Karen Choi

Instructor – Toronto, ON

With her trademark enthusiasm and values-centred approach to collaboration, Karen Choi (she/her) is committed to helping arts organizations connect with audiences in two ways:

In coaching, Karen helps arts administrators and performing artists energize their work and lives. Trained as a professional coach at Adler, she specializes in creating clarity, breaking through inner barriers, and burnout recovery. Recent clients include the Association for Opera in Canada and Women in Musical Leadership, led by Tapestry Opera.

Through content strategy and marketing, Karen creates fun and meaningful experiences that boost engagement and brand awareness. Recent clients include Loose Tea Music Theatre and SweetWater Music Festival.

After roles in communications at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and The New Classical 96.3FM, Karen’s spent the past decade walking the entrepreneurial path. Based in Toronto, you might find Karen exploring the Bluffs with her husband, Usic, their two daughters, and Arlo, the dog.

Amy Melmock

Instructor – Great Village, NS

Amy Melmock works with cultural and community-based arts organizations throughout Canada to help them hone in on their strategic and business aspirations and turn these aspirations into action. Through three decades of experience working in the public sector, community development and arts administration, she has helped arts organizations large and small see the connecting fabric between their needs and the broader goals of their community.

Her arts background includes a five-year term as General Manager of Neptune Theatre in Halifax and working as the Festival Coordinator of the inaugural Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, Nova Scotia. As a community economic development manager in Hants County, Nova Scotia and in the Cowichan Valley region of Vancouver Island, she assisted heritage and cultural organizations and municipalities with finding the resources to pursue new professional arts facilities and community-based initiatives. As a wordsmith, she has held Senior Communications and Marketing positions with the former ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism in British Columbia and with the Ontario Office of the Premier. She has also written more than a dozen original works of children’s musical theatre that were produced professionally.

Stephen Bell

Instructor – Toronto, ON

Founder and Creative Director of the film and web design studio, Coffeeshop Film & Creative, Stephen Bell is a UX/UI Designer and Director of Photography based in Toronto, Ontario. Upon studying at the Ontario College of Design, Stephen and a team of a designers and creatives founded Coffeeshop Film & Creative which quickly grew into a leading Toronto media studio with over 100 clients in industries ranging from the arts to construction and finance. With an approach to minimalist and clean design, Stephen has created over 75 custom desktop and mobile web and web app builds, while receiving recognition and award honours.

Stephen is also an accomplished operatic tenor, and was a member of the Calgary Opera Young Artist Program, he has performed with companies across Canada, US and Europe. Stephen has performed with the Canadian Opera Company in over 85 productions as a member of the chorus, small roles and understudies.

Tim Crouch

Instructor – Toronto, ON

My name is Tim Crouch, and I’ll be your instructor and guide throughout this surveying course. I have a background in the performing arts, having received my Bachelors and Masters of Music in Flute performance. Rather than entering a career path of performance, however, early on I discovered that my true passion lies in arts administration, and increasing the accessibility of arts and culture in Canada. I’ve held senior-level marketing positions at Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir and Soundstreams, and have now moved into general management. I have been on the Board for Musicworks Magazine and Guild Festival Theatre, and have sat on various committees, including the Juno Awards Classical Nominations Committee, the Orchestras Canada Digital Committee, and the Kawartha Lakes Arts Council Communications Committee. Learn more or contact Tim on LinkedIn.

Tim Dolan

Instructor – Toronto, ON

Tim Dolan is the founder of Kickframe, a digital consulting and training company. Tim has over 20 years of international experience helping organizations to navigate strategic opportunities relating to digital media, data, and technology. Over his career, Tim has provided digital consulting and training services to organizations including Four Seasons, BMW, Nike, Walmart, Vodafone, Virgin, WWF, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Tim Dolan, MBA is an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF), Certified Training Practitioner (CTP), Certified Agile Marketer (ICP-MKG) and former instructor for the CMA Digital Marketing Certificate Course. He is also the instructor of the ArtsBoost Digital Marketing & Fundraising for the Arts course.

Michelle Yeung

Instructor – Toronto, ON

Michelle Yeung has 20 years of experience in working in the arts, a successful track record in arts management with a commitment to volunteerism and a culture of philanthropy. She has been a professional  fundraiser for 15 years and is also a Certified Fundraising Executive. Her career includes working at such organizations as The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Toronto Arts Foundation, Tafelmusik, and Factory Theatre, to name a few.  She has also served on boards including Prologue Performing Arts, Mass Culture and Cahoots Theatre Company. Learn more or contact Michelle on LinkedIn.

Blanche Israël

Instructor – Halifax, NS

Blanche Israël is a multilingual Canadian performing arts consultant, cellist, and the founder of proScenium Services. After studying cello in Montreal for nearly two decades, Blanche graduated from the Arts Management Specialist program at the University of Toronto in 2014, where she later returned as a sessional instructor. During the pandemic, Blanche launched Streamium, a virtual performance support service for Canadian artists and arts organizations. She also has experience in front of the camera – as a cellist with JUNO Award-winning Indigenous tenor and composer Jeremy Dutcher.