FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE VOICE OF TORONTO'S WATERFRONT, THE SINGING AMBASSADORS
INFORM AND PERFORM FROM JUNE 16 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 5
Toronto, Ontario – June 13, 2016 – The triple award-winning Singing Ambassadors presented by The
Waterfront BIA return for their fifth year on Toronto’s Waterfront. Eight lively ambassadors will be
performing impromptu a cappella renditions of classic summer hits and offering assistance, directions and
recommendations to visitors on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, from 11am to
6pm, June 16 until September 5. Visit www.waterfrontbia.com for more information.
“The Singing Ambassadors inform and perform,” states Carol Jolly, Executive Director, The Waterfront
BIA. “They not only share information and help direct people to the many amazing places on Toronto’s
Waterfront, but their a cappella performances enhance the visitor experience throughout the summer.”
The 2016 Singing Ambassadors are Asha James, Dan Lord, Erin Horan, Ewura-Abena Bourne,
Hugh Ritchie, Jackson Smylie, Reuven Grajner and Stephanie Hotchkiss. They are split into two
quartets that will perform ten a cappella summertime favourites in key locations and busy daytime spots
along the Waterfront. Each song has been arranged as full and 1.5 minute songs by internationallypublished composer, arranger and performer Aaron Jensen.
Get ready to groove and move with the Singing Ambassadors this summer. Their song list includes:
Happy by Pharrell Williams; Dancing in the Street by Martha and The Vandellas; Sh Boom Sh Boom by
The Chords; It’s All Right by The Impressions; Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles; I Can See Clearly
Now by Johnny Nash; I Get Around by the Beach Boys; Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters; Cecilia by
Simon and Garfunkel and Jump in the Line by Harry Belafonte.
“This is my second year as a Singing Ambassador and I have learned so much about Toronto’s
Waterfront,” states Reuven Grajner. “I love seeing the smiles on people’s faces when we burst into
song!”
Wearing The Waterfront BIA branded polo shirts, windbreakers, back packs, and festive fedoras, the
Singing Ambassadors will be easy to spot as they distribute discount cards and information on key local
activities to keep Torontonians and tourists well-informed of all that the Waterfront has to offer.
Throughout the summer, they visit members daily to gain updates, perform, and take photos. In addition,
they ride the sponsored City Sightseeing Toronto double-decker tour buses to explore the city’s top
attractions and spread the word about the Waterfront. Special appearances are also made at member,
resident and neighbouring events including the Waterfront Artisan Market, the Redpath Waterfront
Festival, Sail-in Cinema, Union Station, Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, Ripley's Aquarium, Centreville, and
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to name a few.
New this year is The Waterfront BIA’s Snap & Share Contest. Snap a photo of the Singing
Ambassadors and share it on Facebook for your chance to WIN 1-of-9 pairs of tickets to see LUZIA by
Cirque du Soleil! Posts must include #SingingAmbassadors and #LUZIA to qualify. Beginning Monday,
July 11, nine weekly winners will be announced on Facebook.
The Singing Ambassadors help to make the Toronto Waterfront a welcoming destination and have a
positive impact on the newly revitalized pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood. The program is made possible
with assistance from Canada Summer Jobs.
About The Waterfront BIA:
The Waterfront Business Improvement Area (WBIA), established in 2004, is the voice of the business
community. Toronto’s WBIA is a community-driven organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing
the economic and cultural vitality of the Waterfront area. The WBIA welcomes 17 million visitors annually
with a service area population of 57,121 and growing rapidly. 68% of the area's residents are under the
age of 45, and the average household income is $118,924. Unlike most Toronto BIAs, the WBIA is both a
full-service residential area and a tourist destination. The Waterfront ranks second in every visitor
category – domestic and international; pleasure and business, first-time and repeat. Through marketing
and promotion, special events, streetscape enhancement, strategic planning and advocacy initiatives, the
WBIA continues to secure its position as one of Toronto’s premier destinations. Annual programs include
Doors/Gangways Open, Waterfront Artisan Market, Redpath Waterfront Festival, Waterfront Singing
Ambassadors and Winterfest on Toronto's Waterfront. The Waterfront BIA has been the proud recipient of
the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) Awards in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015,
as well as the 2015 Downtown Merit Award from the International Downtown Association (IDA) and the
Award of Distinction from the 2016 BIA National Conference Awards. For more information, visit
www.waterfrontbia.com.
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For additional information or interview requests, please contact:
Peter Ashworth | Ashley Lloyd, Ashworth Associates Public Relations | 416-603-6005
[email protected] | [email protected]
2016 Waterfront Singing Ambassadors Bios
Asha James
Whitby's Asha James has been in front of an audience since she was ten, with both solo and musical
performances at her elementary school. She was selected to represent her school as part of the Honour
Choir for Durham District School Board. Asha continued her passion for singing and musical theatre
throughout secondary school and was cast in her school musical along with four other shows. She
further developed her vocal skills at community-based events and was a member of the Faith Baptist
Church worship team for three years, plus performed at the Class Act Dinner Theatre as part of a jazz
concert. French speaking Asha is currently a full-time student enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts
program at York University and is entering her third year of Acting Conservatory.
Dan Lord
York University Heights resident Dan Lord is a performer in York University's Theatre program, as well as
a vocalist minoring in the Vocal Jazz program. As the singer/pianist in his cover band, The Crossroads,
he is excited to work with the Waterfront Singing Ambassador team to focus on his love of a cappella
music and vocal harmony.
Erin Horan
The Beach/East York resident, Erin Horan is a young performer and composer trying to break into the
local music scene. She has been studying guitar, piano and vocals since the age of nine and also enjoys
dabbling in many other instruments. She is currently continuing to expand her music education at
Centennial College’s Music Industry Arts and Performance program. Erin has recorded a CD of covers at
The Forge in Galway, Ireland, and has self-produced and engineered a few of her own songs. Erin
currently performs many shows around Toronto either as a solo act, with her band, or accompanying
others.
Ewura-Abena Bourne
No stranger to performing in public, Forest Hill's Ewura-Abena performed in her high school’s musical
productions, choirs and band, and has been a member in multiple university musical groups while doing
her studies. She’s performed at a variety of public and private events including cultural festivals, in
church choirs, and as a member of small ensembles, performing a cappella or accompanied by
music. French speaking Ewura-Abena is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto
and hopes to specialize in robotics.
Hugh Ritchie
Leaside's Hugh Ritchie is an actor, singer and musician originally from Brookville, Ontario. He is a
graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. Since graduating, he
hasn't had a break from acting, be it performing in Shakespeare plays, musicals, new works or film and
television. When not rehearsing, performing, or auditioning, he ushers at several theatres around the city.
Hugh returns for a second year as a Singing Ambassador.
Jackson Smylie
Jackson Smylie has been playing classical and jazz piano since childhood, accompanying and singing in
high school choirs, and playing soprano saxophone in a wind orchestra. Most recently, he joined
Onoscatopoeia, the University of Toronto's a cappella jazz choir. Jackson lives in the Annex and is
currently studying math and philosophy. The 10th nationally-ranked scrabble player in Canada and Cochair of the North American Scrabble Youth Council, Jackson competed against Jimmy Kimmel in a
scrabble competition on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Reuven Grajner
Award-winning Reuven Grajner is a pianist/singer/composer/bandleader/arranger/teacher based in
Toronto. Reuven performs and writes music in various styles including with his dream-pop
trio Selfoss and can be heard as a sideman for various local and international artists. Reuven has
performed, recorded, and toured extensively throughout Ontario, as well as the USA and Europe.
Expanding his musical horizons, he was selected as one of three jazz pianists into the Faculty of Music at
the University of Toronto (U of T). Reuven sings with The Toronto Northern Lights Chorus, Yonge Guns
Quartet, The Current Quartet, and the U of T Vocal Jazz Ensemble. This is his second year as a Singing
Ambassador and he speaks French.
Stephanie Hotchkiss
Liberty Village's Stephanie Hotchkiss graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts
Combined Honours in Opera Performance and Acting. She is a professional voice-over artist, actress
and singer. Currently, she is a resident musician with the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto and
also performs with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Toronto Festival Singers, Clement Ishmael Singers, The
Ringers and sings at various concerts, ceremonies and events in and around Toronto. This year she was
part of Theatre 20’s Conservatory (Emerging Artist) program and was recently featured on A Merry
Murdoch Christmas on CBC. Stephanie’s professional voice-over gigs include animation, commercials,
film and television. She currently plays the character Gargona on Nickelodeon’s animated series Mia and
Me: Season 2, which airs throughout North America on Netflix and Nick Jr.