LOU BURGESS — Vocal & Music Dept.
Originally from Bristol England, Ms. Burgess is a sought after voice teacher, specializing in Musical Theatre Performance. Lou teaches at George Brown and Sheridan Colleges in the Performance Departments, and has a busy private studio in Toronto. More recently, Lou has been delighted to teach in Monterrey Mexico, and Mexico City, with the acclaimed performance company DuboForce.
Lou graduated with honors from the Sheridan College Music Theatre Program winning the Rosemary Burns award and continues to study acting, singing and voice extensively in Toronto and NYC. A few of her favorite roles as a singer/dancer/actor, include Woman 1 in Closer Than Ever, The Soprano in Side by Side by Sondheim, Lily in The Secret Garden, Sally in Me and My Girl, Jenny in Company, Ado Annie in Oklahoma! Rita in Educating Rita, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Eva in Evita (in concert) Julie in Carousel, Isabelle in The Divine Heretic, Grandma in Giant, and Chloe in the long running Toronto production of Vinnie’s Cabaret, A Night at the Speak Easy, to name a few.
She was critically acclaimed for her lead role in the Bravo short film In Her Mother’s Eyes which went on to win the Sir Tim Rice Award at the Sarasota Film Festival, and sang the title role in Joan for the Disney Live – New Work’s project in New York.
In the recording studio as a voice actor she has worked in: the animation industry, voice demos and back up singing has spanned over fifteen years. Her work has included commercials, show tunes, new compositions and most notably the re-occurring role of Aunt Chloe in Nelvana’s animated series Ned’s Newt.
Directing and musically directing throughout Southern Ontario she has worked for five years as the Associate Artistic Director and Musical Director of the Cullen Garden’s Theatre and Co-founded/Musically Directed the Burn’s Wharf Theatre on Manitoulin Island.
Lou also teaches and musically directs for the Toronto Youth Music Theatre Company. Productions include Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie , Once Upon a Mattress and Seussical. In November 2009, Lou had the honor of Musically directing the Toronto Ensemble for A Night with Jason Robert Brown at the Glenn Gould Studio.
Lou is also a busy adjudicator for the National Music Festivals in the Musical Theatre Performance and Pop Music Categories.
This past year Lou was given the distinction of being recognized and awarded as one of George Brown College’s Top 20 Faculty Members for 2007 and 2008, making a significant contribution to excellence in teaching and learning.
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