Welcome to
Flight Studio
At Flight we ignite in kids a sense of exploration, self expression and connectivity through art.
Our programs are led by artists and educators from the Stratford community who have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in their respective fields.
Our creative arts classes offer kids the space, resources, and opportunities to learn a new craft or further a passion they have been nurturing.
At Flight kids will also have a ton of fun and make new friends!
Kids begin to express themselves through artistic means at a very early age. Engaging with art is a vital part of their journey as individuals and a means through which they can know community. We are the woven fabric of so many different forms of self-expression. Be it singing, painting, crafting, dancing, acting, drawing, writing, playing an instrument…no matter what the form may be, through seeking, practice and collaboration we learn a little more about our story and this human experience we all share. I hope that all the young artists who would like to come and play at Flight Studio will feel at home and find ways to tell their own stories through different artistic disciplines, while also finding joy and connection in learning about the stories of others.
Xo Michelle
The Flight Team
Jane Czarny
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Jane believes in creating positive personal stories, especially in the realms of education, the arts, parenting and volunteerism. As a teacher, collaborator and Arts Curriculum developer for over thirty years, Jane encourages shifts in structural thinking through cultivating a growth mindset in young people.
During her longstanding career at the Bishop Strachan School, she taught Drama, English, Media Arts while directing plays, musicals, the school Nativity pageant...and forged a friendship with the wonderful Michelle Giroux!
Here in Perth County, she was gifted the role of team lead/creator and teacher of of a unique program of kinesthetic learning for the HPCDSB. In October, you can find Jane at the Avon Theatre, hosting Ghost Tours for the Festival's Meighen Forum.
Writing credits include StratFest@home’s Ghost Tours, essays in the Globe & Mail, as well as songs, stories, poems and, most recently, a YA novel (unpublished...for now). A licensed Chaplain, Jane officiates personalized Ceremonies of Love. Jane is delighted to be on the Flight Crew and is excited to collaborate with all your children!
Brooke Dufton
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An experienced performer, teacher, conductor, and clinician, Brooke Dufton holds a doctorate in Vocal Performance specializing in Vocal Pedagogy. As a performer she specializes in early music and new Canadian classical music, and she has been praised for her ‘great skill’ (Globe and Mail), ‘strong presence’ (Peterborough Examiner), and ‘beautiful tone and control’ (The Chronicle-Herald). She also adjudicates, leads masterclasses and workshops, and maintains a global private studio with students in-person and online. Her students have been awarded prestigious solo opportunities, tours, and recordings, acceptances into performance programs in Canadian and American universities, awards and scholarships from festivals, and high standing in exams.
Choir singing is near and dear to Brooke’s heart: Brooke has performed in professional choruses across Canada. Brooke has conducted a variety of ensembles and is currently the director of the Festival Sounds Chorus in Stratford.
She is an RCM-certified teacher, a member of several music teaching associations, including ORMTA, CMTA, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). Brooke has taught and guest lectured for a number of institutions, including the Royal Conservatoire Scotland; the Glenn Gould School; the University of Toronto, where she was nominated for a teaching award; and Mount Allison University.
Michelle Giroux
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Michelle is an actress who has worked in the Canadian theatre, television and film industry for the past twenty-five years. After graduating from The National Theatre School she joined the Stratford Festival Acting Company. In her first two seasons, Michelle toured to the New York City Center playing William Hutt's daughter in The Miser and Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal opposite Brian Bedford at The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Other roles at Stratford include Nina in The Seagull, Olivia in Twelfth Night, Jean-Louise in To Kill a Mockingbird, Isabella in Edward II, Katerina in Brothers Karamazov, Joan of Arc in Henry VI, Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Rosaline in Love's Labours Lost. Michelle has also performed in plays at The Tarragon Theatre, The Factory Theatre, Crow's Theatre, The Segal Centre, GCTC, Theatre Aquarius and with Groundling Theatre. Michelle is a graduate of the inaugural Acting Program at The Canadian Film Centre. Upon graduating she was nominated for The Vancouver Film Critics' Award for Best Actress in Blood Pressure, her first feature film. Other feature film credits include Blackberry, Delia's Gone and Life in a Year. Michelle has also played recurring roles on The Hardy Boys, The Hot Zone, Mockingbird and Suits among others. Michelle lives in Stratford with her husband, Graham Abbey, her daughter Vivienne and their dog, Arlo.
Jaimie Henderson
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Jaimie is a Canadian actor & educator who recently returned back to Ontario after completing her MFA in Acting down in the States. As an actor she has explored the complex lives of characters from Shakespeare's time all the way up to the current contemporary canon at theatres both in Canada and the US. Outside of performance, Jaimie has a large background in theatre education, theatre for young people, and an extensive teaching background with students ranging from high school through university. She is certified in 3 weapon styles, a professionally trained dancer/choreographer, and fitness instructor. Jaimie is thrilled to be part of the Flight Family!
Kellen Hatanaka
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Kellen Hatanaka (b. 1987, Toronto, Canada) is a multidisciplinary artist who makes vibrant, figurative paintings and drawings that celebrate sport, design, history, and culture.
Hatanaka’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been featured in publications including Victory Journal, ArtMaze Magazine, and Graphite Journal.
He has collaborated with clients such as Nike, Reebok, Casper, The Polaris Music Prize, Apple Music and The Toronto Blue Jays.
Hatanaka and collaborator Jon-Erik Lappano received the Governor General's Award for their book Tokyo Digs a Garden (2016). He is currently based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.
Eric Lundgren
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Eric is an American Guitarist hailing from the rural countryside in northern Wisconsin. Raised on classic and psychedelic rock, Eric cut his teeth sitting in with the cover bands of the area playing songs by CCR, Bob Segar, and Three Dog Night to name a few.
He went on to receive a formal music education studying contemporary and jazz guitar, arranging, and composition. He spent his postsecondary years traveling on cruise ships performing Vegas style production shows, backing guest entertainers, and playing in bands covering anything from Ballroom Dance to Modern Radio Hits.
Now based in Stratford, Eric has enjoyed building relationships with the many talented musicians in the area. You can see him play the regular jazz nights at The Relic, live music nights at Starlight or curated performances with some of The Stratford Festival’s many talented singers, with one of his favorites being the 2023 PAL Fundraiser “Signed, Sealed, Delivered…The Hits of Motown”.
Eric is so excited for the opportunities the Flight program brings to the Stratford music community. Grab your instrument, bring your creativity, let's make some music!
Meet your Saturday Runway Guest Artists
Ijeoma Emesowum
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Actor, Designer & Crafter
SATURDAY RUNWAY SERIES
Saturday, October 19, 2024Stratford local and playground frequenter, Ijeoma has appeared in over 30 productions between The Stratford Festival and The Shaw Festival since 2014. Selected productions include Wedding Band, The Crucible, As You Like It, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Hay Fever (Stratford) Major Barbara, Serious Money, and Ragtime (Shaw).
During the pandemic, Ijeoma created and performed in Spontaneous Theatre’s Roadside Rascals, an interactive song and storytelling children’s show, on the sidewalks of neighbourhoods around Stratford.
Elsewhere: A Christmas Carol (Theatre New Brunswick), The Aftermath (Nightwood), Romeo & Juliet (Spontaneous Theatre), Host of Showstarters (STRATFEST@home). Ijeoma is a Birmingham Conservatory graduate (2016–17) and holds a BFA from the University of Windsor.
From 2013-2017 she ran a small side hustle called Uso Vintage Designs, which included one of a kind cake stands made from upcycled china and tea cups, (which were sold in the Stratford Festival Gift Shop) and a line of natural Body Butters, lip balms, and beard oils. She has collaborated on custom designs with local small businesses including Revel and Fawn. An avid crafter, when she is not acting or spending time with her family she can be found surrounded by fabric, paper, glue, her Cricut, and her sewing machine!
Christa Mercey
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Musician, Music Psychotherapist
SATURDAY RUNWAY SERIES
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Saturday, November 16Christa grew up in Elmira, Ontario, surrounded by a musical family. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Music program, she furthered her studies at Berklee Online and in Ghana, West Africa. Christa has toured extensively as both an original cast and band member of Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities, Scrap Arts Music, and the TorQ Percussion Quartet.
Her most recent performances include playing bodhrán and percussion in Come From Away in Gander, subbing on drums for SIX in Toronto, and playing drums and percussion with Drayton Entertainment for The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof.
Offstage, she is a board-certified Music Therapist and a Registered Psychotherapist (Q) with a Master’s degree in Music Psychotherapy. Based in Stratford, Ontario, Christa is dedicated to integrating music and creativity with kindness and compassion.
She is excited to join the Flight Studio team and looks forward to contributing to the growth of this community.
Jon-Eric Lappano
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Children’s Book Author
SATURDAY RUNWAY SERIES
Saturday, November 23, 2024Jon-Erik Lappano is a person who stays up too late working on things, including writing books for children.
His debut children's book, Tokyo Digs a Garden was awarded the Governor General's Literary Award, and was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children’sLiterature Award, the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award and Japan’s Sakura Medal.
His second book, Maggie’s Treasure was selected as a White Ravens International title, and his subsequent books Song forthe Snow and Martin and the River were both selected as CBC Recommended Reads.
Jon-Erik holds a Master’s of Education from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University. He lives in Stratford, Ontario with his family and a growing assortment of pets.
Special Thanks
Loreena McKennitt, Mark McCauley, Vikki Anderson, Jane Czarny, Janine Pearson, Holly Mortimer, Janis Auster, Jaimie Henderson, Marthe Jocelyn, Derrick Chua, Danielle Tobin, Graham Abbey
Marthe Jocelyn
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Children’s Book Author & Illustrator
SATURDAY RUNWAY SERIES
Saturday, November 9, 2024I was born in Toronto a long time ago. When I was a kid, I made strange puppets and little creatures and clothes for my dolls. When I grew up, I made little puppets and strange creatures and clothes for my children, as well as collage pictures and stories that eventually became books. I used scissors for all these things. I named my art studio Scissorhouse.
When I got older, I moved from Canada to live in New York City. I had a couple of children and told them stories. We imagined adventures that kids might have in the big, busy city and anywhere else. Eventually I began to write the stories down, and sometimes make pictures to go along with them.
Now I live in Canada again. My daughters live in New York City.
All of us still write stories and make pictures.