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Faculty
(2010-2011)
Back
Row (L-R): Mustafa Farooq, Sophie Lee, Philip Chiu, Tiffany Che,
Joyanne Rudiak, Ameer Farooq
Front
Row (L-R): Amanda Yip, Stephanie Bale, Janet Stumph, Shirley Konrad,
Maleka Ramji, Jessica Liu
Shirley Konrad, Director • BFA, LMRC, ARTC, ATCL
Shirley Konrad is a graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program
(Drama) from the University of Calgary. She holds Associate Teacher’s
Speech Arts Diplomas from Mount Royal College (Calgary), the Royal
Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and Trinity College (London,
England). She also holds a Licentiate Diploma as a performer from
Mount Royal College.
As Owner and Director of The Speech Studio, Shirley has
been instrumental in developing the voices of hundreds of students
for almost 30 years. She has taught at colleges and schools throughout
Alberta, instilling confidence, poise, expressive vocal skills,
and dynamic presentational ability in all of the individuals with
whom she works. In addition to being an actress and director,
Shirley conducts effective communication workshops throughout
Western Canada.
Her innovative and energetic approach to her vocal work has made
Shirley a well respected festival adjudicator across Canada, and
has earned her a distinguished position on the College Board of
Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music (Speech Arts).
Shirley released her book, A Vocal Invitation to Readers Theatre,
in 2001. This book focuses on developing the child’s voice,
and is a valuable resource for both teachers and parents. Specific
information on this book is listed under Resources on our website.
As a result of her hard work, passion, and commitment to the spoken
arts, Shirley has established a reputation for producing nationally
recognized performers and first-class artists in this field. Shirley
believes in nothing less than setting a high standard with all
the work that is produced at the Studio.
Stephanie Bale
Stephanie has been studying Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley
Konrad for over 15 years. She completed her Associate Performer’s
Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and is
currently completing her Associate Teacher’s Diploma with
the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and Trinity College
(London, England). Stephanie has been recognized for her exceptional
work by receiving three Silver Medals from the Royal Conservatory
of Music and a first place at the provincial level. In addition,
she placed first in two distinguished scholarship competitions
at the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival in 2004 and 2006. Stephanie
is currently enrolled at the University of Alberta, and is in
her fourth year of teaching at The Speech Studio.
Tiffany Che
Tiffany has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for over nine years. She has completed her Associate Performer’s
Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and is
currently completing her Associate Teacher’s Diploma with
the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). Tiffany has successfully
participated in numerous Kiwanis Festivals over the years. She
has completed her Business degree at the University of Alberta,
and continues with her education. Tiffany is in her second year
of teaching at The Speech Studio.
Philip Chiu
Philip studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad for over
10 years. In 2006, Philip completed an Associate Performer’s
Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and is
currently completing an Associate Teacher’s Diploma. He
has also attained an ARCT Performer’s Certificate in Piano.
Philip recently completed his Arts/Sociology degree at the University
of Alberta. He is in his fifth year of teaching at The Speech
Studio.
Ameer Farooq
Ameer has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad for
over eight years. He has completed his Associate Performer’s
Diplomas with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and Trinity
College (London, England), and is currently completing an Associate
Teacher’s Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto).
Ameer has been recognized for his exceptional work by receiving
two Silver Medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Competing
successfully in both local and provincial music festivals, Ameer
received the prestigious Rose Bowl trophy at the Sherwood Park
Music Festival in 2006. Ameer is a first-year medical student
at the University of Alberta, and is in his third year of teaching
at The Speech Studio.
Mustafa Farooq
Mustafa has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for over eight years. He has completed his Associate Performer’s
Diplomas with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and Trinity
College (London, England), and is currently completing an Associate
Teacher’s Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto).
Mustafa has competed in both local and provincial festivals. In
addition to placing first in the E.B. McKitrick Memorial Scholarship,
Mustafa placed first in the Senior Speech category at the Alberta
Provincials in 2008. Mustafa is in his third year of Arts at the
University of Alberta, and is in his second year of teaching at
The Speech Studio.
Jessica Kim
Jessica has been studying Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for almost 10 years. She recently completed her Associate Performer’s
Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and is
currently completing an Associate Teacher’s Diplomas with
both the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and Trinity College
(London, England). Jessica has been recognized for her ourstanding
work by receiving three Silver Medals from the Royal Conservatory
of Music and a first place at the provincial level (Senior Category)
in 2009. She has placed in two distinguished scholarship competitions
at the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival. Jessica is currently enrolled
at the University of Alberta in General Sciences, and plans to
be a Speech Pathologist.
Catherine Lee
Catherine has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
since 1996. She recently completed her Associate Performer’s
Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and is
currently completing Associate Teacher’s Diplomas with both
the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and Trinity College
(London, England). Catherine has successfully participated in
numerous Kiwanis Festivals and recitals over the years. She is
in her second year of Science at the University of Alberta.
Sophie Lee
Sophie has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad since
1990. She has an Associate Performer’s Diploma from Trinity
College (London, England), and is currently completing her Associate
Performer’s Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music
(Toronto). She has been teaching piano for six years, and is in
her third year of teaching the Speech Arts group classes at The
Speech Studio. Sophie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, with
a major in Linguistics. She also holds a Pathology Assistant Diploma
from Grant MacEwan University, and is working for a non-profit
organization to provide services for children with special needs.
Sophie is in her second year of teaching privately at The
Speech Studio.
Jessica Liu
Jessica has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for over 10 years. She is currently completing her Associate Teacher’s
and Performer’s Diplomas with the Royal Conservatory of
Music (Toronto) and Trinity College (London, England). Jessica
has successfully participated in numerous Kiwanis Festivals over
the years, winning top awards for her achievements. In addition,
Jessica has studied piano for 12 years. She is in her third year
at the University of Alberta, and plans to major in Business Economics
and Law. Jessica is in her second year of teaching at The
Speech Studio.
Maleka Ramji
Maleka has studied Speech Arts with Shirley Konrad since 2000.
Maleka has completed her Performer’s and Teacher’s
Diplomas with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and a
Performer’s Certificate with Trinity College (London, England).
She received the Best Overall Speech Arts Performer Award at the
Sherwood Park Music Festival five times, and was nominated for
Provincials in Speech Arts, Voice and Musical Theatre. At the
Alberta Provincial Music Festival, Maleka placed first in the
Intermediate Speech category (2003) and first in the Senior Speech
category (2005). Maleka is a second-year medical student at the
University of Alberta, and is in her fourth year of teaching at
The Speech Studio.
Janet Stumph
Janet holds a Professional Certificate in Communication Skills
from Trinity College (London, England), and has completed Speech
Arts exams with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). She
also holds a certificate from the Institute of Language and Phonology
to use the Compton PESL method of accent modification. In addition
to regular studio teaching, she provides speech coaching for instructors
at the college level, employees in large corporations and small
business owners, focusing on skills that include vocal technique,
speaking for conferences, and assertiveness training for leadership.
Janet also works with students competing to enter medical school
via the Multiple Mini interview. Janet facilitates workshops and
is in demand as a speaker at special events. This is Janet’s
eighth year of teaching at The Speech Studio.
Amanda Yip
Amanda has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad for
11 years. She has completed her Associate Performer’s Diplomas
with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and Trinity College
(London, England), and is currently completing an Associate Teacher’s
Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). Amanda
placed first in the E.B. McKitrick Memorial Scholarship competition
at the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival in 2007, and has been recognized
as the Best Overall Speech Arts Performer at the Sherwood Park
Music Festival. Amanda received the Silver Medal from the Royal
Conservatory of Music for her Practical Grade Eight Speech Exam.
Amanda is currently enrolled in General Sciences at the University
of Alberta, and is in her fourth year of teaching at The Speech
Studio.
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