In alphabetical order by surname:

Alina Adjemian (Boyagian), Dance Area Coordinator

After dancing professionally for many years, Alina made a welcome and natural transition to choreography and teaching through the National Ballet School. She has been teaching for over seventeen years and has choreographed such shows as The Full Monty, Joseph, Best Little Whore House in Texas, Dames at Sea, Man of La Mancha, Godspell, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cinderella and Camelot, for professional as well as community theatre, and recently finished a production of Urinetown.

Alina has been teaching ballet at RAPA since its inception and is Head of the Dance Department for over 10 years. She also currently teaches at Jaymor School of Dance and High Points Dance Academy. She has trained many young professionals that have gone on to join professional ballet companies across Canada and Europe as well as joined such productions as The Producers, Mama Mia and Chicago.

Ms. Adjemian's professional dance experience has been with Les Grands Ballet Canadien, Ottawa Ballet, Ontario Ballet Theatre, Atlantic Ballet Company and P.M. Jazz. She has also performed in numerous industrial shows and music videos.

Lisa Atkinson
Lisa Atkinson can be heard on the cast recording of Andrew Sabiston’s Napoleon and Field of Stars: Songs of the Canadian Musical Theatre. She was a company member of the Elgin Theatre production of Napoleon, directed by John Wood; Toronto productions of Les Miserables and Chess in Concert; and a featured performer in the Hot Off the Press Cabaret, which showcased new musical works and previously unheard trunk songs by both established and up-and-coming composers, lyricists and bookwriters.

Liz Beeler
Liz Beeler has over 20 years of experience in the performing arts as an actor, singer, director, writer, freelance coach, and adjudicator. Elizabeth Beeler earned a bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Dalhousie University before moving into a double major in Music and Theatre. Elizabeth completed her studies in acting at Ryerson University in Toronto. Her major credits include the original Canadian casts of Les Miserables as Cosette (1st International tour); Aspects of Love, Canadian and U.S. National Tours, directed by Robin Phillips; Hal Prince's Show Boat, Toronto, New York playing Magnolia; Babette, in Disney's Beauty and the Beast; Diana Rivers in the Broadway bound Jane Eyre; as well as a season with the Shaw Festival as Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, and The Mick in Marathon 33. Most recently, Elizabeth premiered her one woman show and CD "Unlaced" in Toronto; starred as Liza Eliot in the Canadian Premiere of Kurt Weill/Moss Hart/Ira Gershwin's Lady In The Dark; played Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street for Drayton Entertainment; and performed in the international premiere of Rob Roy at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Elizabeth has also been fortunate to be part of a good many developing new works including Moll (CanStage), Dracula (Neptune Theatre), Evangeline (Stratford Festival), among others. Toronto Operetta Theatre audiences have delighted in her performanes as Hanna in The Merry Widow, Maritza in The Countess Maritza, Masha in The Chocolate Soldier and Adele in Die Fledermaus, Elizabeth has been heard as soprano soloist with Eric Kunzel featuring selections from contemporary and classical musical theatre for the Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Naples Symphonies. She can be heard on the cast recordings of Showboat, Jane Eyre and the newly released Rob Roy. She has voiced villains, race cars, violins, frogs and creatures from space for Sailor Moon, Ba Ja Bah and Jimmy Jinx Goes to the Moon. Television and Film Credits include: The 11th Hour, The News Room, E.N.G., War of the Worlds, and the CBC series 9B. Directing/Drama Coach credits include Hamilton Children's Choir (awarded Peoples Choice at the International Choral Competition 2006, Madrid, Spain); The Canadian Children's Opera Chorus; The Bach, and Guelph Children's Chorus'; The Oakville Children's Chorus performed two of her staged works at the North American Choral Conductors Conference in Los Angeles in 2005.

Simone Batt
Simone Batt is a professional dancer / choreographer and director who has taught all areas of dance across Australia, United States and Canada. She has reworked, directed and choreographed shows for Royal Caribbean Cruises, along with being dance captain, and featured dancer for the company since 1999. She has also choreographed for TV, conventions and corporate events in Australia and the U.S.

Allison Beula
Allison Beula holds an Honours B.A.A. in film and is a recipient of the Norman Jewison Filmmaker Award. She is currently a director, choreographer, and instructor at the Randolph Academy. Allison has led workshops and classes for dozens of institutions including Mirvish (Lion King), The Toronto and Catholic School Board, The Avenue Road Arts School, Arts For Children of Toronto, and OISE.  She is a director and choreographer whose work has been seen on stages all over the city, and is also a private dance and acting coach. She specializes in vintage dance and performs in several entertainment troops. She has trained with Upright Citizens Brigade (NYC), Dance Manhattan, and is a recent graduate of the Second City Conservatory Program. She is a current member of the sketch troupe “The After School Specials”.

 

Alexis Butler
An actor, director and budding theatre historian, Alexis has been creating and performing in experimental theatre since the age of 15 when she made her professional debut at the Canadian Conference of Critics. Having survived that ‘baptism by fire’ she has since performed across Europe and North America and has garnered accolades including a Dora nomination for her work with Toronto’s ‘Emergency Exit’ as well as ‘Pick of the Fringe’ at the Edinburgh Festival with Winnipeg’s ‘Off the Beaten Track’ collective. Alexis has taught performance at LKTYP and the University of Winnipeg, and presently teaches a hybrid lecture/studio course in Theatre History for the Randolph School of the Arts. She continues to pay the rent by performing in the recorded media where she has had the good fortune to work with such directors as John Madden, Vadim Perelman, and Bruce MacDonald amongst others. She is presently in the final stages of a PhD program at the University of Toronto’s Graduate Centre for Study of Drama. Her thesis in progress, ‘Undressing Toronto the Good: Burlesque on the Toronto Stage’, represents the first academic treatment of burlesque in English Canada and has received both Ontario Graduate Scholarship and SSHRC awards. Alexis is also research coordinator on a SSHRC funded theatre history data-base of 19th century popular performance.

Naomi Costain, CAEA/ACTRA

Naomi Costain is an accomplished musical theatre performer, dancer, choreographer and teacher.  She has performed in five seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival including such productions as Cabaret, Oklahoma!, My One and Only, Gigi, and My Fair Lady.  Dance theatre roles include Sally Bowles in Cabaret (Saydie Bronfman), Roxie in Chicago and Bombalurina/ Assistant Choreographer/ Dance Captain of Cats (Neptune Theatre), Bebe in A Chorus Line, Norma in Victor, Victoria, Ursula in Sweet Charity (Stage West) and Laurey in Oklahoma! (Ganeraska).  Naomi co-produced, choreographed for, and danced in Impulse, An Evening of Dance at the Avon Theatre, Stratford. Naomi completed three summers at The Banff Centre of Fine Arts, received her Musical Theatre Diploma from Laine Theatre Arts in London, England and also has her Advanced RAD Ballet and Advanced ISTD Modern.  She has taught and choreographed for schools, studios and theatre companies across the country.

Lona Davis
In addition to being a faculty member of Sheridan College for the Arts and the Randolph Academy, Lona Davis has provided music direction Hey Marilyn and Something’s Rockin’ In Denmark (Capricorn 9 Productions), CATS: 20th Anniversary Gala (Elgin Theatre, Toronto),  and Menopositive: The Musical (Ontario Tour). She has served as keyboardist for the Mirvish Productions of Crazy For You and Les Miserables, the Canadian Tour of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well, and several Ross Petty Productions.

Michael Donovan
Michael Donovan has enjoyed a successful career as a performer of opera, oratorio, art song, chamber music, jazz, new music and improvisational music in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, France and the U.S. He has appeared in leading roles with the Bern State Opera, Stuttgart State Opera, Munich State Opera, Opera Vancouver and the Edmonton Opera. He has been a soloist with the Quebec Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony and Symphony Nova-Scotia as well as with many concert and new music presenters, including Numus (Waterloo), Queen of Puddings (Toronto), BradyWorks (Montreal), Array Music (Toronto), New Music Concerts (Toronto) and, most recently, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne in Montreal.

He pursued vocal studies at McGill University, followed by graduate studies in opera at the Hochschule fur Musik  in Munich, Germany, with legendary mezzo-soprano Brigitte Fassbaender. Michael was also a student of renowned Baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, who is acknowledged as the 20th century’s greatest master of lieder.  As Fischer-Dieskau’s hand-picked private student at the Hochschule der Kunste in Berlin, Donovan was immersed in the historic continuum of Romantic art song interpretation.

Michael teaches classical singing at York University and musical theatre singing at The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts (College Program). He has given master classes at York University, Brandon University, the Glenn Gould School, Chadron State College (Nebraska) and Concordia University. He is also an active adjudicator and consultant for music schools and festivals.

As a composer, Michael has written numerous settings of poems by living Canadian, German and Japanese poets. He has also written chamber music and film music.

Susan Free
Susan Free has taught somatic movement classes in post-secondary settings since 1990, including 12 years in the Faculty of Physical Education and Health at U. of T. She works with a wide range of people, including actors, dancers, musicians, writers, and athletes. Currently Susan teaches Feldenkrais classes to performing arts students at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, as well as public classes and workshops at the Feldenkrais Centre. Susan has a graduate degree in dance history, is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst, and a Guild-certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. 

Donna Garner
Donna Garner holds an honours voice performance degree (U.W.O., U of T) and an associate diploma in performance (R.C.M.). Donna has performed on stages throughout Canada and the United States as a singer, actor and pianist. Favourite roles include Thea in Two Pianos, Four Hands (Charlottetown Festival/Ontario Tour), Lee in Cowgirls (Stage West Calgary, Victoria Playhouse) and most recently, a “friend” of The Fairy Godmother for Disney Cruise Line (Caribbean). In addition to performing, Donna works as a voice teacher/coach, accompanist, adjudicator, R.C.M. Examiner and clinician.

Natasha Gibson
Natasha (Nash) Gibson has extensive training in Tap, Jazz, Stylized Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ballet for over 26 years.  She was a first year graduate from the George Randolph School Of The Arts in Toronto in 1995 and has since then worked closely with such people as Gregory Hines, Ian Thomas, Whoopi Goldberg, Liberty Silver, Glass Tiger, Ian Thomas, Tony Vagg, Roxanne Butterfly, Brian Foley and Savion Glover, to name a few. Nash has performed in such musicals as West Side Story, and spent 2 years traveling as an original member of the Next Step Canadian Tap Crew. Students who have trained extensively with Nash have gone on to perform with such artists as Aaron Carter, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and Madonna. Her teaching, performance, choreography, and adjudicating skills have placed her in demand all over the world as far east as Bosnia, and as far north as the Arctic Circle.

Bruce Harvey (A.R.C.T.)
One of Canada's busiest pianists, Bruce Harvey has worked as a solo pianist, accompanist, and ensemble player at venues throughout the area for nearly four decades. He is one of the most sought-after pit-band players in the city, performing for many years as pianist for countless touring Broadway productions in Toronto and across North America. Beginning with the first mounting of Cats in Toronto in 1985, Bruce has worked as keyboardist, assistant conductor and rehearsal pianist on productions such as The Wizard Of Oz, Crazy For You, Napolean, Jane Eyre, Forever Plaid, Fosse, Wicked and White Christmas. He was also the assistant music director of Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas. Harvey led his own group, the Bruce Harvey Quartet (featuring Mike Malone on trumpet and bassist George Kozub), which performed in JazzFM91’s “Sound of Toronto Jazz” Concert Series. In a prior incarnation, he worked in studio orchestras on various film scores and T.V. variety shows, and was fortunate enough to perform with such jazz artists as Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Stephane Grapelli, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme and Nancy Wilson. And one long-ago evening, Pierre Trudeau pushed Bruce's piano in out of the rain. 

 

Jeffrey Huard
Currently, Mr. Huard is the Dora-nominated musical director of Mirvish Productions' The Sound of Music (Toronto). Most recently, Mr. Huard conducted Sweeney Todd for the Calgary Opera and music directed Pélagie for CanStage and the National Arts Centre.  He has conducted the world and Broadway premieres of Ragtime, Show Boat and Kiss Of The Spider Woman; the Canadian premiere and Broadway production of The Phantom Of The Opera; the Canadian production of Sunset Boulevard and The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber In Concert (Toronto).  Mr. Huard was music supervisor for the Livent Inc. productions of Show Boat (Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney), The Phantom Of The Opera (Toronto), Kiss Of The Spider Woman (Toronto, London, New York), Sunset Boulevard (Toronto) and Ragtime (Toronto, Los Angeles, New York).  His recordings include The Phantom Of The Opera, Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Show Boat, Sunset Boulevard and Ragtime.  Mr. Huard holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. 

John Hughes
John Hughes is one of the city's busiest vocal coaches and is seen frequently as audition accompanist for Mirvish Productions, the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, Disney and many other theatre companies. He has been musical director and/or pianist for Forever Plaid, Dads, Real Live Girl, Guys and Dolls, A Grand Night For Singing, Me and My, Lady Be Good, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hello, Dolly, 42nd Street, Anne of Green Gables, Dames At Sea, South Pacific, Falsettos, Nunsense II, Fiddler On the Roof and Closer Than Ever and has worked extensively as a rehearsal pianist on various productions.  

M. John Kennedy
M. John is a Toronto actor with degrees from York University and The University of Toronto.  M. John has studied extensively with acting studios in Toronto and elsewhere [Equity Showcase; NACL (New York); Pro. Actors Lab; Rapier Wit; Second City; Soulpepper; -  and the like].  M. John can be seen in Theatre, or on Film & T.V. at various times and can currently be heard online in a number of Radio Dramas at www.decoderringtheatre.com  

Lily Ling
Lily Ling holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Toronto where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Jamie Parker of the Juno Award winning Gryphon Trio. She has also been chosen as the Intern Musical Director at the prestigious Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake for their 2010 season, and will be musical directing and assisting, respectively, in the Canadian Premieres of High Fidelity (Hart House Theatre) and The Light in the Piazza (Acting Upstage). An advocate of contemporary musical theatre, she has had the privilege of musical directing the Canadian Premieres of Jerry Spinger - The Opera (Richard Ouzounian, director) and Reefer Madness. She has also performed compositions by and worked with some of Canada's finest composers. Lily's is a first-call cabaret pianist in Toronto and has worked with many emerging artists in the city as well as veteran performers. She has performed in various venues across Toronto such as Statler's Piano Lounge, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Toronto Centre for the Arts. She has been the resident musical director at Hart House Theatre for the past six seasons. 

Melinda Little
Melinda Little studied theatre at York University in Toronto and received her certification in Laban Movement Analysis through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York. Melinda is passionate about movement and communication and has taught at the University of Essex in England, Ryerson University and the Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts in Toronto. As an actor, Melinda has enjoyed touring across Canada, the States and Europe. She loves working on new Canadian plays (The League of Nathans, Equity Rules, Wish, Wonderful Dancer) and has written two plays herself: Pictures From Home and Shiksas Sit Shiva.

 

Robert Longo
Robert Longo enjoys a diversified career as Singer/Actor and Teacher. Theatre credits: Javert/Les Miserables (US National Tour); The Beast /Beauty and the Beast; Anatoly in Chess in Concert; Smudge and Frankie/ Forever Plaid; Lancelot/ Camelot. Bob has been featured on opera and concert stages all across North America. Teaching: Vocal Music with the Toronto Catholic District School Board and, while living in New York, CAP 21, New York University and William Patterson University.

 

Denise Norman (CAEA, ACTRA)
Denise Norman is an MFA Graduate of York University whose singing and acting training includes a focus on Voice with David Smukler and Gwen Little, and Clown with Richard Pochinko, Sue Morrison and Philippe Gaulier. Performance credits include the title role in The Vile Governess with Lamarre Unger Dramatic Theatre and Isabella in Measure for Measure at Theatre Resource Centre. Denise also teaches extensively, with 18 years of experience teaching acting students at Erindale College (University of Toronto), and Sheridan College in Oakville, McMaster University, York University, Seneca College, Randolf Academy for the Performing Arts, and Young People's Theatre. Her 26 years of Professional Theatre experience includes: Acting; Producing; Directing; Dramaturgy; Singing (two produced CDs); Coaching; Workshop and Development. 

 

Faye Rauw

Faye Rauw hails from Humboldt, SK. She has traveled extensively around the world dancing professionally, teaching workshops, performing for various dance companies as well as performing for Royal Caribbean Cruise lines.  She is one of Canada’s high demand dance judges, teachers and choreographers, traveling as far as Australia to judge their National Dance Championships.  Faye has had the pleasure of working with the likes of Marlon Wayans, Charo, Ben Vereen, as well as Rob Marshall and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Oscar & Golden Globe winning movie, “CHICAGO“.  Her acting credits have been seen on “MONK”, Walt Disney’s “The Sixth Man” along with various commercials and Canadian feature films.  Faye has choreographed for the NBA, AHL, CFL, KING DAVID The Musical, the stage tour for CANADIAN THUNDER, the Canadian product launch for Brittney Spears fragrance, CURIOUS, and has choreographed for recording artist Kristine W.  Faye has choreographed the Inaugural Steve Nash Charity Classic 2005 and is one of the video dancers in U2’s “Vertigo” tour 2005.  She is an alumni ambassador for Lululemon athletic wear, teaches at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and OIP Dance Center.  Last winter, Faye was fortunate to film the CBC/BRAVO dance movie, “Roxanna” with Greta Hodgkinson from the National Ballet of Canada and Rex Harrington.  Faye can also be seen hosting the CFL Toronto Argonaut home games at the Rogers Center.  Most recently, Faye finished filming the movie HAIRSPRAY in Toronto with John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifa.  Her passion to perform makes Faye an inspiration to work with.

Dylan Roberts (ACTRA, EQUITY)
Dylan Roberts most recently played Merry in Mirvish Productions’ World Premiere production of The Lord of the Rings in Toronto, and will soon be seen on the big screen in the Mira Nair-directed Amelia. He is a graduate of the Theatre program at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario. Dylan made his professional theatre debut in Ted Dykstra's directorial debut, Science Fiction. Recent theatre credits include: Whistle In The Dark (Company Theatre); The Taming Of The Shrew (ShakespeareWorks); Tempest and Romeo And Juliet (Resurgence Theatre); Accidental Death Of An Anarchist (Globe Theatre); Complete Works Of William Shakespeare Abridged (Waterloo Stage Theatre). Dylan is honoured to be part of the legendary VideoCabaret; he has portrayed Louis Riel in the last two installments of the Canadian history cycle. VideoCabaret's Confederation garnered a Dora nomination for the acting ensemble. Dylan is also proud of his association with the new and emerging company, Studio 180; he played a slew of characters in their smash Canadian premiere of The Laramie Project. Dylan can also be seen in dozens of television ads and often appears on television and film screens. Recent film and television credits include Kit Kittridge: American Girl (HBO); Nature Of The Beast (ABC); The Jane Show (Global); The Call (CBC); and Closing The Ring, directed by Sir Richard Attenborough. Dylan especially enjoys working on projects through the Canadian Film Centre, creating short films with Canada's most exciting young writers and directors.

Rosanna Saracino
Italian-Canadian director/writer/dramaturg Rosanna Saracino (MFA Directing, York U.) is a co-founder and Artistic Director of REDHANDED film and theatre. Director credits in theatre include: The Vagina Monologues (VDay, St. Lawrence Center featuring Rachel McAdams, Judith Thompson, and a cast of 33 women, hosted by Shirley Douglas), Savage/Love (Factory Theatre Mainspace), BROTHERS by Wendy Lill (Glen Gould Studio Theatre), Smut Boy and My Sad Penis by Stephen Massicotte (Nightwood Theatre), DEATH: a comedy (at Motel, in association with One Yellow Rabbit). Director credits in film include: “…things that go bump in the night”, featuring former RWB prima ballerina Evelyn Hart in her acting debut (shot on 16mm, BravoFACT!), The One (shot on 35 mm), The Ring (featured at the Hysteria Festival, shot on 35 mm), pilot episode for Gears TV “The Gears meet Mother Superior” (screened at Sons and Daughters, shot on HD), music video for The Gears, and a PSA and a Documentary for Ernestine’s Shelter (both screened at the opening of the new shelter). Recent productions include: DEATH; a comedy, performing in Prague, May, 2008. 

Darlene Spencer
Darlene Spencer received a Master of Fine Arts Degree from York University in Theatre Performance and is a graduate of the University of Waterloo Drama Department .  She has directed over 40 theatrical productions, as well as, documentary, educational and industrial film and digital video. Selected directorial credits include “Three Cities in the Life of Norman Bethune” by Tim Brady and Bradyworks, "The Children's Hour" by Lillian Hellman, "Our Country's Good" and "The Grace of Mary Traverse" by Timberlake Wertenbaker, "Spring Awakening" by Frank Wedekind, "Les Belles Soeurs" by Michel Tremblay, "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, and "Water" by Brad Curtain. Darlene is an actor who has performed in theatres across Canada, and for television and film. Lastly, she is an educator who has taught at the University of Waterloo and York University.   

Deborah Tennant, Vocal Tutorial Coordinator
Deborah Tennant has a busy and varied career as an actor, singer, teacher and writer. She graduated from the respected Studio 58 Theatre program at Vancouver Community college, where she was on the Dean's List and received the VCC Scholarship for academic achievement. She continued training at the Banff Centre (Young Professionals Master Class, Bernard Hopkins, David William); Workshops for Professional Actors (Carol Rosenfeld, David Craig); Equity Showcase (Patsy Rodenburg, John Karr, David Rotenberg, Arnold Mungioli); and private vocal work with David Dunbar and Cornelius Reid. Deborah has worked at theatres from Vancouver to Halifax in everything from Shakespeare and Moliere to Gershwin, Burt Bachrach and Gilbert and Sullivan. Favourite roles include Ruth in "Blithe Spirit", Maria in The Sound of Music", Elmire in "Tartuffe" and Marilla in "Anne of Green Gables".

She has been a member of the Stratford Festival Company, playing Sister Margaretta in "The Sound of Music" and appearing in "Inherit the Wind". Most recently she was an original member of the Canadian company in the North American premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of The Sound of Music (Mirvish, Toronto) as Baroness Elberfeld. She also toured Canada as casting assistant/voice coach on CBC’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

She has a long list of TV and Film credits including "A - The Scarlet Letter", "Due South", "Sister Mary Explains it All", “The Newsroom","Sue Thomas F.B.Eye", "Martha Behind Bars" and "Degrassi" as well as commercials.

Deborah teaches voice and audition technique in the professional training program at RAPA. She has done workshops on Vocal Presentation for the Second City, been a guest lecturer at George Brown College and has a lively private Studio.

 

Julius Wigdorchik, accompanist 

Julius studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and the Academy of Music in Rega, Russia. He has been an accompanist for 22 years. He also is a dance accompanist at George Brown and the National Ballet of Canada.

Mark Wilson, Vocal Area Coordinator
Mark Wilson is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Opera Division, has an Artist Diploma from U of T, as well as an honours B.F.A from York University. He sings with the Canadian Opera Company as a long time member of its chorus. He has been a company member of the Stratford Festival, and has sung in opera and in concert with the Manitoba Opera, Vancouver Opera, Festival Canada, Festival of the Sound, Aldeburgh Festival, New Music Concerts, and Westben Arts Festival, among others. Other studies have been at The Banff Centre, The Britten Pears School, and further vocal studies in Paris with Camille Maurane. Marcus has given vocal lessons, coachings, and workshops in and around Toronto. He has given lectures and masterclasses at Wilfred Laurier University and is a frequent visitor to the University of Manitoba. There he has given masterclasses and classes in French Art Song since 1994, and was vocal instructor in 2000. He has given recitals at the U of M, as well as classes for the Division of Preparatory Studies. For the Canadian Opera Company he has given lectures and numerous workshops for their Education Department. He has also given workshops at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Second City Training Centre and has coached at the George Brown Theatre School. In addition to being Vocal Area Coordinator at RAPA, Mark teaches Randolph Chorale, Men’s Choir, Vocal Tutorials, and Music Theory.

Jeannie Wyse

Jeannie received her Associateship Diplomas in Voice and Piano from the Western Conservatory of Music and also completed the Opera Programme at the American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. She is currently Children’s Musical Director and keyboardist for the Mirvish production of The Sound of Music. Jeannie has toured North America with Riverdance - The Show and toured and recorded extensively with the Elmer Iseler Singers, including an appearance with the Canadian Brass at Carnegie Hall and the soundtrack to Schindler’s List with John Williams. She also served as musical director for the Georgian Theatre Festival for two years. She has appeared as a soloist with the AIMS Festival Orchestra, Summer Opera Lab, Vocalpoint Chamber Choir and the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir, with whom she was a Vocal Coach for seven years. Jeannie is active as a voice teacher and clinician and is the Associate Music Director at Metropolitan Community Church Toronto. She has also served as keyboardist for Mirvish Productions’ Mamma Mia! and Lord of the Rings and will be joining the band at DanCap’s Jersey Boys starting in January 2010.

Igor Vassine, accompanist

Igor has been a dance accompanist with RAPA since 1997 a. A guest pianist for the National Ballet Of Canada, Igor began his career in Russia, performing, songwriting, touring across Russia and  Europe, as member of  numerous famous  Russian rock and jazz-rock groups, musical director and co-founder of vocal group “Moscow-Transit”, which is a part of famous “Oleg Lundstrem Jazz Orchestra”. In 1992, he was musical director/arranger of  Musical “Russians On Broadway” in Toronto. In 1995, he was the assistant to the musical director “Snowmaiden”(Mirvish Productions, Toronto).

Jacqueline Sadler

Jacqueline enjoys a diverse career in the arts as a Musical Director, Actor, Accompanist, and Soprano soloist.  She is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario, where she earned the degree Bachelor of Music: Honours, Voice Performance.  Her performances have taken her to stages across Canada, most notably as Rachel in the acclaimed production Two Pianos, Four Hands, and three seasons with The Charlottetown Festival.  She is in demand as a vocal coach and music festival adjudicator.

Derek Sangster
Derek Sangster is noted as being "one of Canada's most sought after dance instructors". From 1997 to 2004, he was the  founder and director of Toronto's most progressive dance studio, Urban Studio Theatre. Following that he was the principle jazz instructor for DanceTeq with Kevin Pugh at the National Ballet of Canada.  Presently Derek is on faculty for Ryerson University (dance program), George Brown College, Sheridan College (musical theatre program), as well as the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, Rosedale School of the Arts and Brant Lake Dance Camp (New York). Derek has been a guest teacher for B.A.T.D., the University of Michigan, York University, Harbour Dance (Vancouver), studios in Australia and summer programs in Nice, France (Offjazz). Derek continues to be master jazz instructor for numerous dance conventions throughout North America and adjudicates for many competitions across Canada and the U.S. His theatre credits include Stratford and Charlottetown Festival productions, including Gypsy  (Brian Macdonald)  Midsummer Night’s Dream (Joe Dowling), Antony and Cleopatra (Richard Monette) An Evening at La Cage, Anne of Green Gables, Puttin on the Ritz.   Derek choreographed A Chorus Line, Alice and both Night For Life and Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Stratford Festival. Combining his love for both music and dance, Derek has worked extensively with some of Canada's leading dance artists including Lisa Lougheed, Alanis Morrisette, Camille and YTV's Aashna, as both dancer and video choreographer.  He has opened for Jamie Walters, En Vogue, Dizzie Gillespie, CFL half time performances and HMV Grand Openings. No stranger to film and television, credits include extensive work for numerous networks including YTV, CBC, CMT, and MuchMusic.  Derek has been a regular for the Gemini, Juno and NHL Award Shows.   Selected television and feature film appearances include the Superstar, Canadian Music Video Awards, Borderline High, Rita and Friends , Cynthia Dale Special, New Years Eve in Niagara Falls. As a choreographer, Derek has worked from Halifax to Vancouver, Sydney, Australia and most recently in Hong Kong and South Asia for Sally Yeh - It‘s My Prime 25^th Anniversary World Tour.  Selected choreographic works include Casino Windsor, Nortel, Tim Hortons, JDS Fitel, GlaxoSmithKline, Nike, Eatons, Whistler Blackcombe Resort.  In 2000 he was invited to Sydney, Australia to choreograph and produce the 150^th Anniversary Celebration of AMP.

 

Nicola Pantin

Nicola Pantin is one of the most sought after dance instructors in Canada. She has performed with some of the most renowned choreographers in North America such as Michael Lichtefeld (Stratford Festival/The King and I), Renaud Doucet, Robert Desrosiers, Max Reimer, Jenn Goodwin, Bill T. Jones, Mitch Kirsh, Vicki St. Denys, Gabby Kamino, Roger Sinha, Laurie Raymond and Sylvie Bouchard of Corpus (Les Jeux de la Francophonie at which the company won a gold medal) Her theatre credits include performances with One Yellow Rabbit, Bald Ego Theatre, Alianak Productions and choreography for The Stratford Festival, Victoria Playhouse, The Red Barn, Second City, 3 Degrees Dance and Theatre, Theaturtle and Spark Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet Remixed and Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang (recipient of the 2003/2004 Dora Mavor Moore award for outstanding choreography) Dance film credits include Blues Brothers 2000, Her on camera work includes Exhibit A for the Discovery Channel and the new Blues Brothers 2000 film, as well as  various music videos and short films for Big Toad Productions, Revolver, CBC and Bravo!FACT. She is rapidly gaining a reputation as an original and inspired choreographer. Most recently her choreography and performance in The 3ƒ Cabaret and during Summer works 2001 was critically acclaimed in Toronto.

Pat Mearns, dance accompanist

Originally from Victoria, B.C., Pat began playing the piano by ear at age 5. Classical lessons soon began and continued through grade 10 (Royal Conservatory RCM Syllabus) after high school. Upon graduating she went to the University for a short time, but turned back to music, to teach piano. In 1966 she connected to ballet classes. The job of accompanying was a wonderful marriage of the audio and visual for her. For years later, after an inspiring trip, she decided to study music composition and piano performance at the University. It was enriching but so was a relationship with her composer partner, heading to Toronto. Off she went, working in the health food business and accompanying dance. Over the years she has played for, among others, Gladys Forrester, Janet Baldwin, George Brown School of Dance, Ballet Ys, The National Ballet Co., Robert Desrosiers Dance Co., Dancemakers, The National Ballet School (1980-99), George Randolph (1990 – present) and Ryerson Theatre School. Pat also developed small percussion skills for modern and creative dance at The National Ballet School of Canada. Pat’s composing skills have led her to produce three recordings for dance and one book of music for dance accompianists. She and Trevor McLain worked on an original score for the Peggy Baker piece “Le Chame Impossible”, performed at the Winter Garden Theatre and three other Canadian theatres in the mid 1990s. of Victoria of Victoria

Sandra Long A.R.A.D., A.I.S.T.D. 

Sandra Long has been inspiring young dancers with her highly creative and energetic style for 20 years. Ms Long is a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD). She has trained students in all levels of examinations including the very prestigious Solo Seal Award. Sandra has trained with the top Ballet and Modern dance professional in Canada, the United States and England and is a graduate of the Royal Ballet School in London, England. A celebrated Choreographer, Ms Long has created pieces for performance in many countries including Spain, England, Greece and the United States. Ms. Long is also a Can Fit Pro Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor, an adjudicato