This year, Staccato Music Studios celebrates 20 years of music-making in the wonderful Burnaby Heights. The studio, just like the Heights, has evolved since its inception in 2002. We’ve gone from being a piano-only studio, to a studio filled with the sounds of singing, guitar, drums, and strings. Our early childhood programming led to long-term partnerships with local organizations including Eileen Daily, the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, and Burnaby Family Life. We’ve also had the pleasure of taking part in numerous community events including fundraisers, arts events, and the always popular Hats Off Day. It has been wonderful to see students sharing their talents and enjoyment of music over these past 20 years!
It has also been wonderful to see many of your children grow up! Numerous students began their musical journey as infants and toddlers in the Music Together program and continued their learning through elementary and high school. It has been such a pleasure to witness their musical growth and to see the amazing young adults they have become. There are few teaching experiences where you are able to see such an extended progression of learning.
Moving from the Prairies to the West Coast twenty years ago, we didn’t really know what to expect. I had never been out to Vancouver, Kera and I had just finished university, and we decided that we wanted to embark on a new adventure (with no snow…..) so out we came. As we had no family out West, the studio very much became a second home for us, with all of the instructors and students becoming our BC family. You have always made us feel at home and welcomed in the community. In 2016, we welcomed our first official BC family member when our daughter was born. It has been wonderful for her to be a part of this community and to see her love for music flourish.
It is on this note that we announce that the studio will be closing at the end of June. As truly fulfilling and rewarding as this work has been, we have decided to make changes to our careers to meet the changing needs of our family.
On behalf of the studio, Kera and I would like to thank all of you for your support over the years. It has been an amazing twenty years being part of this community. The memories and experiences that we have shared with all of you will be cherished for a lifetime.
Our warmest thanks and appreciation, Kera and Dustin Doherty