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As a classically trained singer who has built a performing career in Canada over twenty years, versatility has always been the hallmark of my work as a performer and a teacher. On stage I have performed many genres of music including opera, oratorio, art song recital, musical theatre with opera companies as well as commercial musical theatre.
Memorable singing highlights have included the roles of Janine/Ofwarren in The Handmaid’s Tale, (Canadian Opera Company), Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Calgary Opera), Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro (Opera Ontario), Amor in Orfeo ed Euridice (Opera Atelier), Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Opera Atelier on tour at the Seoul Arts Centre), Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew (Pacific Opera Victoria) and Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music (Mirvish Productions).
On the concert stage I have had the opportunity to sing as a soloist with national and international orchestras and choirs such as the Winnipeg Symphony, National Ballet Orchestra, CBC Radio Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig with the MDR Radio Orchestra and Choir, and at the Händel Festival in Halle, Germany. I have been featured as a soloist in live radio broadcasts on the CBC, BBC and MDR (Germany).
In 2011 I joined the Canadian Company of Billy Elliot in Toronto as the resident Vocal Coach (Mirvish Productions). Other coaching projects have included The Hockey Sweater (National Arts Centre, 2018) and the Tony Award winning musical Fun Home (Mirvish Productions, 2018).
Since 2014 my work as a teacher and coach has been anchored at The Stratford Festival of Canada where I am the resident Singing Coach for the musical and acting companies. Thus far I have coached vocal music in 37 productions during my tenure at North America’s leading repertory theatre. I have also worked as the singing coach in the Birmingham Conservatory since 2016. This is an elite training programme at the Stratford Festival for a nationally selected group of young artists
An alumna of Western University, I was a member of the Voice Faculty there from 2013 - 2020. I hold postgraduate diplomas in Opera and Concert Studies from the Royal College of Music (U.K), and was a member of the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble and the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble.
I have a special interest in exploring cross-over repertoire that spans the genres of musical theatre, cabaret and classical music. I combine classical and CCM singing techniques in my pedagogy, and enjoy exploring the reciprocal benefits of these musical styles in my work with young singers at the university level in both streams of study.
My work with elite theatre performers and practitioners at the Stratford Festival has greatly influenced my teaching style and philosophy. Through this work in the professional coaching world I have witnessed many interesting parallels between the art of acting and singing. I am interested in incorporating ideas about text, sound, physicality and authenticity which I have gleaned from working with professional actors, into my work with singers.
- Canada Council for the Arts Emerging Artist Grant, 2000
- Ontario Arts Council Project Grant for studies at the Schubert Institut, Baden bei Wien, Austria, 2004
- USC Teaching Excellence “Honour Roll”, Western University, 2014/15
- Tyrone Guthrie Award, Stratford Festival, 2016
- Israel in Egypt - Händel: Aradia Ensemble, Naxos Records
- Earth Chants: The Choral Music of Imant Raminsh (Vancouver Chamber Choir feat. conductor: Jon Washburn)
Collaborating with others in the act of making music is a great joy and privilege. Whether it is in a cast, in the teaching studio, or as an audience member, sharing this experience brings us together as human beings. As I embark on this journey of music-making at Laurier, I am struck by the openness of the students, the warmth of the colleagues, and the feeling of being valued both as a person and a musician. I believe this supportive environment to be the ideal setting for young artists to learn and grow.