Tatiana Friesen

Viola, Violin, Early Music, Chamber Ensembles

After a childhood immersed in choral singing and piano playing, Tatiana picked up a viola and became friends with it. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Canadian Mennonite University and a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Music from the University of Manitoba, both under the instruction of Daniel Scholz. In 2018 she graduated with a Master’s in Early Music from McGill University, where she studied with Hélène Plouffe and Olivier Brault.

In addition to teaching at the MCMA, Tatiana is on faculty at Sistema Winnipeg and leads the Collegium Musicum at the University of Manitoba.

Tatiana still enjoys singing, and has participated in the Mennonite Festival Chorus, Seraphim Chamber Choir (Montreal), and Winnipeg Upper Voices.

What is your education and experience?

Bachelor of Music, Canadian Mennonite University; Post-Baccalaureate Diploma, University of Manitoba; Master’s in Early Music, McGill University.

What makes lessons with you unique?

I’m curious about all the different factors that influence a student’s playing, from body awareness to mood to life circumstances, and I’m also curious about the music itself. Bringing those things together makes for very interesting work, which I try to involve the student in as much as possible.

What do you love about teaching?

I love music, and I believe that artistic expression is the birthright of every human, and watching someone realize they have music in them is a very cool thing.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking music lessons?

Great! Try something!