Laura Hasthorpe - Director of Music
Laura Hasthorpe is a highly accomplished and dedicated professional in the field of music education and performance. With a strong background in viola and a passion for early childhood music education, she has made significant contributions to the music community in Vancouver and beyond.
Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Certificate of Postgraduate Studies in Performance with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music & Drama in Glasgow, Scotland. Her commitment to advancing her skills and knowledge led her to Finland, where she studied the Colourstrings method. She continued her postgraduate studies on a scholarship with the renowned Gerald Stanick at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada.
In 2001, Laura returned to Scotland and began teaching Colourstrings in Glasgow while also performing for the Scottish Opera.
Her dedication to the Colourstrings Music Education program led her to become the first person to introduce it to Canada in 2004. She established The Colourstrings Conservatory of Music in community schools in Kitsilano and on Main Street. She has remained active in the professional music scene, playing viola in various BC orchestras.
Laura's contributions to music education extended to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) School of Music in 2011 when she established the Colourstrings program, which she ran until 2017. In 2014, she moved all program locations to the new Colourstrings Conservatory of Music building at 129 East 8th Avenue in Vancouver.
Throughout her career, Laura has achieved several milestones, including celebrating ten years in the new conservatory location in 2019 and receiving the BC Parent Gold Award for Best Music Classes in Vancouver. Even during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, she maintained the school's operation and looked ahead to further growth in 2022 as she aimed to reach 20 years in Vancouver.
Additionally, Laura rejoined the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra as a violist in 2022, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to performance.
Laura's dedication to music education is not limited to her work in Vancouver; she has pursued extensive international training, including Colourstrings violin teacher training courses with notable experts and participation in International Kodaly workshops with renowned educators.
Her orchestral career is marked by impressive performances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall with Yo-Yo Ma, and participation in significant events like the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's annual Proms concert series. UK tour of Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle with the Scottish Opera Orchestra was a outstanding tour before she immigrated and starting playing with Orchestras all over British Columbia.
She has also had the privilege of recording and performing with numerous artists and bands, contributing strings to multiple Gold and Platinum albums in both the UK and Canada.
Laura Hasthorpe's multifaceted career as a professional violist, music educator, and founder of the Colourstrings Conservatory of Music showcases her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the world of music.