Our Team & Board
of Directors

Erin founded Lotus Centre in 2012 based on a passionate belief that people of all abilities have a right to learn and experience music in an environment that meets their needs. Her strengths-based approach to adaptive music education is based on a combination of evidence-based practice and a deep belief in the importance of relationship and responsiveness to the individual student.

Erin received her Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts in Musicology, and Graduate Certificate in Piano Pedagogy Research from the University of Ottawa. She completed a PhD in Music Education from McGill University in 2015, where she researched how to effectively train studio music teachers to work with students with autism. Erin has been teaching music since 1996 and has worked with students of all ages and abilities in a variety of settings, primarily as a private and group piano teacher. Based on her research and teaching experience, in 2020 Erin founded the Lotus Centre Institute for Professional Development to provide training, tools and resources for music educators working with students with exceptionalities.

In addition to her experience and work as a music teacher and teacher trainer, Erin is an active researcher with specific research interests in determining effective practice in teaching students with exceptionalities, therapeutic benefits of music education, and trauma-informed teaching. Erin is a principal researcher at the Music and Health Research Institute at the University of Ottawa, and research fellow at the Research Centre for Music, Sound and Society in Canada at Carleton University. Erin is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa, where she teaches and mentors students in special music education. Erin presents at conferences and guest lectures throughout North America and internationally on teaching music to students with special needs and other issues in music education.

Erin graduated from Queen’s University with a degrees in both Honours English and Education. Erin is a music lover and enjoys singing and listening to the wonderful sounds around The Lotus Centre. Erin was honoured to sit on The Lotus Centre Board of Directors as a parent advisor for many years and is extremely excited to help the Centre in her current role as their Office Administrator.  “Lotus is a special place, full of special people, who love music and work hard to make sure that every person, regardless of his/her diagnosis or exceptionalities, is able to participate in music education in a meaningful way. I am so happy to help facilitate special music education experiences to members of the community!”

Kerina Sova has always had a passion for working with children of all ages and a love for music.
After graduating from the Child and Youth Care program at St. Lawrence College, she started
her journey of working with children and expanding her experience in providing programs to
students with specialized needs.
Kerina has been an Educational Assistant in the private school board, a Child and Youth Care
Worker in the Catholic School Board and provided support at The Boys and Girls Club. In her free
time, she enjoys singing, dancing, painting, doing DIY’s and making bracelets.
Kerina is excited to have this opportunity to grow her knowledge in the music field. 

Jeff has been a music lover for his whole life, and he began playing piano at age 5. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition and Theory from Ithaca College. In addition to music, Jeff is also passionate about helping people with their mental and physical wellness. He received Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and then worked for over a year as a community mental health counselor. He has also trained in the Taubman Approach to healthy piano technique. For his graduate studies, Jeff came to the University of Ottawa to pursue his love of both music and science and to improve his skills as a teacher. He received a Graduate Diploma and a Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy Research, and is now pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences. Jeff has worked with students of many different ages and abilities. He loves playing and teaching many different styles of music, such as classical, rock, and pop. His goal as a teacher is to combine his passion for music and wellness and to adapt his approach to each individual student, so that anyone can enjoy making music in their own way.

I started formal music studies late in life, at the age of 28. I have always wanted to play piano. Both parents were very musical, between the two they played piano, guitar, alto sax, organ, banjo and accordion. Both played for enjoyment, my mom even brought her piano to senior’s apartment. As I juggled family, work, and volunteering, music lessons always came last. I still take lessons from Erin (of Lotus Centre). We are currently in RCM program, working on ARCT Intermediate Pedagogy. It has been a long musical journey, and I’m still moving forward.

There are so many benefits when learning to play music: to call upon a few, growth of imagination and creativity, development of small muscles, and a confidence booster when playing for a teacher or at a recital. With the skills we learn, I believe when we teach music, we teach for life. Just like my parents, I aim to enjoy playing the piano for years to come.

Marianne is a recording artist, DIY producer, and music educator. Marianne showed a natural love for the arts from a young age; growing up, she took piano and dance lessons, taught herself to play guitar, and rarely stopped singing. This led her to study pop voice and singer-songwriter studies at Carleton University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2022. Throughout this time, she played original music around the city, sang in choirs, accompanied singers on piano and guitar, played in a variety of bands, worked at a small record label, learned to record and produce music, and more. Marianne has been teaching private music lessons since 2018 in voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele. As a teacher, her goal is to help students grow holistically, expanding their musical knowledge and skills while fostering growth in areas such as confidence, creativity, body awareness, communication, and more. She tailors lessons to each student’s interests and needs, including diverse elements such as theory, listening, singalongs, rhythm practice, movement, and more. Outside of teaching, Marianne continues to write and perform her original songs and produces music for herself and other artists at her small home studio.

“I love the way music transcends everything. It has the power to change a mood, validate a feeling, speak without words, and feed a spirit.”

Sam is a recent addition to the Lotus team, but a long-time fan of music! She is now taking new students for general music, voice, and guitar.  Sam is a pediatric recreation therapist who uses music, art, drama and play to help children navigate life’s challenges. Sam started professional voice training at a young age and followed her passion by acting in musicals and performing in the community throughout her youth. When not at Lotus, Sam loves to jam with the kids at Roger Neilson House, teach acting classes at Kanata Acting Studio, and provide recreation therapy services in private practice. As well as being a recreation therapist and a mom of two, she has worked as a physiotherapy/occupational therapy assistant and brings adaptive tools, creative solutions and professional experience to meet students’ unique needs. She is excited to bring her therapeutic background into private music lessons and help students to build their skills and confidence inside the studio and out.

Aparna’s love for music first sparked at the age of 5 when she started Indian classical vocal music lessons (Carnatic music). Having been learning and practicing the art for the last 14 years, and with some experience with the western classical flute, she has been able to appreciate the similarities between both worlds of music. She is extremely excited to be sharing these perspectives with students to give back to her community in the way that music has given her motivation and joy throughout the years. Aparna is currently a student at the University of Ottawa pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. She joined the Lotus Centre as a volunteer for the After School Program, and was soon conducting music circles and leading other musical activities for the students. Now, in addition to being a After School Program Lead, she works as a vocal teacher at the Lotus Centre. Aparna hopes to pursue a career in the field of medicine while continuing to share her passion for music with others

Janmarie works as support staff in various programs at Lotus Centre, such as Mini-Music Camp, the After School Program, and Summer Camp. In her free time, she enjoys the creative arts, and spends time painting, scrapbooking, and making cards. Currently, she is completing an undergraduate degree at Carleton University in Linguistics, with a concentration in Psycholinguistics and Communication Disorders, and a minor in Psychology. Before Lotus Centre, Janmarie spent years volunteering for community youth programs, and has worked as a youth director. Janmarie is passionate about communication in all shapes and forms, and hopes to continue down a career path where she is able to support children and youth with communication differences by helping them express their thoughts and feelings, and adapt her approach to their individual needs. and Photo coming soon! 

Liam received his Bachelor of Music at Carleton University in 2018, where he focused on jazz and bass. Liam also has additional courses in disability studies, and psychology. He has performed with peers and faculty members in different ensembles, including choir, jazz, fusion and rhythm.

Liam has worked at the Lotus Centre since 2017, where he first learned of his desire to teach, and developed his passion for working with students with special needs. Over the years, Liam has learned to adapt his style and differentiate his teaching techniques to reach children with a variety of special needs.

Liam works full time at the OCDSB, where he supports and teaches music to students with autism and other exceptionalities. He also provides private respite services for families, offering a range of music, learning and leisure activities.

Liam is very interested in the therapeutic applications of music. He believes that everyone benefits from music education and that music is the key to unlocking hidden potential in people of all ages and abilities.

I am glad to have been part of the Lotus Centre Family for almost 2 years now. I am a mother of three grown children and a grandmother to three wonderful grandchildren. My formal education includes a diploma in Early Childhood Education. I have worked directly with children of all abilities for 30 + years in several different positions.

My interests include music, nature, crafts and dancing. I look forward to seeing Lotus Centre students every week and sharing experiences with them and their families.

Tayden has been a part of the Lotus Centre team since 2020 working as a support staff in many programs including mini music camps, after school program, and summer camps. Music has played an important role in Tayden’s life for as long as she can remember, but she started officially taking vocal lessons at age 8 and continued to do so for 10 years. Outside of music, Tayden is passionate about language learning and supporting communication in its many forms. Currently, Tayden is a fourth-year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics with a Concentration in Psycholinguistics and Communication Disorders at Carleton University. As part of this degree, she is also studying American Sign Language (ASL). She hopes to apply all of the valuable lessons that she has learned about Special Music Education from the experts at Lotus Centre as she pursues a career in speech-language pathology.

James McGowan (PhD, Eastman School of Music) is a pianist (ARCT), composer, choral conductor, award-winning educator, and published music theorist at home in classical, jazz, and improvised styles. He performs with a number of Ottawa-based musicians, including the jazz-fusion quartet Modasaurus that features his own compositions and the 2020 release of its critically acclaimed sophomore album 4K. James has performed in music festivals, including the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Stewart Park Festival, Skylight Festival and Merrickville’s Jazz Festival. He has received commissions for compositions and arrangements and has written extensively in a variety of jazz forms as well as choral, chamber and orchestral music.

Dr. McGowan is an Associate Professor at Carleton University where he teaches music theory, musicianship, composition, and community music. He also serves administratively as Carleton Chair in Teaching Innovation where he promotes music and the arts at Carleton and in the community, and Assistant Director of the Carleton Jazz Camp. He recently served as the Supervisor of Performance Studies. He has been a clinician and adjudicator for different arts organizations (Junos, Kiwanis, Lions, Canadian Music Showcase, City of Ottawa Arts Grants, etc.), and given workshops on topics including improvisation, choral singing, jazz piano approaches, and managing performance anxiety. He has published several articles and given presentations on topics ranging from jazz theory, to choral music, to music theory pedagogy and inclusive curricula. James seeks to support innovative programming in music and music education, arts leadership and mentorship, and research/creation in the activities in which he is engaged; he is glad he can contribute to the vitality of the Lotus Centre and its outreach.

Having lived in Ottawa most of her life, Elizabeth is thrilled to be part of an Orchestra she has admired for many years. Elizabeth has been the Second horn player since 2011, and has performed regularly in the horn section since 1986.

Elizabeth attained a Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Ottawa and a Masters in Music Performance from Indiana University. She studied with many renowned players including Daniel Gress, Philip Farkas, Meir Rimon, Michael Hatfield, and Arnold Jacobs. While studying, Elizabeth received the Ottawa Music Festival Senior Scholarship in 1983, and the NACO Bursary in 1984.

Elizabeth was a founding member of the Bel Canto Wind Quintet, which ran a successful concert series in Ottawa for eleven years. This chamber ensemble also toured in Ontario and Quebec, and was often heard on CBC Radio, Radio Canada and in the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. Elizabeth is also a member of the Capital Brass Works. This entertaining thirteen member brass and percussion ensemble performed on its own self run concert series in Ottawa, toured in Ontario and has recorded three CD’s to date.

Elizabeth has enjoyed teaching for many institutions in Ottawa including the University of Ottawa, Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy, and Canterbury School of the Arts.

In 2013, Elizabeth Simpson co-created the NAC’s Music Circle, a music program for children, teens and adults with special needs. This program introduces orchestral instruments and the joy of live music, through workshops and a sensory friendly concert. Elizabeth has worked with students at the OCDSB, CHEO, and the Lotus Centre, and with adults in the LIFE programs.

Sandra Markovic is a certified piano pedagogue with a teaching experience over 25 years. She is pursuing her graduate studies in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Dr. Gilles Comeau. Her research topic is effects, implications and strategies of teaching piano to deaf children with cochlear implants. Her pilot study has been presented at six conferences, including at McGill, University of British Columbia and MUSCAN conference at the University of Ottawa. Her pilot study collaboration with Dr. Comeau and Dr. Koravand, “Response of hearing-impaired children to piano lessons: Engagement and enjoyment of music” (April, 2018) was published in Canadian Music Educator. In 2015, her two deaf with cochlear implants piano students were showcased at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities where they were introduced to Minister Qualtrough. A member of Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ORMTA), she has also participated in the Mentorship Program at Advanced Bionics since 2009, providing support to parents with children undergoing cochlear implantation. She also serves as a parent support group organizer and presenter for Voice for Hearing Impaired Children and Hands and Voices.  Her passion and devotion to neurodiverse children has led her to the newest endeavor: member of the Board of Directors at the Lotus Centre – a music education center designed for children with exceptionalities.