Summer 2026 Music Theatre Intensive Program for Teens

Denise Williams is an established professional singer, voice teacher, concert producer and music facilitator.  She is a passionate advocate for the performing arts, leveraging her extensive professional experience to promote artistic expression, education, and foster inclusivity. Her international performance career has put her on the concert, opera, and theatre stages.  Her most well-loved self-produced music project is her cross-cultural, Walk Together Children concert program, uniting African Jewish and Muslim cultural music intersections as a commentary on commonalities of forcibly migrant cultures, musical assimilations, and attempts at bridging social gaps.  As Founding Artistic Director of No Strings Theatre (2005), Denise advocates for  accessible and inclusive artisitic programming. She is currently on the music theatre voice faculty of Sheridan College and operates her Voices of Colour Music (VCM) music studio. She is a certified advanced voice teacher affiliate for the Royal Conservatory of Music and has been an RCM examiner and national vocal adjudicator since 2000. Denise continues to advocate, through international performance and community leadership, for addressing cross-cultural sharing of music traditions and equity, diversity, and inclusion, on performance stages. She is honoured to have earned the ORMTA Contribution to Teaching award for 2024 and be on the 2024 list of 100 Black Accomplished Canadian Women Honourees.

David Stone is a dynamic, versatile musician and award-winning educator, known for his ability to inspire and shape the musicians of tomorrow. With a background in classical and jazz music, David is as comfortable in concert halls as he is in jazz clubs, theatres, and recording studios. An accomplished double bassist, jazz performer, and musical theatre director, David has studied under Canada’s top jazz musicians, including Oliver Jones and Pat LaBarbera, bringing a broad musical depth to all his work. David’s compositions have been featured by leading ensembles like the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Gryphon Trio, with performances across North America and Europe and broadcasts on CBC Radio. With a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, he has studied composition under esteemed mentors such as Christos Hatzis and John Hawkins, and his works have been commissioned by organizations from the Capitol Theatre to Penthelia Singers. ​ As the Director of Toronto Music Alliance, David continues to lead music education with his founding philosophy, "Making Music Make Sense." He brings over 20 years of teaching experience, dedicated to making music accessible and engaging for all ages. David lives in Toronto with his wife, two sons, and their family of pet bunnies.

Liam Eric Dawson is an emerging theatre director, creative producer and performer originally from Newfoundland. Being from Newfoundland he has had the opportunity to work in most aspects of theatre. From performance to set/props builder, creative team to media creator and U-Haul driver perfeccionado. He’s done it all! As a creator, Liam is detail oriented and interested in making theatre that is Quality Entertainment | Immersive | Visually Exciting. Over his career Liam has had the opportunity to work with and be taught by prolific professionals like Ann Hodges, Jeannette Lambermont-Morey, Steve Ross, Brad Hodder, Paul Wilson to name only a few. Selected credits include: Direction: Hansel & Gretel (No Strings Theatre- Assistant & Remount Director), Murder at Mosquito Cove (Walnut Productions- Upcoming), Thunderor: A Rock Opera (Boonsdale Productions), The Elixir of Love (Manitoba Opera-Apprentice Director), In Real Life (Canadian Stage / Musical Stage Company-Apprentice Director), Lobby Hero, Voices of Tomorrow (Icarus Theatre). Acting: No Change In The Weather (Terra Bruce/Mirvish), Twelfth Night: The Musical (Theatre Sheridan- Actor & Asst Director), Salt-Water Moon (Baccalieu Players- Actor & Director), Annie (Gussied Up), The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Perchance Theatre). Liam is a graduate of Sheridan College's prestigious Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program, with a focus in directing. As a dyslexic, he hopes to help and inspire other neurodivergent creators to achieve their dreams. Liam is Artistic Director of Walnut Productions and past co-founder of Icarus Theatre.

Kathleen Mills (She/They) is a Queer, Neurodivergent, and non-binary artist from Toronto, Ontario. Recently she has graduated from Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance with honours, and a selected focus in writing for theatre. They have had their work picked up by independent theatre companies including No Strings Theatre and Icarus Theatre. Kathleen is an emerging artist working as a performer, creator, and educator in the arts. As well as her writing and performing work, Kathleen also teaches dance and musical theatre at The Railpath Arts Centre in Toronto. She strongly believes that art and theatre should be available to everyone and is excited to be part of the next generation working to make it even more accessible, safe, and inspiring!