All About Books: Performing Artist Readers

Ms. Boyarski is an ongoing performer as an extra in film and TV!

Mr. Coupland has had a varied performing arts career:

• 1981 - played the role of "Tree #4" in the Blarchmont Elementary School Christmas concert.
• 1982 - played the role of "Usher" in the Blarchmont Elementary School Christmas concert.
• 1983 - performed with the McKim Middle School Choir at various community events.
• 1984 - "turned the pages" for our teacher as she played the piano as our McKim Middle School Choir performed at various community events.
• 1985 -  reprised his role of "Usher" while our McKim Middle School Choir performed at various community events.
• 1988 -  played the vital role of "Passerby #3" in the Selkirk Secondary School's Fall concert.
• 1989 until 1995 - While pursuing his "Gym Degree" at the University of British Columbia, he played the role of "Medical School Student".
• Mr. Coupland retired from the "stage" in 1995.

Mr. Fortin's father is a professional musician and teacher. At 18 he traded his hockey stick for a guitar.  He began writing music and lyrics immediately and has written and recorded 3 original albums and 1 children’s record about a dinosaur.  Mr. Fortin has toured the world and performed with Level 42, Jimmy Cliff, Blue Rodeo, Tom Cochran’s, Tragically Hip, etc.  He has written music and lyrics for TV movies and a few short films and continues to write and perform music.  Mr. Fortin runs a monthly singer/songwriters showcase that has raised almost $3 million for local charities and is a federal non-profit.  He would love to release a book of poetry and will write and direct a film someday.

The books that made Mr. Fortin read were Phillip K Dicks “ Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”. The next was “Fifth Business” by Robertson Davies and all his trilogies and then “Waiting for Godot” and Charles Buckowski and Tom Waits were his poetry.... oh and he love Michael Ondaatje’s poetry and writing, especially “Coming Through Slaughter"

Mr. G's university degree includes a major in Acting and a minor in History.

Ms. Manara believes all teachers are really actors at heart.   She studied voice for five years and considered majoring in music until she realized that she would never be able to sight read. Ms. Manara have also been in numerous musicals--both on stage and off.  She has written and directed videos (some of which won awards).

Ms. Workman has a Bachelor of Music Jazz Studies where she majored in piano and also studied voice. In high school, Ms. Workman met a certain teacher named Walter Mustapich. He joined her school as the Drama teacher and Business Education. In the last two years of high school, and then for 5 years after that, she worked with Walter directing and producing plays for Vanfest and also helping in his classes. Ms. Workman had been in both instrumental and choral ensembles and is currently singing in Espiritu. She have been in the Lynn Valley Black Bear Band for a number of years as well. One of the most memorable (and lucrative) gigs was being the carol singer on one of the carol ships in Vancouver Harbour.