Bradley Christensen, baritone

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.

Teaching Artist at the Canadian Opera Company (2023—)
·       Provided an interactive workshop at their Youth Opera Lab
·   Provided an interactive workshop in their Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre

Voice Instructor at the University of Toronto (2020–2023)
·       Provided individual lessons to a University student in the conjoint Music-Engineering Degree, preparing them for masterclasses and a jury

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)
·       Observe students’ teaching and provide feedback

Guest Clinician at Rosedale Heights School for the Arts (2016–)    
·       Provide vocal instruction to vocal majors in a masterclass setting  

Private Studio (2015–)  
·       I have developed and maintained a studio of private vocal students, composed of primary, secondary, and post-secondary singers.

Guest Vocal Teacher at Earl Haig Secondary School’s Claude Watson Secondary Arts Program (2015–2020)
·       Instructed grade 9-12 vocal majors on healthy vocal technique at the intensive September “Boot Camp” week
·       Individually coached students, including those pursuing music at a post-secondary level, on solo repertoire throughout the year
·       Led rehearsals of the school’s Voces Profundis (TB) ensemble, focusing on ease and facility throughout the vocal range

Guest Clinician at the 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
·       Leads rehearsals as required
·       Instructs the choristers on authentic choreography for Maori songs

Vocal Consultant for A Few Good Men of Oakville Children’s Choir (2018–2020)
·       Provide group coaching to all singers in the choir
·       Provide vocal assistance to the conductor in the choir setting

Guest Clinician (2017–18)
·       Zimfira Poloz and the Hamilton Children’s Choir
·       David Anderson and ‘A Few Good Men’ of the Oakville Children’s Choir
·       Led activities and a masterclass at the Taylor Academy, a programme run through the Royal Conservatory of Music

Guest Clinician with the Kokopelli Choir Organization in Edmonton (2015)
·       Invited by Scott Leithead, artistic director of the Kokopelli Choir Organization, to work with the various ensembles, including repertoire coachings, tenor and bass sectionals focusing on vocal technique, and Maori action songs