IDEAL School of Music & Arts
I.M.A.G.E. School Association is a non-profit organization established in 2006 to offer individual and group classes in voice, cello, piano, guitar and percussion to local students of all ages. I.M.A.G.E. coordinates a group of music teachers and members of IDEAL. Courses are offered at the IDEAL Society in Jaffray, at the Fernie Academy and in Sparwood. Students enrolled in voice, piano and cello have the opportunity to participate in the annual exams of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Canada. I.M.A.G.E. also organizes a theater camp for children 6 to 13 years, as well as the Honey Day and Ideal Tour educational activities.
For more information or to register for a course, please contact Sophia Hoffman at (250) 919-7619, email musicandarts@idealsociety.org
Instructors
ALAIN COURMONT
CELLO. Alain graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, and won first prize in cello and chamber music. He worked as an international soloist and cello teacher at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique in Paris and the Conservatoire Régional in Chalon-sur-Saône. He also worked as a soloist with the Paillard Chamber Music Orchestra. He plays the cello with the Vera Instrumental Ensemble.
GILLES HAINAULT
PIANO. Gilles has an M.A. in Music from the Montreal Conservatory of Music. He has been composing, arranging music and teaching piano for over 30 years. He taught many workshops in choral singing in Europe and in the US. Gilles is the musical director of the Vera Choir and Instrumental Ensemble since its beginnings in 1993.
GABRIEL HOFFMAN
THEATER & GUITAR. Gabriel studied theater at the University of Cologne. He worked at the professional theater in Düsseldorf while pursuing studies in stained glass. He wrote and directed numerous plays and worked with independent theatre troops in France. Gabriel shares his experience through workshops and theatrical productions; he directs the theatre camp and hosts the Honey Day activities.
SOPHIA HOFFMAN
VOICE. Sophia has a M.A. in music from Laval University in Quebec. She is also a piano laureate. Her love of the opera led her to pursue her studies in France, Germany and Italy. A soprano coloratura, Sophia performed on radio and television and took part in many opera productions as a soloist. She teaches voice and directs the Vera Women's Choir and children's choirs.