MEET OUR TEACHERS
Our diverse team of arts educators come from a variety of performance backgrounds. Read their bios below and get to know them!
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Helen Wang
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Micaela Morey (artistic Director)Micaela Morey is an actor, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, holding a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto and a Diploma in Theatre Arts Performance from George Brown College. A reed doubler proficient in saxophone, clarinet, and flute, and skilled in guitar and ukulele, she has performed music internationally and played in pit bands for notable theatre companies such as YES Theatre and Hart House Theatre. Micaela has taught music at George Brown Theatre School, given private lessons to children and adults, and served as a musical director. She has many years of management experience in retail, hospitality, and the arts, and most recently, she served as the Co-Artistic Director and General Manager of Pirate Life Theatre Toronto. With a strong background in theatre, music, and arts management, she is dedicated to blending these disciplines to inspire and engage the next generation of artists!
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Victor cheng (Managing director)Victor Cheng is a Canadian conductor and music educator. He completed his Master's Degree in choral conducting at the Norwegian Academy of Music, with Grete Pedersen, and completed bachelor degree in music at the University of Toronto. Victor is the founding Artistic Director of the Toronto Vocal Ensemble, conductor of the Toronto Festival Singers, and sings professionally in That Choir. In addition to this, Victor is also the Managing Director and a teacher at Haois Singing & Musical Theatre School.
In Europe, Victor has studied and participated in masterclasses with some of the world's leading conductors and ensembles, including Nigel Short, Martina Batic, The Swedish Radio Choir, Norwegian Soloists' Choir and the Helsinki Chamber Choir. Alongside his studies, Victor served as an assistant with the Norwegian Soloists' Choir for 2 years, culminating in an exam concert which he prepared and conducted. In Canada, Victor has been active in the choral community, both as a conductor and singer. As a conductor, Victor was the founding artistic director of the Mississauga Summer Chorale (Modern Sound Collective), and held positions with Young Voices Toronto, and the Oakville Choirs for Children and Youth. Victor has previously sung at the Toronto Oratory, St. Basil's Catholic Parish, Toronto Festival Singers, and as the James T. Chestnutt Scholar in Voice and Conducting with the Elmer Iseler Singers. |
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Dieter Lische-parkesDieter Lische-Parkes is an up-and-coming biracial and bilingual actor, dancer, and singer in the Toronto area. Dieter has worked with many professional theatre companies since he was 14 years old including YES theatre and the Sudbury Theatre Centre, and Greenlight Arts. He has been teaching dance and drama since 2018 offering private coachings and monologue/dance workshops throughout that time. He is also proficient in many dance styles including, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Musical theatre, just to name a few. Dieter has also choreographed over 30 dances throughout his dance career, and most recently he completed performing in Chicago the musical which is a big dance musical. He is beyond excited to share his passion with the up and coming generation of artists, and hopes to inspire them for years to come.
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CHRISTOPHER WilliamsChristopher (Chris) Is a Jamaican-Canadian university graduate from the University of Toronto. He has a keen interest in community engagement through the lens of arts and theatre/performance. With over 10 years of experience in various instructor roles, Chris has researched, planned and facilitated a variety of programs that led to inclusive, healthy and engaging programming for children and youth of many ages.
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ALY CARRIGANAly Carrigan is a Voice teacher and vocal coach from Calgary, Alberta. She has performed in musicals in both Canada and the US, including performances of New Works at the NYFA Professional Conservatory of Musical Theatre in New York City. She studied vocal performance at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and has been singing most of her life. Her specialties include opera vocals, aural/theory skills, and voice acting (both on stage and behind a mic). She’s taught both children and adults alike how to sing and speak properly so as to avoid tension and strain, while also instilling a joy for music through the process. Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing students find how music and the arts are core to their every day lives, even when not used as a career option.
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ARDYTH JOHNSONArdyth holds a B.A in Theatre Studies from the University of Winnipeg and a graduate with Second City Conservatory. Ardyth has toured throughout North America with Mime Unlimited, Theatre Beyond Words and many other professional companies. Ardyth performs, writes and directs. Ardyth since 1987 has regularly performed Classic Mime , Charlie Chaplin, “Beth Hickadilly” (a medieval character) at festivals, corporate events and many more venues. When Ardyth is not performing, she is busy teaching as an arts educator in physical theatre, plus workshops all over Canada and Internationally.
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