MEDEA

About The Company

Glenda Collens

Glenda Collens (née Thomas-McSween) holds a BA in vocal performance from Boston University. She was given a full four year scholarship by the then President now Chancellor of the University Jon Silber, to study voice at the School for the Arts with acclaimed American soprano Phylis Curtin of Boston University’s, Opera Institute. Glenda was recruited to the University while she was performing the role of Tesbea from Walcott’s Joker of Seville at the Huntington Theatre, Boston. Glenda was a member of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop from 1992–2004 and was part of the Nobel Prize celebration tours to Holland and Boston from 1992-1994.

While at BU, Glenda interned as an Actor, Stage Manager, Property Master, Wardrobe Person and juried auditions under the direction of Katharine Snodgrass, Artistic Director of the Boston Playwright Theatre . She also had the privilege of being directed and coached by acclaimed acting coach James Sprull, Boston.

Glenda has studied voice with Jocelyn Sealy, Lorna Mae Meyers, Mr. William Sharp, Noel Barker of Guildhall School of Music, London, Betty Allen Columbia University and Harlem School for the Arts New York, Gail Blache Gill, New York. Sharon Denials of the Opera Institute, Boston University and Vocal Pedagogy with Susan Ormont of Boston and New York.

She worked with conductor David Hoose when she sang the role of Ms Addie in the opera Regina at the Huntington Theatre Boston. Glenda has also worked with conductors Ann Howard Jones and Bernard Shaw and performed in solo recitals in London, France, Italy and Hungary.

Glenda won the Cacique Award for best original music for the play Dance, staged at Queens Hall and the Chierri Drama Festival, Italy. She has also been twice nominated for the Cacique Award for best supporting actress for Last of the Red Hot lovers and Shaggaround. Glenda was also nominated for another Cacique Award for best production for the play Waves of Hope which she produced with Bernard Hazell and Ricardo Nanton.

She was hired by Trinidad Theatre Workshop as Musical Director for workshops of the musical Steel by Derek Walcott in 2004.

Glenda was Minstrel Mary in Carnival Messiah 2003 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, England and again in 2004 when it premièred at the Queen’s Hall, Trinidad. She has also sung the role of the Diva in the Cacique Award winning 3 Canal Show 2004 in Trinidad and for the production Play Mas in Hamburg, Germany.

In 2005 Glenda was Musical Director, Voice Coach, Choral director and Conductor of the Cacique Award winning Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, at Queens Hall.

As associate casting agent for Disney’s the Lion King, Glenda successfully cast her voice students in the roles of Simba and Nala for London, Australia and Toronto.

She reprised her role of Diva for the 3 Canal Show Jab in D Box 2005 and Vibes it Up 2006. She also sang “Oh Little Red Bird” from Derek Walcott’s Joker of Seville, while portraying the role of the Singing Hart for Peter Minshall’s Carnival Presentation, The Sacred Heart 2006 at the Queens Park Savannah.

In November 2006 Glenda launched her production company MEDEA with the musical Swing Out Live! at the Little Carib Theatre in Trinidad. Glenda wrote, produced, directed and performed in the musical, which was nominated for six Cacique Awards.

Glenda wrote, performed and co-produced "A Prelude to Jazz", a solo jazz concert for the Tobago "Fringe" Jazz Festival in collaboration with Café Iguana, Tobago, April 2007.

Glenda was the choral arranger/director for a choir of 30 back-up singers on stage in 3Canal's 2008 musical production "SHINE" and also performed her familiar role of Diva.

For 2009 Glenda has performed at the WIPA Awards, MovieTowne's Fiesta Plaza for the Women in Jazz series and along with her band MEDEA, which will have it's official launch 24th September 2009. She has performed at Jazz in July a week-end music festival held at Queens Hall, Port of Spain, Songshine at Sky Bar and Studio Live! at Studio Lounge on the Avenue.

Glenda continues to coach her Voice Development courses, at her studio from which she has had the pleasure of working with some of Trinidad’s most talented young singers.

Glenda Collens is also currently on the panel of judges for Digicel Rising Stars 2009.

Photos (top to bottom):

1. Glenda • photo by Jeffrey Chock
2. Mother & Son "Christopher" • photo by Jeffrey Chock
3. The Conductor (JCS Miusical Director, 2005)
4. "Diva"