At AGMS you will find a gratifying and enriching experience
Our Passion
Design and deliver innovative learning experiences for the pursuit of life-long musical development (performance, composition, instruction)
Our Mission
You will feel inspired to give your absolute best in the pursuit of a solid musical foundation.
Through the encouraging and positive guidance from our music specialists, you will become a confident expressive lifelong performer with a growth mindset and an appreciative audience.
Our Commitment
to You
At AGMS you will find:
- Friendly and welcoming front desk staff ready to answer any questions you may have.
- A team of music specialists with diverse backgrounds.
- A gratifying and enriching experience
Avant-Garde Music Studio (AGMS) director, Alicia Romero, has taught about 300 children, youth, and adults from the surrounding communities for over 15 years.
Alicia’s secret to keep her students engaged, lies in her positive approach and ability to customize lessons to accommodate her students’ interests and goals while providing a solid musical foundation.
She has been immersed in the world of music and education for over 40 years. As a student, obtaining a Bachelor (Hons) of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Education, and as elementary music teacher, private instructor in piano, theory, and pedagogy, as well as research assistant, and online facilitator.
Alicia is an active member of the musical community. Since 1999, she has served in the Executive Board of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association-Calgary Branch in various capacities including President, Editor, and Piano Pedagogy Group Advisor. She is also instructor and publications coordinator for the CASSA Musical Arts.
AGMS’s music specialists come with diverse backgounds. This is an eclectic team of senior and junior instructors with varied areas of expertise ranging from classical to jazz to world music.
Javier Carril, Piano
Javier joined Avant-Garde Music Studio in 2019. Javier holds a Bachelor in Piano Performance and a Master in Musicology from the University of Calgary. He has received his training from well-renowned piano instructors, such as Monique Rasetti and Elias Morales.
Javier has performed in several stages accompanying school choirs and as soloist. He is an experienced teacher with a 10-years teaching career. His experience includes piano group lessons and one-on-one piano lessons for young children and older adults as well.
Javier Carril is a very motivated and patient instructor. His lessons are goal oriented, based to his students' interests. He really loves the expression of his students when they realize they are able to play the music they like on the instrument they love.
Javier was classically trained but he enjoys playing pop and film music. Also, he really likes to learn about new music from his students. You can listen to Javier’s performance of Chopin's Mazurka Op. 24 No. 4 in B flat Minor.
Odessa Mendonca, Voice and Piano
Odessa has been teaching at AGMS since 2015. In her time at the Studio she has taught students ages five (5) to adult, and prepared students for musical theatre auditions.
Odessa has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music/Voice from the University of Victoria, she has also completed Grade 10 Voice, Grade 5 Piano, Grade 3 Harmony/History from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. Odessa has a strong performance background preforming in numerous productions with Debut Opera, U of Vic and U of Calgary as well as various local studio concerts and productions.
Odessa loves imparting her love and passion of music to her students. She enjoys watching them learn, develop and evolve in their musical journey. Odessa’s teaching philosophy is routed in her belief of developing a strong technical foundation through a variety of repertoire. Ensuring her students not only develop good musical skills but develop confidence in their own musical abilities.