Ariel Shetzen – Voice

Ariel Shetzen (Hons. B.Mus., Hons. B.A., B.Ed) is an award-winning vocalist and music educator, originally from Toronto, ON. With over a decade of experience teaching music, Ariel has taught hundreds of students in both high school and adult community choir settings. With a focus on helping singers find their unique sound and find confidence in using their voice, Ariel focuses on utilizing healthy vocal technique in all genres of singing.

Ariel received her Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Voice Performance from the University of Toronto, where she studied with acclaimed musicians including Alex Samaras and Mike Murley. Ariel also holds her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University and Bachelor of Education from Western University, where she received the Don Wright Faculty of Education Music award for her dedication to music education.

As a Jazz musician, Ariel has performed extensively with her quartet and developed workshops on improvisation for both high school music students and adult musicians. Through her work as a faculty member of Lakefield Music Camp, Ariel has taught courses on Vocal Phrasing and Technique, Sight Singing and Jazz Improvisation. She is passionate about integrating the foundations of classical vocal technique with the language and freedom of jazz improvisation.

A certified teacher in both Ontario and British Columbia, Ariel has worked with many high school arts and music students, leading choral ensembles and supporting musical theatre productions. Ariel currently teaches voice at the Canadian College of Performing Arts and directs the University of Victoria Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and is passionate about sharing the joy of singing with all of her students.