Lisa Michaels (she/her) is passionate about the value of music and its benefits, having seen its impact on her own children and has never forgotten the fascination and fun of playing in the high school band. As a music education advocate, Lisa has spoken at multiple conferences in Canada and the U.S. Prior to co-founding Bandology in 2017, she spent more than two decades running her own businesses as a marketing consultant and serial entrepreneur, and is a member of a local award-winning a capella chorus. Lisa has a B.A. from York University and a M.A. in Community Music from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Lisa is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Bandology and can be reached at lisa@bandology.ca.
Finding joy in all kinds of music-making, Sandy Wright (he/him) strives to share that joy in his work as an educator, performer and composer. His passion for music was shaped by his high school’s band program, and he holds Master of Arts degrees in Community Music and Composition. His music has been performed at festivals and in concerts in Canada and the UK. Sandy teaches privately in Waterloo, performs with the band adult recreation centre and is Artistic Director for the theatre collective One Strange Night Productions.
Sandy is our Education Manager and Head of Programming and can be reached at sandy@bandology.ca.
Julianna Rutledge (she/they) may not have picked up a saxophone in a while but considers her time spent in bands and choirs instrumental to the person she has become. Julianna has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, with a major in English and minor in History. She has served as co-leader of a student-run school choir, reported for the university newspaper and spent an extensive amount of time travelling. In addition to her role at Bandology, she is currently at work on her first novel.
Julianna is our Innovation Manager and Head of Operations and can be reached at julianna@bandology.ca.
Ryan MacKinnon (he/him) started playing guitar at eight years old and switched over to drum kit when he was 10. Upon entering high school he found a new love in playing classical percussion instruments. Ryan has a Bachelor of Music in Self-Directed Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University and has played with a variety of different orchestras, choirs and concert bands including the Stratford Symphony, Guelph Symphony and Oakville Symphony. He runs a private teaching studio where he holds lessons for drums and classical percussion instruments, and is a teacher at the Burlington Music Centre. He is also the General Manager and Percussion Coach of the Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO). Ryan loves to share all the things he has learned on his journey to help young musicians excel.
Ryan is our Community Programs Manager and can be reached at ryan@bandology.ca.
Sara Thoeny (all pronouns) is a music educator and music therapist. Sara has been playing piano since the age of five and has since learned to play guitar, ukulele, double bass and French horn. She has completed RCM Level 10 piano and holds a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Wilfrid Laurier University. Originally from Langley, BC, Sara has performed in group settings in Hawaii, the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo, the 25th Annual Stratford Music Festival, Kiwanis Music Festival, Fort Langley Jazz Festival and many other festivals and music events across Canada and the United States. Sara currently works as a music therapist in multiple long-term care centres and senior homes, as well as providing music therapy services in the community. She also teaches with the City of Kitchener, where she runs music programs for a variety of ages and abilities.
Sara is our Camp and Workshop Coordinator and can be reached at sara@bandology.ca.
Karen Guan (she/her) is a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Music Therapy program at Wilfrid Laurier University and is passionate about using music to support well-being through musical exploration. Her musical journey began at the age of five and has continued to grow ever since. Karen has performed as a flutist in concert bands and as a vocalist in choirs across Ontario, and brings experience working with children and youth in educational settings. She also has experience working in pediatric rehabilitation, supporting clients in achieving therapeutic goals centred around social, motor, communication and psychosocial skills.
Karen is our Program Administrator and can be reached at karen@bandology.ca.
Katie Lacourciere (she/her) has had a love of music since she first sat down at the piano as a child, a passion that has grown and evolved ever since and now sits at the center of her Bachelor of Music Degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. She has played clarinet through school and whether she is performing, reading, writing or singing her heart out in the car, music and creativity have always been central to how she connects with others. Katie believes in music as a way to build community and make people feel like they belong. As a Residence Life Don at Laurier, she lives alongside first-year students and serves as one of their primary sources of support through the transition to university life, creating spaces where people feel genuinely welcomed and cared for, and it is this warmth and care that she brings to everything she does.
Katie is our Program Coordinator and can be reached at katie@bandology.ca.
Nicole Reid (she/her) grew up playing piano and performing in various choirs starting at the age of 6. Now she primarily performs from the comfort of her own home but greatly believes in the importance of music education and community being a foundation for growth. She got her B.A in Psychology from Western University and is currently completing her masters degree in psychotherapy from Yorkville University. She is excited to bring what she has learned in school, and her own experiences with music growing up to continue ensuring music is accessible to everyone.
Nicole is our Program Inclusion Support Worker and can be reached at nicole@bandology.ca.
Grace Ronan (she/her) began singing and piano lessons at the age of seven, sparking her passion for music. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Master of Music in Opera from the University of Toronto, and will begin her Bachelor of Education at York University in the fall. Grace has performed many operatic roles in school productions and with organizations including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Banff Centre and Brott Opera. She has sung with various choirs as both a soloist and ensemble member, such as the Elora Singers, the Grand Philharmonic Choir, the Menno Singers and an independent Kitchener-Waterloo based ensemble dedicated to premiering new Canadian choral works. Grace has taught private voice lessons, served as the music director for a children’s musical and worked as a program administrator for arts summer camps. She is passionate about arts education and sharing her love of music and performance with young people.
Grace is our Education Coordinator and can be reached at grace@bandology.ca.
Brady Piggins (he/him) is a third year Bachelor of Commerce student in Marketing Management at the University of Guelph, with a minor in Sports and Event Management. He is passionate about using creativity and communication to support well-being and community engagement. He grew up playing music from a young age, beginning with the drums in childhood and continuing through high school as part of an Arts and Music Program focused on instrumental music. His interest in storytelling and connection has developed through experience in digital marketing, content creation and working with youth in educational and recreational settings. Brady brings a thoughtful and people-focused approach, creating welcoming spaces where individuals feel comfortable, supported and encouraged to participate.
Brady is our Social Media Coordinator and can be reached at brady@bandology.ca
Danya Asad is a marketing and communications professional with a background in International Development and Communication Studies from McGill University. She is passionate about storytelling, branding and building communities through digital platforms. Her work focuses on bringing organizations to life online through engaging, insight-driven content and campaigns. With a strong understanding of media trends and audience behavior, Danya approaches her work with a balance of creativity and strategy to create communications that feel both impactful and authentic.
Danya is our Marketing Coordinator and can be reached at danya@bandology.ca.
Ever since she was a child, Lauren Bastian (she/her) has been especially passionate about music. Whether it’s playing bass with her friends in her band or listening to her 78 hour long playlists, Lauren makes a point to keep music a major part of her life. Lauren is a current Bachelor’s of Arts student in Psychology at the University of Guelph with a Marketing minor. In her spare time, Lauren is involved in numerous creative endeavours, volunteering with the campus radio station CFRU and campus paper The Ontarion. With a long history in theatre, band and art, Lauren is dedicated to helping to expand the music education that made her who she is today.
Lauren is our Community Outreach Coordinator and can be reached at lauren@bandology.ca.
Kate Caracciolo (she/her) began her music journey with piano lessons at the age of 6. In middle school, she picked up her mom’s old trumpet and fell in love with playing in ensembles. In 2023, Kate was recruited to help out in the percussion sections of the Guelph and Cambridge Concert Bands for a show or two, but she’s stayed in percussion ever since! Kate has her BA in Psychology and Mathematics from the University of Guelph, and is currently completing an Instructional Design Certificate at Conestoga College. She’s excited to use all that she learned throughout her time in Teacher’s College at Wilfrid Laurier University, and years of teaching math, rock climbing and the arts, to bring more music to kids of all abilities.
Ever since she played the recorder as a child, Jasmin Anthonypillai (she/her) has made music an integral part of her life. She earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science from the University of Guelph, with a minor in Neuroscience and Music, and is a certified Junior/Intermediate teacher with a Science teachable.She currently serves as a Music Director and pianist at her local church and sings in an award-winning a cappella chorus. She also fondly recalls her time playing trumpet in her high school band, which helped shape her enduring love of music.
To reach any of our workshop team please email workshop@bandology.ca.
We’ve also had some amazing faculty for our summer band camps!
2021 – no faculty due to COVID-safe camp
2020 – no faculty due to online camp
Bandology is a proud recipient of Canada Summer Jobs grants to fund summer positions in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
