Faculty
Cheryl Sumsion
Fourth-Sixth Grade Music Teacher
This year marks Cheryl Sumsion’s 25th year at Black Pine Circle School and her 34th year as an educator. Cheryl earned her B.Ed. and teaching credential through the University of Western Ontario, specializing in vocal music, and her B.A. from the University of Waterloo in honours music / personality and religious studies. Her graduate work includes studies in Vocology and Baroque vocal technique. Cheryl has pursued many years of additional training in both the Kodály and Orff approaches to teaching music, most recently participating in the Orff Afrique Masterclass in Ghana. In Toronto, she taught sixth through eighth grade core subjects with a special emphasis on vocal music, drama, and ESL, and there began her love of vocal coaching for musical theater productions, which she still enjoys each year at BPC. As a soprano, Cheryl has performed in 15 musicals and recorded on 16 commercially released CDs. She performed and recorded with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir in Toronto, and has sung in cathedrals throughout England. Currently, she sings with the American Bach Soloists.
Why I Work with Children
The sound of children’s voices singing is one of my favorite sounds in the world.
A Favorite Book
What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada
Quick Fact
Tamed a mechanical bull in Nashville, Tennessee.
Other Faculty for This Grade
Aïda Garcia-Pons
Lower School Spanish Teacher
Aïda attended the same elementary school as opera tenor Josep Carreras.
Gerry Branner
Dean of Upper School Student Citizenship, Upper School Physical Education Teacher, and Upper School Athletic Director
Nicole Lockwood
Lower School Science and Second – Fifth Grade Garden Teacher
Apprenticed at the National Theater of Croatia
Torin Coffino
Sixth Grade History Teacher
Played Gaelic Football as a youth, and won a Minors championship in Ireland
