instructors Pg. 2

Samantha Haines — Ballet

Samantha trained as a classical dancer both here in Vancouver and in Alberta. After dancing with the Goh Ballet Company for a few years, she turned her attention to choreography and teaching. Many of the students she has coached have gone on to receive awards at provincial and international competitions and now dance with prestigious ballet companies like San Francisco Ballet, Miami Ballet, and Houston Ballet. Teaching has always been a passion, and Samantha has taught dance to students of all ages and levels. She now holds a Master's Degree in Education and works as an elementary school educator for the Vancouver School Board. A mother of three, she still tries to make time in her very busy schedule to teach dance.

Tracy Neff — Musical Theatre

Tracy is delighted to be working with A Star studio in this fabulous final production. She is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre. Tracy is a performer in her own right, performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra, numerous musicals in Vancouver, Maine and Boston and can be seen this summer as Sandy in TUTS' production of "Grease," and in the fall at the Arts Club's season opener, "Company". Tracy has experienced teaching in many different capacities through the Arts Umbrella, Gateway Theatre, Delta Academy, Richmond Academy and teaches private Voice and Acting out of her studio in Delta. Now let this wonderous show transport you into a world of colour and 'pure imagination'!

Seoyoung Song — Ballet

Seoyoung is a former member of the Seoul Ballet Company in Korea. She spent many years training and dancing with prestigious companies including the Hamburg Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Rambert Schools of Dance. We are very fortunate to have her share her excellent training, her passion for dance, and her beautiful choreography with us at A Star Studio

Evelyn Thatcher — Voice

Born in Venezuela and raised in New York, Evelyn Thatcher received her Bachelors Degree of Music in Opera as a Scholarship Award recipient from The Manhattan School of Music. She began her Masters Degree in Opera at UBC in 2001 as voice student of Nancy Hermiston. Roles Evelyn has sung include; Adele (Die Fledermaus), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Giulietta (I Capuleti e I Montecchi), Gilda (Rigoletto), Miss Sweetsong (The Impresario), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), the roles of Olympia and Antonia (Les Contes d’Hoffman), most recently Vanlencienne (The Merry Widow), and Snake Head (New York premiere, Land of Dreams, at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall).

Recording credits include solos on the sound track to the Aix-en-films’, Dryads. She has appeared as a soloist with the VSO, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Danbury Symphony Orchestra, New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, Sam Houston State University Orchestra, Kosice Opera Orchestra and Opava Opera Orchestra. Evelyn has performed with Opera Breve (Vancouver), Danbury Opera (Connecticut), Dell’ Arte Opera Ensemble and Teatreo Coreleone (New York) and has been a soloist in Recitals and Opera Galas in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Minnesota, Texas, North Carolina, Vancouver, Italy, and the Slovak and Czech Republics.

Brenna MacLaud — Ballet

Brenna grew up in NY where she trained in all forms of dance since she was a young child. She studied at The New York Institute of Dance and Education under the direction and support of Sean McLeod. Pursuing her training she received a full scholarship with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and attended the Ailey School, as well as Lou Conte Dance. After performing through out the United States, Caribbean and Europe, Brenna decided to make Vancouver her home. She completed her degree at Simon Fraser University in Dance and now is thrilled to be sharing her love of dance with her wonderful students at A Star Studio.

David Vertesi — Guitar

David Vertesi has over 11 years expereince playing guitar and bass and has been writing and playing in a mulititude of genres since the age of 14. He has been teaching guitar for over 6 years and is currently writing/touring nationally as part of the band Hey Ocean! Sharing the stage with internationa recording artist sucha as Xavier Rudd, Sarah Harmer, Bedouin Soundclash, Buck 65, Do Make Say Think, Wintersleep and many more. David will teach his student the tools they need to explore the instrument, topics include chords, strumming, reading tabs, basic music theory, writing songs and much more!