FACULTY & STAFF

+ Courses Taught

• Voice
• Piano
• Theory
• Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Program
• Application & Audition Preparation Program
• Artist Development
• Performance Coaching

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He has received tutelage from some of the World's renowned vocal coaches like Falconer Abraham (vocal coach to many top Toronto artists like Melanie Fiona, Neverest and Aleesia), Lorraine Lawson (vocal coach to CTV's The Launch and many more) and Seth Riggs (vocal coach to some of the world's greatest vocalists like Michael Jackson, Prince, Barbra Streisand and Stevie Wonder). Darnell has also done musical work for hit TV Shows like Glee and Disney's Overruled! and worked with artists like Nelly Furtado and Fefe Dobson.

He has produced, directed, written and performed in numerous musicals and songs featured in films and tv shows. Select music directorial credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray, Footloose, Beauty & The Beast, Urinetown, Enchanting and Mamma Mia. In 2008, he competed in the World Championships of Performing Arts, held in Hollywood, where he won four gold medals and won the Grand Champion of the World Title – Instrumental category playing the Steel Pan. Darnell has arranged, produced and performed in several charitable concerts in collaboration with UNESCO (an arm of The United Nations) to raise funds for many charities.

In 2009, he established the Keys to Dreams Foundation, which provides financial assistance through scholarships to performers. In 2015, Darnell was invited to audition for The Voice UK & X Factor UK. Darnell currently holds a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance & Ethnomusicology from York University and is a guest lecturer for the music department at York University. In 2020, he joined the Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design at Sheridan College as a full time vocal professor and Vocal-Music Discipline Lead in the Music Theatre program. As an educator with extensive knowledge of performing arts pedagogy, he has also been involved in mentorship and curriculum and program development at many schools. He also participates in education workshops in New York City, led by established Broadway directors, artists and performers. He has served on numerous arts and charity related boards. In 2017, Darnell established GTA’s newest and highly sought-after corporate, wedding and special events band, D & The Groove Factory. He also co-founded a youthful vocal group, Vocalics, who has made waves in the GTA for their rich harmonies and vocal talents.

Darnell materialized one of his artistic dreams becoming the co-founder and co-artistic director of Cue The Lights Productions, focused on shining the spotlight on established and up-and-coming professional singers, actors and dancers in both original and popular shows. In 2018, Darnell co-founded the TDM Creative Group which serves as the creative holding company for his artistic companies including his performing arts’ school, The Institute For The Performing Arts. Amid all this, he still finds the time and energy to give back to the community both local and international and meet the live music demand at several venues on a regular basis.

+ Courses Taught

• Acting For Stage
• Acting For Film/TV
• Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Program
• Application & Audition Preparation Program
• Performance Coaching

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Liana has produced, directed and written numerous plays and musicals. Select directorial credits include, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Twits, Enchanting, Mamma Mia, A Killer Party and many original shows. She has worked with arts organizations like the Avenue Road Arts School, Arts for Children & Youth of Toronto (VIBE Arts), Young People’s Theatre, The Drama Workshop and The Georgian Theatre Festival. As an educator with extensive knowledge of theatre pedagogy, she has also been involved in curriculum and program development and assessment. As someone who truly believes in the power of the arts, Liana is an arts advocate, and has served on numerous theatre and arts boards including the Arts Access Fund – an organization committed to making the arts accessible to children, who could otherwise not participate because of financial constraints.

Liana is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of The Institute For The Performing Arts, Cue The Lights Productions, Vocalics Music Group, D & The Groove Factory, all housed under her holding company, TDM Creative Group. She was the Executive Director of the Avenue Road Arts School for over 25 years. She has performed professionally in both plays and musical theatre productions in Canada and Europe, having worked with both International and Canadian directors like Robert Lepage and Berliner Ensemble, Herbert Olschok. She toured Germany in a production of The House of Bernarda Alba (Angustias), which received rave reviews and saw its closing performance in Milan’s famous theatre, Il Piccolo Teatro di Milano. Other select shows include Macbeth, Les Liaisons Dangereuse, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Touch, In The Wings Of Eden, Line One, The Witnesses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Three Penny Opera and The Fantasticks. She has also worked with numerous educational theatre companies touring Ontario with classical and contemporary shows.

Liana holds an Honours B.A. from the University of Toronto with a Specialist in Drama. She also studied Speech & Drama and Classical Singing at The Royal Conservatory of Music. A lifelong learner, she continues to study new techniques and approaches to theatre and acting, including Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Linklater, Viewpoints, as well as Intimacy Direction, to name a few. Each summer, Liana participates in theatre education workshops in New York City, led by established Broadway directors, artists and performers.

+ Courses Taught

• Acting for Film & TV (Enthusiast)
• Enthusiast Musical Theatre Program
• Scene Study For The Enthusiast
• Intro to Acting For Kids & Adults

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She has lead workshops and classes for dozens of institutions including: Mirvish (Lion King),The Toronto and Catholic School Board, OISE, Show Choir Canada, and The Ontario School of Ballet, to name a few. She trained with Upright Citizens Brigade and Dance Manhattan (NYC), and is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory Program. Allison is a two-time recipient of an Ontario Arts Council grant for “Artists in Education”. Allison’s musical “The Tiki Bikini Beach Paradise Party A-Go-Go!” which she wrote, directed, and choreographed, made its debut at the Toronto Fringe Festival where it won “Patron’s Pick” and “Best of the Fringe” and then continued on to be in the curated “Next Stage Theatre Festival”. Her choreography (and performing) can be seen in the video “Hypnotized” (Jeffery Straker) which hit the “MMM” Top 10 as well as Kat Goldman’s “Release Me” (Choreographer, Performer). She has also choreographed for “CBC-CBC Days Live” and she continues to direct and choreograph multiple productions across the city every year. As a performer she has appeared in dozens of musicals, music videos, and improv shows, and frequently makes appearances for SONY entertainment (Santa Claus Parade, Woofstock, TIFF). She recently made her television series debut as a principal lead, performing “DURP-E” the loveable robot, in Season One of “Oh Yuck!” (2020) now on Netflix-world wide.

+ Courses Taught

• Acting For Film & TV (Pre-Professional)

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Once reaching the 2009 and 2010 World Figure Skating Championships and being ranked in the top 30 in the world, Kevin ended his skating career to focus solely on building his career as an actor. Within the next year, Kevin had already portrayed the role of Reggie on and episode of Syfy's Warehouse 13 and played a recurring role on the 12th season of Teen Nick's Degrassi: The Next Generation. Kevin's role, Fabio Juarez on Degrassi was a student who combined gym training, yoga, LGBT love, all portrayed with an effortless confidence throughout his time on the show. Kevin was also casted as Bat Velasquez on Freeform's Shadowhunters, a recurring character originally written into Cassandra Clare's hit book series, "The Mortal Instruments". Currently, he stars on Netflix’s Locke & Key recurring as high school hockey player, Javi Gonzalez, which has been renewed for a second season by Netflix with a release for 2021.

+ Courses Taught

• Vocal

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Angelina has had the opportunity to train with esteemed coaches and is now a coveted performer who has, and continues to, perform as a featured vocalist for audiences throughout North America and Italy. She also shares her love and knowledge of her craft with her students as a private vocal coach. In the classroom, she allows her students to find their own voice through exposure to various genres and techniques, keeping vocal health at the forefront. To Angelina, music and performing is much more than a passion, it is imbedded in who she is, and that shines on stage and in the classroom.

+ Courses Taught

• Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Program (Dance)

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Carmen co-choreographed her class’ play production, More Light, with director Philip McKee, and was asked to work with him once more on the Toronto premiere of Broken Branches (CreateTruth Productions) after graduation. She has performed solo at events for The Institute for the Performing Arts, and the Bella Donna Collective, and has danced in ensemble work with Bravo’s Dance Company, and Gloss Entertainment. Carmen has appeared in projects with Vice Canada and YTV, and will be seen as a dancer and supporting actor in two upcoming short films. Career highlights include, performing live with “Weird Al” Yankovic, dancing for six hours straight in Nuit Blanche Toronto (Boundary Conditions/Performance Assembly), and that one time Martha Nichols (The Greatest Showman) called her “amazing”. Her first self-produced work is a dance short, Sea son of Se v e n Lov es, (find it on YouTube), starring fellow artist and friend, Janel Rae. Carmen loves all things movement-related, and has trained in ballet, pointe, barre fitness (Barre3), jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, contemporary, modern, gaga, hip hop, heels, house, tap, salsa, samba, flamenco, capoeira, and traditional Taiwanese dance. Carmen has taught in studios and schools across the province, where “the energy she brings is similar to that of a gulp of fresh air”. Her “outstanding choreography” has been recognized on stages across Canada and the US. Carmen is constantly inspired by her students, and finds joy in every class.

+ Courses Taught

• Summer Programs (Music, Theatre and Musical Theatre Programs)

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Victoria has her Royal Conservatory of Music vocal, piano and theory certifications. She is a graduate of the Vocal Program at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy of The Royal Conservatory of Music and, also a graduate of Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, where she was a Vocal Major. Passionate about singing and the arts, Victoria was a mentor and accompanist in the Canadian Opera Company’s Youth Opera Program and a Studio Teacher with the Avenue Road Arts School’s performing arts classes.

A soprano with great stage presence, Victoria was a vocal finalist in the Canadian Music Competition held in Calgary and has performed internationally at the Saarburg Music Festival in Germany. Last year, she was chosen to participate as a young artist at SongFest in Los Angeles but due to COVID, the festival was unfortunately cancelled. Victoria is a soloist and has been a featured singer in many concerts, fundraisers, and musical theatre productions. Highlights include: Musicians’ Dream Aid, Mayor’s Luncheon, Vaughan in Motion, Project Broadway, The Wizard of Oz, Annie & High School Musical. Victoria was thrilled to be in the Glenn Gould School production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, portraying the role of 1st Spirit.