MARCH 19TH
About Our Artists
Our Talented Artists
William Lamoureux
William Lamoureux, from Gatineau, Québec, is a violin force to be reckoned with. At the young age of 19, he already has extensive stage experience with some 400 performances to his credit. Whether he's playing in a classical orchestra, in a rock or a country band, in a world music or jazz ensemble, William stands out for his remarkable stage presence, his charisma, his excellent technique on the violin. “On stage, William leaves no one indifferent. He's incredible, handling the bow as well as he directs the band." (Marie-Ève Lambert, La Presse, Québec).
William is involved in a number of high profile projects including the Playground Project (www.playgroundproject.ca) a one-man-band act where he interprets well-known pop tunes arranged live on stage with vocals, violin, percussion and effects pedals. He is the founder of the exciting Québec rock group Billy Love Band (www.billyloveband.com). He’s a member of the R&B/Soul/Latin band 7Sould (www.7sould.com), and the world music quartet So Long Seven (www.solongseven.com) who just released their 1st record, topping the World Music charts in Toronto.
William studied classical violin for ten years at the Québec Music Conservatory under Christian Vachon and Alexandre Da Costa, before entering Humber College where he perfected his approach to many styles of popular music under Drew Jurecka (violin), Alastair Kay & Pat LaBarbara (improvisation) and Denzal Sinclaire (voice). He has opened for or shared the stage with artists such as Roch Voisine, Karim Ouellet, Damien Robitaille, Loco Locas, les Colocs, The New York Voices, The New Cities, and Larry Goldings, among others. As a violinist, William is in high demand as a studio musician, as a sideman and as a performer in numerous private events. He is also a singer, guitarist and keyboardist. He has extensive studio experience having led or participated in the production of many albums.
Website: www.williamlamoureux.com
Devin Sarges
Devin Sarges, 21, is a Spoken Word Artist and Media Production Major in the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University. Born in Etobicoke, Ontario, Devin spent most of his early life playing hockey and baseball. At 15 his father and mentor passed away after a long battle with cancer, a year later at 16, Devin suffered a knee injury ending his baseball career and his aspirations of playing NCAA baseball in the US. Fuelling his passion for sports, RTA was the perfect place to channel his creative energy and pursue a career in broadcasting, which he still may do. However, here is where he fell in love with writing, screenwriting became his passion and his new goal is to write TV Drama in Los Angeles. Poetry itself was just another way to tell stories, and blending his broadcast and production knowledge with his writing skill, learned from years and years of listening and studying Hip-hop lyricists from Nas to Shad, allowed Devin to become the poet, or more-so, storyteller, that he is today.
Emily Poirier
Emily Poirier is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Toronto, ON. A graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Emily joined Corpus Dance Projects in 2009, and over the past 7 years has had the opportunity to tour throughout North America, Europe and Asia in a number of the company’s works. Poirier has choreographed for Scarborough Musical Theatre, Toronto Youth Theatre, and is a regular guest teacher in her hometown of London, ON. A lifelong student, with the belief that dance is both inherent and necessary, Emily began her journey to become a Dance/Movement Therapist in 2014. Last year, an internship at Centennial Infant and Child Centre allowed for the development of a dance program for children with special needs. Beginning this month, Emily will be leading a dance/movement therapy class for stroke survivors at Baycrest's Wagman community centre for seniors. Emily is so honoured to have been asked to be an artist for Project: Brainstorm.
Kennedy Elder
Kennedy started dancing at age 3 at a competitive dance studio in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. When she was 17, she moved to Toronto to continue her dance training at George Brown. Since being in Toronto, Kennedy has been apart of different performances and gigs. She was a part of the world wide video for We Day in 2014 and performed at We Day at the Air Canada Centre later that year. Kennedy also performed at the CLGA gala in 2014. She has performed in shows such as George Brown’s Unleashed and Fresh Blood. Kennedy will be graduating the
Dance Performance Studies program at George Brown this spring and plans to continue pursuing her love of dance.
Macey Culhane
Born and raised in North Bay, Ontario, Macey studied and trained in all dance disciplines since the age of five. In 2013, she moved to Toronto to expand her knowledge of dance. Macey recently graduated with honors from the Performance Dance Studies program at George Brown College under the direction of Derek Sangster. She has also completed Kenny Pearl’s Emerging Artists Intensive working with Gadfly and Ryan Lee as well as ProArte Danza’s Summer Intensive Program. Macey is now a guest teacher and choreographer for the Performers Youth Dance Company at Barbara Treleaven School of Dancing. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion with her students. In 2014, she choreographed the production of Pippin presented by Theatre Outreach Onstage (TOROS). Macey has also had to opportunity to compete internationally with Canada’s National Dance Team where she traveled to Poland to compete in the World Dance Championships. Macey trusts that perseverance, determination and passion for dance are essential to making her dreams as a dancer come true.
Lianne Tammi
Lianne Tammi is a professional dancer who has been involved in the dance industry since the young age of 5. She has trained extensively in many disciples which include, but are not limited to, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Pointe and Musical Theatre. For over 11 years, she competed with her local dance studio regionally, nationally, and internationally, earning many prestigious titles, awards as well as scholarships for her versatility and performance quality. Lianne is currently enrolled in the Performance Dance program at Ryerson University. Upon completion in April 2016, she will receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts. This program has allowed her to work with many wellknown teachers such as Vicki St-Denys, Robert Glumbek, and Nadia Potts.
Lianne has had the opportunity to work in both commercial and contemporary dance. She has most recently performed in Ryerson Dances choreographed by James Kudelka. She has also had the opportunity to take part in many pieces created by her very own colleagues in the Ryerson Theatre School’s Choreographic Works, EnChoreo and New Voices Festival. These shows have also given her the opportunity to showcase her own work. Lianne has performed for Kool and the Gang during the Orange Bowl halftime show and for the David Foster Miracle Gala. She is currently a member of entertainment companies Smash Entertainment and the Diamond Dancers. In the last 8 years, Lianne has also been employed as a teacher and choreographer. To obtain further experience and knowledge of the various aspects of the dance industry, Lianne has become a member of the national Professional Adjudicators Alliance. Hardworking, creative and enthusiastic, she is always striving to learn something new and pass it on to her many students across the province. Her students have been invited to perform at the halftime show for the NBA team, the Toronto Raptors and for the CFL team, the Toronto Argonauts. They also compete all around Canada.
Living in the core of downtown Toronto, Canada’s leading city in the dance industry, has allowed her to stay up to date with the latest trends of both teaching, choreography and performance.
Anthony Moncata
Anthony Moncata is singer-songwriter and High School Music teacher. It was at the age of 12 when Anthony began studying the guitar. Very quickly, he realized his passion for the instrument and music and studied classical guitar at the University of Toronto. Over the years, he has performed in competitions as classical guitarist, solo artist, in bands, and recently as a guitarist for the German pop artist Annett Louisan for the New Years event in Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate. Anthony loves to perform, write, record, and teach music. Anthony is very excited to be a part of Project: Brainstorm and can’t wait to share his music with you!
Varsha George, Srihitha Maryada & Mallika Wadke
Varsha George, Srihitha Maryada and Mallika Wadke are all trained classical dancers with competitive dance experience in bollywood, bhangra, kathak, ghaana and hip-hop dance styles. They were all a part of the University of Toronto South Asian Alliance Dance Team. They now enjoy dancing and performing in their free time.
Linda Luztono
Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Linda Luztono grew up singing English songs before she could speak the language. Her constant singing around the house as a toddler, led her parents to discover her love for music. Adapting the native tongue of her Ukranian mother and Cuban father, Luztoni became fluent in Russian and speaks some Spanish. Now 24, Luztono has many music critics proclaiming her to be the next promising female singer/songwriter to hail from Toronto, Canada. Linda's single, "The One", created by Drake's producer and engineer, Noah '40' Shebib, was released in 2009. It encompasses lyrical melodies and soulful ballads reminiscent of the sounds of Alicia Keys and enticing hooks. Yet, she remains unique and true to her own sound. For all of its powerful and entrancing elements, her voice is soothing and every bit captivating. "The One" sat at #1 on Buffalo's 93.7 WBLK Unsigned Hype Top Ten Countdown for four weeks in a row, earning Luztono a WBLK R&B nomination for 'Female Unsigned Hype R&B Artists of the Year'. The achievement of her first single landed her a spot of BET's #1 rated show 106 and Park. Luztono is the first unsigned Canadian female artist invited to perform on BET's 106 & Park 'Wild Out Wednesday' segment.
Her lyrical melodies and relatable stories have attracted an enthusiastic young and mature following. Linda is a hard working and humble young lady and is well on her way to becoming a rising star in the music industry. Although artists such a Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill and Pink influence her, Linda has found her own voice and continues to make music to evoke emotion and inspire.
Kirstyn Culbert-Kviring
Kirstyn Culbert-Kviring has had a lifelong interest in the arts. From a young age, she began engaging in stage performance and dance of various styles. Throughout her high school career, she was a part of numerous school productions including Bye Bye Birdie, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night and A Doll's House. In 2008, she pursued an interest in unscripted stage work and began competing in the Canadian Improv Games (C.I.G.). In 2010, her team travelled to Ottawa for the C.I.G. National competition and placed fourth overall. Moving to London, Ontario to attend Western University, she was a part of the Western Improv Team for two years. While acting has always been a passion, Kirstyn is also pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology at Western University. Combining a devotion for reducing stigma towards mental health with performance art has always been a dream of hers and she is absolutely delighted at the opportunity to be a part of such a passionate project.
Luc Trottier
Luc Trottier is a professional actor, singer, and creator who has performed across Canada and the United States. In April of 2015 he received his Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance with Honours from Sheridan College. Currently he is writing a webseries, short film, and new musical, all of which will be completed by August 2016.
Check out www.luctrottier.com for more information!
