Connie Weryshko, BEd, DipFA (Kodaly) provides an exceptional foundation of teaching experience as workshop clinician for our choirs. She is co-founder of Cantate Music School which offers the Kodàly Music Explorers Programme for young children. Following many highly successful years as an elementary classroom teacher with the Calgary Board of Education, Connie taught in
the Early Childhood Kodàly Musicianship Program at Mount Royal College Conservatory for 8 years.

As a music director for Foothills Lutheran Church, she developed music programs and activities for children
and still serves as organist and choir accompanist.
She has also taught private piano and theory lessons.


Lisa Fernandes, BMus, MMus. A lyric soprano with a wide vocal range, she brings with her a wealth of experience as a vocal instructor. She earned a Master of Music Degree (Voice Performance) from the University of Alberta. She has performed as a soloist in Austria, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Holland and the Czech Republic. She was member of Edmonton's professional chamber choir Pro Coro Canada and also sang with the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers.

Although a native of Edmonton, Ms. Fernandes comes to us from the Academy of Music in Powell River, British Columbia where she was Head of the Voice Department and conductor of the Academy Girls Choir. She also performed regularly with the Powell River Academy Choir as both a soloist and choir member.

In addition to her work with Cantaré, Ms. Fernandes has accepted a position at Midlake United Church and is establishing a private vocal studio for students of all ages and experiences.

Catherine Lippitt, began her musical training in Calgary, Alberta,singing with the Calgary Youth Choir (now the Calgary Children’s Choir) and the Mount Royal Youth Choir. Other Choral experience includes Ad Libitum Vocal Ensemble (Calgary), the Alberta, Manitoba and National Youth Choirs, as well as the Festival Ensemble (2001 & 2002) for the European Music Festival Stuttgart under the direction of Helmuth Rilling. Catherine is a current memberof the Canadian Chamber Choir, a 17 voice, a cappella choir made up of singers from across Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba and a Masters of Music from the University of Western Ontario, both in Vocal Performance. She also has a Licentiate Diploma from the Western Board of Music. In addition to Choral music, Catherine also enjoys singing

Opera and Oratorio and in Recital.

Susan Yule is a native Newfoundlander, who moved to Montreal in 1996 to study voice. She is a graduate (class of 2001) of McGill, attaining her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with distinction.  During her studies she spent time in New York and in Salzburg, Austria, studying voice and German.

Susan has been involved in choirs since the age of seven. Her roles have ranged from chorister to accompanist and director. Her stage life has been varied, performing in Opera, Light Opera, Broadway reviews, as well as solo and collaborative recital work.  Some of her past roles include Linfea in the McGill Opera rendition of La Calisto; Euridice in Jacopo Peri’s Euridice; Elsie Maynard in the McGill Savoy Society’s production of Yeomen of the Guard; Chava in TNL’s Fiddler on the roof; Daisy Mae in Li’l Abner; Tessa in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers.  Susan has recently moved to Calgary with her husband and daughter. 

This year, in addition to joining the Cantaré coaching team, she is teaching voice privately.