Laura Hasthorpe BA
Laura Hasthorpe B.A., C.P.G.S., C.S.A.K
Colourstrings Conservatory of Music
The Royal Academy of Music & Drama
Laura received a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Certificate of Postgraduate Studies in performance with distinction, from the Royal Academy of Music & Drama, Glasgow, Scotland.
As well as gaining numerous prizes and scholarships, one of which took her to continue her postgraduate studies with the world renowned Gerald Stanick at UBC, Canada.
Certified Music Specialist for over 20 years
Laura is the Director of the Colourstrings Conservatory and is a Certified early childhood music specialist with over 20 years of experience.
A Professional Violist and musical entrepreneur, she is the first early childhood specialist to bring the Colourstrings Music Education to Canada in 2004. Laura has undertaken numerous international Colourstrings Violin teacher training courses with Dr. Géza Szilvay, Yvonne Frye and Heidi Viksten in London, Scotland and Finland where the approach originates.
She has attended International Kodaly workshops with Helga Dietrich, James Cuskelly David Vinden, Lucinda Geoghegan and Judith Brindle, and is continually taking high level music training courses around the world.
Bringing Colourstrings to Canada
After setting up her own school, The Colourstrings Conservatory of Music in 2004, Laura also set up the highly successful Colourstrings program at the VSO school of music 2011 until Spring 2017, when the program was changed and Laura left the VSO to maintain her program.
Laura has a wealth of experience teaching violin in various school settings, such as West Point Grey Academy, the VSO school of Music and has coached numerous violin & viola sectionals for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the Vancouver Youth Orchestra.
Professional Violist
An active professional freelance violist, highlights of her orchestral career to date include performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Annual Proms concert series with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, UK Tour of Wagner's complete Ring Cycle with Scottish Opera Orchestra. Laura has also been privileged to record and play with numerous artists and bands in her career so far.
Colourstrings Conservatory of Music - 129 east 8th ave
After running her school out of several community centres and halls, in 2014 Laura made the bold move to centralize her classes into the one location.
The Conservatory has sprung to life and now has classes running seven days a week. With Music and Movement, Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Guitar, Ukulele and also a large children's Choir.