Academy's Teachers

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Michelle Heisler
(YAYA)

A graduate of McGill University and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, Michelle has worked on the stage and on the big and small screens. In 2009, Michelle expanded her career into the realm of directing at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts Academy, where she worked alongside former artistic director, Bryna Wasserman. She continues her work at the Segal Centre today as a teacher and director for the YAYA program and also at The Montreal Children’s Theatre. In 2014/2015 she developed, taught and directed youth theatre program for five Montreal elementary and high schools. Michelle has currently returned to McGill to pursue a Master’s degree in education.

 

David Terriault
(Broadway Stars)

David Terriault currently holds a Bachelor in classical piano from McGill University and has been teaching at the Segal Academy since 2013. META award nominee, he is also very prominent in the theatre community working as a musical director. Recent credits include: You Are Here: A New Musical (Acting Up Stage), Fancy Nancy, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Forever Plaid (Assoc. M.D.), On Second Avenue (Assoc. M.D.) (Segal Centre), Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, Fiddler on the Roof, (Cote Saint Luc Dramatic Society). David is really looking forward to come back for his fourth season at the Segal Academy.

 

Jonathan Patterson
(Broadway Stars, Broadway and Beyond)

Jonathan is a versatile performer, director and choreographer. As a performing-arts educator, Jonathan has been on the staff of Opera McGill at the Schulich School of Music since 2010, serving as Acting Director of Opera Studies during the 2014-15 season. He also teaches musical theatre classes at St. George’s High School, Royal West Academy, and this will be his sixth year teaching for the Segal Centre Academy.

 

Naomi Krajden
(Broadway Stars)

Naomi Krajden is an accomplished actor, dancer and singer. Recent performance credits include Rebecca in It Shoulda Been You (DWYT and Segal Centre), the title role in Fancy Nancy The Musical (Côte St-Luc Dramatic Society and Segal), The Producers (DWYT and Segal) and multiple 2015 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominated, Elly’s Emotions (Fringe, Theatre Collingwood, Solar Stage). Naomi is an instructor with Montreal Children’s Theatre and the Segal Centre Academy. Previously, she was on faculty at Toronto’s Randolph Academy and at Vaughan's City Playhouse Academy in their young artist programs. Naomi earned a B.A. Honours in Theatre Studies at York University, specializing in theatre creation.

 

Chris Barillaro
(Broadway and Beyond)

Chris Barillaro is a musical director, pianist, actor, singer, and proud graduate of Dawson College’s Professional Theatre Program and of McGill University (B.A. in music and theatre). Chris has acted, music directed, and played piano for Segal Centre Productions over the past few seasons and is a regular pianist for the Segal’s Broadway Café. He has also worked at the Centaur Theatre, the National Arts Centre, and at the Charlottetown Festival. Chris has spent thirteen years music directing Royal West Academy’s musical and has also worked with the high school students at St. George’s. Furthermore, he is an acting and singing instructor at Dance 123 and a music theory instructor at the LaSalle Music Academy. This will be his first year teaching in the Academy and we are thrilled and honoured to have him!

 

Kris Epps
(YAYA)

Kris Epps earned a B.A in piano performance at McGill University with the late Dorothy Morton. A busy collaborative pianist, Kris has performed widely across Canada with artists in all genres, including Broadway’s Julia Murney. He was the director/conductor of musical theatre studies at the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre for ten years, working on productions such as Rent, Sweeney Todd and Jesus Christ Superstar. Kris studies choral conducting with Iwan Edwards, and is the founding artistic director of Cantiamo Choral Ensemble, one of Montreal’s most exciting new adult choirs. He also maintains a private piano studio in the city where he teaches students of all ages. This is Kris’ first year at the Academy.

 

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