Alicia Barban is a theatre artist, Toronto Beacher and Blue Jays fan, originally from Ottawa. As the daughter of ex-diplomats, Alicia has lived, worked, and travelled all around the world and proudly holds a Masters of Arts from the acclaimed Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since returning to Canada, Alicia has been passionate about collaborative artistic practice and has devoted much of her career to new Canadian theatre.

In 2020, she was the Apprentice Producer with The Musical Stage Company, learning about musical theatre development from all angles. Since then, she has collaborated as a performer on many new Canadian pieces, including the premiere production of Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman & Hawksley Workman’s Almost a Full Moon at The Citadel Theatre, a film adaptation of Dead Reckoning by Lezlie Wade & Scott Christian, and recently, Beeautiful by Brett Dahl & Quasim Khan with Bad Hats Theatre. She most recently completed a six-month creative development program with Soulpepper Theatre, culminating in a collaborative musical adaption of Dennis Lee’s Alligator Pie. She can’t wait to return to Soulpepper as one of the featured performers in Ladies of the Canyon in the spring of 2025.

Alicia is also a proud arts educator and has been teaching singing, creative development, music, and theatre for over a decade, to students of all ages. She loves imparting her passion for expression, musicality, and performance with her students and has learnt so much from them in turn. 

Other credits include Bessie in The Drowning Girls (Guild Festival Theatre), Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet (Mayfield Theatre); Rizzo in Grease (WinterGarden Theatre); A Gentleman’s Guide (Stage West Calgary); The NewsRevue Sketch Show (London, UK); Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Sentosa Theatre, Singapore); Hope in Urinetown (Assembly Theatre, Edinburgh).

Hi! My name is Emilia and I would best describe myself as an artist. I am an actor, singer, songwriter, and dancer trying to find my little corner in this fast-paced and ever-changing industry.

I was born and raised in Montreal, where my love for the performing arts first began. Things like school plays, dance competitions, and singing lessons were the first seedlings of what I knew I wanted to pursue in my life; musical theatre! So it began. I went to Marianopolis College where I got my double diploma: one in Music (classical voice) and the other in Arts, Literature & Communications (various arts like theatre, visual arts, film, etc.).

With these newfound skills in my arsenal, I decided to move to Toronto to really master the art of being a triple threat. I graduated from Randolph College for the Performing Arts in August of 2022, and—with my horizons broader than ever before—I felt ready for whatever the industry had in store for me. My education and experience have made me realize that there are so many more opportunities available to me than I ever initially thought possible.

Having experience teaching and tutoring music, acting, and dance really made it clear to me how much I love teaching and inspiring the next generation! This brings me to here and now. I am exploring what it’s like on stage, off stage (directing and musical directing), creating my own works, and so much more, which is why I’m so eager to work together so I can bestow all my knowledge and expertise to you. I look forward to working with you!

Hello! My name is Spencer and I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Leslieville School of Dance & Music team!

I’ve been passionate about music my whole life, playing piano, guitar, violin, and trumpet throughout my childhood. I started piano lessons at age eight and began seriously focusing on the instrument in high school, where I put myself through a diverse musical curriculum that included jazz improvisation and RCM classical studies, while also playing in rock, R&B, and jazz bands.

I’m now entering my fourth year of music studies at York University, where I received the Oscar Peterson scholarship for jazz performance. While at York, I’ve honed my musical voice while studying under leading jazz pianists such as Robi Botos and Noam Lemish.

In addition to my studies, I gig regularly as a keyboardist around Toronto and the GTA both in jazz ensembles and as a member of the indie-pop band Meteor Heist, playing at venues including Lee’s Palace and the Horseshoe Tavern. Meteor Heist went on our first tour this summer, covering much of Ontario and Quebec, and we have also self-recorded, produced, and released two singles and an EP.

My goal as a teacher is to nurture a love of music in my students. Each student is an individual, and I aim to meet them where they are and help guide them through their journey of musical discovery. Throughout my own musical journey, I’ve been blessed with many inspirational teachers, without whom I would not be the musician or the person I am today. My goal is to pass that inspiration down to the next generation. I look forward to meeting you!

I’m so delighted to have joined the Leslieville School of Dance and Music Community. Having worked as an educator, musician, and actor for over three decades in the UK and Europe, my role as parent to a young adult with special educational needs (SEN) motivated me to return home to this neighbourhood.

I have performed in London’s West End in numerous musicals including 5 years in Les Misérables and have recorded over 100 songs as soloist for the BBC. I’ve worked as Composer in Residence and as Senior Arts Advisor to over 200 schools in West London, UK. I was also commissioned to compose theme songs for the London Olympics and for the UK Holocaust Memorial Day Royal events.

I have recently attained a Master of Education degree, have worked as Professor of Voice at Sheridan College, and I facilitate performance-based workshops for children, youth, and caregivers at CAMH.
My life experience with my son has led me in the direction of 2-decades of expressive arts facilitation with children and with students with SEN.

I love music-making and nurturing a love of music in others. As an educator, my work is strengths-based and process-based. I appreciate each student’s individual personality and learning style, and I apply these to my teaching and learning environment. My lessons are instructive, but, above all, they are lots of fun, nurturing, and always respectful of the students.

It’s great to be back home and to share a lifelong love of voice and music-making with the students at the Leslieville School of Dance and Music!

Hello, I’m Claire! I’m a music teacher with a plethora of experience and a passion for fostering joy in learning. Hailing from Winnipeg, I was bit by the music bug as a child, and since then I’ve performed many times in different musical theatre productions, choirs, and bands.

I graduated as valedictorian of Randolph College for the Performing Arts in Toronto in 2021, and since then I’ve spent time performing, teaching, and music directing around the city. I also sing, play piano and guitar, and write original songs for my band Rookie.

I am capable of teaching a variety of vocal styles, including musical theatre, pop/rock, classical, jazz, blues, gospel, and opera. 

My focus as a teacher is on curiosity and cultivating confidence. My approach is all about meeting each student where they are at, and I’m not afraid to get a little silly along the way. I’m so excited to join the excellent team of teachers at Leslieville School of Dance & Music!

Hello! My name is Deanna and I’m thrilled to be teaching another year at Leslieville School of Dance & Music!
I grew up in Nova Scotia where I studied dance, music, and theatre from a young age. I began with piano, and continued to pick up ukulele, guitar, bass, drums and percussion, saxophone, and flute – any instrument I could get my hands on!

My love of music led me to study vocal jazz at St Francis Xavier University, followed by graduating from Randolph College for the Performing Arts in 2021. I’ve been happily teaching music for the past 5 years, and I’m so excited to continue doing this at LSDM!

I like to approach my lessons with a focus on joy, curiosity, and fun. My favourite part about teaching is discovering with my students what makes them excited to make music, and nurturing that excitement as we continue to learn more about it.

I can’t wait to meet you and begin our musical journey together!

Hi! My name is Drew and I’m happy to be returning to teach another year at Leslieville School of Dance & Music!

I grew up in Toronto where my life in music began as a trumpet player in middle school playing in concert and jazz bands. By the age of 13, I started learning guitar and I never looked back. I played in bands throughout high school and university all the way through to music college. 

My love of music and performing led me to study music at Metalworks Institute in their performance and technology program. It was there that I further advanced my guitar playing while also learning drums, bass, piano, and vocal.  I graduated in 2016 and have been playing and performing ever since! 

I like to approach my lessons from a place of curiosity and exploration. I focus on what intrigues/inspires my students about their instruments with individualized exercises and most importantly an emphasis on enjoying the process. My favourite part about teaching is the small moments of discovery I get to share with my students each lesson. My main goal is to help nurture what makes my students excited to make music and give them the tools and techniques to hone their skills.

I can’t wait to meet you and begin our musical journey together! Rock on!