Born into a musical family, April Morris began playing the violin at age seven, studying initially with her father Peter Morris and later switching to Elaine Klimasko of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. April was first exposed to orchestral playing through the Deep River Symphony Orchestra; a member for seven years, she served three seasons as concertmaster and was featured as a soloist twice in the 2008-2009 season. As well, she has been involved in various youth orchestras and summer music programs, including the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and the Interprovincial Music Camp of Canada, and in doing so has worked with conductors Alain Trudel, John Gomez, and David Currie. April is currently working towards her Bachelor of Music with a concentration in violin at the University of Ottawa while teaching private violin lessons at MEA’s Music. She is delighted to be joining Deep River Summermusic for her third summer as an instructor.

Laura Hawley holds an ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music and completed a Bachelor's degree in piano performance and a Master's in music theory at the University of Ottawa.  She has presented her work on Ella Fitzgerald and Björk at conferences in Montreal, Ottawa, Mexico City and Iowa City.  Ms. Hawley teaches private lessons in piano, theory and harmony, and is Music Director at St. John's South March Anglican Church in Kanata. She accompanies the Cantiamo Girls Choir, Cantiamo Training Choir, and the Ottawa Children's Chamber Choir.  Laura is a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association.

Liz Hart received her Bachelor of Music degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, where she studied flute with Donelda Hunter. Since graduating, Liz has continued to teach flute privately and perform in various community events and ensembles.  Currently, Liz is a member of the Deep River Symphony Orchestra.  She is also very involved in the administrative side of the Arts which began when she completed the Arts Administration course at the Banff Centre.  This year is the third year Liz is the Administrator for Summermusic and she is thrilled to be part of such a wonderful group of teachers and campers.

Marion Arthur graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in cello performance in 2006.  After graduation, she pursued further studies in Suzuki method and worked as a Kindermusik and cello instructor in Richmond Hill.   In September 2009, she opened MEA’s Music, a teaching studio in downtown Ottawa.  She is an enthusiastic educator, performer and composer.  She is also a singer-songwriter and released her debut album in 2007.  She is currently working on her second album with hopes to release it in the summer of 2011.  Marion is the proud mother of a 7 year old boy who likes to write his own songs. 

Peter Morris studied music education and viola performance at the University of Ottawa. Currently, Peter teaches violin, viola and cello privately in Deep River and Pembroke, and is music director of the Deep River Symphony and the Choral Group. He has also conducted the Valley Festival Orchestra and the Kincardine Music Festival Chamber Orchestera as well as working as the music director of many musical theatre productions in Pembroke and Deep River. Peter is committed to music education and volunteers his time as choir director and music educator at Morrison Public School and Keys Public School.

Susan Morris is principal oboist of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and is the Senior Chamber Winds coach for the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy. She is an active freelance musician for operas, chamber music and orchestral performances, and is frequently invited to perform as soloist. Susan is a dedicated teacher, working with music students of all levels and ages in her private studio in Deep River. She is in demand as a coach for workshops and clinics, and is a music festival adjudicator of woodwinds, recorders and bands. Susan is director of the Summermusic camp and for several years was an instructor for the OYOA’s summer camp. From 1992 to 2002 she was a member of the chamber music faculty at the Kincardine Summer Music Festival.

Karen Christian is a graduate from the secondary music education program at the University of Alberta with over 10 years of music instruction experience both privately and publicly.  She has directed wind ensembles, concert bands, jazz ensembles, and choirs that have travelled across Western Canada performing at festivals and on tour at schools and community events.  She has been awarded the Alberta Band Association 2001 Young Band Director of the Year as well as the 2006 Alberta Excellence in Teaching.  Karen’s enthusiasm for music continued with her move to Deep River in 2007 where she became involved with the Deep River Choral Group and the Deep River Community Band.  Currently Karen is a member of the Ontario Music Educators Association, teaches music and math at Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke, and is the director of the Petawawa Legion Community Band.