Michael Burnyeat

Michael Burnyeat started fiddle lessons in Vancouver here at the Open Door Music School then Celtic Traditions in 2009 at twelve years old.

Michael Burnyeat is a 2 time BC-Fiddle champion and 2 time finalist in the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition.

He has received instruction from some of North American’s top fiddlers, including Mark Sullivan, Calvin Vollrath, and Liz Carroll.

He is a regular jam session leader, including leading the sessions at the Jericho Folk Club for many years, and he is also the co-founder of the UBC Fiddle Club. In 2018 he released his first solo album of fiddle music entitled A Sense of Tradition.
He has taught at Open Door Music for 3 years. He enjoys teaching all ages and levels, and in many fiddle styles, and he believes in catering to each student’s specific needs.

Michael Burnyeat Available Times
Monday all time slots Full
Tuesday  all time slots Full
Thursday all time slots Full
Contact us for availability.

Kai Gronberg

Kai Gronberg was born in Vancouver, BC and started playing violin at age 4. He had his first violin lessons at the Central Valley Academy of Music, and has also studied under many of Canada’s premier fiddle players such as Mark Sullivan Calvin Vollrath and Mike Sanyshyn.

Kai is a two time BC Provincial Champion, as well as being a participant at the annual Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition where he placed in the top 11 twice.

Kai has been teaching violin and fiddle lessons in Vancouver for 5 years and is familiar with the Suzuki Method, and the Royal Conservatory Method and uses both in his teachings alongside fiddle and other contemporary styles.

Kai Gronberg Available Times
Monday 6:00pm to 6:30pm and 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Tuesday 2:30pm to 3:00pm
Wednesday 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Thursday 2:00pm to 3:00pm and 7:30pm to 8:00 pm

Contact us for availability.

Emily Dubois

The Open Door Music School is pleased to welcome Emily Dubois to our teaching staff. Emily is a warm and engaging teacher and now has an open schedule on Wednesday afternoons.

Emily Dubois affection and affinity for the fiddle started early; regularly attending youth fiddle camps such as the Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party. Over a fifteen-year span, fiddle-camps and the connections they create have nurtured Emily’s passion for collaboration, performance, and her own evolution to mentoring and teaching young fiddlers.

Emily teaches all styles of Canadian fiddle music, including Old-Time, Irish, Scottish, Métis, French-Canadian, Country/Bluegrass, and Celtic. Her teaching methods include learning by ear, using sheet music, application of basic music theory, and early Suzuki books for those interested in a mixture of classical and contemporary learning. She teaches to all ages of all levels from raw beginner to early- advanced.

Emily has completed a diploma in Contemporary Music Performance under Daniel Lapp, competed in the 2019 Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship, became the first Contemporary soloist in the Victoria Conservatory’s “Spark To Flame” concert series, graduated from Capilano University with a certificate in Arts and Entertainment management.

Emily Available Times

Wednesday afternoon only 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Annie Brown

Annie Brown is an award-winning violinist, educator, and a popular musician anywhere lively fiddle music is played in Vancouver. Her stylistic influences range from European classical, Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton fiddling, to Jazz and Klezmer.

Annie instructs full-time at Open Door Music School and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Other music projects include the Irish Wakers, Kitty Lie Over, and the Psycho Acoustic Ceili Band. You can hear her perform most Thursday nights at the Irish Heather in Gastown, as well as at many of the traditional music festivals around the province of British Columbia.

Annie Available Times
On line lessons only
Contact us for availability.

Michael Pratt

Michael Pratt a co-owner of The Open Door Music School is a fiddler, singer and concertina player who draws from his Irish roots as well as his involvement in the Folk Clubs in the British Folk Revival in the late 1960s and 70s before moving to Canada.

Michael started playing fiddle when he was twenty five and it has since then become one of the loves of his life. Michael brings his love of the fiddle to teaching and has hosted many fiddle sessions in the city and runs the Thursday session in the store where all are welcome to come and participate.

Michael’s love of playing and singing can be heard if you catch a performance when appearing with one of his groups Quartete a Tete, The Armchair Sailors or Six at the Table.

Michael Pratt Available Times
Contact us for availability.