Brittanny Hann-Bowness MMus, BEd, BFA. - YPC Artistic Director / Instructor of Musical Theater, Voice and Instruments.
Brittanny (she/her) is a local performing artist who resides in Lake Echo, Nova Scotia with her husband, Brett. She has been running performing arts programs since 2007. Her acting credits include 'Velma Kelly' in Chicago (Toronto), 'Maureen' in Rent (Toronto), 'Wicked Witch' in Wizard of Oz (PEI), and 'Rizzo' in Grease (PEI), to name a few. She has also performed with Feast Dinner Theatre (PEI) and Second City (ON) and has competed in National competitions such as Canadian Improv Games and TheatreSports. She is a member of Performing Arts Educators of Canada (Jazz), and NSMEA / CMEA. She studied Performing Arts at York University (Toronto, ON) and graduated in 2011 with a double major in Dance and Music (Jazz Vocal Performance). She then went on to complete her Bachelor of Education from Crandall University (Moncton, NB) and her Masters in Music Education from Western University (London, ON). She has presented at numerous education conferences for dance, drama and music, and conducted research in the field of vocal pedagogy with a focus on blues, jazz and theatrical vocal technique and contemporary vocal belting. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies. She has taught grades P-12 in public schools through HRSB/HRCE, and currently teaches band and drama at Woodlawn High School. In addition to teaching public school, she has taught Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Break Dance, Musical Theatre, Voice, Piano, Ukulele and Guitar through Maritime Dance and Maritime Theatre School, Fall River School of Performing Arts, and Halifax Rec (Lake and Shore, Porter's Lake) where she founded and designed the successful "Broadway Bound" program. She is passionate about performing arts education and has been recognized by the Nova Scotia government for her efforts. She would like to thank all supporters of YPC for helping make it such a success!
Sachiko Akikawa-Bauer: Violin, Viola & Piano
Born in Japan and raised half in Japan and half in Canada, Sachiko (she/her) had the unique opportunity to study violin and piano with a multitude of teachers and methods. She started piano at a young age in Japan and after her family moved to Nova Scotia, started violin with Jennifer Jones. She continued her violin studies when her family moved back to Japan. There, she learned strictly through the Suzuki Method from Shinei Kato, who studied with the late Dr. Suzuki. Sachiko studied piano with Rafael Alcolado while she was living in Halifax and played in the Kiwanis Music Festival where she placed first in several of her classes. She also studied piano with Nancy Carr and Diane Pittman. Sachiko got her Bachelor of Arts Concentration in Music degree from Dalhousie University studying under the tutelage of Philippe Djokic. During her time at the university, she spent her summers at Domaine Forget attending the string session they offered. At the session, she had the privilege of studying with teachers such as Claude Richard, Mark Fewer, and Yehonatan Berick to name a few. After graduating, Sachiko taught violin in Japan through the Yamano/Yamaha School of Music and taught piano privately. She also recently taught for five years in the school string system through the Halifax Regional Arts program (formerly Halifax All-City Music) and is well versed in their pedagogy and curriculum. Sachiko is currently an active member of the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra playing 1st violin and also in Nova Sinfonia in Halifax, and is the concertmaster of the Bedford Leisure Club Orchestra.
Charles Urich: Drums/Percussion & Rock Ensemble.
Charles Urich (He/Him) is a drum instructor originally from Sydney, Nova Scotia. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from St. FX. Charles has extensive playing experience, actively working with various local acts and teaching privately.
Charles is comfortable playing different styles of music and enjoys teaching rock, funk, jazz, and world styles. He has taught at Long and McQuade in Bedford and can often be seen playing live with various bands and artists throughout HRM.
Kristin Kuttner - Musical Theater/ Acting/ Piano / Voice
Kristin Kuttner has had a passion for musicals since childhood. She studied Music at Dalhousie University (voice) and completed a minor in Theatre. She was lucky enough to be cast in "Anne of Green Gables" - Prissy [the Elgin Theatre] , "The Princess and the Handmaiden'' - Princess [Ontario tour], The "Greatest Gift"- Gwendolyn [Theatre Orangeville], "the Wizard of Oz" - Dorothy [Huron Country Playhouse], "Les Miserable" - ensemble/Cosette understudy [Neptune Theatre], "Tales from a Tokyo Verandah" - various characters [Atlantic Fringe Festival], "the Marriage of Figaro"- Doctor, [Dalhousie Opera Theatre] and "the ThreePenny Opera" - Jenny [Dalhousie Opera Theatre] to name a few. Kristin moved from Toronto to New York City to study singing and acting; the Linklater vocal technique, scene study[Shakespeare] and stage combat. She was accepted into the apprentice program at Shakespeare and Company (MA) and performed in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"- Hermia, and "Measure for Measure" - Isabella.
Maria Young - Acting, Musical Theater, Song & Dance
With more than 15 years of acting experience, Maria knew from a very young age that she wanted to be an actress. From the age of eight onward she started in musical theatre camps and soon after moved into TV and film work. She has worked on popular TV shows such as Mr. D, From, and Moonshine, and in 2023 performed a principal role in a Canadian feature film. Maria has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Performing Arts, studying for three years at St. Lawrence College, Ontario, for musical theatre, and one year abroad in Sligo, Ireland at Institute of Technology Sligo (now Atlantic Technological University Sligo) for acting.
Noah MacLean - Dance
Noah (he/him) is a dance teacher and former YPC student. He currently studies medical sciences at Dalhousie University. He has had dance training his entire life and voice lessons. Last year, Noah played Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” and currently teaches dance at both YPC and Coastal Dance. Noah has played "Sugar Plum Fairy" and "Coffee" in the Nutcracker last year and has even studied at the National Ballet of Canada.
Marissa Emberly: Seasonal Choreographer.
Marissa (she/her) has been a dance teacher and choreographer here at YPC for 4 years. She does the choreography for many of the pieces in the musicals and teaches Ballet, Creative Movement and Jazz. She loves getting to work with these amazing kids. Marissa has been dancing since she was 7. Her main styles of dance are ballet, jazz and modern. She also enjoys acting. She started acting when she was 10. Some of her past roles have been Matilda in Matilda the Musical, Fiona in Shrek the musical, Sandy in Grease, Regina George in Mean Girls, and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. She was a member of the the All city girls choir elementary and senior for a total of six years. Last year, she was YPC's "Instructor of the Year". When she is not teaching or performing, she tutors in French, plays soccer and is studies post-secondary education in Marine Biology.
Maggie Desaulniers - Acting / Song & Dance :
Maggie (she/her) is a recent graduate of Prince Andrew High and long time performer. She has recently played Marmie in Little Women at Neptune. As well as Vivienne in Legally Blonde and Cady Heron in Mean Girls, and Roxie Hart in PAHS's production of "Chicago" and the voice of Gary in Spongebob. She has also been studying vocals for many years.
Maddie Haire-Burke - Song & Dance
Madison (she/her) is a Grad of Woodlawn High School and a long time student of YPC. She has played many great roles including both Regina George and Janis in two separate productions of Mean Girls, she played Professor Callaghan in Legally Blonde, Rusty in “Footloose”, and Vince Fontaine in “Grease”. Maddie is also in her 7th year of voice lessons with Brittany Hann and is a junior instructor at YPC in our theater departments. Maddie is currently a student at NSCC where she studies Early Childhood Education.
Ben Morgan - Guitar, Bass, Drums, Ukulele and Rock Band
Ben has been playing guitar, bass, drums and ukulele for many years and loves to share his knowledge and passion for these instruments with new, and experienced students! Ben has studied music at various places, some including The Canadian Conservatory of Music and the Walkerville Centre for Creative Arts Performance Program. He is currently in his 3rd year at Dalhousie University. When Ben isn’t teaching he enjoys playing other instruments such as piano and singing. Ben can adapt to whatever teaching style fits best for any particular student, and he will be sure to teach you what YOU want to learn!
Adam Mallard - Guitar and Bass
Adam is new to our team but you may have seen him and many others on our YPC bandwagon during the Musquodoboit PRIDE parade, rocking out on his guitar. A grad of Auburn, he has been playing guitar since age 10. He also can play the harmonica extremely well! With mostly blues influences with a bit of country, Adam can play any genre and loves to jam. He currently studies at Dalhousie University.
Taighe Foster-Gallant - Seasonal Staff
Taighe foster-gallant (she/her) is 16 years old and attends Auburn high school. She has played many roles including: Jasmine in Aladdin, Dragon in Shrek, Sandy in Grease, Gretchen in Mean Girls and Pilar in Legally Blonde. Taighe also studies voice lessons with Brittany Hann-Bowness. An interesting fact about Taighe is that she one day aspires to be on Broadway.
Anneke-Rose Lefchak - Music for Young Children & Piano
Anneke-Rose (she/her) has been studying the Royal Conservatory of Music piano syllabus for fifteen years and is currently working toward her grade nine certificate. She also studied dance ( ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop) from age three to eighteen at Coastal Dance, and spent two years on the SMU dance team, one year as co-captain. Her summers were spent paddling at Orenda Canoe club where she later coached and managed the summer paddling and after school programs. Anneke-Rose is currently studying at Dalhousie University majoring in history and minoring in indigenous studies. She is excited to share her love of music and movement with children at YPC.
Nina Morehouse - Dance
Nina is a competitive dancer who started dancing at the age of three. She is trained in styles like ballet, jazz, tap, modern and lyrical. She started competing at 12 and was in her studio’s musical theatre production numbers for 6 years. Her favourite one was “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. She has completed many dance exams in all dance styles with honors, and she continues to dance and compete, dancing five days a week. Nina was also a student teacher at her studio for many years and spent a lot of time helping the younger dancers. Nina also loves all things music and can play guitar, ukulele, flute, and some piano. She has been a band student since Grade Five and played flute for 8 years. Music is a huge part of her life through both her instruments and dance.