ABOUT KATHY THOMPSON

If you want to speak, converse, sell or present with optimum vocal impact, then consider taking lessons with voice, speech and performance coach Kathy Thompson Spoken communication skills should never be taken for granted. The words you use, the way you think, and the quality of your voice are the foundation of all success in business She explains: “ I have made a living using my voice for over 3 decades, and have been training speakers to improve the way they talk and singers how to improve their voice since 1992. YOU as a speaker, need to build performance skills of your own. Confidence is an essential part of your image and how others perceive you, so it’s one of the first things we address. In 2005, Kathy achieved her Advanced Bronze (ATM-B) designation from Toastmasters International. Being a perpetual student herself, she also now a certified graduate of the National Institute of Broadcasting. Kathy was invited to join the Faculty of Centennial College as a C.E. teacher and will be lecturing on communication skills. She is also teaching a series of classes at Toronto’s Learning Annex, designed for Sales Professionals. (*See "EVENTS" menu).

KATHY'S PERFORMANCES & APPEARANCES

PLACES WHERE KATHY HAS PERFORMED:

Atlantic City - Claridge Casino, Bally’s Park Place,
Trump Taj Mahal (Milennium New Year’s Eve)
Banff, Alberta - Silver Springs Hotel
Basel, Switzerland - Häbst Theatre
Berlin, Germany – Estrel Hotel
Branson, Missouri – Osmond Family Theatre, Mickey Gilley Theatre Radio Simulcast, Mel Tillis Theatre (televised)
Bromont, Quebec – Bromont Resort
Brussels, Belgium – N.A.T.O. Headquarters
Cancun, Mexico - Fiesta Americana Hotel
Cincinnati, Ohio - Radisson Hotel, Executive Inn
Cologne, Germany
Florida – Coral Spring Performing Arts Centre, Amelia Island Resort, Miami Beach Fontainbleu Hotel
Detroit, Michigan – Fraser Sport City
Dieppe, France
Ontario, Northern (other)- Espanola, North Bay, Kapuskasing,
Ontario, Central (other)- Lindsay, Peterborough, Aurora
Evansville, Indiana – Executive Inn
Fort Erie, Ontario - Crystal Ridge Arena
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Hamilton, Ontario - Dundurn Park, Liuna Station, Flamboro Downs Casino
Hartford, Connecticut- Wadsworth Atheneum
Honolulu, Hawaii- Waikiki Beach recording
Huntsville, Ontario – Hidden Valley Resort
Jackpot Nevada - Cactus Pete’s Casino Resort
Japan - Yokota, Atsugi & Yokosuka
Kelowna B.C.
Lahr, Germany
Las Vegas - Las Vegas Hilton, Imperial Palace
London, Ontario - Centennial Hall, Wintergarden
Markham, Ontario – Markham Jazz Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Potawatomi Casino
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Mall of America
Mississauga, Ontario - Stage West Dinner Theatre, Madam’s, Mississauga Living Arts Centre - MAC Awards ’02 with comedian Victor J. Hanson (televised),
Montreal, Quebec - Montreal Jazz Festival
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Mystic Lakes, Minnesota – Mystic Lakes Casino & Hotel
Nassau, Freeport, Florida / Big Red Boat Caribbbean Cruiseline
New York City - Rockefeller Centre
Niagara Falls, Ontario – Americana Hotel Brock Hotel
Oshawa Little Theatre
Ottawa, Ontario - Chateau Laurier Hotel, Barrymore’s , National Arts Centre, The Penguin Club, Carleton Racetrack Slots, Westin Hotel
Owensboro, Kentucky – Executive Inn
Penticton, B.C.
Port Dover Ontario- Festival Lighthouse Theatre
Quebec City, Quebec – Chez Dagobert
Rogers Cable Television: "Insights" with Pam McDonald

San Francisco, California - San Francisco Marriot
Sarnia, Ontario - Hiawatha Race, Slots & Casino
St. George, Utah
St. John’s, Nova Scotia
Trois Rivieres, Quebec
Ulm, Germany
Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Toronto, Canada: Airport Convention Centre, Spa Excess, CN Tower, College Park, DuMaurier Jazz Festival, Cruiseline Boat Cruise, Harbour Castle Hotel, Nathan Phillip’s Square, Ontario Place – Jazz By The Waterfall, Liberly Grand, Ontario Place Forum, Planet Hollywood, The R.O.M., The Skyline Hotel, Vaughan Estates, Royal York Hotel Imperial Room, T.D. Centre Summer Jazz, Fantasy Farm, Scarborough Civic Centre, Renaissance Convention Centre, Woody’s PWA Fundraiser Organizer & Performer Carlu, Toronto Metro Convention Centre, The 54th, TD Centre, The Bristol Place Hotel, Pier 4, Delta Inn Meadowvale, Sutton Place, Four Seasons, The Docks , The Prince Hotel, Inn on the Park, Telfer’s, Radisson Hotel, C.N.E Bandshell and the D/X (Design Exchange)

Kathy Thompson Top 40 Band has performed at: Centros Jazz Bar, Chelsea Bun, The Constellation Hotel, The Granite Club, The Old Mill, Sheraton Hotel City Hall, Markham Suites, Quinte Arts Council Belleville, Americana Resort and Brock Sheraton, Niagara Falls

Kathy Thompson RSVP Jazz Quartet has performed at: Rosedale Golf & Country Club, Oyster Bar at Ontario Place Pod

FROM THE BEGINNING:

Kathy has been a busy professional singer since the age of 14, and in over 3 decades has done performances and speaking appearances numbering into the thousands: clubs, festivals, corporate events, private functions, television, film & recordings. She has been a composer, leader of the RSVP jazz quartet and a Top 40 Band… performed with many of Toronto finest musicians, done jingles & voice-overs and has been an acclaimed celebrity impersonator getting her start with Legends in Concert, Las Vegas.

As a teen, one of Kathy’s first solo public performances was winning a municipal talent contest two years in a row. In the early 70’s, Kathy played, sang and toured with the York Lion's Club Steel Drum Band for 4 years, traveling to Hawaii and Miami, and throughout Ontario. While she matriculated for 3 years as a voice major in the Humber College Fine Arts Music program, she studied privately with a variety of voice teachers. She studied jazz dancing at the Roland & Romaine Dance Studio.

In 1982, Kathy was posted in Ottawa where, after Basic Training where she won the Skill-At-Arms Award, she was the featured vocalist for the Royal Canadian Air Force 55-piece Central Band (Rank: Sergeant) for 3 years. During her R.C.A.F. post, she was a staff music calligrapher, librarian assistant and clarinetist. During her Sargeant’s training in Summerside, P.E.I., she was a designated parade drill sergeant. Kathy kept busy performing in clubs, major hotels and doing afternoon jazz gigs in Ottawa.

‘In 1985 Kathy returned to Toronto. She established her own dance band with a repertoire of over 400 songs for corporate and private functions, as well as the RSVP Jazz Quartet. In 1992 she was a founding member of The Singers Guild of Toronto. As President of the SGT, she organized special events & workshops for singers: “Self Defense for Women”, “A Meeting with Donny Osmond”; the Guild brought in Annie Ross of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. In 1994, Kathy was elected to the Board of Directors, Toronto Musicians’ Association/ American Federation of Musicians for a 2 year term. and was active in contract negotiations for Local 149. She was appointed chair of the contract revision committee, and designed the new contract for Local 149 miscellaneous & steady engagements. She was also an active member of the P.R Committee and Events Committee and an industry rep to National Association of Catering Executives.

To promote support of arts and live performance, Kathy was hired as the "See The Music" talent guide editor, in charge of layout, design, sales, and circulation at trade shows. Then came the study of animation voice acting in Los Angeles and Toronto, and jazz dance as well as Comedy Improv at Second City in the early 90’s and again in 2001…as well Theatresports Toronto (to Level V) to hone her ‘quick thinking’ skills. Some of her favourite stints included being a singing host for Mark Breslin's "Sing Sing.", and having the pleasure of working with Debbie Reynolds as a film stand-in. Kathy was a talent booking agent for Sphere Entertainment for one year. From 1988-1991, Kathy composed, published and distributed 3 independent recordings on CD which still receive Canadian airplay, most notably her Christmas favorite “The Gift of Love”. In 1994, she won a Scarborough Arts Council Award for her original country songs “Put Your Mind At Ease” performed by Neil Donnell. In 1998, she began a 6 year run as a principal performer in the hilarious live improv show "Joey & Gina’s Comedy Wedding" as the tipsy groom’s mother, Giovanna Prosciutto. She was featured singing the music of Harry James in the Toronto Jazz Festival, Canada Day ’99 at Nathan Phillip’s Square with Paul Grosney’s Big Band, and performed the Markham Jazz Festival with Paul and Tommy Ambrose. Kathy has had voice articles published in “Weddings & Honeymoons” Magazine, the Singers Guild of Toronto newsletter, and the KLI Corp. Newsletter “Your Voice Is You”. She created an audio CD project called “A Tribute To Canadian Jazz Composers”. Kathy is the only authorized Canadian representative for Entertainer’s Secret Throat Relief Spray.
(*visit www.entertainers-secret.com)

JINGLES & RADIO include:
Dixie Value Mall, North York City Centre, Grand & Toy, Glidden Paint, Irwin Toys, Molson Park, Jumbo Video, K-Mart, Labatt’s, Panzarotto & Pizza, Skydome, Merrill-Dow (duet with Eugene Smith), Garden Brothers Circus Theme, CJEZ Live Jazz radio Remote from Chelsea Bun

VOICE OVERS include:
Chinese Talking Yellow Pages Directory, International Karate Championship Emcee, Irwin Toys, Sailor Moon (doll sound chip) Smurf Figures

T.V. COMMERCIALS include:
Campbell’s, Canada’s Wonderland, Hostess, Labatt’s, Pontiac, Shell

T.V. / FILM / STAGE appearances include:
Check It Out / Don Adams …cashier
Clubland / Alan Alda …laughing patron
Joey & Gina’s Wedding …Giovanna Prosciutto, groom’s mother
Las Vegas, Imperial Palace …documentary as Bette Midler
Many Happy Returns / George Segal …juror
Northern Telecom …narrator / principal actor “Sally Fidget”
P.R. (sitcom) …cameo appearance as Bette Midler
Return of Perry Mason …reporter
Sadie & Son / Debbie Reynolds …stand-in for Debbie Reynolds
Stanley & Iris / Jane Fonda, DeNiro …nurse
Suspect w/ Cher, Dennis Quaid …courtroom secretary
What’s On in Atlantic City …documentary as Bette Midler
White Room / Karen Valentine …pianist / special skill

ORIGINAL RECORDINGS / CD COMPILATIONS:
“ The Gift of Love”, “A New Romance”, “Forgive and Forget”, “That’s the Secret”, “Put Your Mind At Ease”

MEMBERSHIPS:
A.C.T.R.A. (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists)
V.A.S.T.A. (Voice and Speech Trainers Association)
A.F. of M. (American Federation of Musicians)
S.O.C.A.N. (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)
C.M.R.R.A. (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Assoc.)
Toastmasters International

KATHY has been a FEATURED VOCALIST with:

Andy Krehm, Anthony Panacci Jazz Ensemble, Barry Romberg, Bert Rankin, Bob DeAngelis Orchestra, Bobby Herriot Orchestra, Brian Harris Quartet, Brigham Phillips, Craig Ruhnke, Danny McErlaine, Debbie Fleming, Del Dako, Don Wilston Trio, Eric Soostar, Eugene Amaro, Gene DiNovi, Terry Dee, Eric Soostar, Glenn Smith (Las Vegas), Guido Basso (of the Boss Brass), Hart Wheeler, Henry Cuesta (Lawrence Welk Show), Joe Starr, Kathryn Moses, Mike Mullin & the Moonmen, Moxy Whitney Orchestra, Norm Amadio, Orville Hoover, Patti Jannetta, Paul Grosney Orchestra, Los Amigos, Paul Wiggins, Dan Stapleton, Phil Gray’s “To The Moon”, Rick Morrison, Sweet Surrender, Rivington Station Vocal Quartet, Ron Willmot & Rendezvous, Rosemary Galloway, Tommy Ambrose, Tony Mergel, Vernon Issaac Big Band, Vic Franklin, Whitney Smith.

“A strong command of voice is very personally empowering.” “I understand the demanding schedule of the working singer and speaker - and how to keep the voice healthy!”

As the creator of the PURE VOICE POWER training method, she brings her unique vocal expertise to the business world. Her training studio is in Toronto east, where photos of her students and clients line the walls.