Meet our teachers
Principal - Hilary Wight
Hilary Wight, originally from London, England, has taught singing for various StageCoach Schools in the UK. Hilary opened Canada's first StageCoach in 2006 and is thrilled to offer our concept to the children of the Lower Mainland. Hilary also spent many years as a professional singer, performing in theatres across Europe. She is now dedicated to passing on her skills and knowledge to a new generation.
Dance Coach - Billie Murphy
Born and raised in Vancouver, Billie has been singing, dancing, and acting since a young age. A graduate of the Musical Theatre Diploma Program at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, she is trained in all aspects of musical theatre. After completing the program, she spent a year training in jazz, contemporary, tap, and theatre dance techniques in New York as a scholarship student at the New Dance Group and other studios throughout the city. In Vancouver, she has appeared with various companies throughout the city. Credits include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Nuncrackers: The Musical, The Jessie Richardson Awards, and various Applause Musicals in Concert. She teaches Early Childhood Education classes throughout Vancouver. As a teacher, her goal is to pass on the joy of dance to everyone, regardless of previous technique, experience, or ability.
Billie has been part of the StageCoach team in Vancouver for 4 years.
Singing Coach - Katy Schroeder
Katy originally taught for StageCoach in Vancouver in 2007/08, we are delighted to welcome her back.
Her experiences at The Banff Centre, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Edmonton Fringe Festival, The Randolph Academy, UBC Theatre and The Stratford Festival have provided her with a wealth of knowledge to pull from.
She has worked across the country in shows such as The Children's Hour, Into the Woods, Oliver, The Nutcracker and many more. Katy is passionate about singing and loves to help a new generation progress and thrive in the wonderful world of Musical Theatre!
Drama Coach - Claire Rice
Claire has been singing, dancing and acting for as long as she can remember. She graduated from the Randolph Academy in Toronto in 2004 and has been teaching ever since.
Claire has starred in many shows, including Cabaret, Godspell, Grease, A Chorus Line and directed children's productions of Annie, the Wizard of Oz, Newsies, Fame and others.
She has lived and worked in Toronto, Vancouver, Switzerland, and the UK where she first became involved with StageCoach, teaching Drama at StageCoach Winchester.
Claire regularly writes her own plays, scenes and music and very much appreciates originality. Creativity, self-expression and teamwork are Claire's main priorities when teaching a drama classes, and nothing makes her happier than when her students let go and have fun!
Drama, Singing, Dance Coach - Gemma Isaac
Gemma has taught at StageCoach Vancouver for the past 2 years, in Fall 2011 she took charge of our Further Stages program for 14-18 year olds.
Gemma is a Theatre graduate of Studio 58, and studied at the London Actors Equity Centre, in the UK. She has been a part of the Vancouver theatre scene since 1993; her first professional show at the age of 13 was Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond. Gemma teaches Further Stages program for 14-18 year olds at the Vancouver Eastside, and singing at the Vancouver Westside StageCoach Schools. Favourite show credits include: Grace Anderson in Shine (New York Fringe Festival 2010), Esmeralda in Quasimodo (Boca Del Lupo), Judith Marcuse%u2019s Earth=Home, Polya in Crime and Punishment (NeWorld), and as %u201Cgood friends%u201D Princess Mulan, Mickey, Minnie, and, Donald for Disney Cruise Lines. In between her singing, dancing, and acting, Gemma has recently completed her 4th year in the Bachelor of Music Therapy Program at Capilano University. She has taught singing, drama, and musical theatre in the lower mainland for many years and is thrilled to pass on her experience and knowledge to the next generation of performers, providing a supportive, professional, and playful environment for all StageCoach students.
Early Stages Coach - Francine Dulong
Originally from Nova Scotia, she holds a Double Major in French and Theatre from the University of British Columbia and has spent the past year abroad at the International Theatre School of Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France. In addition to her ever growing three years of experience teaching drama to children of all ages, Francine has worked with different theatre groups across Canada and the United States including Neptune Theatre, Virginia Tech Theatre, and the Vancouver Fringe. An avid performer with extensive physical and musical theatre training, she continues to expand her performing horizons as she shares her passion and knowledge with young children who continue to inspire her.
Francine has been inspiring young children at StageCoach in Vancouver for 4 years.