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Faculty
(2009-2010)
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 over 25 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 third year of teaching at The Speech Studio.
Tiffany Che
Tiffany has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for over eight 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). Tiffany has successfully
participated in numerous Kiwanis Festivals over the years. She
is in her fifth year of Business at the University of Alberta,
after completing a co-op internship with an international retailer
in Hong Kong for the past year.
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 is in his fourth year of teaching at The Speech Studio,
and in his fifth year of Arts at the University of Alberta.
Ameer Farooq
Ameer has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad for
over seven 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 in his third year of General
Sciences at the University of Alberta, and is in his second year
of teaching at The Speech Studio.
Mustafa Farooq
Mustafa has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for over seven years. He recently 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 second year of Arts 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 second year as Teacher’s Assistant for Speech Arts group
classes at The Speech Studio. Sophie holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree, with a major in Linguistics. She is currently in her last
year of the Speech Language Pathology Assistant program at Grant
MacEwan College.
Jessica Liu
Jessica has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for 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 second year
at the University of Alberta, and plans to major in Business Economics
and Law.
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 an
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 first-year medical student at the
University of Alberta, and is in her third year of teaching at
The Speech Studio.
Joyanne Rudiak
Joyanne has studied Speech Arts and Drama with Shirley Konrad
for over eight years. She recently completed her Associate Performer’s
Diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), and is
currently completing an Associate Teacher’s Diploma with
the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). Joyanne has successfully
participated in numerous festivals over the years. In addition
to winning several scholarships, Joyanne placed second in the
Senior Speech category at the Alberta Provincials (2009). Joyanne
is in her third year of Arts at the University of Alberta.
Janet Stumph
Janet has completed Speech Arts exams with both the Royal Conservatory
of Music (Toronto) and Trinity College (London, England). Janet
works with students of all ages, and provides speech coaching
for instructors at the college level. She also works with small
business owners, focusing on skills that include vocal technique,
speaking for conferences, and assertiveness training for leadership.
Janet holds a certificate from the Institute of Language and Phonology
to use the Compton PESL method of accent modification. She has
worked on accent improvement with adults from various backgrounds,
including Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Arabic, and Czechoslovakian.
With enthusiasm and sensitivity, Janet uses the imagination as
a vehicle for reaching and developing the student’s inner
resources. This is Janet’s seventh year of teaching at The
Speech Studio.
Amanda Yip
Amanda has been studying 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 third year of teaching
at The Speech Studio.
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