ProArts @Noon Concert Series is proud to present two wonderfully accomplished piano students of the Calgary Arts Summer School Association (CASSA); Stephanie Hay and Eric Klaszus. C.A.S.S.A.  started twenty years ago with the brilliant idea of providing a summer workshop for piano students. They now offer seven fine arts courses and workshops and an annual recital. Their courses are designed for fun and education for a wide range of interests and ages.

Stephanie Hay has studied piano since 1997 with Linda Kundert-Stoll of C.A.S.S.A.  She has competed in many local festivals such as the Calgary Performing Arts Festival) and the Calgary APTA Festival.  In January 2014, Stephanie achieved her RCM Elementary Piano Pedagogy, and is currently working on her ARCT in Piano Performance. She is also currently studying Analysis, Counterpoint and Music History with Ena Shparberg.

In addition to studying piano, Stephanie has performed as a flautist with local marching and symphonic bands.  She has three years’ experience teaching piano as well as experience as an accompanist.  In June 2013 she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in European History and a minor in Music from the University of Calgary.

Eric Klaszus began learning piano from his mother at age 8.  Being surrounded by music growing up, he progressed quickly and continued under the instruction of Ina Dykstra in St. Albert, AB, for most of his adolescent years.

In high school, Eric took a break from formal piano studies, but continued accompanying a choral ensemble.  Once high school ended, his time at the piano was increasingly scarce.  Music was still a major part of his life; but more the listening to it, and less the making of it.  For about ten years, his love for the piano lay completely dormant.

In 2009, he fell in love with his future wife.  As that love grew, so did his love for the piano again.  As he revisited some of the last pieces that he had learned in his adolescence,  the desire to study music was again seriously rekindled.

Today, Eric is a full-time carpenter, husband, and father.  His brief moments of spare time are spent practising the piano, or reading harmony and music history textbooks.  He now studies piano under the direction of Linda Kundert-Stoll of C.A.S.S.A..  He is currently preparing for his ACCM exam with Conservatory Canada in piano performance.