Get to Know Our Faculty
The faculty at Metalworks Institute has been chosen and qualified for their industry experience and knowledge, accomplishments and passion for teaching. Metalworks students learn from individuals who have achieved success in the music and entertainment fields and for their high level of expertise in the subjects they teach. Each instructor brings real-world understanding into the classroom; a quality that is invaluable in a hands-on learning environment.
Along with our exceptional faculty, Metalworks Institute presents a series of clinics and guest lectures. Our impressive array of adjunct faculty includes leading managers, publishers, entertainment lawyers, agents, record label executives, musicians, recording engineers and producers. These talented individuals add a exceptional and unique educational dimension for our students and provide a niche forum for demonstration and discussion.
Pier Di Biase
Pier Di Biase is a seasoned musician, educator, and audio engineer with over 20 years of experience in performance, composition, production, and post-production. He holds a BFA with Specialized Honours in Music from York University, where he developed a deep passion for both jazz and classical composition. He later pursued studies in Audio Production & Engineering, gaining expertise ...
Melissa Johnston
Melissa Johnston Melissa Johnston is a music business professional with over thirteen years of experience in music publishing, specializing in mechanical licensing and royalty processing. After graduating from Durham College’s...
Alf Annibalini
Alf is one of Canada’s most accomplished recording engineers. His credits in the music industry read like a who’s who of multi-platinum artists, including Arkells, The Tea Party, Our Lady Peace, DMX, Danko Jones, Glenn Lewis, Amanda Marshall, Big Sugar, Nelly Furtado, Blue Rodeo, Saukrates, Leanne Rimes, The Trews, I Mother Earth, and Kardinal Offishall....
Dave Antonacci
Dave Antonacci is an accomplished music composer, producer, director, and supervisor. He has written and produced music for over 300 commercials for television, film, radio, and multimedia. Dave’s composer credits include Marineland, The Canadian International Autoshow, General Motors, IC Savings Bank, Bell Mobility, and Foodland Ontario....
Matt Blakely
Matt Blakely is an accomplished audio production professional with over 20 years’ experience. Throughout his career, Matt has toured professionally as a Front Of House (FOH), Monitor, and System Engineer, as well as a Production Manager. He has extensive and practical knowledge of almost all the contemporary professional PA systems used throughout the world and is one of the only CVE (Certified V-dosc Engineers) in the country....
Kwame Boison
Born in the United States and raised in Toronto, Canada – Kwame ‘Summer Knocks’ Boison has been influenced by many different cultures and genres. His DJ journey began in 2010 while attending and completing University in Waterloo at Wilfrid Laurier University. Summer Knocks quickly progressed to playing the biggest corporate, club and concert venues in the Tri-City area of Kitchener – Waterloo – Cambridge....
James Bryan
James Bryan McCollum (PKA James Bryan) is a Juno and Latin Grammy winning songwriter, guitarist and producer who’s mission is to inspire, uplift and connect through music. He began his career in Canadian acts The Philosopher Kings and Prozzak before James’ passion for collaboration grew into a global songwriting and recording career with top artists including Drake, Nelly Furtado, Shawn Mendes, Luis Fonsi, Martin Garrix, Yuna, Lisa Marie Presley and many more....
Darron Chin-Quee
Mr. Chin-Quee is a Professional Engineer and has over 30 years of engineering consulting experience in the fields of noise and vibration and has provided design guidance for both building design and environmental assessments on projects throughout the world. Darron is a respected specialist and one of the first LEED® accredited professionals with expertise in acoustics. ...
Wayne Cochrane
Wayne is a freelance Music Producer, Recording Engineer, and Mixer with 13 years experience making albums for artists and bands as well as recording and mixing music for feature film/documentary, television and music videos....
Chris Crerar
Chris Crerar has over a decade of sound engineering, recording, mixing and mastering experience, and is a senior mastering engineer at Metalworks Studios....
Lenny DeRose
Lenny DeRose is a veteran studio engineer and music producer who had the honour and opportunity of beginning his career with two of the world’s greatest producers, Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, KISS, Pink Floyd), and Jack Richardson (The Guess Who). Since then, he’s taken on numerous interesting roles, including the position of Staff Producer at Sony Music for 8 years....
Mike Di Biasio
Mike has been an audio professional for 12 years. He graduated from Metalworks Institute with a diploma in audio production and engineering. Shortly after graduation, he was hired as an intern at Metalworks Studios, then was promoted to assistant engineer. After leaving Metalworks, Mike became a freelance engineer working in many genres. Eventually, he was hired by platinum-certified producer Pro Logic to work at his Toronto studio, where he was the head recording and mixing engineer, as well as the studio manager. ...
Lucas Di Mascio
Lucas is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and music producer based out of Ontario, Canada. After graduating MWI Lucas began work as a session musician and recording engineer for various bands and studios within the GTA and abroad. In 2016 Lucas designed and built his first home studio and used it as a production hub for his personal projects as well as select clientele....
George Flores
George Flores is an independent Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer, and Re-Recording Mixer, based in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Flores’ accreditations include: Cinema Audio Society, Motion Picture Sound Editor and SOCAN. ...
Mike Freedman
Mike began developing his skills as a musician while studying and playing a wide array of music through his youth, while attending Claude Watson School for the Arts. He studied classical guitar formally with Eli Kassner (Liona Boyd), receiving his Grade 10 from the Royal Conservatory of Music and also graduated Cum Laude on the Dean’s List from Berklee College of Music in 1990, with a degree in film scoring....
Curtis Freeman
Curtis Freeman studied Music in College and graduated at the top of his class, earning him a scholarship from CARAS (the organization that hosts the Junos). Since graduation Curtis has recorded and played with countless bands and performers and has played in over forty countries worldwide....
Patrick Friel
Patrick Friel is an accomplished Audio Engineer, Music Producer, and DJ. Since graduating from Metalworks Institute’s Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program more than a decade ago, Patrick has continued to advance in the world of sound both in Canada and abroad. He has worked alongside many leading artists including the “Queen of Soca” Alison Hinds, “Princess of Soca” Nailah Blackman, Reggae Icon Award-Winner Sizzla, “Viking of Soca” Bunji Garlin, Terri Lyons, K-Rich, Kalika B, HeyChoppi, Melxdie, JRDN & many others....
Tim Gittens
Tim is an experienced drummer, singer, writer, and educator. He’s lent his drumming talents to performers of nearly every genre, playing and/or recording with artist including FMJ, The Night Porters, Shakura S’Aida, Divine Brown, Melanie Durrant, The Cates/Fomin Project, Leroy Emmanuel, Deesha, Affinity, and Bernadette Connors. ...
Geoff Hlibka
Geoff Hlibka is a Toronto based composer, producer and guitarist versatile in a multitude of styles. Geoff started music at the age of eight, first with a short stint on ukulele, then a few years later on organ. At age 12 he started learning the violin and at age 15 he found his lifeʼs calling when he picked up an old nylon string guitar. Thus began his obsession with the guitar and composing music of all types. He went on to study at Humber College’s renowned music program. After finishing college, Geoff started the band Mystic Fools and recorded a full length CD. The group went on to open for some of Canadaʼs legendary bands including Blue Rodeo, April Wine and Kim Mitchell. ...
Wendy Irvine
The passion that Wendy holds for music is undeniable, and she has devoted her entire life to making it her career as well as an outlet to express herself. She has now been performing professionally for 28 years throughout Canada, the United States and parts of Europe and has been teaching both voice and piano for 21 years. Wendy attended the Royal Conservatory of Music, receiving her Grade 10 piano and Grade 9 voice, and also attended York University on a vocal scholarship. She has had the opportunity to record and perform with industry professionals such as Nick Blagona (Alexisonfire, Protest the Hero, Green Day), Matt Dusk, Russ Little and ‘La Jeunesse’ choir....
Josh Laing
Josh Laing has that rare combination of the deep knowledge of a musicologist and the creative ability of a seasoned musician combined with a detailed understanding of the business side of music. Trained as a jazz guitarist, Josh graduated with an honours degree in Music and Fine Arts from York University and studied with internationally acclaimed guitarist Ted Quinlan at Humber College. Josh has fronted his own band, writing and arranging for the Chameleon Project for the past nine years, and has taught extensively at a number of exclusive guitar schools....
Andy Linden
Andy Linden, a native of Ottawa, moved to Toronto back in 1979 to travel with some high school friends in a band called Telemann. Eventually, that band became known as Wrabit, and recorded their first album at Toronto’s Phase One Studios, with Paul Gross producing....
Jason London
Jason London (Toronto, Ontario), a true “renaissance man” having kept busy over the past 30 years making notable contributions in Education, Finance, Event Management, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sport. Today Jason a registered professional coach and educator, supports others in their aspirations to learn, improve and grow in the classroom....
Demetrius Nath
Owner of antiskeptic entertainment, Demetrius Nath has led countless marketing & promotions campaigns for music (Alexisonfire, Arkells, Bush, Cancer Bats, City and Colour, Dolly Parton, Feist, Melanie C, Paul Brandt, The Sheepdogs, Tokyo Police Club, The Used & Underoath), film (Bon Jovi, Jeff Dunham, Twilight, UFC), brands (Junos, Simon & Schuster, Urban Behavior, Yogen Fruz) & events (Boots and Hearts, Edgefest, Polaris Awards, Virgin Festival, WayHome). ...
Dave Patel
As a professional drummer, Dave has played on over 70 albums/discs, various jingles and some television work. Dave has been teaching privately for over 22 years at some of the most reputable retail/educational stores in Toronto such as Soul Drums, Drummer’s Choice, Just Drums and Kaos Music Center. He has studied at both York University and Humber College, and has had private study with Vito Rezza, Jim Blackley, and Paul DeLong....
Lord Quest
Raised in a musically rich family in Toronto, LordQuest has been immersed in the world of music from a young age. His early exploration and passion for songwriting led him to collaborate with local artists, honing his craft and developing a unique sound....
Blair Robb
A fan of both music and technology, Blair Robb is actively involved in exploring the future of the music industry. Driven to continue producing, engineering, and developing great artists, he’s also focused on educational technology, social media, and related start-ups....
Paul Sanderson
Since being called to the Ontario bar in 1983, Paul has been in private practice and has practiced entertainment and arts law exclusively. He is currently a sole practitioner in the firm Sanderson Entertainment Law which is located in the upper beaches district in Toronto....
Siena Vreugde
Siena has been singing and playing music for as long as she can remember. Beginning with piano lessons at the age of 3, Siena went on to receive her Grade 8 piano qualifications from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her love for music led Siena to a passion for musical theatre, where the art of storytelling is really brought to life through song and movement. ...
Cam Wheler
Cam Wheler started his career in the live audio production industry after graduating from a Theatre Arts-Technical Production course in 1993. Throughout his career, Cam has successfully embraced the ever-evolving technologies in the live production industry including PA systems design, implementation and measurement, and the digitization of the audio signal chain from microphone to speaker....