About Yip’s Canada
Yip’s Canada
Foundations, Subsidiaries, and Philosophy
- Founded: October 1990 by Dr. Wai Hong Yip (music educator, composer, conductor).
- Subsidiaries/Affiliates: Yip’s Children’s Choral and Performing Arts Centre; Yip’s Music and Montessori School; Yip’s Chinese School; Yip’s Music Centre; Yip’s Children’s Choir; Yip’s Music Festival; Yip’s School for Strings; Yip’s Chamber Orchestra; Somerset Academy (elementary affiliate; non-profit, co-educational, non-denominational; Ontario Ministry of Education).
- Philosophy: “Learning is playing, playing is learning.” Emphasizes formal music and art education through a variety of activities (Music, Art, Body Movement, Computer, Mind Enlightenment) within Early Childhood Music Education to foster creativity via observation and imagination.
- Curriculum approach: Montessori-based methods and apparatus; includes formal music education and Chinese language as part of the school curriculum.
Yip’s Canada
Preschool Programs and Early Childhood Education
- Goals: Promote formal music and art education for children.
- Activities: Music, Art, Body Movement, Computer, Mind Enlightenment; observation and imagination to cultivate creativity.
- Curriculum framework: Montessori teaching method and apparatus; Early Childhood Music Education integrated with formal music education and Chinese language.
Yip’s Canada
Chinese School, Music Programs, and Student Development
- Chinese School: Enhanced Cantonese/Mandarin programs with additions in mathematics, English, and French; teaches students aged three and above; instructors are qualified and experienced.
- Music and Performing Arts: Choral, instrumental, and musical theatre courses with frequent performances; aim to stimulate creativity, memory, organizational ability, focus, reasoning, and listening skills.
- Outcomes: Concert performances help reveal talent, build self-confidence, and boost self-esteem; focus on the full development of a child’s musical and artistic potential.
Administration
Katherine Kwok
Chief Administrative Officer
Katherine Kwok is the co-founder and director of Yip’s Canada. She has over 25 years of professional experience in children’s music education. Prior to coming to Canada, Katherine was the Training Officer of the Hong Kong Yip’s Children’s Choral & Performing Arts Centre, Conductor of the Hong Kong Children’s Choir and Yip’s Children’s Choir. She has also led the Yip’s choral group in numerous performances in Greater Toronto Area and facilitated international music and cultural exchanges.
Since 1992, Katherine Kwok has organized Yip’s Music Festival, with the mission of Celebrating Today’s Talent Nurturing Tomorrow’s Stars. This annual music festival provides performance and competition opportunities for thousands of young instrumentalists from across the Greater Toronto Area. She also encourages Chinese language and cultural heritage among young people in Canada by organizing the Chinese Literacy Competition.
Under Katherine’s leadership, Yip’s Canada won the 2006 Best Community Service Award presented by the Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs in association with The Center of Entrepreneurship, Centennial College, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Ming Pao Daily News. The School has also won the Business Excellence Awards in High Quality & Service presented by the Markham Board of Trade in 2006. Top Choice Media selected Yip’s Canada as the recipient of the 2011 Top Music Center Award and 2012 to 2015 Top Montessori School. These awards represent a “Mark of Excellence” by today’s leadings businesses and professionals, representing the trust and loyalty they have earned from the people they serve.
“In the past years, we have been striving for the excellence in Academic, Language, Music and Performing Arts. In education and music training, it is teamwork that drives results. Our principals, teachers, and staff have contributed a tremendous effort and time to help to achieve this excellence. Performing arts help children learn self-discipline and team work, handle challenges, and enhance their social skills and self-confidence. To provide higher quality and better service for education, I will continue to listen more to our children and our parents.”
— Katherine Kwok
Katherine Kwok, Chief Administrative Officer
Best Community Service
ACCE
Business Excellence
MBT
Top Music School
Top Choice Award
Top Montessori School
Top Choice Award
“During the three and half years in Yip’s, I really appreciate seeing my son grow from having speech problems to now speaking fluently in both English and Cantonese. He can also speak some Mandarin & French! I am really amazed of what he learnt from Math (addition, subtraction etc.) and Science (solar system, eco system etc.), I didn’t expect he could remember all of it but he did. These are truly inspired by all the lovely teachers. Thank you so much for all your effort!”
Parents of Gavin Kam, 
