Music

Bryan Gloyd, Piano

Gina Farrugia, Vocals

Peter Karle, Guitar

Denise has performed with many great artists including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, Gospel/Blues legend Jackie Richardson and Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook.  She has opened for Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Denise has performed with symphony orchestras and festivals which have included the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival (Toronto), Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Canadian Big Band Festival (London), Bluesfest (London), Waterloo Jazz Festival and Sunfest (London), among others.

Denise also enjoys acting and has been part of The Grand Theatre (London) seasons performing in the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson and A Streetcar Named Desire.  Denise’s one-woman show, Jazzabel premiered in September 2004 at the McManus Theatre (Grand Theatre), London, Ontario to sold out audiences!  In October 2005 Jazzabel was performed in Washington, DC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and in February 2006 to audiences in New York City at Urban Stages Theatre.  As well, she was premiered in the February 2006 issue of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine.  Denise’s recording credits include seven CD’s.

She is honoured with being the recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals.  In 2003 she was named a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts and Heritage category.  Denise won best jazz artist in London, Ontario’s Music Awards in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008, 2009, and 2012.  In April 2006 the Hyde Park Rotary presented her with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary’s highest honour.   In 2008 and 2014 she won Jazz Artist of the Year at the Jack Richardson awards.  In February 2009 the London Black History Committee honoured Denise with the Black Community Achievement Award in recognition of her accomplishments, contributions and support to her community.  In April 2015 she was inducted into the London Music Hall of Fame.  In November 2015 Denise received a honourary licentiate diploma from Conservatory Canada.

Denise is a volunteer with Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan traveling annually since 2007 where she helps to deliver a music and art camp for the children.  She is also a board member with Educate the Children helping to raise funds for a school in Nigeria.

Laurraine Sigouin has appeared as a singer at Maggie’s, Aeolian Hall, Restaurant Ninety-One, London Music Club, Jazz by the Bog, London Jazz Society, and at the long-standing “Jazz for the People” concert series. She is a proud member of the wonderful vocal ensemble Mosaic, which has performed at the Home County Folk Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. She also performs with LP Soul, a collective of soul-loving musicians who are passionate about creating a musical experience that moves and grooves. Along with Jake Levesque, she founded Enchanté which has been serving up a bilingual mix of jazz and other styles of music to London area audiences since 2004. Their motto is “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”, which is French for “Let the good times roll!”.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Kathleen began her harp studies with Nora Bumanis, and completed her Bachelor of Music at McGill University studying under Jennifer Swartz. She has had the pleasure of playing with the London Community Orchestra since 2008, and has also performed with professional orchestras in Edmonton, Stratford, London, and Kitchener, as well as musical theater productions throughout southwestern Ontario. She performs frequently as a chamber musician, choral and vocal accompanist, and in church music settings. She also enjoys educating the public about the harp, and coaching composers with an interest in writing for the instrument. Kathleen is an enthusiastic teacher to her studio of harp students, who have ranged in age from 5 to 60. She also founded and continues to lead the harp ensemble program offered through Forest City String School since 2010.

Kathleen also works as an occupational therapist, working with individuals who have experienced health concerns that affect their ability to participate in daily activities. At times, this work offers her the opportunity to support the musical community: she offers injury prevention and management workshops to musicians of all levels, and she has been a clinician since 2016 with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, assisting students and staff who are struggling with physical or mental health challenges that affect their ability to practice and perform.

Based in London Ontario, Canadian guitarist Andrew Cloutier has been making music professionally since the early 2000s. He studied at Western University in London, with a focus on music theory, composition, and classical guitar performance.

He has received awards and recognitions from the Jack Richardson London music awards, the OMFA provincial music festival, and Western University. He has also participated in masterclasses with world renowned guitarists and composers, including Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Roland Dyens, the Assad Brothers, and David Russell.

As a performer, his musical interests include the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, music from South America, and works by contemporary composers. In addition, he is an instructor at the London Academy of Music, and the music director at Strathroy United Church in Strathroy Ontario.

Andy performs on a 2009 guitar by Canadian Luthier Bruno Boutin.

For the last few years, Dan Luong has been enriching the musical scene in London, Ontario in a variety of ways which include: pop-up concerts held at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church where he is the Music and Choir Director, working at the Don Wright Faculty of Music as a Collaborative Pianist and, as well, providing current students and recent graduates with opportunities to perform off-campus. Dan also maintains a busy teaching schedule, working with students of all ages.

Prior to the pandemic, Dan held the staff accompanist position at Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts. During this time, Dan was competing in piano competitions internationally (U.S.A, Italy, Israel, and Japan) and was preparing to tour Canada and Europe in the summer as a member of 2020 National Youth Orchestra.

Dan’s Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees were both received from Western University, where he studied with Prof. John-Paul Bracey, Dr. Brett Kingsbury, and Dr. John Hess. During his time as a student, Dan won numerous prizes and scholarships from the Maritsa Brookes Concerto Competition, London Music Scholarship Foundation, Michael Geryk Memorial Competition, and the Fred Pattison Piano Competition. As the winner of these competitions, Dan has performed solo recitals and concertos with the Western University Symphony Orchestra and the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra.

During the pandemic when many gigs were cancelled, Dan developed new and relevant skills (video editing and audio recording) while continuing to practise the piano. During this time, Dan has been uploading numerous videos of his piano performances with multiple camera angles. He has also posted video recordings of a small virtual choir he started with his church.

"Sonja is an uncommonly versatile performer..."

Music has been an integral part of Sonja’s life since childhood. Growing up with a music historian and a classically trained soprano as parents exposed her to a great deal of classical repertoire. Sonja spent much of her youth singing in choirs and playing the violin. In her late teens, she was presented with the opportunity to audition for the world reknowned Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. She decided to audition for the voice department, where room was available for one more student.

Sonja graduated from Interlochen with flying colours and returned home to Canada to continue studying voice at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at The University of Western Ontario. As part of her studies at UWO, Sonja performed in several operas to gain more experience on the stage. She also took up the position of soprano soloist at First St. Andrew’s United Church, which is widely recognized for its fine music program.

Simultaneously, a close friend encouraged her to try Jazz. Her initiation into the Jazz world was a New Year’s Eve gig at a local restaurant. That night proved to be a trial by fire as Sonja spent the evening entertaining the crowd with Jazz standards she’d only just learned (and more than a few which she had to sight-read!). Finding it to be an exhilirating experience, Sonja continued to work on expanding her jazz repertoire and finding a vocal technique that lent itself better to jazz than opera.

Following graduation, Sonja found herself performing more and more Jazz at local restaurants, clubs and private functions. She also worked full-time as a waitress, performing for enthusiastic crowds on nights and weekends. She collaborated with many of London’s very talented Jazz musicians, learning the skills of jazz musicianship as she went. Their mentoring of her singing paid off and in 2005, Sonja was recognized with a London Music Award for Most Popular Jazz Performer.

It was at this time that a life-changing opportunity arose. At the prompting of her mother, she sent an audition CD to the producers of a new television reality/documentary series entitled Bathroom Divas. Chosen from hundreds of CDs to come and audition live, she earned a spot on the show as one of six finalists that would attend a three week Opera ‘Boot Camp’ in Toronto. Having gone six years without any voice lessons, this was the ultimate opportunity for Sonja to receive not only training, but invaluable feedback from some of Canada’s top operatic performers and trainers. The experience was incredibly valuable and renewed her interest in the classical and operatic repertoire, as well as her confidence in her operatic capabilities.

After three weeks of boot camp and a second-place finish, Sonja decided to continue the process of musical growth by returning to her classical music studies at UWO, where she obtained the degree of Master of Music under the tutelage of Mary Lou Fallis, one of the instructors and producers of Bathroom Divas.  During her studies Sonja kept a busy performing schedule, which included roles in several operatic productions with UWOpera and Orchestra London. She also released her self-produced debut jazz CD, which has been met with great enthusiasm from her fans and the arts community in London and the surrounding area and led to an invitation to perform at London's highly successful summer music festival, Sunfest in 2008.  Sonja was the only local performer to take the stage in the festival's jazz village, performing two shows for enthusiastic crowds.

On the classical side of things, Sonja was pleased to be a featured soloist with Orchestra London, the Victoria Symphony and the Vancouver Island Symphony in a Christmas Pops show written and arranged for her and conducted by fellow Jazz musician and UWO grad, Jeff Christmas. Hence, she has become a regular guest performer in the Orchestra London Pops series.

Desiring to create more opportunities for herself and other UWO music grads in the London area, she formed her own production company, Diva Lounge Productions, which is busy developing several original works in collaboration with local London composers. In addition to these many accomplishments, Sonja was also honoured to win several awards, scholarships and competitions for both her jazz and classical performing.

Whether crooning jazz standards with her band, singing with the symphony or performing on the operatic stage, Sonja's passion for music is evident in her presence and attitude.  It is this passion coupled with her consummate musicianship, sparkling voice and versatility that make her a performer to remember and enjoy!

Rick has been working as an independent music & theatre professional in various capacities since proudly graduating with his BFA from the University of Windsor’s, School of Dramatic Art. Rick received his Masters degree from UWO's, Don Wright Faculty of Music in Literature & Performance with a focus in Music Theatre. He is a member in good standing of Canadian Actor’s Equity Association (CAEA). In 2020 Rick was nominated 2020 Jazz Vocalist of this year - the same award he  received in 2019 (Jazz Vocalist of the Year Award) through the Forest City London Music Awards (FCLMA). Several projects he's led have received Brickenden Awards - Vigil, Saucy Jack & The Space Vixens & The Secret Garden. Fringe Festival Awards include JUDY: Stonewalled!, Saucy Jack & The Space Vixens. He is also a proud LAC Community Investment Grant Investment recipient. He has worked as an artistic director, producer, director, actor, singer, voice teacher/coach, acting teacher/coach & workshop leader. Scroll down for full list of awards below...

He served as Artistic Director at The Port Stanley Festival Theatre in Port Stanley, ON, and at The Bluewater Summer Playhouse in Kincardine, ON. Rick created the professionally engaging (CAEA) theatre company in London, ON, a missing link theatre company (amltc). In its two seasons amltc staged JUDY: Stonewalled! (Outstanding Cast Award - London Fringe 2014), Billy Bishop Goes To War, A Really RETRO Christmas Special - 2014, 2013 & 2012, VIGIL (2013 Brickenden Award Winner - Outstanding Comedy & Actress), The World Premiere Production of  Norm Foster's The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby & A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline.

Rick is the Artistic Director of LINK theatre which began in December of 2015 with a really Retro CROONER Christmas. The show has become an annual production. Since 2015 the show toured the Province of Ontario. The Crooners visited Huron Country Playhouse, Drayton Festival Theatre, Meaford Performing Arts, to name a few… In 2020, due to Covid, the show had only two live performances at Paradigm Spirits at 100 Kellogg Lane – a stripped down version of the show called, An Intimate Crooner Christmas. In 2021 the show enjoyed a limited tour. (Check out LINK theatre's page for information - www.linktheatre.ca). In 2017 LINK staged the OUTRAGEOUS musical comedy Saucy Jack & The Space Vixens. Due to being wildly popular with audiences, it was remounted in 2018... Both productions were presented in The TABU Lounge at Jack's on Richmond Street in London.

Some favourite acting credits include: Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens, JUDY: Stonewalled!, The Rocky Horror Show, Songs From The Bar... and one more for the road , My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Wild Guys, Toronto, Mississippi and Side By Side By Sondheim.

Some favourite directing credits include: The Secret Garden: A Musical, JUDY: Stonewalled!, Billy Bishop Goes To War, Vigil, the World Premiere Production of Norm Foster's The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline for amltc, Hedwig & The Angry Inch for the London Fringe festival 2012, Wang Dang Doodle for the Grand Theatre in London, Steel Magnolias for the University of Windsor’s, School of Dramatic Art, Sweeney Todd for the University of Western Ontario, Mary’s Wedding, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, The Wild Guys, Suds: The Rocking ‘60’s Musical Soap Opera & Forever Plaid & the World Premiere Production of Norm Foster's Storm Warning for The Bluewater Summer Playhouse, Maggie's Getting Married, Pith, You'll Get Used To It! The War Show & Bordertown Café for the Port Stanley Festival Theatre.

Rick has created, produced and performed in a variety of Jazz/Swing/Musical Theatre themed shows such as the a really Retro CROONER Christmas show, a Really RETRO Specials, Songs From The Bar ...and one more for the road, From Broadway to Jazz..., A Holiday Celebration of Jazz..., Broadway Lights & Hot Summer Nights, A New Years Eve Celebration of Swing…, The Gangsters of Swing & What Happens In Vegas… Other projects are currently in the works…

Rick has been very involved in many youth mentorship initiatives at the Grand Theatre in London. For 10 years Rick worked as Vocal/Singing Coach on The Highschool Project; Les Miserables (2016), Hello Dolly, The Addams Family: A New Musical, Legally Blonde, My Fair Lady, Footloose, Anything Goes, Grease, The Pirates of Penzance & Les Miserables (2007). As well as having worked with The Grand Academy for several years as the acting coach & voice through Broadway Songs instructor.

For the past several years now, Rick has been adjudicating with the RISE 2 FAME Youth Talent Search with contestants from across Southwestern Ontario. He has taught acting at both Fanshawe College in the Acting Program as well as UWO's Continuing Studies and the Don Wright Faculty of Music Master's Program.

Rick teaches Singing & Acting from his home Studio in London, ON.

Born and raised in the Forest City, music always played an integral part of Jordan’s upbringing. From violin lessons to youth choirs, Jordan was very fortunate to have a family that valued the arts as much as they did. Jordan pursued music at the University of Western Ontario in Vocal Performance and was heavily involved in early music ensembles and the opera department while attending. After school Jordan took a job with WestJet where he continues to be happily employed as a Cabin Crew Member. As a pandemic inspired project, Jordan began song writing in 2020 under the name Jordie B and has thoroughly enjoyed developing this new creative skill. In addition to his flying schedule and song writing, this fall Jordan looks forward to starting a new chapter, beginning his Masters in Historical Performance at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, working as the alto section lead for St Thomas’s Anglican Church and joining the musical group THAT CHOIR for their 2022/2023 season. London, Ontario has been the foundation for Jordan’s musical journey thus far and he hopes to continue to foster and deepen musical connections within this incredibly rich and music filled city.\

I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica.  I started playing the piano at the age of 7 with encouragement from my parents.  When I was 17 years old, I found my brother-in-law’s bass guitar and by the next morning I had taught myself the bass lines to a few songs. My passion for the bass guitar and for music in general grew from there.

When I started College, I became serious about my music career. I studied visual arts, Jazz theory and the bass guitar at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica.  During my studies my main influences were the various bands I performed in; the Javier Latin Jazz Band, the Jill Gibson Trio and the Kathy Brown Band, which allowed me to tour all around Jamaica.

During my final year of college, I started my own band called Airplai®. For the next four years my sole focus was on Airplai® Band, which was my first independent endeavor. I was then approached by GeeJam Studios to audition for their band, the Jolly Boys.  This was not a simple task as I needed to learn to play the banjo.  I arrived early for the audition and in three hours I taught myself how to play the banjo with the help of Mr. Google. For the next year I toured with the Jolly Boys around Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East. During my time with the Jolly Boys, I collaborated on an album project called Quantum Reggae with song writer, Jim Belleau, and musician/singer/song writer, Maroghini.

I am also the owner and founder of Airplai® Productions, where we do album production, song writing, composing/arranging, video editing, film scoring, and jingles. Also, over a decade ago, I created the Perfect10course, which continues to offer online music lessons for bass guitar, guitar, drums, and piano. In 2013, I was discovered online by an agent, which led me to my current venture as a Solo Bassist/Guitarist onboard cruise ships.

In 2014, I released my first solo album, Just Passing Through, under the label Airplai®️ Productions. This project was ten years in the making. My second album, Feel Brand New, was released at the end of 2016. My most recent album, Early Days, was released in the summer of 2018. I’m very excited to announce that my fourth album is currently in the works and will be out very soon! All my albums are available on iTunes, GooglePlay and Amazon right now to download.

Hi everyone, my name is Hirad T and I am from London Ontario. Music is something that has stayed with me for almost my entire life. First, I started learning the piano when I was 4 and later learned other musical instruments such as: Clarinet, Alto sax, guitar, and now drums. I look at music as a gift that allows one to not only share their point of view but also express how they feel towards certain topics. I would say my two most influential artists are Elton John and David Bowie. Finally, as a 19 year old, my one goal in life is to be able to share my music with the entire world and win a Grammy!!!

Lesley Andrew has made soloist appearances with many of Canada’s finest orchestras and choirs, including the Vancouver, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Kingston, Hamilton, Guelph symphony orchestras, Weston Silver Band, Toronto Concert Band, Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, Brott Summer Music Festival, Stratford Summer Music, and the Shenandoah Bach Festival (VA, USA).  Ms. Andrew’s recordings have often been heard on CBC Radio.  Known for her extraordinary vocal range and versatility in many genres of music, Ms. Andrew often “switches hats,” performing as the soprano soloist for one engagement and as the alto soloist for the next – from opera to show tunes, oratorio to jazz.

Immediately following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Andrew began an extended tenure with the Stratford Festival, performing in productions including The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Twelfth Night, Cyrano De Bergerac, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Music Man and Patience.  Other theatrical performances include Menotti’s The Telephone and Hopkin’s Three’s Company at the Guelph Spring Festival (featuring and directed by Ms. Andrew). Most recently, Ms. Andrew directed La Boheme (Southern Ontario Lyric Opera), receiving rave reviews as “SOLO’s best production yet!” for her creative direction and use of space.

Ms. Andrew has completed a number of major concert and recital tours, including Argentina (2005), England/Austria/Germany (1989/1990 – Canadian Concert & Jazz Band), the 1999 World Tour aboard the QE II, two USA tours (2002/2003-California/Arizona/Florida/Texas) and a Canadian tour with The Lesley Andrew Trio (2004-Vancouver/Manitoba/Ontario).

A recipient of many awards, including a Canadian Opera Company Scholarship, and the Maureen Forrester Guthrie Award (The Stratford Festival), Ms. Andrew now adjudicates and conducts masterclasses at festivals, universities and schools of music and drama around the world (voice – classical, Broadway and pop, choral music and speech arts classes.)  While living in Stratford, Ms. Andrew was twice nominated as Stratford’s  “Citizen of the Year.”  Ms. Andrew now runs her thriving voice and drama studios – Dream in Progress Productions – in both London, Ontario and Windsor, Ontario.   As a director, Ms. Andrew is much in demand in the genres of musical theatre and opera.  Ms. Andrew’s intensive theatre and music program for youth, Summer Glee, is now in it’s twenty-fifth year. More programs are now being offered each summer in communities across Ontario in order to accommodate growing enrollment.  Ms. Andrew is thrilled to be the Head of Vocal Music for George Brown College, School for Media & Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario.

Ms. Andrew has made special guest television appearances on The Tonight Show, Oprah Winfrey, To Tell the Truth, Donny & Marie, The Comedy Network, YTV, Regis & Kathy Lee and many more.  A popular motivational speaker, Ms. Andrew is engaged across Canada by Educators, Universities, Corporations, Service Clubs and Student Organizations.

Ms. Andrew’s professional activities have included teaching and stage directing appointments at Wilfrid Laurier University (Opera), as well as the Universities of Windsor (Vocal Pedagogy, Studio Voice; Faculty of Music, and The Creative Process; School of Dramatic Arts) and Western Ontario (Studio Voice, Opera – director, Shakespearean drama).  As a pedagogue, Ms. Andrew is very involved with the W Ross Macdonald School for the Visually Impaired in Brantford, Ontario, where she helps create and run arts programs for exceptional children.  While maintaining a full teaching schedule in her private studios (London and Windsor) Ms. Andrew continues to work as a soloist, collaborative recital artist, stage director, adjudicator, and motivational speaker.  Most recently (2018), Ms Andrew performed the role of “Marcellina” in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, “Alice” in A … My Name Is Alice, the mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors (Abridged Opera) and Mrs. McLean in Floyd’s Susannah (Pek Productions).

British Columbian Bass-Baritone Chad Louwerse made his European debut as Bernadino in Berlioz’ Benvenuto Cellini with l’Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, France. In Canada he has been engaged by Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton Opera, and l’Opéra de Montréal, among others. An active oratorio singer and recitalist, Mr. Louwerse’s concert repertoire includes the Bach Mass in B-minor, the Brahms and Mozart Requiems and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. He is a winner of both the CBC Westcoast Performance Pacific Spotlight competition and the Début competition and has given recitals broadcast on CBC Radio Two. He teaches voice at Western University and now resides in London, Ontario.

British Columbian pianist, Melanie Cancade, is currently one of Southwestern Ontario's most sought after collaborative pianists, appearing in concert extensively throughout the region with both aspiring and established singers. Since 2010, she has been coaching vocalists at Western University in London, Ontario, as well as maintaining a busy performing schedule. Most recently, she has appeared with London Symphonia and The London Music Machine. Prior to her time in London, however, Melanie’s experiences and education comes from across Canada and Europe.

After completing her Bachelor’s of Music at the University of Victoria, Melanie received her Master’s in Piano Accompaniment from McGill University under the guidance of Michael McMahon. While in Montreal, she worked as a vocal accompanist at McGill and musical director at Player’s Theatre, performed with Liederw lfe Opera Collective, and participated in other community-based musical productions.

Beyond Montreal, she has been invited to further her studies at programs such as the Music Academy of the West, The Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, Vancouver International Song Institute, and the Franz Schubert Institut in Austria. Playing to Canadian, American, Italian, and Austrian audiences with features on CBC Radio and Bravo Television, Melanie has also performed locally with Pacific Opera Victoria’s touring productions of “La Cenerentola” and “Carmen”, as well as acting as rehearsal pianist for their Young Artist Program. Other performance credits include Mozart's “Don Giovanni”, Berlioz’s “Orph e et Eurydice”, Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years”, Andrew Lloyd Webber's “Song and Dance”, and Vaughn Williams’ “Riders to the Sea”.

Denise has performed with many great artists including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, Gospel/Blues legend Jackie Richardson and Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook.  She has opened for Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Denise has performed with symphony orchestras and festivals which have included the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival (Toronto), Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Canadian Big Band Festival (London), Bluesfest (London), Waterloo Jazz Festival and Sunfest (London), among others.

Denise also enjoys acting and has been part of The Grand Theatre (London) seasons performing in the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson and A Streetcar Named Desire.  Denise’s one-woman show, Jazzabel premiered in September 2004 at the McManus Theatre (Grand Theatre), London, Ontario to sold out audiences!  In October 2005 Jazzabel was performed in Washington, DC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and in February 2006 to audiences in New York City at Urban Stages Theatre.  As well, she was premiered in the February 2006 issue of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine.  Denise’s recording credits include seven CD’s.

She is honoured with being the recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals.  In 2003 she was named a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts and Heritage category.  Denise won best jazz artist in London, Ontario’s Music Awards in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008, 2009, and 2012.  In April 2006 the Hyde Park Rotary presented her with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary’s highest honour.   In 2008 and 2014 she won Jazz Artist of the Year at the Jack Richardson awards.  In February 2009 the London Black History Committee honoured Denise with the Black Community Achievement Award in recognition of her accomplishments, contributions and support to her community.  In April 2015 she was inducted into the London Music Hall of Fame.  In November 2015 Denise received a honourary licentiate diploma from Conservatory Canada.

Denise is a volunteer with Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan traveling annually since 2007 where she helps to deliver a music and art camp for the children.  She is also a board member with Educate the Children helping to raise funds for a school in Nigeria.

Laurraine Sigouin has appeared as a singer at Maggie’s, Aeolian Hall, Restaurant Ninety-One, London Music Club, Jazz by the Bog, London Jazz Society, and at the long-standing “Jazz for the People” concert series. She is a proud member of the wonderful vocal ensemble Mosaic, which has performed at the Home County Folk Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. She also performs with LP Soul, a collective of soul-loving musicians who are passionate about creating a musical experience that moves and grooves. Along with Jake Levesque, she founded Enchanté which has been serving up a bilingual mix of jazz and other styles of music to London area audiences since 2004. Their motto is “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”, which is French for “Let the good times roll!”.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Kathleen began her harp studies with Nora Bumanis, and completed her Bachelor of Music at McGill University studying under Jennifer Swartz. She has had the pleasure of playing with the London Community Orchestra since 2008, and has also performed with professional orchestras in Edmonton, Stratford, London, and Kitchener, as well as musical theater productions throughout southwestern Ontario. She performs frequently as a chamber musician, choral and vocal accompanist, and in church music settings. She also enjoys educating the public about the harp, and coaching composers with an interest in writing for the instrument. Kathleen is an enthusiastic teacher to her studio of harp students, who have ranged in age from 5 to 60. She also founded and continues to lead the harp ensemble program offered through Forest City String School since 2010.

Kathleen also works as an occupational therapist, working with individuals who have experienced health concerns that affect their ability to participate in daily activities. At times, this work offers her the opportunity to support the musical community: she offers injury prevention and management workshops to musicians of all levels, and she has been a clinician since 2016 with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, assisting students and staff who are struggling with physical or mental health challenges that affect their ability to practice and perform.

AARON ALLEN

AIMEE ALLEN

Tara Dunphy

Tara Dunphy is an award winning singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist from London, Ontario, Canada.

For over 20 years Tara has been a professional musician, touring and performing across Canada and the United States.

Tara is a 6 time recipient of the Forest City London Mu

sic Award, was named to the Forest City London Music Awards "Fantasy Band" as favourite string musician.  She is also a 3 time Ameripolitan Award nominee, 2 time Academy of Western Artist Award nominee and winner of multiple national championships for traditional Irish music.

Since founding in 2003 the acclaimed classic country band The Rizdales with her husband, Tom, Tara has gone on to release 7 albums with the group while continuing to be a sought after session musician.  She has proudly performed alongside many artists, most notably Wanda Jackson, Dale Watson, Johnny Bush, Sylvia Tyson and Luther Wright and the Wrongs.

Larry Smith

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Larry Smith has over 45 years experience as a professional musician. From his early years in the Toronto Roots scene, Larry knew that his life would always head in a musical direction and eventually that road led him to London, Ontario.

Many years were spent touring North America as a sideman, performing alongside and sharing the bill with such names as The Smothers Brothers, Waylon Jennings and Eric Nagler.  After many years on the road with children's performer Glenn Bennett, Larry chose to start his own group and formed the acclaimed Canadian swing supergroup, The Jitterbugs.  Larry has cemented his role as one of Southwestern Ontario's most sought after bandleaders and guitarists while also serving as a composer and arranger for Symphony Orchestras including Orchestra London, the Thunder Bay Symphony and the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra.  In addition to performing, Larry also teaches guitar, bass and computer based recording.

Connor Morand is an award-winning musician from Canada.

In many ways, Connor Morand is always attempting to break down his own musical barriers. The London, Ontario native, who most recently was crowned Best Pop Artist at the 2020 Forest City London Music Awards, knows that he is forever a student of the craft, no matter the number of accolades.

Beginning with “Everything Is Gold / Believe”, a double-single project released in 2017, Morand proved early on that uniqueness and creativity is king among all. The release was promoted with a stunning around-the-world music video for the lead single, “Everything Is Gold”, spanning 60 locations and four continents over six months of filming. This caught the attention of multiple TV and radio networks across Canada, including MuchMusic, CBC, CTV and Global News.

While many suggest that Morand continue to ride on that release’s success, the drive to push creative boundaries was a greater opportunity. Enter his most recent single “94 Corolla”, a hip-hop infused pop track that is just as intricate in both its composition and lyricism. The song explores the idea of life’s biggest moments happening in familiar, average spaces; specifically, two lovers entrenched in a moment of potential heartbreak in a 1994 Toyota Corolla, over “anthemic modern production” (Live in Limbo).

The song was co-written and co-produced with fellow Canadian artist UNBLOOM, whom Morand has also worked with to co-write and perform as guest vocalist on UNBLOOM’s 2019 release “Best Believe”, a hook-driven electro-pop banger that has been described as “impressive (Atwood), “outstanding” (LeFutureWave), and “thoughtfully crafted” (The Music Mermaid).

Morand has a lot to be thankful for, and continues to create thought-provoking, powerful records that are a breath of fresh air in the vast musical landscape.

Iain Wilson is a Glasgow-based singer songwriter, infusing current pop styles with 80s synth. Iain’s musical style draws inspiration from bands such as CHVRCHES and artists like Charli XCX, with his music branching further into a genre that has both unique qualities and yet is familiar to the listener.

Signed under Wee Studio records, based in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Iain has recently released his 9-track debut album “Holding On ‘Til Sunrise”.

The album’s title comes from a lyric taken from the last track of the album “Sunrise”, which works to encapsulate the overall objective of the full body of work – the opportunity to tell the story about the continuous struggles that mental health issues bring. With this final track, there is the hope and light that comes with the sunrise, the dawning of a new day and new promise. The album builds to this moment, with tracks “Faking Smiles” and “Another Mind at War” laying bare the tougher, darker times that mental health can present. Iain wanted to ensure that the album ultimately offered promise and hope, the tracks build through the turmoil and the darkness and move towards a more positive and brighter outcome with “Sunrise”.

The first two singles from this album have catchy pop melodies, whilst the addition of synth provides a distinct edge to the album. His first single release “Reasons Why” featured through BBC Music Introducing early this year and progressed to him recording a live session for BBC nan Gàidheal in April 2020. The follow up to this single, “I Want to Run”, was released on the 15th of May 2020. Both tracks are accompanied by music videos featuring Iain that can be viewed here or on youtube .