Karyn Way
1. What are you reading?
I enjoy the NATS publications and find them a really good resource. These days I am reading a lot of children’s books to my daughter, and we are quite fond of ‘Pete the Cat’.
2. What are you listening to these days?
I have been looking for new solos to sing at my church job. I enjoy Sandi Patti songs and the congregation seems to enjoy them too. I am also looking at some Hillsong and Laura Story pieces, as well as some Purcell and Pergolesi duets with our soprano. I also try to keep up on the new musicals and pop songs to stay in touch with my students. And of course, my daughter has taught me all of the songs from “Frozen”!
3. Where and what do you teach?
I teach at my home studio, Vocalis Music. I teach voice, piano, and music theory. I also do a fair bit of monologue coaching. I earned my M.MUS in Opera and my B.MUS in Voice from the University of British Columbia, as well as diplomas in Musical Theatre from the Banff Centre and Grant MacEwan College.
4. What are your favourite websites, mobile tools, favourite singers?
I use YouTube a lot. On-Line, Music Teacher’s Helper, Music Notes, and Karaoke Version are good tools. It’s also great to be able to google almost anything now, from translations to IPA of songs and everything in between! One of my favourite singers at the moment is Philippe Jaroussky. He is a wonderful
French countertenor and I love Baroque music. And Barbra Streisand is still a big favourite.
5. Do you have a particular repertoire expertise, and suggestions for members to explore?
My first love is musical theatre! Before going to university, I did diplomas in musical theatre at Grant MacEwan College and the Banff School of Fine Arts. I have performed many roles including Madame Giry from “Phantom of the Opera”, Eva Peron from “Evita”, the Old Lady from “Candide”, Mrs. Pye from “Anne of Green Gables”, the Second Lady from “The Magic Flute’, and Hansel from “Hansel and Gretel”.
I have directed opera scenes at the Vancouver Academy of Music, and I have been invited to do Master Classes on musical theatre performance and audition workshops. I do a lot of adjudicating at festivals in classical voice, musical theatre, and choir.
I also use the Royal Conservatory method in both voice and piano, and prepare my students for exams, festivals, and performances. I am delighted to mention that one of my students has just been accepted into the Musical Theatre program at Capilano University.
6. What are your recent and upcoming performances?
Last summer, I did two cabaret-type concerts and hope to put another together for this summer. I have a few upcoming gigs with the Forward Motion Jazz Orchestra. My husband, Daniel Séguin, plays saxophone and is the Orchestra’s leader. He is also an award-winning composer for film and television. We have a very musical home! I also solo regularly at West Vancouver Presbyterian Church.
7. What is your experience with NATS (volunteering, conferences, competitions, judging, etc.)
I am a fairly new NATS member even though I have been teaching for over 25 years! I really enjoyed the conference last July in Spokane. I was particularly interested in Barbara Arboleda’s sessions about the belt technique for singers including younger voices. Patrick Freer also presented some very interesting material about the changing voice in young boys and girls. It was also really great to meet so many other teachers.
As well, my students sang in the NATS Vancouver Chapter fall recital. I am really looking forward to the Tracy Dahl Master Class!
8. What are your professional affiliations?
I run my own vocal studio, Vocalis Music (www.vocalismusic.com) and I am a soloist and section leader at West Vancouver Presbyterian Church. I am also a soloist with the Forward Motion Jazz Orchestra and a proud member of NATS.