Meet the Brio Team

We’re proud of the exceptional team of people behind Brio.

We love our team! Each member is an experienced, educated instructor, and they’re all committed to Brio’s philosophy of nurturing the spark of potential in every one of our students.

Rachel Schwarz,
CEO and Artistic Director

Rachel holds a B.Mus (Hons) and M.Mus in Vocal Performance and Literature from UWO. She has studied at the Janacek Academy in Brno, CZ, and at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. She also attended the Lee Strasburg Institute for Theater and Film in New York, NY. Rachel has appeared in many concerts, oratorios, musicals and operas in Canada, the US, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the U.K. and Germany. She is the founder and artistic director of Studio Black Productions and the Chatham-Kent Children’s Chorus.

As an experienced music educator and parent of young children, Rachel is invested in the growth and development of children and youth in Chatham-Kent. Rachel is an award-winning entrepreneur, and is proud of the work the Brio team does in Chatham-Kent. She knows Brio will be a partner to families in the area to helping the youngest members of our community achieve great things!

Daniel Whittal, Head Karate Instructor

Daniel began studying karate as a young child, and he has not looked back since. After attaining his black belt as a teenager, he has taught children and adults, in French and in English, at karate schools in London, Windsor, and Chatham. Daniel holds a fifth degree black belt in karate, and is a proud participant in the National Coaching Certification Program. His students have travelled around the world, and represented Canada on the world stage.

In 2012, Daniel founded the Zanshin Dojo Karate Club in Chatham, which has grown to become one of the area’s top martial arts schools. Zanshin Dojo has been recognized in the Chatham Daily News “Best of Chatham-Kent” multiple times, and its students have met with amazing success at local, regional, provincial, national, and even worldwide karate competitions. Daniel also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History (UWO), an LLB (U of Windsor), and a JD (University of Detroit Mercy). He is the founder and managing partner of Whittal + Company, Chatham-Kent’s largest local law firm

Becca Woods,
Music and Drama Instructor, Administrator

Becca Woods is a talented musician, performer, educator and administrator who brings a wonderful set of skills to both our administrative team and our music department. She is an in-demand music instructor, and a wiz at scheduling! She’s definitely an important part of the Brio team, and one of the first faces you’ll see when you walk through the door!

Becca has been teaching since 2004, and offers lessons in voice and piano. She has created our Mozart Mini program, which is a dynamic group lesson environment for young students who are ready to explore the world of music, but aren’t quite ready for one-on-one lessons. Becca is also well-versed at working with young choirs, and is the music director of our Musical Theatre Intensive program. Prior to joining the Brio team, Becca spent 3.5 years in Asia working extensively as a music educator and arts administrator, and is excited to bring her experience to work at Brio Academy.

Brittany DeJoseph,
Dance Instructor, Administrator

Brittany is an accomplished, compassionate, dedicated dance teacher with over a decade of experience. Brittany began Highland Dance at the age of seven, and over the years she has also trained extensively in many other styles of dance. She earned numerous certificates with the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Association (SDTA) and plans on continuing her education so she can offer exam options to her students in every style of dance.

She has over 13 years of experience teaching high-quality classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary. She strives to create a safe and positive environment in all of her classes so that every student feels successful in their dance experience!
Brittany has used her teaching experience to take on several projects within the community. Having earned countless awards for her innovative choreography in all styles of dance, Brittany prides herself on providing age-appropriate material to her students, and values challenging her dancers while emphasizing fun and excitement in her classes.

Brittany is thrilled to share her knowledge and passion with the students at Brio! Her goal is not only to create capable, strong, knowledgeable dancers, but also to encourage the students to become confident, kind and resilient human beings!

Maria Whittal,
Karate, Dance and Music Instructor

Maria is a multi-talented marital artist, musician and performer. She is a familiar face around the studio, having grown up under the direction of Brio instructors, and she is excited to join the team and continue to share her talents and passion with Brio’s young students. Maria’s passionate about early years instruction, and her young students adore the balance she strikes in her instruction between working hard and having fun. She’s an energetic, popular, innovative teacher, and we are thrilled to have her as a part of the Brio team.

Maria is an accomplished, award-winning martial artist. She has been training with Zanshin Dojo for almost a decade and is a fixture within the Southwestern Ontario martial arts community. She is also one of a small number of Chinese Fan practitioners in our area. She’s also an experienced musician (piano, voice, guitar) and actor. In her free time, Maria loves travelling, spending time outside and arts and crafts projects.

In the summer of 2021, Maria founded Ohana Ice, a tropical, fun shave ice and confectionary business that operates out of a restored 1968 vintage trailer.

Danielle Coleman,
Visual Arts Instructor

Danielle is a multidisciplinary artist and a 2019 Drawing & Painting graduate with a BFA with Distinction from OCAD University. She is an artist that is always actively showing her work across Ontario, with representation at ARTspace, Chatham and through Partial Gallery, Toronto.

She is currently working towards her Museum Studies Certificate as she love all aspects of curatorial work. tīnē Zine, a curatorial art publication focusing on artists within Chatham-Kent, is Danielle’s on-going project focusing on community collaboration.

Danielle loves to be in the studio and sharing ideas, knowledge and pushing other artists to take risk and try something new.She is so excited to meetthe artists of Brio Academy and explore alternative and contemporary ways of making art in our new way of living – She wants to challenge our students to think about the art they didn’t know was art! She can’t wait to make sketch books fun and to spark that creative fire in your belly! Danielle says: As a few students remembered me as the substitute instructor with the “high fitted mom jeans”, I can’t wait to see you all again soon, make you laugh with my studio attire, and make new friends in the Brio studio.

Patricia Wright,
Karate Instructor

Sensei Patricia is a shodan (first-degree black belt) in Legacy Shorin Ryu karate, and she is a Kinder Kix instructor at Brio.

She made history when she became Canada’s first karate world champion at the World Karate Federation Championship in Linz, Austria.

She continues to compete at provincial, national and international levels, and is an NCCP-certified karate coach.

Patricia is an active volunteer in the Chatham-Kent community, and loves to build that community-minded approach into the work she does at Brio Academy. She’s a regular face at all our awesome camps.

Bailey Smit,
Music Instructor

Bailey Smit is a lifelong student of music, theatre and karate, and has a passion for sharing her knowledge and love of these disciplines with students at Brio Academy.

A student at CKSS, Bailey has studied piano, choral music, theatre, karate and tap for many years. Bailey loves the opportunity to work one-on-one with young musicians as they start to discover their own relationship with music. Skilled in a variety of musical styles, Bailey loves to balance formal technique and popular music for a fun, balanced approach to musicianship!

In her free time, Bailey can always be found singing or baking. She’d like to take her passion of working with children into her post-secondary studies, where she hopes to one day become a paediatrician.

Barry Rumball,
Music Instructor

Barry brings an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching, and we are so excited that our students get to reap the rewards of studying with such a multi-faceted musician. He not only brings decades of teaching experience to Brio on a variety of instruments, he also has profound technical and sound recording knowledge, which he’s excited to share with our awesome community.

Barry offers instruction to musicians of all ages and abilities in guitar, piano and keyboards, bass guitar, drums, theory and bands! He is excited to have the opportunity to share his knowledge with the students at Brio, and to offer them a comprehensive approach to making music, including a solid technical foundation and a creative, dynamic approach to musical performance and presentation.

Want to know what makes all this even more awesome? Barry’s got one of the coolest gear collections around, and he draws from his comprehensive inventory of vintage/boutique instruments and electronics to add to the overall music experience of his students.

Guest Instructors and Friends

Cassiah Pryor,
Dance Instructor

Cassiah is an experienced, multi-talented dancer, educator, choreographer and examiner. She began her dance career at the age of 2, and at the age of 13, Cassiah underwent a teaching apprenticeship training program and began teaching dance. She excelled as a competitive dancer, choreographer and teacher, with her strengths highlighted in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, Musical Theatre and Hip-Hop.

Cassiah obtained her BA Honors in Drama & Communications, Media and Film, as well as her Bachelor of Education teaching diploma. She graduated with a gold seal from the ADAPT syllabus teachers training program, as well as the Acrobatique AcroDance Syllabus, and is also a touring member of the Dance Attack Workshops staff. She has also been very honoured to dance and choreography for multiple special events, short films, fashion shows, and musicals like Cabaret, Legally Blonde, and West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast and the upcoming production of A Christmas Carol with Studio Black.

Paul Schwarz,
Music and Drama Instructor

Paul is an accomplished singer, guitarist and performing artist. He was admitted to the prestigious Eastman School of Music for Vocal Performance on a full scholarship at only 17 years of age. He is also a graduate of the Lee Strasburg Institute for Theatre and Film in New York, NY. A versatile performer, Paul is comfortable singing classical, musical theatre and jazz repertoire. Recently, Paul joined the 2018 cast at The Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia, ON, and he is currently performing with Drayton Entertainment in a variety of professional musical theatre productions.

After school, Paul returned to CK and expanded his artistic pursuits, including his work as a freelance photographer and videographer. Paul has has also added directing to his resume, through his work with the Capitol Theatre and Studio Black Productions. Although his performing brings him away from CK, when he’s home he loves working with his former students at Brio. Paul will always be a part of the Brio team, because he is passionate about sharing his love for music, and helping to play a part in the growth and development of youth in our community.

JC Wright,
OTC, Drama Instructor

JC has a bachelor of fine arts, with a focus on acting and directing, from the University of Moncton. She also holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Ottawa. In her 30+ years in theatre, she has appeared in over 70 plays, and has directed dozens more.

She has had the opportunity to appear on film, and has written several plays, one of which was performed to acclaim in the Toronto, and London, Fringe Festivals. She is a teacher with over 20 years of experience in educating children of all ages.

JC is an active member of Studio Black Productions, having taken on key roles on-stage and off. She is excited to begin working with Brio to help the Musical Theatre intensive students grow into well-rounded young performers.

Jenna Spence,
Early Years Instructor

Jenna holds a Bachelor of Applied Science along with an Early Childhood Educator degree from the University of Guelph as well as an Autism and Behavioural Science certificate from Lambton College. As a teenager, Jenna had the opportunity to work with children in a variety of settings and became interested in pursuing a career in which she could work with this age group. Through school placements and volunteering, she found her passion. She is grateful to use her gifts to assist children to reach their full potential in life.

In addition to her education experience, Jenna has a strong background in music and the performing arts. She plays piano and guitar, and has sung in local church choirs, and community theatre performances. In recent years, Jenna has participated in Studio Black’s productions both on and off stage, not only performing but assisting with set and props behind the scenes.

Cam Mardling,
Karate Instructor

Cam Mardling is no stranger to our Zanshin Karate Club family, and no stranger to the Ridgetown community.

Mardling started his karate training 7 years ago at Zanshin Dojo in Chatham, where he has trained consistently at least twice a week with his instructor, Daniel Whittal. Mardling has attained the rank of black belt, where testing consisted of a broad range of challenges, including demonstrating skill in self-defence, kata, sparring, karate history, and more. Cam has been working with Zanshin students for several years, and is excited to begin establishing a karate presence in Ridgetown. Cam is also a lifeguard, and in his free time he enjoys a game of soccer or possibly taking his unicycle out for a ride.

We are so thrilled to welcome Cam to the Ridgetown Brio family. He’s been such an important part of our karate club, and he’s a talented martial artist, and it’s a real joy to see him step into this role!

Are you ready for an Awesome Year? We are, too!

We’re so excited to have you join us for our coming season!

Just click this link, and you’ll be well on your way to an unforgettable year of creativity, growth, development and unlimited potential.

Welcome to the Brio family!

Let’s get started

Meet the Brio Team

Rachel Schwarz, CEO and Artistic Director

Daniel Whittal, Head Karate Instructor

Becca Woods, Music and Drama Instructor, Administrator

Brittany DeJoseph,Dance Instructor, Administrator

Maria Whittal,Karate, Dance and Music Instructor

Danielle Coleman,Visual Arts Instructor

Patricia Wright,Karate Instructor

Bailey Smit,Music Instructor

Barry Rumball,Music Instructor