Breathing workshop with the University of Toronto Tenor/Bass Choir and singers from St. Michael’s Choir School.
Photo taken by: Dr. Darryl Edwards
Dr. Bradley Christensen is a recent graduate of the Doctor of Musical Arts programme at the University of Toronto, where he studied Voice Performance and Pedagogy under the supervision of Professor Lorna MacDonald. His areas of expertise are assessment tools that determine the level of difficulty of songs for voice and piano, and the song repertoire of John Beckwith. His dissertation is titled “The Repertoire of John Beckwith for Solo Voice and Piano: An Interpretive and Pedagogical Guide,” which can be found on ProQuest, the international repository for dissertations.
A keen educator, Bradley has worked at the University of Toronto as a Vocal Coach for the Tenor/Bass Choir and a mentor to the Faculty of Music’s undergraduate vocal pedagogy students. He runs a private voice studio and serves as a guest clinician to various arts organizations and high schools, administering vocal workshops and masterclasses. This past year, Bradley was invited to serve as a ‘Teaching Artist’ at the Canadian Opera Company.
Bradley has developed group workshops on breathing for singing, warming up the voice, and on parameters by which to assess and choose repertoire. For more information, or to speak with Bradley about having him come to work with your group, please feel free CONTACT him.
For an outline of his teaching experiences, please see below.
POST-SECONDARY
Visiting artist at the University of Western Ontario (2024)
· Presented a masterclass for the voice students with a focus on Canadian Art Song
Sessional Faculty at McMaster University (2023)
· I taught the course MUS 2SI3 – Singing, which is intended for students without prior vocal training. Students come with a diverse music education background. There are those that have studied another instrument for many years and those who are yet to read music. The course outline can be found via the following link: MUSIC-2SI3
· I taught the course MUS 3SI3 – Vocal Pedagogy, which is intended for individuals majoring in performance voice. This course has been designed to give students: A foundational knowledge of the vocal function required for singing; Experience in voice teaching and studio management; Development of critical listening and observation skills; Development of diagnostic skills; An opportunity to demonstrate their learning through studio teaching. The course outline can be found via the following link: MUSIC-3SI3
Guest Speaker/Lecturer/Artist at the University of Toronto (2023)
· Invited by Professor Lorna MacDonald to give a class to her vocal pedagogy students on the topic, "Grading Songs through rubrics and making the right repertoire selection for our students.”
· Invited by Professor Darryl Edwards to host a masterclass for his Oratorio class
Voice Instructor at the University of Toronto (2020–2023)
· Provided individual lessons to a University student as part of the conjoint Music-Engineering Degree, preparing them for masterclasses and a jury
· Due to particular circumstances, I provided instruction to a student who had yet to discover their changed voice
Vocal Coach for the Tenor/Bass Choir at the University of Toronto (2019–2023)
· Provided individual coaching to all singers in the choir
· Delivered vocal workshops on vocal technique in a group setting
· During the Covid-19 pandemic, I recorded tracks for online learning
Mentor to the Undergraduate Voice Pedagogy Students (2019–2023)
· Observed students’ teaching and provided feedback
ADDITIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Private Studio (2015–)
· Maintain a studio of private vocal students, composed of primary, secondary, and post-secondary singers.
Instructor at Earl Haig Secondary School’s Arts Program (2015–)
· Individually coach students on solo repertoire
· Lead rehearsals of the school’s Voces Profundis (TB) ensemble as required
Instructor at Toronto Children’s Chorus (2011–)
· At the start-of-year Main Choir Camp, I teach sight-singing and theory as well as lead sectionals and provide vocal instruction in one-on-one lessons
· Lead rehearsals as required
· Instruct the choristers on authentic choreography of Maori songs
Teaching Artist at the Canadian Opera Company (2022–2023)
· Provided an interactive workshop at their Youth Opera Lab
· Provided an interactive workshop in their Free Concert Series
Vocal Consultant for A Few Good Men of Oakville Children’s Choir (2018–2020)
· Provided group coaching to all singers in the choir
· Provided vocal assistance to the conductor in the choir setting
Conducting Intern at the Toronto Children’s Chorus (2018–19)
· Conducted the Main Choir and Chamber Choir in concert
· Instructed the choristers in sight-singing and theory
· Led sectionals and rehearsals
Instructor at Havergal College (2016–17)
· Instructed the choristers on authentic choreography for two Maori songs to be performed at their end-of-year concert
· Led rehearsals of the Havergal Senior Choir
GUEST CLINICS
Rosedale Heights School for the Arts (2016–)
· Provide vocal instruction to vocal majors in a masterclass setting
A Choir’d Taste (2024)
· Invited by Mitchell Pady to lead a workshop on vocal technique
Chorus Niagara (2023)
· Invited by Robert Cooper, C.M. to lead a workshop on vocal technique
Hamilton Children’s Choir (2017–18)
· Zimfira Poloz brought me in to run a workshop on vocal technique and lead a rehearsal
A Few Good Men of Oakville Children’s Choir (2017–18)
· David Anderson brought me in to run a workshop on vocal technique and to offer performance suggestions as they prepared for an upcoming concert
Royal Conservatory of Music (2016–17)
· Led activities and masterclasses at the Taylor Academy to fulfil my teaching component as a Royal Conservatory of Music Rebanks Fellow
Korora Choirs Organization in Edmonton (2015)
· Invited by Scott Leithead, artistic director of Korora Choirs, to work with the various ensembles, which included coaching of repertoire, providing tenor and bass sectionals focusing on vocal technique, and choreographing Maori action songs