Each of our qualified team members is dedicated to providing the highest performing arts training in an encouraging and inclusive environment. Keep scrolling to meet our MIMPA Magic Makers and see how this incredible team will be creating magic this year!
Aisha Talarico Nicastro is a classically trained vocalist and accomplished performer with over 30 years of vocal study and artistic development. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Music and an Artist Diploma in Performance Voice from Western University, along with an Associate Diploma from Conservatory Canada.
Aisha’s artistic journey is defined by decades of disciplined study and live performance, where she developed a refined vocal technique, interpretive sensitivity, and a strong stage presence. She has sung in choirs, classical and musical theatre ensembles, and community theatre groups, including: The Toronto Children’s Choir, Voicebox: Opera in Concert, Brampton Lyric Opera, Opera Belcanto of South Simcoe, London Musical Theatre Players, London Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Arcady, and La Musica Lirica.
Since 2007, Aisha has been a dedicated private voice instructor, guiding students of all ages and skill levels in developing their vocal technique and artistic confidence. Her teaching is grounded in a deep understanding of vocal pedagogy and a heartfelt commitment to helping each student discover and refine their unique voice. Aisha also shares her love of music through her involvement in the music ministry at Holy Martyrs of Japan, where she helps lead the children’s choir in song and praise. As a proud MIMPA mom, she has supported and celebrated her own children’s artistic journeys within the MIMPA community. This season, Aisha is thrilled to join the MIMPA family as a voice coach, where she looks forward to mentoring emerging artists and fostering a love of vocal performance. With a strong foundation in education and performance, she continues to pursue new avenues of artistic growth and expression.
Miss Aly has been singing since she was 4 years old and has been in love with performing ever since! She is a multi-award-winning singer and actor with recognition at the provincial and national level. She has completed all Royal Conservatory of Music levels and has a wide teaching array ranging from classical opera to Broadway and musical theatre. She teaches both 1:1 as well as choral group lessons. She has been involved in many productions and has now focused on directing the music for the Advanced Musical Theatre program at MIMPA.
When she is not at the studio, Miss Aly works as an occupational therapist in a Neurology Specialty clinic. She has a Bachelors degree in Cognitive Science specializing in language and linguistics and a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy.
Aly enjoys a good snuggle with her dog, a good quality cup of Colombian coffee, and spending time with her growing little family.
Aly is known for her constant smile and joyful attitude that is sure to spread to her students. Music is life’s greatest joy!
Bryar is thrilled to return for her third year with the MIMPA team! After diving in at the 2023 End of Year Show, she quickly embraced a range of roles—from scheduling and costume creation to stage management and studio renovations. Bryar loves infusing the team with new creative ideas while also learning from the diverse talents around her.
A proud graduate of Trent University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and coming from a large family, Bryar loves to collaborate and work with teams of any size. With both an outgoing spirit and moments of shyness, she’s always eager to expand her knowledge of the performing arts and forge new connections.
Bryar finds immense joy in being part of a community that nurtures creativity and growth in young people, allowing her to express her own artistic side. Outside the studio, she enjoys sewing, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends. An outdoor enthusiast, she loves camping, fishing, and skiing whenever she can.
Excited for the upcoming season, Bryar looks forward to new adventures and the opportunities that lie ahead!
Claudie Schlereth lives in Barrie with her husband Miguel, daughter Allegra, and very sweet but also sometimes insane dog Luna. Claudie moved a lot during the first half of her life; from South Africa to France and Belgium and then back to South Africa before coming to Canada. Having moved so much has given her an interest in languages and an outlook on life that appreciates what we can all learn from each other.
Claudie has over 15 years of administrative experience and loves being part of the MIMPA Team as the Office Manager. Her calm and gentle nature makes her much happier being behind the scenes rather than on the stage, and she loves seeing the creativity that goes into putting a show together. Claudie's favourite thing about MIMPA is the positive and welcoming atmosphere, where she sees children reveling in the chance to be creative, learning many important life skills, and believing in themselves.
Passionate about fostering growth and self-confidence, she finds fulfillment in being part of an organization that makes a meaningful impact in young lives. When not at MIMPA, Claudie enjoys doing arts and crafts, reading, talking about personality types and listening to comedians.
Elina is a Performance Coach with a diverse background that includes teaching, coaching, mentoring, training, sales, entrepreneur, wife and mother. Her strength lies in empowering people to believe in themselves so they can achieve confidence to accomplish their life goals.
With over 40 years’ experience in the dance industry, Elina’s dance training includes Ballet and Jazz. She completed her Royal Academy of Dance exams at the Vocational Level (Advanced I) throughout high school and university and competed at numerous dance competitions throughout North America. She also achieved her professional Teaching Certificate with RAD in 1995.
Elina has a lifelong connection with children during which she has taught Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical and Contemporary to competitive and recreational students at various studios in the Greater Toronto Area and North, including pre-elite athletes at Seneca College. Elina is certified as a Progressing Ballet Technique Instructor.
Elina has run Aim Educational Services Inc. for 14 years as a tutoring and coaching company. After becoming a Master Coach and Trainer of NLP and Hypnotherapy, she continues to work with students and adults to clear out negative thinking patterns and mentor and teach skills and tools to navigate through life’s challenges.
Due to Elina’s unique credentials and love of dance, she has combined her knowledge of mindset with her technical performance knowledge and developed Own the Stage™ for performers. This program teaches performers how to master their emotions, mindset and skills to achieve a superb performance.
In her spare time, Elina enjoys spending time in nature with her husband and two children, hiking, and knitting.
Empathetic with a gigantic smile, Finley Thomson loves to help kids find their voices to be the best performer they can be!
Finley joined the MIMPA family over 14 years ago. She started off as a volunteer for many of the Junior musicals and eventually, with the help of the incredible MIMPA teachers, found comfort on the stage!
Not only has she been in over 10 shows at MIMPA, she was part of MIMPA's award winning Competition Team for 6 years and was Team Capitan for her last 3.
She has gone on to win many awards. The most recent being the South Simcoe Arts Council Award for Music Theatre, The Broadway Star Award for Best Senior Vocalist at Access Broadway 2 years in a row and was the All Star Senior Vocalist at Access Broadway 2023.
Finley is so grateful to be returning to the MIMPA team this year! She is so excited to teach and inspire the new students of MIMPA. She hopes to help make MIMPA their second home like the teachers of MIMPA have done for her!
Jennifer has been a member of the MIMPA family for the past seven years as an engaged parent and is now excited to start her third season as a production assistant. With a strong desire to learn and work with others, Jennifer enjoys being a part of the MIMPA team. In her role, she supports the creative directors in various aspects of production, from managing props, assisting with set design, and coordinating volunteers.
Jennifer’s full-time job as an executive assistant in operations for a golf company has garnered her excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Her background in project management and event execution has been beneficial as Jennifer thrives in fast-paced environments, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. She enjoys collaborating with talented individuals, learning from experienced professionals, and contributing to the magic of live performances.
Growing up in Bradford, Jennifer is the proud mother of three daughters—and a beautiful baby granddaughter, who has added a wonderful new chapter to her life. She’s an animal lover with a rescue dog and cat who bring plenty of energy into her home. For Jennifer, nothing means more than spending time with family and friends. She enjoys concerts, theatre, traveling, and making memories with her loved ones.
Julia is an award winning Director and Performance Coach who has been teaching for over 20 years. Training at McMaster University not only inspired her love for performing but also sparked a passion for directing. After graduating University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Film studies, Julia discovered her love for teaching and building confidence in young people through the performing arts. As a Performing Arts Coach, Julia has worked with a variety of students varying in age and experience level. With a strong focus on finding an actor's authenticity, Julia's students have found their confidence and true presence on the stage. Julia has coached professional speakers, teachers, and prepared many students/actors for auditions.
As one of the Co-Owners of Magic in Moments Performing Arts Studio (MIMPA), Julia continues to inspire students to discover the joy of the performing arts and build confidence both on stage and in their everyday lives. Julia enjoys the ability to be creative every day and work with the incredible MIMPA team to create magic on stage and at the studio.
MIMPA is a culmination of Julia’s dreams and experiences wrapped into one incredible place to continue to learn, encourage, meet new people and expand her skills as a teacher, director, coach and entrepreneur.
Liza has been teaching piano and music theory for more than 25 years (14 years at MIMPA)! She is MIMPA’s longest standing piano and music theory teacher!
Her formal music education began at the Avila Music School in Thunder Bay many long years ago. After a hiatus of music study to pursue a BSc. in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, she returned to the piano to complete levels 9 and 10 of the Royal Conservatory Certificate program with First Class Honours. She also studied popular keyboarding skills with Doug Abbott of Toronto.
She has experience teaching beginners as well as students working towards higher levels of the RCM Certificate program. She has successfully prepared students for level 9 piano practical examinations including the history and harmony components as well as level 10 harmony, keyboard harmony and history.
As well as teaching, she has also been performing regularly those same years - weddings, funerals, studio recordings for a local musician, and also providing piano accompaniment for choirs, as well as vocal and violin soloists for various festivals and exams.
It is a joy for Liza to be able to make music and collaborate with other musicians, a joy that she hopes to unlock for the students she teaches.
Lydia is a multi-award-winning singer, actor, pianist, and dancer with a passion for the performing arts. She is a dedicated instructor, recognized as one of the youngest in Canada to earn two Associate Diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Piano Pedagogy and Speech Arts and Drama, receiving the RCM Gold Medal for the highest mark in Ontario and Quebec. Lydia is currently pursuing a third Diploma in Vocal Performance.
Her dance training includes Advanced Examinations in Tap, Modern, Jazz, and Ballet, and she has performed in musicals like "Anne of Green Gables" and "West Side Story," as well as a featured role in "Sarah's Daughters."
As an award-winning director, Lydia's students have achieved local and international accolades, including RCM Gold Medals. Many have appeared in TV and film or pursued arts education. In addition to teaching, Lydia is a professional stage manager in Toronto and Montreal, working with notable figures like Serena Ryder. Renowned for her voice, she also performs as a singer, pianist, and music arranger, most recently featured in a Christmas episode for Salt and Light Productions.
Valorie’s bright personality, high energy and humble heart makes learning and training an amazing experience! Valorie loves helping others, strengthening and lifting up everyone she meets. Pulling what is inside you, out to shine for all to see!
Valorie received her Bachelors of Sacred Music from Canada Christian College. She has a lot of experience directing choirs, large ensembles, producing her own music, and teaching vocalists and band members of all ages. While in school she sang with the RIVER WORSHIP team in Whitby ON in front of thousands of people every week.
Valorie has had a love for music since she was just a young girl. She has sung with her church, performed at Christian Performing Arts Centre in the Toronto Passion Play, What a Wonderful Christmas, been part of School Productions, like Willy Wonka and is now also a part of MIMPA’s AMT cast!
When not at MIMPA Valorie works as an intervener with Deafblind Ontario, she has a love for helping people she also knows sign language! She enjoys sports like volleyball and soccer and loves spending time with her husband and her family! That includes her MIMPA family!
Valorie is very excited for this year to come, and can't wait to add more people into the MIMPA family.
Vera is thrilled to be back with the MIMPA team as Merchandise Coordinator!
Being a proud MIMPA mom to her daughter Ava for over a decade, Vera cherishes the strong sense of community and the welcoming atmosphere. Her seven years (and counting) of leading MIMPA's Competition Team's Fundraising has deepened her connection to the studio, and she’s eager to contribute even more by ensuring another successful Triple Threat Competition Team Showcase and helping to bring the MIMPA spirit alive through new merch!
Outside of teaching and her MIMPA involvement, she enjoys training in CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting. Vera is passionate about being a part of the MIMPA family and looks forward to working with this incredible team this season!