My name is
LAUREN IRELAND
and this is my story...
In 1996 I moved from Montreal to Calgary with no friends and nothing to do.
I turned to music for comfort.
I started singing in my room to No Doubt, Greenday, Bush X, Foo Fighters and any other alternative rock band I had in my collection.
School started and I made some friends who were really into hip hop and R&B. I am talking Destiny’s Child, 702, En Vogue, Blackstreet, 2PAC and SWV.
My best friend in Montreal told me about a musical he loved and thought I’d love too, and so began our collective obsession with the musical RENT. It was my introduction to musical theatre and, of course, it was a musical that was on the fringe of the genre and a little (a lot) edgy.
I wasn’t ready to trade in my Airwalks, baggy pants and ball chain necklace yet but I was realizing that I sincerely love so many genres of music.
My introduction to singing lessons...
I was in my friend’s room one day and started singing along to No Doubt and she said “Wow, you have a great voice, you should take singing lessons, you could go to my teacher.”
I was 13, I didn’t know private voice lessons were even a thing until that moment. So, I signed up and there began my vocal journey.
In high school, I joined the St. Mary’s Choir, directed by Audrey Gunther. She became my musical mother figure over time and I wanted to be her when I grew up. She has since passed away but she made a huge impression on me and remains in my thoughts.
Our Jazz Choir was particularly strong and was invited to New York to sing at Carnegie Hall, where I had a solo.
The start of my career...
In 2001, I started teaching privately with a focus on contemporary and musical theatre styles. I taught at another studio from 2001 - 2008. In 2008, I founded Singsana.
Private coaching led to other job offers. I served on the faculty of The Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede from 2012 to 2016, I worked annually on the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show, I have been a solo vocal coach for Revv52 members.
In 2011, I co-wrote and recorded my first album with my band, Minerva, which was a singer-songwriter trio with sweeping harmonies and acoustic instrumentation. We gigged a lot! I was finally having fun on stage along with my other female bandmates.
This is when I realized singing in harmony added SO MUCH to our performances.
I WANT TO LEARN TO HARMONIZE
