Meet Our Team
Orrett Music Academy employs only active music professionals with degrees in Music Performance and/or Education and a minimum of 3 years of private teaching experience. Several are also certified teachers (OCT) and/or ARCT. We strongly believe the best teachers live and love the life they teach. Ask any of them though and they will tell you they are proudest of their passion for teaching and their desire to inspire students of all ages.
Dave Orrett
Academy Director
If you are going to put your name on something, make it something special
Dave’s love for music education spans almost two decades. He began his early teaching career as a part-time Arts and Sports camp coordinator, drama teacher, and piano teacher with Toronto Parks and Recreation. By 1998, Dave’s passion for music began to take over and he decided to open up his own music school where he could teach and inspire full time. More than 800 students later, and with the help of a meticulously chosen staff of like-minded professional teachers, Dave’s goal remains to give each student the tools necessary to attain his or her highest musical potential while making the journey enjoyable. Using techniques he has developed for numerous learning styles, Dave is an exceptional motivator and curriculum developer. Dave is also the proud founder and former volunteer director of “Pulse”, a percussion ensemble for inner-city youth which enjoyed considerable exposure on Breakfast Television, Reader’s Digest Magazine, and dozens of live performances including a feature at Massey Hall in 2002. Enjoying an established reputation as a songwriter, performer, producer and studio engineer, Dave lives and breathes the world of music.
Jacquelyn Payne
Administrator
Jacquelyn will be that friendly face you see when walking in the door. Come on in and say hello!
Mr Christian
Guitar & Bass
Our most experienced teacher. A Tuesday legend.
Christian is an established and highly sought-after guitarist in the Toronto music scene. With well over a thousand performances, Christian has played across North America and Europe with highly notable Canadian and international artists. From club dates to festival tours to TV appearances, Christian’s experience is highly regarded in the industry. He has recorded and produced major label releases both domestically and in Europe. In 2006, Christian received a Juno nomination for Best New Group. On top of his performance skills, Christian is an honours graduate in Performance and Arranging at Humber College. His teaching experience includes many years at one of Canada’s premier learning institutions. He is a respected educator whose knowledge and skills are ideal for all ages and interests.
Ms Christee
Voice, Intro Piano, & Musical Theatre Teacher
Authentic, talented, and ready to bring out the best in your child.
Christee Palace is a pop singer/songwriter originally from Windsor, Ontario. Coming from a very musical family, Christee had the passion for music and singing instilled in her at a very young age.
Christee was trained in pop piano, guitar, and most prominently vocals at the Canadian Conservatory of Music in Windsor, later being a pop vocal instructor, and introductory piano instructor for 9 years.
A graduate from the University of Windsor’s Drama in Education and Community program, Christee has taken her passion for music, performing arts, and teaching, and combined them into one. Christee is a firm believer in connecting to her students through personal musical experiences, and creating a comfortable and fun atmosphere. From various roles in musical theatre, to being the lead singer of a touring wedding band, Christee has over 15+ years of performing experience in many different settings.
Her love for singing and songwriting influenced her to start her own band, performing original pop music. She went on to record her first EP “Alive Today”, with 2 tracks being played on over 60 stations across Canada. Her follow up single, “Light It Up” made it onto Canada’s “Most Active Indies Chart” in its first week at radio, and earned a semi finalist position in both the “International Songwriting Competition” and the “Canadian Songwriting Competition”.
Christee is currently working on her second EP in Toronto with producers and songwriters of Sony and Universal Music.
Mr David
Modern Piano Teacher
Bright, Friendly and sure to bring a smile to your face
David is a classically trained contemporary pianist. He has been working as a professional freelance musician and as a teacher for over a decade and brings that experience to every lesson. A graduate of Mohawk and Humber College David is always seeking the best from himself and from his students.
Having performed everything from Folk to Jazz to Rock’n’Roll, David has a true understanding an eclectic range of music, and where to find the magic in a song. He believes that music is about more than just reading, it’s about understanding the song, and learning to express yourself through it. David is always chasing that magic and loves nothing more than to share how each student can find their own magic in music.
Mr William
Violin & Guitar Teacher
I'm a musician, a creative machine
William studied classical violin for nine years at the Québec Music Conservatory under Christian Vachon and Alexandre Da Costa, before entering Humber College. He has experience teaching and playing many styles of popular music and has played in classical orchestras, rock, and country bands. He has opened for or shared the stage with artists such as Christian McBride, Shawn Phillips, Harry Manx, New Cities, Les Colocs, Loco Locas, Roch Voisine, The New York Voices, and others.
William is a multi instrumentalist, his primary instrument is violin, but he also sings, plays the guitar, mandolin, ukulele, and keyboard. He has taken part in numerous musical projects and is the founder of the francophone rock group, Billy Love Band.
At Orrett Music Academy we love William for his infectiously positive attitude and virtuosic playing ability. Come meet him to experience a fresh and passionate take on violin and guitar lessons.
Mr Eric
Piano Teacher
"The joy of playing comes through in his teaching and in his enthusiasm for music and people who love music."
Born in Winnipeg, Eric studied classical music in the Royal Conservatory of Music with renowned pianist Music Director and Conductor of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Tadeusz Biernacki. At age thirteen Eric fell in love with Jazz music and began to study with local legends Michelle Gregoire and Earl MacDonald Director of Jazz studies at the University of Connecticut. At age sixteen Eric became the house pianist for the Winnipeg Art Gallery and at nineteen spent a year playing at the McPhillips Station Casino.
From a young age Eric’s father instilled in him the value of teaching and at eighteen Eric began teaching for the Academy of Music in Winnipeg. At age twenty Eric left Winnipeg for Toronto to study Jazz in the Performing arts Program at Humber College with Canadian Jazz Greats Dave Restivo and Brian Dickinson. After Humber Eric began a career of performing on cruise ships, becoming a Musical Director and circumnavigated the globe several times.
In 2009 Eric retired his sea legs moved to Switzerland where he lived until 2019. Eric has taught students of all ages and skill level at the International School of Basel and has performed all around Europe.
From beginners to advanced learners, Eric loves sharing the joy of playing and making music. He is known to delve into every aspect of playing, technique, theory, composition, expression, and musicality.
Whether you want to play Jazz, Classical, Pop, or improvise and compose Eric would love to help you on your own musical journey!
Mr Jaden
Guitar, Ukulele, & Bass Teacher
"I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings." - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Jaden found the world of guitar in his early teens. With his natural affinity for the instrument, Jaden began teaching at the age of 16 and quickly attained advanced theory and rudiments with high honours through RCM by age 17.
Soon after, he attended the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College, studying under a plethora of Canadian music industry talents including:
Moe Berg (Singer/Songwriter – The Pursuit of Happiness)
Dan Brodbeck (2010 Juno Award winner Recording Engineer of the Year)
David Martin (20 year veteran Staff Songwriter at Sony/ATV Publishing)
Terry McManus (Founder and ex-president of the Songwriters Association of Canada)
Mike Roth (Former Senior VP of Sony Records Canada)
After graduating in 2012, he taught in the Kitchener-Waterloo area for 8 years, before moving to Etobicoke at the end of 2019. He is currently involved in the writing and recording of two independent projects, both on track to release debut EP’s in 2020.
Jaden is a firm believer that there is talent in everybody. His charismatic and enthusiastic personality is infectious with students of all ages. We encourage you to come in and experience an exciting and rocking guitar lesson with Jaden.
Mr Joel
Modern Piano, Voice, & Intro Piano Teacher
"Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable." - Leonard Bernstein
Originally from Edmonton, Joel has been playing and teaching everything from classical to pop to jazz for over ten years. He is passionate about teaching music with a multi-genre approach, inspiring students to work on music they love, and challenging them to discover exciting new music along the way. Joel studied at Berklee College of Music from 2012-13 and received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music from MacEwan University in 2018.
As a musician, Joel has experience as a performer, songwriter and composer across Canada. His greatest passion is to understand and write compelling music. His composition work ranges from orchestra to choir, from jazz big band to piano solo. As an educator, Joel uses his composition expertise to help students truly understand the music they learn and the theory behind why they like the song they listen to. Whether a student wants to study classical repertoire, pop songs, or video game music, Joel is excited to help them discover the music in new ways and journey with them when the songs are complex and challenging.
In the studio, Joel is optimistic and outgoing. He is committed to knowing his students well and working every week to bring out the best in them and their music.
Mrs Simmons
ONLINE - Early Childhood Music Education & Intro Piano Teacher
“A music teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, touches a heart"
Mrs.Simmons teaches exclusively online.
Mrs. Simmons comes from a long line of musicians and educators and has shared that “music and teaching is in my blood.” Ever since she was young, Mrs. Simmons was drawn to working with children and used to dream of becoming a teacher. As a young girl, Mrs. Simmons took part in many activities to build her confidence, overcome shyness, and broaden her skills. Her childhood piano lessons turned into a passion for music performance and education.
Mrs. Simmons loves to discover new musical experiences every day with young children as their sense of wonder, curiosity and desire to learn is inspiring. For the last 18 years, she has been a full-time preschool music education specialist and piano accompanist to 5 school choirs, performing multiple concerts and musicals each year. A highlight was playing the grand piano at Roy Thomson Hall to accompany choral performances at Independent Schools Music Festivals on 3 occasions. Most recently, Mrs. Simmons completed her Early Childhood Music Education certification from Ryerson University and The Royal Conservatory of Music. She adds these qualifications to her ARCT Piano Performer First Class Honours and ARCT Piano Teacher First Class Honours diplomas.
Mrs. Simmons looks forward to sharing her 31 years of teaching experience with her students. She believes that nothing is more rewarding than seeing the delight on a child’s face as they are thoroughly immersed in the joy of music making!
Ms Beverley
Intro Piano, Modern Piano, Voice, Ukulele / Sing-a-long, Musical Theatre, & Acting Teacher
“If music be the food of love, play on” - William Shakespeare
Beverley has been a performer from a very young age, that all started when she crashed her mother’s voice studio recitals singing The Little Mermaid at 3 years old. After 10 years of piano lessons culminating into her Grade 9 RCM in piano,12+ years of dance classes, choir, and voice lessons, they pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta and graduated with distinction. Throughout her life, Beverley has had the opportunity to teach students in musical theatre, dance, acting, voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele, both in a group setting, and in private one on one sessions. They also are an avid songwriter, and are currently teaching themselves how to play the accordion!
She has trained with many professionals and teachers, most notably Tara Laberge and Kim Mattice Wanat for voice, and David Ley, Sandra Nicholls, and Alana Hawley-Purvis for acting. Professionally, they have worked with National Youth Choir, directors such as Ann Hodges and Jan Selman, and have done multiple Shakespeare productions as well as musicals and modern plays.
New to Toronto, Beverley is so excited to pass on their lifetime love of music and performing to their students, and is grateful to be able to continue growing their passion in such a vibrant and new environment. She believes that every student has the potential for joy and success, especially when they are given autonomy over their learning, tailoring each experience to the individual. She is a bright and bubbly person, and always offers a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. Students can expect a multi-media and multi-faceted approach, as Beverley believes that a love for music can be fostered through a variety of ways!
Mr Jim
Drum & Guitar Teacher
"You can play a shoestring if you're sincere." - John Coltrane
With one foot planted firmly in the world of classical/orchestral music, the other planted in the world of contemporary popular music, and his other limbs flailing through all other genres and styles in between; Drummer/Percussionist Jim has amassed a diverse skill set spanning many genres and eras.
Jim earned his Undergraduate and Masters degrees in percussion performance from the University of Western Ontario. Jim’s experience at Western had a focus on classical/orchestral percussion and led to an extensive understanding of technique, musicality in varied situations, as well as proficiency in reading. Jim then attended Humber College where he was able to hone his drum kit ability and expand his musical knowledge into the realm of pop music along with jazz, rock, R&B and latin music.
Jim’s leap into the professional music realm was quite the leap, manning the drum chair for various cruise ship show bands allowing him to visit 5 continents, as well as a national theatre tour of China. Back home Jim performs with a variety of acts such as America’s Got Talent finalist Stacey Kay, the Hitmen Entertainment Drumline, and has appeared with the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra.
This wide array of experience has allowed Jim to develop a lesson program that can be used in all musical settings and by all skill levels. Jim fully believes that music is a universal language and approaches teaching as such. Just like with language, building your musical vocabulary and grammar allows you to freely express yourself on your instrument and communicate more effectively with other musicians. He makes lessons as fun and engaging as possible by custom tailoring lessons to suit your interests. Jim has built up an arsenal of educational materials including custom lesson handouts, popular song play-a-long tracks and DEMO VIDEOS, all designed to help you reach your drumming goals.
Ms Thalia
Intro Piano, Voice, & Musical Theatre Teacher
“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.” ― Pablo Casals
Mr Jack
Classical Piano & Modern Piano Teacher
"Music is a world within itself, in a language we all understand" - Stevie Wonder
Jack is an enthusiastic piano teacher who values the opportunity to share music with others. He has been surrounded by music since a young age, having started playing the piano at the age of 6. Throughout his musical journey he has been fortunate to perform in various venues in Italy, New York City, and across Canada. Jack’s passion for music has also helped him receive first place in national competitions such as the CMC, and complete his ARCT with first class honours with distinction.
Jack is a passionate teacher who loves finding new and creative ways to share musical ideas. As an educator Jack emphasizes the need for fun and joy while helping students achieve their goals. He believes that music education is more than learning to play notes, but rather a form of self-expression and a way to connect with others. Jack is trained in the Keyboard Games method of teaching, in which music and play are closely intertwined.
Jack has had the opportunity to receive masterclasses from many renowned pianists, such as Enrico Elisi, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Dmitry Masleev. He hopes that his own love and passion for music can inspire others in the most fun and exciting ways!
Ms Megan W
Intro Piano & Modern Piano
"To play a wrong note is insignificant. To play without passion is inexcusable." -Beethoven
Mr Matt
Guitar & ukulele
“Originality’s the thing. You can have tone and technique and a lot of other things but without originality you ain’t really nowhere. Gotta be original”- Lester Young
Matt is a passionate teacher and an active freelance guitarist. He loves to bring real life experiences he’s had into the classroom to truly prepare students for success. Having graduated from Humber College’s Degree program in Jazz Performance, Matt is a dynamic educator who creates fun and interactive lessons for every student.
Matt grew up with a deep appreciation for classic rock, blues, folk, and jazz. He loves to find new ideas, whether it be a new technique, discovering new sounds when he composes or coming up with creative educational lessons. He brings this energy to each lesson and kindly guides his students so that they discover the fascinating world of music together
Ms Pauline
Classical Piano, Modern Piano, & Intro Piano Teacher
Pauline is a professionally trained pianist in both classical and modern styles who has been playing for over 13 years. A graduate of Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, she has successfully completed her Grade 10 Piano Examination at the Royal Conservatory of Music with “First Class Honours with Distinction” and has won awards in music competitions including Kiwanis and MusicFest Canada.
Pauline has an infectious passion for music and loves sharing her musical knowledge. Her students have performed at recitals, competitions, and she has prepared students for RCM examinations. She believes there is no limit to a student’s creativity and encourages all her students to explore the field of music within and outside of the classroom setting. Ms Pauline’s more experienced students can look forward to a teacher who will help them discover songwriting, music technology, and a diverse range of musical styles.
Ms Alessia
Voice, Ukulele Sing-A-Long & Intro Piano
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
Alessia is a classically trained vocalist and pianist who specializes in a range of different genres.
Growing up on the stage allowed her to be immersed in music from a young age with a genuine
love for learning, and teaching. She is now entering her fourth year of studies as a music education student at the University of Toronto. Through this degree, she explores a wide range of musical styles from Classical, Jazz, Gospel, Music Theatre, and Pop all in a solo and ensemble setting. This allows her to give a holistic method of voice teaching using multiple genres and techniques. She strives to bring the same positive energy into her classroom that made her fall in love with music.
Ms Meghan B
Classical Piano & Intro Piano Teacher
“The only thing in this world is music” — Virginia Woolf
Music lived in Ms Meghan long before she began piano lessons at the age of six. Growing up, she trained enthusiastically in music and dance, and eventually landed in the world of classical piano, gaining an extensive knowledge of Royal Conservatory curriculums and discovering a passion for accompanying along the way.
Currently Ms Meghan is working towards a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Toronto. Paving her own way in the music industry, she has played with fellow students and student composers, and currently accompanies ballet classes from Pre-K to grade 4 at Harmony school of dance & music in Toronto. She has worked extensively with children, with many volunteer positions with summer and music camps under her belt as well.
Ms Meghan’s biggest goal is to contribute to art that matters, and one of the best ways to do so is through fostering a love of music in young people. She feels passionately that music can offer something to everyone, and is so excited to meet new students!
Ms Sophia
Violin Teacher
Mrs Jessica
Guitar, Ukulele/Sing-a-long, and Voice Teacher
"Every bad situation is a blues song waiting to happen" Amy Winehouse
Jessica began playing guitar at the age of six. She initially learned by mimicking exactly what she heard on the radio and then soon after began her journey of learning with private instruction, lasting 15 years. This deep love of the guitar spanned all styles and genres, leading to the versatile and eclectic player that Jessica is today.
Initially, the focus was on classical guitar and RCM studies up to Grade 8 guitar and advanced theory rudiments. Blues guitar truly captured her interest and is the style that she plays most often at present.
Jessica has had many performance opportunities, initially with music theatre companies as part of the pit orchestra. With these companies, she was able to perform on Banjo, Mandolin & Classical, Acoustic and Electric Guitar. From here, Jessica performed on luxury cruise ships. Initially, she was the lead guitarist in the house band before becoming a soloist for a five year stint.
Today, you can find Jessica performing throughout the GTA as a soloist. Her other passion is teaching music to others. Being able to tailor make lessons to suit different learning styles and needs is her specialty. No two people learn the same and this is something that Jessica always keeps in mind.
Ms Briana
Voice, Intro Piano, and Musical Theatre Teacher
Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends. - Alphonse de Lamartine
Briana is a classically trained vocalist and pianist. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto for classical voice and RCM Level 9 Piano.
Born into a musical household of a saxophonist, flutist and pianist, music was an early language of curiosity for her. As a shy young girl, she was introduced to singing lessons as an outlet to open up and effectively communicate and develop her voice both musically and socially. Ever since, she grew up in the church as a lead vocalist, chorister, as well as playing the piano, synthesizer, and drums for the church bands.
Currently, Briana performs music of different cultures and genres, including pop, RNB, gospel, rock, jazz, musical theatre, funk and klezmer. She combines her experience and knowledge of different instruments and musical styles into her teaching, to help discover and build one’s unique set of musical skills and identity. Briana has composed and produced music and sound design for short animation films and is also an active performer and member of Nagata Shachu, a Toronto-based Japanese taiko drumming group.
Ms Sarah
Voice Teacher
“Music is the soundtrack of your life” - Dick Clark
Sarah has been singing professionally since the age of fifteen when she booked her
first gig. Starting her vocal training with 9 years of studying the Royal Conservatory of Music
curriculum, she then began her career as a pop singer and songwriter where she found her
own unique voice and personal style.
Sarah’s passion for educating began at an even younger age, always towing the line between
dreaming of being a rock star or a teacher. Having the ability to combine both of her passions
has been an exciting path, and makes her a dedicated and sought after vocal coach. With 6
years of experience specializing in teaching voice, Sarah has worked with students ranging in
age from young children to adults, and with skill sets ranging from absolute beginner to
professional levels. She enjoys seeing the growth in her students as they find their most
authentic voice. With her background as both a classically trained and mainstream singer, she
has a broad understanding of the fundamentals while also bringing a modern, fun and creative
approach to working with aspiring vocalists.
Since 2017, Sarah has also been pursuing a career as a recording artist (AARYS). Since then,
she has released a full length album, a multitude of singles and remixes, and was also featured
on a collaborative record released by Sony Music Canada. As a songwriter, she has written for
herself and for other artists, and has travelled throughout Canada, and to New York and LA to
do so. Performing live is one of Sarah’s favourite things to do in the world and she looks
forward to helping you achieve the confidence it takes to hit the stage.
Ms Emma
Intro Piano, Modern Piano, and Classical Piano Teacher
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos." - Stephen Sondheim
Emma is a classically trained pianist born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She
is completing her Bachelor of Music in Composition at the University of Toronto and is
passionate about many genres including jazz, folk, pop, and musical theatre. She
discovered her love of music at a very young age, touring and performing with
SaskExpress. It was through composing her own music that she truly discovered her
passion, experimenting with an eclectic array of classical and modern styles, writing
chorale, symphonic, and chamber music, as well as songwriting and arranging in her
free time.
Emma loves working with students of all ages to help them find the role of music in their
lives. She is a firm believer in the arts as a tool to empower young people’s creative
minds, and to develop a strong self of self. She is enthusiastic and committed to her
students, and loves working together to create and achieve artistic goals. In her free
time, Emma enjoys camping and hiking in her home in the prairies, and spending time
with her cat Lilac.
Ms Ana
Violin and Intro Piano Teacher
“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” -Maria von Trapp
Ana is a classically trained violinist, and has her ARCT diploma (Honours with Distinction). She has played with various chamber groups and orchestras in Ottawa and Montreal.
The violin can be a difficult instrument to learn, but Ana is here to help you every step of the way. She will help you build a good relationship to your instrument, and will teach you how to practise well so that you can make consistent progress, and eventually be able to play more difficult pieces. One of Ana’s greatest joys in teaching is pointing out when a student has mastered something they couldn’t do before. She loves watching students’ faces light up when they realize they’ve improved and grown stronger—she finds this deeply rewarding.
Ana will help you build good technique, as well as opening up and becoming more confident in expressing your own musical voice. She can’t wait to meet you and get started!
Ms Irene
Voice, Steps To Music, and Tiny Tunes Teacher
"Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife." -Kahlil Gibran
Ms Irene is a Steps To Music, Tiny Tunes, and voice teacher. She has been teaching voice for 10 years, and teaches genres such as Pop, Jazz, and Disney music. Irene is classically trained, with a degree in classical voice performance, she also has been performing Jazz music for the last 15 years with international performances, singing songs from the likes of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Audrey Hepburn – to name a few. She has also worked as a kindermusik educator working with children from ages 2-7.
Irene believes that each student is unique in the way that they learn but also in the way that they shine! She is here to ensure a safe and nurturing environment, guiding each student to become the best version of themselves. She is very goal oriented and establishes that each step forward is a step closer to the goals envisioned, all the while having a wonderful time during the learning process. Building confidence, positive thinking, and good habits for healthy singing is central in her lessons.
Irene is thrilled to be joining Orrett Music Academy and she can’t wait to meet all of her new and wonderful students!
Ms Ashley
Classical and Intro Piano Teacher
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats
Ashley is a classically trained pianist who has been playing piano for over 12 years. Currently studying music at York University, she is also pursuing an associate diploma (ARCT) In classical piano performance. She has been a teacher for a number of years teaching private piano lessons, group piano and music theory.
Ashley believes that each student is unique and creates a positive environment where students can flourish and grow during each lesson. She believes that anyone can learn music and loves to share her passion of music with all of the students she comes across!
Mr Andrew
Guitar, Ukulele, Intro Piano, and Modern Piano Teacher
"Let the music speak for itself." – Roy Hargrove
Mr Jack Z
Classical Piano Teacher
“Music is enough for a lifetime - but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninoff
Jack is a classically trained pianist with extensive solo, collaborative, and professional experiences. He holds a Master of Music from Indiana University, and an undergrad in Piano Performance from University of Toronto, studying with Professors Evelyne Brancart and Lydia Wong, respectively.
In the studio, Jack seeks to cultivate a sense of music appreciation while developing a mindful technical understanding. He believes the process of music making can be emotionally fulfilling, intellectually stimulating, and above all, a celebration of the human spirit through bringing people together and creating memories for a lifetime.
