Oasis Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Toronto, CANADA

Biographies

 

 

Musically speaking, Brad Antle (Tenor) has been around! At 10 he starred in the St. John's Nfld production of The Music Man alongside Gordon Pinsent. A veteran of choirs and no stranger to recording, Brad played a lead role in the 1995 original production of Cruisin' at Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre and he sang on the cast recording. Brad hails from Botwood, Newfoundland, and now he lives in downtown Toronto. During the day, Brad is a manager at IBM Canada.

brad antle

 

 

Heather Bambrick (Musical Director) has been singing for about as long as she's been talking. Heather is currently active in the Toronto music scene, where she is a vocalist in studio sessions and live music venues. She is also a vocal instructor. She can be heard on numerous recordings, and she is a member of the vocal group The Beehive Singers, which has recently released its debut CD.

heather bambrick

 

 

Catherine Dale (Soprano) has been a member of Oasis for 10 years. She has a degree in Musical Arts and Grade IX Piano and Voice (Royal Conservatory of Music). Catherine has sung with several bands doing "East Coast" and rock music, and regularly sings at weddings. She has also performed in English Pantomimes in Toronto.

 

 

Diane Engelstad (Alto/Soprano) has been with Oasis for 9 years. She played flute in a previous life, including with the group The Eclectics, and she cites "too many hours of piano lessons with Mrs. Maxwell while Mrs. Maxwell made dinner" as her musical education! Diane presently works as At-Home Caregiver for her adorable 3-year-old, and is married (to a man).

 

 

Katya Epstein (Alto) has recently joined Oasis.

 

 

Maribeth Graham (Soprano) has been with Oasis for 13 years. She completed Grade IX Piano and Voice (RCM), and has sung with "too many choirs to count". Maribeth has done solo work in churches and at weddings, and performed as percussionist with a handbell choir. She also has a background in musical theatre (A Little Night Music, Pippin, Annie Get Your Gun). Maribeth is a teacher, and lives with her husband and their three children - 6 and 4 year-old boys, and a 2 year-old girl.

 

 

Paul Hickey (Tenor) has recently rejoined Oasis as a vocalist. (He used to play piano for us!)

 

 

Nick Holman (Bass) joined Oasis at the beginning of the 1998-99 season. Nick started performing in high school theatre, and he has since performed with the McGill Savoy Society, l'Opera de Montreal, Tafelmusik, Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, the Edinburgh Festival, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and "too many church choirs". He has completed Grade IX Piano (RCM). Nick is an architect.

 

 

If Melanie Moore (Alto) looks familiar, it's not from her voice-over work on TV and radio commercials, her role in a Juno Award winning jazz ensemble, her composing, her arranging for big band, her directing of vocal ensembles at Concordia University, or her appearances in a dozen televised musicals. No, Melanie seems familiar because you've seen her on stage every summer at Paramount Canada's Wonderland in the role of Scooby Doo's Velma Dinkley! Originally from Nova Scotia, Melanie now lives in Toronto with her partner Justin.

melanie moore

 

 

Susan Reid (Soprano) joined Oasis 12 years ago. She completed Grade IX Piano (RCM), and received classical voice training in University. Susan was involved in high school musical theatre, and sang with a close harmony a cappella women's group at Smith College, Massachusetts. She has sung in choirs since kindergarten, including a stint with the choir of St.Andrew's & St.Paul's Church in Montreal. Susan is a lawyer, and shares a partially renovated house in Riverdale with her partner, her 2 year-old, and two black Labs.

 

 

Constance Rennett (Alto/Tenor) has worked in community theatre - acting as well as back stage wardrobe - and has appeared as an extra in films. She has been studying piano for the past four years, and also has four years of drum lessons and one year of guitar lessons under her belt. Constance is a Registered Massage Therapist who owns her own therapeutic massage clinic, and she lives with her partner in Toronto. Constance is an original member of Oasis from 1985.

 

 

Doug Scaife (Pianist) joined Oasis 6 years ago. Doug has his Grade X Piano (RCM), and has an eclectic performing background, including high school concert bands; high school jazz bands; church choir; community jazz big band; solo instrumental gigs; and occasional wedding gigs. Doug works as a systems engineer/software consultant, and is married with 2 children. Doug has this to say about his involvement with Oasis: "Oasis is my musical vent that keeps me balanced, or unbalanced when juggling career and family. I'm not sure I'll ever leave the group (unless asked)!"

 

 

Claire Swift (Alto) is entering her 8th season with Oasis. Claire has a B.A. in Music and Psychology - she majored in Voice at the University of Guelph - and has sung in school choirs, church choirs, and musical theatre productions. She also plays classical guitar. Claire works in the Telecommunications industry, and is "happily residing in a little love shack on the western fringes of the city!" Claire forms one half of the brother-sister duo in Oasis, and Claire adds, "as the t-shirt says, 'Music is Life - the rest is just details'".

 

 

Colin Swift (Bass) has been singing with Oasis for the past 8 years. Colin had singing lessons as a boy soprano, and has had extensive musical theatre experience, including "Nickelodeon" Musical Revue in Barrie, for 5 years; "New Faces", New College, University of Toronto; high school productions of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and The Boyfriend; and what Colin considers to be his most outrageous and dangerous role: 'Frank N. Furter' in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! Colin works in Purchasing, and is the other half of the Oasis brother-sister duo!

 

 

Max Williams (Bass) has recently joined Oasis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography: Constance Rennett, Claire Swift / Digital images: Colin Swift / Text: Lisa Paterson 

 

Page Updated: 2000.11.17 

 

 

 

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