Our Faculty
Welcome to The Teaching Room, founded by Umesh Sahajpal! Our mission is to provide hands-on learning, mentoring, and coaching in the creative arts, offering an experience that’s as engaging as it is educational.
With over 20 years of experience as an audio engineer, Umesh has honed his craft in Toronto's top studios, working closely with some of the industry’s leading music producers. These producers, in turn, have collaborated with superstars such as Jason Derulo, Mike Posner, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Lil Wayne, G-Eazy, Yo Gotti, Wale, Pusha T, Flo Rida and more. Beyond the studio, Umesh has contributed significantly to the Canadian music industry, serving as a Juno judge multiple times over the past decade.
Umesh’s passion for teaching shines through in his decade-long tenure designing and delivering a respected digital audio production diploma program at Pixel Blue College in Edmonton. His expertise extends to television, with musical contributions to hit shows like Tyler Perry's Sistas, TLC's Say Yes to the Dress, Lil Jon Wants to Do What?, Texas Metal on Discovery+, Fox’s College Hoops, and CTV’s Etalk.
Aristóteles Canga, affectionately known as “Ari,” is an Edmonton-based keyboardist, music producer, and sound engineer originally from Angola. A graduate of Pixel Blue College's Digital Audio Production program, where he studied under Umesh, Aristóteles blends World Music, Afro-fusion, and Jazz with modern influences in his vibrant compositions.
Aristóteles has performed with renowned artists such as Jaguar Wright, The Melisizwe Brothers, Callie Day, Nuela Charles, Blessingtone, Tea G, Jeff Hendrick, K-Riz, and poet laureate Titilope Sonuga. As a multilingual artist fluent in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Lingala, he has collaborated globally in genres from Pop and R&B to Afrobeat and Kuduro.
He is also a founding member and keyboardist of Melafrique, an acclaimed Neo-Soul Afro-fusion band celebrated for their 2020 single, “Not Alone,” and performances at events like Edmonton Jazz Fest and Folk Fest.
Eby Benti is a music producer and graduate of Pixel Blue College’s Digital Audio Production program, where mentor Umesh hailed him as the best producer he’s ever worked with. As the founder of Famous Yesterday, Eby made waves with hit singles “Make You” and “Love Disaster”, earning tens of millions of streams and a deal with BonFire Records. His work has been famously featured in Taco Bell National Campaign.