I have recorded books for educational purposes (everything from the diary of Ann Frank to comics and text.) I design and present power points with my company and sing acoustic contemporary with my trio.
My live stage experience (trio work)goes from 6 to 5000+ (festivals)with the band. I have tv experience live for over 2 million (global and good morning Halifax.
My theatre work was for small audiences (300) and included mostly character parts ie the classics: Sleepy Hollow (Sonja); Wizard of Oz (Lion); Grek Classical plays and Rogers and Hammerstein Musical Carousel (Carrie).
Georgian College: Theatre history, Set & Costume Design/Construction, and Performance Technique
Dave Henson Muppets Inc: Puppet / Muppet Design, Creation & Performance Techniques
Business Administration of the Arts Courses Sir Sandford Fleming College
OAC: Marketing; Trade Show Booth Design and Operations; Touring, Block Booking; and Networking
Income tax and Finances for Performers; College Performance Circuit.
OCFF: Statistical Analysis of Events; Director’s Round Table; Volunteer Mgt.; Managing Crafts &Arts at events; Performer Booking
Walt Disney Tele-conference Training: Marketing Events
O’Keefe / Hummingbird Theatre (Toronto): National Ballet Management, Theatre Sound, Lighting and Canadian National Ballet: Ballet Performance Management
NAFMADA: International Touring; International Marketing; Performance and Event Coordinating.
GKACC: E COMMERCE, Trends and E / Web Marketing Strategies
Business Communications, Small Business Management,
Advertising and Display, Exhibitions Workshop, History of Art, Applied Photography, Performing Arts Today, Painting, Ceramics, Drama Production, Museum Management
Professional Arts Accolades
Award for New Talent: Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Record, Toronto, On
*maximum allowable: four awards
Outstanding Achievement: audience development, Education & Outreach, NAFMADA, Boston, M.A.,
National Publication Award: Canadian Anthology of Poetry, St. Catherine, On *It’s Colder Tonight
The Morbid Song Award: SFA Club of Kingston, On
Editors’ Choice: Award for poetry (USA)
I trained in sound and lighting with the Okeef theatre in the 80's. Since then I have operated sound and stage for our trio when we are involved in shows for charity and sound is not provided.
I tend to use the services of a secondary studio for recording preferring to concentrate on the produce over the process. The studios I use are either "Rainy Day" or a private enterprise that produces for Golbal and the Arrogant Worms.
However when i record at home it is with sm58 vocal mics or better and I produce a wave file. I use Nero Burning or Zip files and produce CD artwork.
Performance Experience
Musical performances with Gopher Baroque: from Manitoba to Nova Scotia and into Northern and central USA for live audiences of all ages / sizes and radio / television audiences on the Canada/US east coast reaching into the millions.
Television Appearances: Breakfast TV Halifax Grand Prix; Darcy’s Beat *10 episodes; Global TV; CKWS. Live Radio Features: CFRC Kingston, CIUT Atlantic Light House, Toronto, and CBC On Morning Toronto, CBC Noon Show Ottawa, CFLY Kingston, and CFFX Kingston. Master of ceremonies experience with the Ottawa Children’s Hospital / I.C.C.A. conference; All Folks Festival; and numerous stage concerts, shows & festivals.
Acting & theatre troupe history includes Georgian College at Parry Sound *lead character performer, and Rainbow Theatre of Parry Sound *lead character performer
Published Writer
Great Lakes Publishing and Recording: Chapter Books
Cast Iron Stomach Series:
Ashes to Ashes: Cooking with Wood
Two Stick Cake and Things that Bake
What’s in the Pot? (Boil, Roast and Stewing)
Spitting and Other Hot Ideas (Frying and Grilling)
Well Preserved
Pioneer Series:
Pioneering Spirits of Early Canada,
Potions, Lotions & Other Odd Notions
Feature Four (Columnist): Edmonton Music News: 1988-89
Scaling the Face of Reason: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry
Folk Prints (O.C.F.F) Regular Contributor of various articles writer upon publisher’s request
Great Canadian Nation Celebration (show and educational package)
Winter Show (and educational package);
Under the Sea Show *Pre Disney;
Teddy Bear’s Picnic Show and more.
Music Composer / Arranger: Currently enjoying national and international air play.
Compositions: Shipwrecked Whisky, Fuller Brush Man, Herschel Island Shanty, Parson’s Harbour, Somewhere in France, Red Head Cove, Keep It In Mind, Holdin’ Down the Fort, It’s Colder Tonight, World’s Last Dreamer, Herschel Island Shanty and Gustafson Lake and more.
Co Authored or Commissioned: Dollar Bill, Awkward Donald, Lou Garoux, Wind, Wheels and Wings, Wish I could Build A Castle, Robertson’s Ridge, and Corner Stone: title song for this musical/drama
Writing Related Critical Quotes / Comments
“The title song (CD: Holdin’ Down The Fort) has such a catchy tune that I hummed it for days until the rest of the household begged me to stop..., Callan is the main song writer and has a real talent for seeing the human impact of historical incidents. In Parson’s Harbour, a wife recalls her memories of family and neighbours as she and her husband pack up their belongings to leave their dying outport community and move to a city where they will have to stand alone. I particularly enjoyed her songs Somewhere In France, a sweet song of first world war love letters, and It’s Colder Tonight, a country song that deserves to reach a large audience..., Callan’s song writing and the harmony singing are the band’s major strengths and should provide the foundation to their future...” Nan College: Canadian Folk Music Bulletin, Winnipeg
“Some terrific music, Gustafsen Lake is just excellent” G. Hunter: CKLC radio 2nd Intermission, Kingston
“Lively and inspired songs” D. Fowler LeBlanc, Hon. R. Le Blanc, Governor General of Canada, Ottawa
Re Concert:"Brilliant performance...The concert was phenomenal! Your mastery of the different types of instruments, the history of the songs, and your great range of material made every moment of the concert a delight. I along with my colleagues wished the night would never have ended. Your music captivated the great diversity of our audience...The evening was a distinct highlight in this year’s North Country Writer’s Festival".
Re: Composing and Creativity Workshop: Several students have already commented to me on how creativity is an acquired art and how your workshop helped them delve deeper into their creative selves. Your rapport with students and lengthy discussions you had with them after the workshop also showed your enthusiasm and dedication to your art. I. Luyt, English
Current / Previous Professional Affiliations: KFS, PAL Seven C’s Enterprises, Gopher Baroque, SOCAN, BMI, and North American Folk Music & Dance Alliance, International Musician’s Union, Ontario Council of Folk Festivals.