Ariel Shetzen

Courses taught at UVic

• Vocal Jazz Ensemble
• MUS438B Choral Clinic for Secondary School

Biography

Ariel Shetzen (B.Mus., Hons. B.A., B.Ed) is an award-winning vocalist and music educator, originally from Toronto, ON. With a decade of experience teaching music, Ariel has coached hundreds of students, with a focus on helping singers find their unique sound while utilizing healthy vocal technique.

Ariel received her Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Voice Performance from the University of Toronto, where she studied with acclaimed musicians including Alex Samaras and Mike Murley. Ariel also holds her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University and Bachelor of Education from Western University, where she received the Don Wright Faculty of Education Music award for her dedication to music education.

As a Jazz musician, Ariel has performed extensively with her quartet and developed workshops on improvisation for both high school music students and adult musicians. Through her work as a faculty member of Lakefield Music Camp, Ariel has taught courses on Vocal Phrasing and Technique, Sight Singing and Jazz Improvisation. She is passionate about integrating the foundations of classical vocal technique with the language and freedom of jazz improvisation.

A certified teacher in both Ontario and British Columbia, Ariel has worked with many high school arts and music students, leading choral ensembles and supporting musical theatre productions. Most recently, Ariel led the JAMME ensemble at Etobicoke School of the Arts, where she taught advanced SATBB jazz repertoire and conducted the ensemble at the Ontario Vocal Jazz Festival.

As a choir director, she is known for creating a joyful culture of singing while striving for musical excellence. Ariel believes in building community through song and has led both the Miles Nadal JCC Choir (2021/22 season) and the DJC Choir in Toronto since 2018.