Our Vision Who We Are YDAPA Sustainability Project Board of Directors     Executive Director Management Team Artistic Team How to Join Audition Procedures and Casting Previous Shows About Us > Artistic Team Gord Brown   Producer Brenda Uchimaru   Music Director Wayne Hill   Director Todd Martin   Director Christie McMullen   Music Director, Vocal Coach Cam Pegler   Director Chris Whiteford   Tech Advisor Biographies Gord Brown - Producer Gord Brown has been involved with YDAPA since it was first discussed seven years ago. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and he has been responsible for the business development of the company. Gord is a very knowledgeable and regular patron of and participant in the arts. He regularly attends musicals in Toronto, London, and New York, he has taken on several supporting roles in YDAPA productions, he directed YDAPA's very successful Dinner Theatre show Little Shop of Horrors in 2005 and he is an active participant in the Optimist Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps. Gord's business acumen, positive attitude, agreeable nature and obvious dedication to the arts are valuable contributions to the growth and development of YDAPA as a community organization dedicated to the development of arts programs for young people. Brenda Uchimaru - Music Director Brenda Uchimaru holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto. During her career, she has been a department head and consultant with the Hamilton and Waterloo Boards. She is the former director of Hamilton's Vox Nouveau Singers, Harlequin Singers and Wilfrid Laurier University Jazz Choir. She currently directs the Cambridge Male Chorus and her own Cambridge based chamber choir. At Unionville High School, the York region arts school, she directs the Concert and Chamber Choirs, Jazz Choir and Male Chorus. She is on the Board of the Ontario Vocal Festival, is the Music Course Director for the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre and teaches the Summer Vocal Additional Qualification courses for the Ontario Studies in Education/University of Toronto. Brenda's experience in music theatre direction began with productions for Hamilton Place and the Hamilton Board of Education. They co-produced several summer productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, South Pacific, Gypsy and several other musicals. She has been MD for over forty productions with the Burlington Light Opera Company, Hamilton's New Faces Theatre Company, Hamilton Theatre Inc. and Burlington's Drury Lane Theatre Company and Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius Summer School. Now a Cambridge resident, Brenda has been Music Director for Oakville's West Theatre Productions. The musicals are performed as part of the Oakville Centre's drama series. Productions have included Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Cabaret and The Secret Garden for which she received an award for Outstanding Musical Direction. Most recently, Brenda was Music Director for Unionville High School's "Showtime" production of Les Miserables. For musical enjoyment, Brenda plays alto sax in Markham's Not Affiliated Big Band, sings in Toronto's Bell'Arte Singers and is a frequent guest conductor and clinician at festivals and conferences. Wayne Hill - Director Wayne Hill has worked in music education in the Toronto area for the last 34 years. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from York University and Masters Degree from Niagara University. He has taught music at all levels from kindergarten to OAC and he has served as a Music Consultant, Curriculum Chairman, Vice-Principal and Department Head. He has been an Associate Professor for the Department of Fine Arts at Atkinson College and a Course Director for the Faculty of Education at York University and has taught Teacher Qualification courses for the Ontario Ministry of Education. Wayne has trained countless student musicians in award-winning bands, orchestras, choirs and musicals. He is an active chorister, adjudicator, director and consultant to many music festivals, summer camps and musical theatre productions in Southern Ontario. He is currently Chairman of York Region's "Music Alive Festival" which has over 7500 participants in 160 sessions each April. Wayne has produced and directed innumerable shows and concerts over his 40 years in musical performance and he brings a wealth of experience to the YDAPA. Todd Martin - Director Todd's interest in Theatre defenatly extends way beyond anything sane! An avid "theatre-dork" all through high school, Todd went on to Perform with Community Theatre Company's all over York Region including Markham Youth Theatre and Unionville Theatre Company. After High School, Todd went on to study Acting, Scene Study and Character/Animation Voice-over at Toronto's Equity Showcase Theatre. He recently landed his first professional gig playing the character "Edward" in Toronto's first alternate reality game "Waking City." Todd is very excited to be a part of YDAPA for the 2007-2008 Season. He is proud to be part of a company that offers numerous opportunities to many kids all across the Stouffville and surrounding areas...as well as actually allows him to try the next crazy thing..."Man, what will they let me do next?!?" Christie McMullen - Music Director, Vocal Coach Christie McMullen has been a member of YDAPA since its inception in 2002. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Classical Voice from York University and has recently completed her Bachelor of Education from Brock University. Christie began formal instruction in voice at the age of 5 and has been actively involved in musicals and choral presentations for over 20 years. Christie's musical training has not been limited to voice; she has also studied numerous instruments including English Handbells. For the past 8 years Christie has operated a private voice studio in Markham where students learn proper singing techniques and performance etiquette; they perform in local music festival and participate in a year end recital. Christie has been an active participant in YDAPA; she has been the Assistant Director, Music Director, Vocal Coach and Stage Manager for many of our shows, as well as our Academy Children's Choir Director. Her constant smile and helpful nature are certainly a benefit to our program. Cameron Pegler - Director Cam has been involved with YDAPA on and off the stage since it began and he has been in at least one major production with the company each year. Cam was heavily involved in music theatre and concert band throughout his Markham high school years and since then he has been actively involved with many theatre companies, in a variety of capacities. Cam has a keen interest and considerable experience with set design and construction and is the co-founder and owner of Diversified Staging the company that designed and built the main curtain that YDAPA uses for its productions at East Ridge Church. Chris Whiteford - Tech Advisor Chris Whiteford is no stranger to either side of a stage production since he is at home both on the stage and in the "booth". Chris was an avid "techie" right through high school where he learned the basics of theatre audio, lighting and staging but also where he developed an aptitude and interest in performing. This has not changed as Chris has been involved in every production YDAPA has presented either on or off the stage. He has also been a regular performer in the Strawberry Festival, driven our "cars and trucks" in town parades, hosted our website, taught our technical course and represented the members on the Board of Directors. Chris' wife Tennille is also a valuable asset to the production team, she has been a most effective and efficient Stage Manager and she managed our website until 2006. Chris and Tennille have both certainly contributed to the YDAPA landscape on many levels and they have done it all as a residents of Oakville. A considerable commute for rehearsals!