Orpheus Schoolhouse is Open!
At Orpheus, we believe that quality arts education should be available to all. The Orpheus Schoolhouse is specifically designed to provide advanced arts training by accredited and experienced instructors at the lowest cost. Our flexible rates include discounts for Orpheus Members, Pay What You Want options, and bursaries to ensure that every child has access to positive arts education.
The Schoolhouse Has Grown!
We’re excited to share that The Schoolhouse is expanding this year, now offering a wider range of classes on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.
Our second semester runs from January to June and offers a full 16 week program. Registration is now open.
*Orpheus Schoolhouse courses are intentionally the lowest priced in town to ensure affordability and accessibility for all. PAY WHAT YOU WANT options are intended for those who require the accommodation. If you can afford the full price, we ask that you be honest and leave the PWYW options for those in need. If the PWYW options are still out of reach for you, we have bursaries available. Please contact J.T. Morris at jt@orpheusmusicaltheatre.ca or by phone at 613-729-4318 for more information on bursaries.
Current Classes
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Musical Theatre Ensemble & Performance
with Audrey Read Egan & Wendy Berkelaar
Saturdays, January 17 - June 20 (16 Classes)
No Classes: Feb 14 & 28, March 14 & 21, April 4, May 16 & 23
Ages 11 - 13 years: 12:45pm - 2:15pm
Cost:
Regular: $180.00
Orpheus Members: $160.00
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 1: $100.00*
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 2: $50.00*
Where:
Orpheus Musical Theatre
17 Fairmont Ave
Ottawa, ON K1Y 1X4
About the Course
Designed for emerging young performers, this class deepens understanding of how acting, singing, and dance work together to tell a story. Students tackle more complex choreography, richer character work, and ensemble harmonies, culminating in a short, polished performance.
Follow the Registration Link for more details
About the Instructors
Audrey Read Egan (Bio to come)
Wendy Berkelaar
With 20+ years of musical theatre experience under her belt, Wendy Berkelaar is a well-respected music director and pianist in the Ottawa region. She has worked with many musical theatre companies in the city, including Orpheus Musical Theatre, ASNY Productions, indie women productions, TotoToo Theatre, and Three Sisters Theatre Company. She is a local keyboard sub for Broadway Across Canada, and has performed with several touring companies at the National Arts Centre including “Wicked”, “The Book of Mormon” and “Les Misérables”. Internationally, she spent a year with Spotlight Theatre and Mixed Company Theatre in Australia, and toured Germany and Switzerland as Associate Music Director of a production of “Grease - Das Musical’. She is the co-founder of Zucchini Productions, which produces the very successful Ottawa franchise of the “Confidential Musical Theatre Project”.
When not working in theatre, Wendy teaches piano privately, and is the choral accompanist for OrKidstra, a Sistema-based organization that empowers children through music. Wendy holds a masters degree is 18th century performance practice.
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Musical Theatre Vocal Performance
with Stacey Ingrey & Wendy Berkelaar
Sundays, January 18 - June 21 (16 Classes)
No Classes: Feb 15, March 1, 15, 22, April 5, May 17, May 24
Ages 8 - 13 years: 9:30am - 10:45am
Cost:
Regular: $180.00
Orpheus Members: $160.00
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 1: $100.00*
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 2: $50.00*
Where:
Orpheus Musical Theatre
17 Fairmont Ave
Ottawa, ON K1Y 1X4
About the Course
This unique course offers participants a one on one style voice class in a group setting. Over the span of the course, students will learn how the voice works, why vocal hygiene is important, about the various registers, how to navigate vocal changes, and healthy warm up techniques. By learning a minimum of one piece, with sheet music, to use for future performances and/or auditions, students will also develop the valuable skill of how to work with an accompanist. Additional focus will be placed on how to prepare for auditions.
Each student will perform their piece in front of the class, take direction, and work to edit their performance. Students are encouraged to come with some idea of a piece they would like to work on, but will absolutely be supported if they do not. To maximize individual attention for each student, this class has a limited capacity of 8 students.
This course is a great opportunity for students looking to develop key skills of vocal performance at an early age, led by two of Ottawa's finest practitioners.
About the Instructor
Stacey Ingrey has been teaching voice from her Kanata studio for over twenty years. She has performed extensively in classical, pop, and musical theatre. Former and current students have gone on to perform internationally in film, musical theatre, pop and country, and classical singing. She is a registered voice and theory teacher with the Ontario Registered Music Teacher's Association (ORMTA), the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Association (CFMTA) and the Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance (MTEA). Stacey is an Advanced Voice Specialist and Theory Specialist, and has her Associate Diploma (ARCT) with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Stacey currently teaches voice for the Musical Theatre Diploma program at Saint Lawrence College, Brockville Campus. Stacey believes all singers can learn to sing in a healthy way without compromising their story.
About the Pianist
With 20+ years of musical theatre experience under her belt, Wendy Berkelaar is a well-respected music director and pianist in the Ottawa region. She has worked with many musical theatre companies in the city, including Orpheus Musical Theatre, ASNY Productions, indie women productions, TotoToo Theatre, and Three Sisters Theatre Company. She is a local keyboard sub for Broadway Across Canada, and has performed with several touring companies at the National Arts Centre including “Wicked”, “The Book of Mormon” and “Les Misérables”. Internationally, she spent a year with Spotlight Theatre and Mixed Company Theatre in Australia, and toured Germany and Switzerland as Associate Music Director of a production of “Grease - Das Musical’. She is the co-founder of Zucchini Productions, which produces the very successful Ottawa franchise of the “Confidential Musical Theatre Project”.
When not working in theatre, Wendy teaches piano privately, and is the choral accompanist for OrKidstra, a Sistema-based organization that empowers children through music. Wendy holds a masters degree is 18th century performance practice.
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Musical Theatre Dance: Foundations & Ensemble
with Laura Merani
Sundays, February 1 - June 21 (16 Classes)
Feb 15, March 15 & 22, April 5, May 17
Ages 11 - 13 years: 10:30am - 11:25am
Cost:
Regular: $180.00
Orpheus Members: $160.00
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 1: $100.00*
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 2: $50.00*
Where:
Union Studios
290 Picton Ave. Unit 102
Ottawa, ON K1Z 8P8
Registration Opens Friday, October 17
About the Course
This high-energy class introduces students to the essential vocabulary of Broadway dance. Using age-appropriate choreography and repertoire from classic and contemporary musicals, dancers will learn how to connect technique, storytelling, and performance while building confidence on stage.
Follow Registration Link for more details
About the Instructor
Laura Merani
Bachelor of Arts, Middlesex University
Laura has been dancing for over 25 years and knows first-hand the joy that it brings. Originally from the UK, she trained at the Leicester College of Performing Arts, completing a three-year professional dance and musical theatre program. After graduating, Laura went on to work professionally in India, Germany, and the UK. Since moving to Ottawa in 2013, Laura has become a certified ADAPT and acrobatic dance instructor. She has extensive experience teaching and choreographing in both recreational and competitive settings. Her love of musical theatre has also led her to work on local productions, including Mary Poppins and The Prom. Alongside teaching with Orpheus Musical Theatre’s Schoolhouse program, Laura is the Owner and Founder of Union Studios, an Ottawa-based dance studio dedicated to providing welcoming, inclusive, and professional dance classes for adults. She is thrilled to share her love of dance and theatre with the Orpheus community!
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Acting: Skills & Scene Study
with Audrey Read Egan
Mondays, Feb 2 - June 15 (16 Classes)
No Classes Feb 16, March 16, April 6, May 18
Ages 11 - 13 years: 5:00pm - 6:15pm
Cost:
Regular: $180.00
Orpheus Members: $160.00
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 1: $100.00*
*PAY WHAT YOU WANT 2: $50.00*
Where:
Hintonburg Community Community Centre
1064 Wellington St. West, Basement Room #2
Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Y3
About the Course
A deeper dive into acting craft for pre-teens ready to grow their skills. Students explore script work, objectives, voice and movement technique, and partner scenes. Classes introduce audition basics and ensemble rehearsal methods, culminating in a short showcase of scenes or monologues.
Follow Registration Link for more details
About the Instructor
Audrey Read Egan (Bio to come)
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