Music
I have always loved music. Music has helped me to live my life more fully and more deeply. My love for the transcendent beauty of music has found many expressions over the years.
I soon wanted to share my passion for singing and started teaching at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. I enjoy working with young artists, helping them to explore and refine their own sound.
Early on, while still living in France, I began voice lessons and it was a true revelation: I knew that I wanted to share my singing with an audience and sing professionally. I studied voice and performed, both as a classical singer and as a cabaret singer.
My Journey
Discovery
After studying singing for a year in France, I moved to Canada and studied first at the Université de Montreal (B.A. in vocal performance), and then at the University of Toronto where I earned a Master’s degree in vocal performance. I began to give concerts and to take part in opera productions.
The Artist in Communication
I believe that as artists we can make a difference in our society. We can give a voice to Awareness, Peace, Compassion and Hope. Art does not happen in a vacuum, it needs to be shared and lived. My mission as an artist and voice teacher is to go into the community and reach out to everybody, especially those who may not be fortunate enough to be able to come to a concert. The Outreach Program, created in 2004, is devoted to that mission. Numerous concerts have been given in prisons, hospitals, (including Sick Kids Hospital, The Center for Addiction and Mental Health), in senior homes and in schools for developmentally handicapped children.
Contemporary Music
I studied at the Banff School of the Arts (Canada) and at The Aldeburgh School of Vocal Studies in England where I was inspired by one of my teachers, Phyllis Bryn-Julson, to explore the contemporary repertoire. In 1993, I registered in the Eckhardt-Gramatté vocal competition, which focuses exclusively on contemporary repertoire. I was awarded the first prize. Subsequently, I premiered many contemporary pieces and enjoyed the special collaboration with the composers.
Teaching
Sharing my love of singing with students and helping them to explore their voice has been my greatest pleasure. I opened my voice studio at the Royal Conservatory of Music in 1990 and have been teaching ever since. The lessons can be 30 minutes, 45 minutes or an hour. They all follow the same structure. We spend some time doing some vocal exercises to help warm up the voice, to stretch it and expand its range. We work on breath support, so that the sound is well focused and centred.
Psychology of Performance
Parallel to my performing career, I opened my vocal studio at the Royal Conservatory of Music and I gradually became interested in the psychology of performance. I studied yoga intensively and became a certified yoga teacher in 1996. I began to integrate the physical, mental and spiritual aspect of yoga in my teaching and developed workshops and classes to help the artists develop their full potential. The Serenity and Strength Workshops were born: Performance without Fear, Yoga for Singers, Anatomy of the Breath, A Free Sound in a Free Body. In 1998, I published a booklet entitled An Island of Serenity, A Practical Guide to Relaxation and Well-Being.
Recordings
In 2000, I released the recording Tapestry of the Heart. It features vocal and guitar repertoire from the Renaissance to present day. In the years that followed, I became interested in the exploration of Cabaret music and gave many concerts, culminating in the production of my second album in 2006, From Paris to Broadway.
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Concerts & Shows
The work of the year culminates in concerts, both in December and June. Every two years, the studio presents a staged production of opera excerpts or a music theatre production. I believe something special happens when people work together towards the same artistic goal. Being able to sing an aria or a song is an art in itself; however being part of a production provides the students with opportunities to relate to one another both on stage and off stage. Furthermore, an ensemble requires a synergy of voices and action, the artists learn to act, to listen and blend their voices to create beauty. They build something together. Most of all, it is about love and fun.
Testimonials
I am pleased that I took part in this exciting production, “The Cole Porter Show”, not only because of the performing experience it provided me, but also because the music was so thoughtfully selected, the staging was involving and fun for every participant regardless of their role in the show, and because of the high level of professionalism that prevailed from the information session to the last notes of our final performance.
— Khrystyna
A fantastic learning experience. Elisabeth and the production team were both professional and fun to work with. I liked both participating in the big choreographed numbers and having the chance to perform solo. Along the way I made friends and gained more self-confidence on the stage. Overall, it is an experience that I would recommend for all musical theatre enthusiasts no matter the age or background. Can’t wait till the next show!
— Tania
Elisabeth’s teaching was so much more than learning notes and good vocal technique. She is intuitive, methodical, and expertly attuned to what her students need to succeed. Her influence was great: my years studying with her set me on a path for a voice degree at university, and a career in the music industry. Every lesson gave me more confidence and motivation; Elisabeth is truly an excellent teacher, and I couldn’t recommend her more highly.
— Andrea
