About Courtenay

Are you a friendly person?

No. Wait–yes. Yes, very friendly :)

How are you trained to teach voice technique? 

See Training & Experience, below, for a complete list, but here are some highlights:

  • 2021 Vocal First Aid, Motor Learning Training.

  • 2020 New England Conservatory’s Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy workshop.

  • Ongoing attendance at numerous voice science and musical theatre education workshops and conferences.

  • Ongoing membership in key professional associations and related journal subscriptions (e.g. Musical Theatre Educators Alliance, National Association of Teachers of Singing, The Voice Foundation, Acoustical Society of America)

  • Ongoing study with international voice experts, for over 20 years.

  • Eight years of training in Speech Level Singing technique and related methods.

  • Formal singing, speech, and acting training during BFA at York University.

What other training do you have?

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Honours in Music, York University.

  • Bachelor of Education Degree, Music Specialist, University of British Columbia.

At UBC, about to start Bachelor of Education degree, in 2017, before practicum and resulting sleep deprivation.

At UBC, about to start Bachelor of Education degree, in 2017, before practicum and resulting epic sleep deprivation.

What else do you do, musically? 

I'm also a musical director and pianist. I play for and direct musical theatre shows, cruise ship showbands, jazz ensembles, original artists, and cover bands. Recently, I’ve performed and musical directed with:

  • Arts Club Theatre (Avenue Q substitute pianist/Musical Director)

  • Studio 58, Langara College (Grease pianist/Musical Director)

  • The Famous Players Band – Vancouver-based cover band (keyboards/Musical Director)

  • Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises

Bandleading / Performing in Sun Peaks with Vancouver’s Famous Players Band and one super-happy bride.

Bandleading / Performing in Sun Peaks with Vancouver’s Famous Players Band and one super-happy bride.

Have you accompanied or musical directed any famous people? 

Yes, many! Some highlights include:

  • Krystal L. Washington (Mimi in Rent)

  • Mark Preston (of The Lettermen)

  • Pamela Blake (star of Broadway Evita)

  • Michelle Murlin (Fantine in Broadway Les Miserables)

  • Philippa Healey (Cosette in London Les Miserables)

I also coach many local and national theatre professionals. See Client Testimonials for more details.

With London Les Misérables star Philippa Healey, while musical director on the Tahitian Princess.

With London Les Misérables star Philippa Healey, while musical director on the Tahitian Princess.

With Equity choreographer Shawna Parry and Balmoral High School’s musical theatre class cast of Franklin Falls.

With Equity choreographer Shawna Parry and Balmoral High School’s musical theatre class cast of Franklin Falls.

Do you have experience working with high school age students? 

Yes–tons. We seem to get along great. See Singing Lessons for Teens for more.

Do you perform as a singer, yourself? 

Yes. I’ve sung background vocals in various bands, and as a solo singer-pianist for various venues and functions. Mainly, though, I sing at cast parties leading cheesy pop sing-a-longs.

Do you like animals? 

Yup! (But there are no pets here, if that’s a concern.)

Is that really your car? 

Yes. Stop laughing.

What else do you do? 

I’m really into cooking, reading, hiking, skiing, photography, making espresso, eating croissants, hanging out with family and friends, watching movies, and napping.

Training:

The most important training I've received comes from two expert sources:

  • Seth Riggs, Los Angeles-based voice teacher to Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, Prince, Julie Andrews, Josh Groban, Bernadette Peters, Ray Charles, Madonna, and countless other pop and Broadway, and opera stars--over 130 Grammy and Tony winners, all told.
    Mr. Riggs founded the Speech Level Singing (SLS) method and started a worldwide teacher training and certification program that I was a part of from 2008-2013.
    I studied directly with Mr. Riggs from 2011-2013.

  • Dr Ingo Titze, voice scientist, based in Utah and Colorado. Dr Titze is currently the most published voice scientist in the world. Studying with Dr. Titze helped me better understand why the exercises I taught as an SLS teacher worked so well, and how I could better build on what I'd learned to grow beyond the SLS method.

Degrees and Certificates Held:

2018: Bachelor of Education, Music Specialist Degree, with International Baccalaureate Certificate in Teaching and Learning. Awarded Margaret Cameron Scholarship in Teacher Education.

1997: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours in Music degree from York University.

Professional Affilliations:

Ongoing:

National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
The Voice Foundation (TVF)
Acoustical Society of America (ASA)

Intermittent:

Musical Theatre Educators Alliance (MTEA)
New York Singing Teachers’ Association (NYSTA)
American Federation of Musicians (AFM)

Past:

Speech Level Singing International (SLS); Six years. Area representative for Pacific Northwest.
International Voice Teachers of Mix (IVTOM); Six years
Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA); Three years

Training:

2022:

  • Voice research mentorship under Kayla Gautereaux, Assistant Vocal Pedagogy Director and Voice Lab Manager at New England Conservatory, Boston.

    We’re investigating ways to better determine range expectations for pop-based singers and the measurable differences in mix, ‘high belt,’ and ‘old-school belt’ timbres.

2021:

  • Vocology in Practise - Fall Voice Conference

  • Vocal First Aid training

  • Motor Learning Theory training

  • Private study with Chadley Ballentyne, developer of several unique pop vocal tools and insights.

2020:

  • Attended online masterclasses with Kelli O’Hara and Laura Osnes.

  • Private study with Kenneth Bozeman and Chadley Ballentyne, eminent voice professors specialized in applying the science of vocal acoustics to singing pedagogy. (Vocal acoustics is key to unlocking mix and belt timbres at higher ranges—crucial for pop and theatre singing.)

  • New England Conservatory’s Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Workshop, taught by important voice science researcher and teacher Ian Howell, among others.

  • New England Conservatory’s Online Teaching Technology Course

  • Private study with Mindy Frandsen Pack, singing voice rehabilitation specialist, tour vocal coach for Justin Timberlake, Miley Cirus, and many other international recording stars.

  • National Association of Teachers of Singing Virtual Conference

  • The Voice Foundation’s Online Symposium, organized by Dr. Reena Gupta and Mindy Frandsen Pack.

  • The Voice Forum Online Conference.

2019:

Private study with John Henny, Los Angeles based teacher to many pop and theatre stars.

2017-18:

Bachelor of Education, Music Specialist Degree, with International Baccalaureate Certificate in Teaching and Learning. Awarded Margaret Cameron Scholarship in Teacher Education.

2015-2016:

Education degree prerequisites at UBC including Choral Pedagogy, Choral Conducting, and Instrumental Conducting.

2015:

  • Estill training course in Vancouver.

  • Somatic Voicework Method training, led by founder Jeannette LoVetri, a prominent New York-based voice coach to many Broadway and pop stars.

2014:

  • Voice Symposium in Salt Lake City, led by Dr. Ingo Titze (see above). Also presenting was Dr. Reena Gupta, a laryngologist to many stars in the Los Angeles area.

  • Workshop on vocal health issues led by local speech language pathologist, Shelagh Davies.

2011-2013:

Studied with Seth Riggs, teacher to Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Julie Andrews, Ben Vereen, Bernadette Peters, Kelly Clarkson, and many more.

2012:

Studied with Jeffrey Skouson (Las Vegas). Notable clients include The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Panic! At the Disco, as well as numerous Disney stars, and finalists on American Idol and The Voice.

2011:

Speech Level Singing Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2009:

  • Seth Riggs Teaching Observation, Los Angeles.

  • Speech Level Singing (SLS) Teachers Conference in Los Angeles.

2008: Joined Speech Level Singing.

1997-2007:

  • Voice Lessons with Spencer Welch (part-time)

note: 1997-2007 was mostly spent musical directing for shows, Famous Players Band, and playing/conducting on cruise ships.

1997: BFA Honours in Music degree from York University.

1994-1997: Piano and conducting lessons with Paul Sportelli, musical director of Miss Saigon, Beauty & the Beast, and the Shaw Festival.

1994-1997: Music Production Assistant for Toronto pre-Broadway ‘try-outs’ of Ragtime (Hal Prince, Director) and Jane Eyre (John Caird, director).

1994: Music Production Assistant for Livent’s Music of the Night (Scott Ellis, Director).

1994-1995: Voice Lessons/Observation with Bill Vincent (Toronto). Bill Vincent was and early Speech Level Singing Master Teacher and the vocal consultant for Miss Saigon in Toronto and on faculty at Sheridan College.

1994-1995: Studied Alexander Technique in Vancouver and Toronto. This technique teaches performers how to attain a high degree of muscle awareness and relaxed healthy posture while singing/speaking/performing, which can reduce vocal strain.

1993-1994: Classical Voice/Teaching Observation: David Astor, Capilano College

1992: Speech Level Singing (SLS) Workshop w Bill Vincent

 Select Experience:

Equity/Professional Musical Theatre:

Arts Club Theatre:

Avenue Q (Keyboard / Associate MD)

Western Canada Theatre:

The Last Five Years (Piano / MD)
The Dreamer’s Quest (Piano / Bandleader)

Feisty Fairy Productions:

Songs for a New World (Piano/MD)

Semi-Professional Musical Theatre:

Vancouver Theatre Under the Stars:

Jesus Christ Superstar (Conductor / MD)

UR Productions (URP.ca):

Jesus Christ Superstar (Keyboards / MD)
Cats
(Piano / MD)
High School Musical 2 (Keyboards / MD)
Little Shop of Horrors (Piano / MD)
Cabaret (Piano / MD)
Evita (Conductor / MD)
Closer Than Ever (Piano / MD)

College:

Studio 58:

Grease (Piano / MD)

Youth-Oriented:

Festival Adjudication:

Pacific West Performing Arts Festival

Summer Programs:

Arts Club Musical Theatre Intensive
Richmond Gateway Summer Musical Theatre Program
Broadway Bound International Workshops

High Schools:

Musical/Vocal Direction for numerous productions at:
Crofton House School
Magee Fine Arts
Byng Fine Arts
Rockridge Secondary
Vancouver College

Cruise Ships:

Pianist and/or Musical Director for Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises production show bands. Many contracts, during which I worked with many Pop, Broadway and West End stars.

I am high on Princess’ call list and have been invited to be in the inaugural launch band for three Princess ships, now.

I’m currently in ‘land mode’ for (likely) all of 2022-23, and I will give clients several months of notice if anything changes, but I mention this as some singers might value studying with a bonifide commercial musical director and performer, with insights into the various options for singers on cruise ships, and how to break in (paid travel and practise, great people… ask me!).

Corporate and Wedding Bands:

These bands play a wide variety of pop genres from 1950s, to Motown, to 80s, to modern pop and Hip Hop. As leader for Famous Players Band, I was in charge of the music and singing sounding authentic, and the performances forming an engaging connection with audiences.

Famous Players Band

Musical director / Keyboards / Background Vocals2004-2016. Famous Players Band has performed throughout Canada and internationally in locations as diverse as New York City, Barcelona, and Beijing, for weddings as well as corporate events for companies like NBC, Mercedes, Microsoft, Verizon and many more.

Side One Band

Keyboards / Background Vocals—2011-ongoing. Side One Band has performed throughout North America and was voted ‘Best Live Entertainment’ at the 2014 Canadian Wedding Awards, plus numerous BC Wedding Awards, continuously, from 2013-2020.

Recording Artists:

Lee Aaron

The Metal Queen, and jazz vocalist
Piano, Keyboards

Christina Sing

Pop/Soul Artist
Keyboards, Background Vocals

Chin Injeti

…of Bass is Base and Funkmobile fame
Keyboards

Television:

Vocal consultant and on-camera musical director for Aliens in America - RENT episode.

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