Michael is a graduate of Queen’s University specializing in piano performance and music education. He received his Bachelor of Music in 1992 and his Bachelor of Education in 1994.

Michael has over 30 years of experience teaching music. He has prepared students for university entrance auditions, RCM examinations and has acted as an adjudicator for Kiwanis Music festivals.

Michael is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and has worked as a music educator for the Upper Canada District School Board. He currently works at the Board as an Occasional Teacher.

Michael brings an enthusiastic energy to his lessons and his love of people and learning is infectious. He believes that learning music helps free one’s spirit and allows for personal growth.

Enjoy Your Journey. 

At the tender age of 12, Melody Thomas decided she wanted to become a professional flautist. That is, until she joined a multitude of choirs in high school and discovered that her true love is actually singing.

Melody received her Honours Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto followed by an Opera Diploma at Wilfrid Laurier. As a performer, Melody’s opera debut was singing the role of Nora from Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea with the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop, and her performance was praised by Opera Canada magazine. Favourite roles since include Susanna in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and the titular role in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. (She clearly found a passion for being Susanna[h]!) For over a decade, Melody has collaborated with choirs and orchestras across Canada and delighted audiences with her performances of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and more.

Melody also runs a teaching studio that is highly-sought after throughout the Kawarthas and beyond, and hardly a musical event goes by where her students cannot be found. She has held music educator positions with Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Lakefield College School, and the Peterborough Children’s Chorus, as well as collaborating with countless school, church, and community groups, and adjudicating music festivals in person and virtually across North America. Melody has also become passionate about mentoring other teachers, and her voice studio expanded into a multi-teacher, multi-instrumental studio in 2021. She is proud of having built a community of knowledgeable, progressive, dedicated, and fun teachers who provide support, learning, and growth opportunities to eager musicians of all ages.

When she isn’t performing or wearing her Studio Queen Bee hat, Melody can be found caring for her needy dog and cat and jungle of plants, playing board games, running, frolicking in nature, rock climbing, or painting her fingernails, and continually lamenting that those last two hobbies cannot co-exist. 

Stuart is a life-long guitar enthusiast who has been teaching for seven years. He has eclectic musical interests, and is equally happy playing Disney tunes as he is to be thrashing out to extreme metal. A Peterborough resident, Stuart is currently a member of two bands: the macabre, animal-themed death metal band Titan Arum, in which he is the primary songwriter and guitarist, and modern hard rock band No Small Affair, in which he plays bass.

Stuart is a part of Melody Thomas Music Studio, where he offers lessons on guitar, bass, and ukulele, as well as supporting students producing original music and frequently accompanying at festivals. He is committed to kindling the curiosity and diverse musical interests of his students and helping them find fun and efficient ways to reach their goals. Stuart believes in using the instruments he teaches as tools to help students connect with the music they are most passionate about, and in helping students carve out their own unique path with their instrument.

On the rare occasion that an instrument isn’t in his hands, Stuart enjoys vegetarian cooking, drawing, and rock climbing. Stuart is thrilled to be adjudicating the 2026 North Hastings Music Festival! 

Laura Lee Matthie recently retired after a very rewarding career of teaching music at the secondary high school music level with the Simcoe County District School Board for 30 years. Known for her dynamic approach to music education, she has led concert and jazz bands, guitar ensembles, percussion ensembles, and chamber groups while championing inclusive, community-focused learning. Laura Lee is also a highly respected workshop facilitator, presenting across Ontario on assessment, music technology, guitar instruction, and curriculum implementation.

Her leadership extends provincially and nationally through long-standing roles with the Ontario Music Educators’ Association, serving as Treasurer, President, and Advocacy Director and through work with organizations including the Coalition for Music Education and Conn-Selmer’s VIP Educator Program.

A dedicated writer and curriculum contributor, she has supported Ministry of Education projects and OMEA publications. Her work has been recognized with major honours including the Juno MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award 2018, the Beckwith Educator Award 2021, the SCDSB Trustee Tribute 2021 and the Community Builders Award for Education in Orillia 2024.

Laura Lee is very excited to be part of this festival.

Joel Bootsma is based in Belleville as a violinist, violist, conductor and luthier. His teaching studio, Red Door String Studio is a dynamic Suzuki based violin and viola studio. His orchestra work has included playing with Quinte Symphony, Orchestra Kingston and Northumberland Orchestra as well as conducting Carpe Diem String Ensemble. For a bit of variety, Joel also does some luthier work, repairing string instruments and bows. Outside of his musical commitments you can often find him with his 100 year old Stanley hand plane honing his woodworking skills.