Day in the Life of a Student at ESA!
Learn about our school's various arts programs and academic departments, and see what it's like to attend ESA.
Get to know current ESA students!
Our School:
Etobicoke School of the Arts is the oldest and most established high school for the arts in Canada. Established in 1981, it trains students in six arts disciplines: Visual Art, Drama, Dance, Instrumental Music, Film, and Music Theatre, along with a robust academic program and extensive extra-curricular activities. To learn more about our school, click here for more information.
Department
The Music Theatre Department at ESA was established in 1981, offering training in the “triple threat” disciplines - singing, acting and dancing. Through expert teachers, experienced guest artists and professional collaborations, students are educated in areas such as music theatre history, performance practices, choral singing, equity in theatre and music/theatre creation.
Our department uses several spaces within ESA - our vocal studio, the Paul Aikins Studio for Drama and Dance, our large theatre and our black box mini-theatre.
Courses
All students study two courses each year in Music Theatre:
TAS 1OP, ADB 2O1/3M1/4M1 focus on all aspects of music theatre. Our regular schedule includes one 75 minute dance class per week (taught by a professional dance instructor), and one to two drama classes.
AMT 1O1/2O1/3M1/4M1 focus on music theatre production, including solo and ensemble performances and music theory.
How to Apply
Starting this year, students will apply through a new merit-based central TDSB application. Click here for Specific Music theatre audition information.
For complete details regarding how to apply for ESA, visit esainfo.ca
Staff
David Ambrose
Drama/Dance and Vocal Teacher
David Ambrose has been part of the Music Theatre Department at ESA since 2009, teaching both Drama/Dance and Vocal Music. He is the founder and conductor of the WoCo treble chorus and co-conducts the Lunch Bunch choir and TSO choir. He has also been the stage director for several shows, including the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the groundbreaking production of Rent. He also coordinates the technical areas for the department’s productions and concerts. Outside of ESA, Mr. Ambrose is still active as a stage director and choral conductor. He worked as a professional performer, conductor and director for many years in both musical theatre and opera with such companies as the Canadian Opera Company, Festival 500 and Kawartha Lakes Summer Playhouse. He currently serves as the Artistic Director for Mississauga Festival Choir, conducting its 175 voice choir and chamber choir. He also is the Director in Residence for Mississauga Symphony’s Opera Series, staging Carmen, La Boheme and La Traviata since 2018. Mr. Ambrose is a graduate of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Graduate Diploma in Opera Stage Direction) and OISE (Bachelor of Education)
Drama/Dance and Vocal Teacher
David Ambrose has been part of the Music Theatre Department at ESA since 2009, teaching both Drama/Dance and Vocal Music. He is the founder and conductor of the WoCo treble chorus and co-conducts the Lunch Bunch choir and TSO choir. He has also been the stage director for several shows, including the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the groundbreaking production of Rent. He also coordinates the technical areas for the department’s productions and concerts. Outside of ESA, Mr. Ambrose is still active as a stage director and choral conductor. He worked as a professional performer, conductor and director for many years in both musical theatre and opera with such companies as the Canadian Opera Company, Festival 500 and Kawartha Lakes Summer Playhouse. He currently serves as the Artistic Director for Mississauga Festival Choir, conducting its 175 voice choir and chamber choir. He also is the Director in Residence for Mississauga Symphony’s Opera Series, staging Carmen, La Boheme and La Traviata since 2018. Mr. Ambrose is a graduate of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Graduate Diploma in Opera Stage Direction) and OISE (Bachelor of Education)
Patricia Warnock
Department Head, Vocal Teacher
Patricia Warnock received both her B. Mus and M. Mus in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. She has extensive experience working with both community and school choirs, including Artistic Director of the Mississauga Festival Youth Choir, guest clinician at the University of Toronto, and conductor and member of the Oakville Chamber Choir. She has had the opportunity to study conducting with Sir David Willcocks as a recipient of a conducting scholarship, as well as Lydia Adams, OCE. Solo vocal performances include the award-winning Ardeleana Chamber Trio. Under her direction, the Etobicoke School of the Arts Chamber Choir has achieved the gold standard at the Ontario Vocal Festival every year for over a decade, and regularly attends Musicfest Canada. Patricia was also the conductor of GLO, ESA's award-winning female Show Choir.
Janine Hynes
Drama/Dance Teacher
Janine Hynes began teaching youth theatre arts and dance at twelve years of age at day camps, schools, overnight camps and city programs. She moved to the Etobicoke School of the Arts in 2005 and has been teaching dance and drama, creating choreography and directing Mainstage drama productions at the school for the last twenty years.
Janine Hynes began teaching youth theatre arts and dance at twelve years of age at day camps, schools, overnight camps and city programs. She moved to the Etobicoke School of the Arts in 2005 and has been teaching dance and drama, creating choreography and directing Mainstage drama productions at the school for the last twenty years.
Guest Artists
Sarah O’Brecht (Dance)Sarah O’Brecht is a multidisciplinary artist and educator from Saint John, New Brunswick. Her creative theatre credits include: Director of the World Premiere of Fertility for Light Echo Theatre and Legally Blonde the Musical for Randolph College for the Performing Arts; Assistant Direction on Beauty and the Beast (Globe) and Lucy Maud & Anne (Smile); Dramaturge for the 2023 & 2024 Banks Cabaret/Creators Project with the Musical Stage Company; Movement Director for Into the Woods at Sheridan College; she was recently the Associate Director on the workshop of a new show featuring the music of the Tragically Hip. With Stephanie Graham, she is the Co-Founding Artistic Director of Theatre Making Movement, a company that supports dance and movement in new musical theatre development. In its inaugural 2021 season, TMM hosted keynote speaker Susan Stroman and they recently spoke at the Stratford Festival’s 2025 Meighen Forum. As an actor, her theatre credits include A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (Drayton), 1979, All I Want for Christmas (TNB), Noises Off, Mamma Mia (Neptune), Anne of Green Gables, Mamma Mia, Alice Through the Looking Glass (Charlottetown), Jersey Boys, Chicago (Stage West), Guys and Dolls (Segal Centre), and Johnny Belinda (Smile Theatre). On screen, she has worked on The Boys, I, Object, Mother of Invention, Lady Darb, Adulting, Good Witch, Warehouse 13, as well as her own short films Good With Her, directed by Sheila McCarthy, and she her him, her directorial debut which premiered at the Reelworld Festival. Sarah produced Race Cards (in Two Acts) for Prime Mover Theatre and was the 2022-2024 Apprentice Artistic Director of The Musical Stage Company. Throughout her career, Sarah has prioritized education and mentorship. In addition to being a certified classroom teacher, she has taught and adjudicated across the Maritimes and in Ontario.
sarahobrecht.com | theatremakingmovement.com
sarahobrecht.com | theatremakingmovement.com
Kerry Gage
Kerry was the Children's Rehearsal Director for Mirvish's production of
Disney's The Lion King currently playing in Toronto at the Princess of Wales
theatre. She has been the Co-Artistic Director and Choreographer for the Etobicok School Of The Art's Show Choir Champions “SPLASH,” for over 8 years.Kerry and her husband Jay T, wrote, produced, directed and choreographed “Nevaeh and the NorthStar,” an immersive show for youth which premiered at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in 2022. She and Jay are also the global distributers of Miller & Ben tap shoes; www.tapshoescanada.com.
Kerry has spent nine seasons at the Stratford Festival. Productions she has
worked on include; HMS Pinafore, Crazy For You, Fiddler On The Roof,
42nd Street, Camelot, and Two Gentlemen of Verona. She was also the
Children's Casting and Resident Director for the North American premiere of The Sound Of Music with Mirvish.
She worked for thirteen seasons at the Charlottetown Festival as part of the creative team and the Director /Choreographer for the Confederation Centre Young Company. Kerry is a 2019 Dora Award winner for outstanding original choreography.
Her choreographic credits include: Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast,
Mamma Mia, Shrek-the Musical, Elf-the Musical, Rocky Horror, Cinderella,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Wizard of OZ, Anne Of
Green Gables, Forever Plaid, Annie, the Canadian premiere of Batboy – The
Musical.
She has taught at many theatre institutions such as Sheridan College,
Randolph Academy, and Etobicoke School Of The Arts. She is trained in the
R.A.D syllabus for ballet and C.D.T.A. for jazz, and tap. She has been a
dance adjudicator for festivals across Canada for over thirty years.
Kerry's other passion is volunteering for Toronto Cat Rescue. She is a
member of the large intake team: www.torontocatrescue.ca.
Disney's The Lion King currently playing in Toronto at the Princess of Wales
theatre. She has been the Co-Artistic Director and Choreographer for the Etobicok School Of The Art's Show Choir Champions “SPLASH,” for over 8 years.Kerry and her husband Jay T, wrote, produced, directed and choreographed “Nevaeh and the NorthStar,” an immersive show for youth which premiered at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in 2022. She and Jay are also the global distributers of Miller & Ben tap shoes; www.tapshoescanada.com.
Kerry has spent nine seasons at the Stratford Festival. Productions she has
worked on include; HMS Pinafore, Crazy For You, Fiddler On The Roof,
42nd Street, Camelot, and Two Gentlemen of Verona. She was also the
Children's Casting and Resident Director for the North American premiere of The Sound Of Music with Mirvish.
She worked for thirteen seasons at the Charlottetown Festival as part of the creative team and the Director /Choreographer for the Confederation Centre Young Company. Kerry is a 2019 Dora Award winner for outstanding original choreography.
Her choreographic credits include: Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast,
Mamma Mia, Shrek-the Musical, Elf-the Musical, Rocky Horror, Cinderella,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Wizard of OZ, Anne Of
Green Gables, Forever Plaid, Annie, the Canadian premiere of Batboy – The
Musical.
She has taught at many theatre institutions such as Sheridan College,
Randolph Academy, and Etobicoke School Of The Arts. She is trained in the
R.A.D syllabus for ballet and C.D.T.A. for jazz, and tap. She has been a
dance adjudicator for festivals across Canada for over thirty years.
Kerry's other passion is volunteering for Toronto Cat Rescue. She is a
member of the large intake team: www.torontocatrescue.ca.
Rhonda Roberts Smid (Choreographer)
RHONDA ROBERTS is an accomplished performer, educator and adjudicator of dance who has appeared in productions across North America and Europe. Most notably she danced in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,U.S. National company of Ragtime, played Shenzi in Disney’s The Lion King and performed in Guys and Dolls and Anything Goes at the Stratford Festival. On screen has appeared in the Matlock, The Boys, the Academy Award®-winning film Chicago, the New Line Cinema release Hairspray The Movie.She has been teaching for more than 35 years and adjudicating for over 20 years. She currently has recurring choreography engagements at Etobicoke School, Mayfield and Wexford school of the performing Arts. Guest instructing at Canada’s National Ballet School and University of Toronto.In 2012, Rhonda opened her own studio called The Art of Balance (TAB). Here she is combining the worlds of dance, fitness and other mind–body practices. Ms. Roberts is also a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, was a board member at Healthy Dancer Canada as well chair its BIPOC Advocacy Working Group committee. She holds a degree in Sociology from McMaster University and a music theatre diploma from Randolph College for the Performing Arts.
RHONDA ROBERTS is an accomplished performer, educator and adjudicator of dance who has appeared in productions across North America and Europe. Most notably she danced in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,U.S. National company of Ragtime, played Shenzi in Disney’s The Lion King and performed in Guys and Dolls and Anything Goes at the Stratford Festival. On screen has appeared in the Matlock, The Boys, the Academy Award®-winning film Chicago, the New Line Cinema release Hairspray The Movie.She has been teaching for more than 35 years and adjudicating for over 20 years. She currently has recurring choreography engagements at Etobicoke School, Mayfield and Wexford school of the performing Arts. Guest instructing at Canada’s National Ballet School and University of Toronto.In 2012, Rhonda opened her own studio called The Art of Balance (TAB). Here she is combining the worlds of dance, fitness and other mind–body practices. Ms. Roberts is also a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, was a board member at Healthy Dancer Canada as well chair its BIPOC Advocacy Working Group committee. She holds a degree in Sociology from McMaster University and a music theatre diploma from Randolph College for the Performing Arts.
Michael Vieira (Music Direction, coaching, accompaniment
Michael Vieira is a Toronto born musician who began playing piano at age seven. His love of Spanish Classical music inspired him to continue his studies at The University Of Toronto where he earned a Bachelor Of Music Degree in Composition. Upon graduation he became actively involved in all facets of the Toronto music scene as a bandleader, pianist, and composer. Michael is an award winning composer and arranger of commercial music for radio, television, and stage.
His credits include numerous jingles and music for infomercials as well as music for two feature films The Lunatic and Woman Wanted starring Kiefer Sutherland. Stage credits include six years of composing scores for The Stratford Festival productions of Henry The Sixth, The Birds, Henry The Eighth, Measure For Measure, Twelfth Night and The Merchant Of Venice. Michael has also been involved in Toronto's musical theatre scene as a keyboard player for numerous shows including Mamma Mia, Rent, The Lion King, A Chorus Line, Menopause Out Loud, Robin Hood, Book of Mormon, Wicked, The Bodyguard, Bat Out of Hell, Beautiful, School of Rock, Annie, and Sister Act. He has also been the resident Musical Director, Composer, Arranger and Accompanist at The Etobicoke School Of The Arts for the past 28 years. Most recently Michael has performed as a keyboardist with The Tenors, appearing on their CBC Christmas Special and touring Canada and the United States.
Michael Vieira is a Toronto born musician who began playing piano at age seven. His love of Spanish Classical music inspired him to continue his studies at The University Of Toronto where he earned a Bachelor Of Music Degree in Composition. Upon graduation he became actively involved in all facets of the Toronto music scene as a bandleader, pianist, and composer. Michael is an award winning composer and arranger of commercial music for radio, television, and stage.
His credits include numerous jingles and music for infomercials as well as music for two feature films The Lunatic and Woman Wanted starring Kiefer Sutherland. Stage credits include six years of composing scores for The Stratford Festival productions of Henry The Sixth, The Birds, Henry The Eighth, Measure For Measure, Twelfth Night and The Merchant Of Venice. Michael has also been involved in Toronto's musical theatre scene as a keyboard player for numerous shows including Mamma Mia, Rent, The Lion King, A Chorus Line, Menopause Out Loud, Robin Hood, Book of Mormon, Wicked, The Bodyguard, Bat Out of Hell, Beautiful, School of Rock, Annie, and Sister Act. He has also been the resident Musical Director, Composer, Arranger and Accompanist at The Etobicoke School Of The Arts for the past 28 years. Most recently Michael has performed as a keyboardist with The Tenors, appearing on their CBC Christmas Special and touring Canada and the United States.