degrees and are also pursuing careers in the Arts.
Jeff Wrigglesworth is a proud graduate of Unionville High School. He received his Honours Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Western Ontario and his Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University. He has been teaching in both elementary and secondary schools in York Region since 1995 and was thrilled to return to UHS as Head of Music in 2005. Jeff was a founding director of the Ontario Band Association as the Director of the Ontario Provincial Honour Band and continues to be a contributing member of that organization. He has been a clinician with the Ontario Music Educators’ Association and was a recipient of an Ontario Band Association Concert Band Festival conducting award in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He has been the co-chair of the York Region Music Heads Association for five years and has been on the YRDSB's curriculum role out team. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, music fraternity and is a recipient of a Tri-M Honour Music Society’s Honourary Lifetime Membership. Jeff’s ensembles at UHS regularly receive festivals' and competitions' highest awards including the 2009 Robert Rosevear Award from the Canadian Music Educators Association. Whenever possible, Jeff continues to work as a trumpet player and clinician around the GTA. He lives in Markham with his wife Michelyn and extremely energetic and musical kids, Tricia and Warren.