Brenda Berge, contralto, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Operatic Performance (University of Toronto), a Bachelor of Arts in Music (University of Alberta) and an Associateship in Music (Vocal Performance) from The Western Board of Music. Brenda continued her post-graduate studies in New York with renowned pedagogue Marlena Malas of the Juilliard School of Music and Joan Dornemann, Voice Coach and Assistant Conductor for The Metropolitan Opera. She has received 20+ musical grants, scholarships and awards, including the Chalmers Award for Musical Excellence (Ontario Arts Council) and the Cambridge Youth in Achievement Award.

Brenda has performed as a soloist with leading Canadian symphonies and opera companies, including the Canadian Opera Company, Opera Hamilton, Opera in Concert, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra London and The Edmonton Symphony. She has also performed with the Ontario Pops Orchestra and The Toronto Symphony Orchestra in both operatic and Broadway symphonic performances. Brenda has appeared as a soloist on major network television programs and been featured in CBC Radio and Television productions in both solo recitals and symphonic performances.

A passionate educator, Brenda has maintained an active and varied studio in Toronto for 35+ years, teaching classical and contemporary commercial music (e.g., musical theatre, pop, jazz, country, singer-songwriter). She has also been a repeated guest lecturer at the University of Toronto post-graduate Vocal Pedagogy music program.

Student credits include roles on Broadway (NY), the West End (London), and various national and international tours. Brenda’s students have performed in musical theatre productions with Mirvish, Drayton, and the Stratford, Shaw, and Charlottetown festivals and have received multiple vocal competition awards (e.g., Kiwanis Music Festival platinum and gold awards, Royal Conservatory of Music medal). They have been accepted into leading university and college music programs (e.g., U of T, Western, Berklee College of Music). They have signed with major US recording labels, including Sony and Universal, and written for chart-topping artists such as Pink, Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Nicole Scherzinger, Pitbull and Celine Dion. Their credits also include winning two Grammy awards and a Billboard Music Award.

Brenda is a board member of The Maestro Foundation for Music and Arts Advancement which supports music and arts opportunities for disadvantaged youth. She is honoured to be the recipient of a U of T named endowment which awards the annual post-graduate Brenda Berge U of T Vocal Excellence Award.

Brenda is a member of ACTRA, NATS, CAEA and ORMTA.