With experience teaching acting, musical theatre, and speech and dramatic arts, I have helped students build confidence in their vocal and public speaking abilities while mentoring those interested in participating in local and provincial festivals.
As the Musical Theatre Director for the Qualicum Beach School of Dance, I have directed annual musicals for over a decade, that inspire a love for theatre and the arts in students of all ages.
My passion for the performing arts began in Ireland, where I was raised in a culture rich with music and dramatic storytelling. After immigrating to Canada, I was profoundly influenced by my time at a performing arts high school outside Toronto. These formative experiences not only shaped my own artistic journey but also sparked a commitment to nurturing the next generation of performers. I continue to witness the transformative power of the performing arts in fostering students’ growth, confidence, and creativity.
I hold a degree in Drama and Vocal Performance from Queen’s University, along with a Bachelor of Education. As a professional performer, I served as Principal Singer and Theatre Company Manager for Paramount Show Services aboard Renaissance Cruise Lines, later continuing to perform internationally with Norwegian Cruise Lines. My stage experience also includes work at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton—where I understudied the Bird Girls in Seussical—as well as performances at numerous theatres across Vancouver Island.
Blending my experience as both a performer and educator, I have directed the theatre program at Southridge Independent School in South Surrey, while also teaching music and performing arts in School District 69 for over a decade.
In addition to teaching group and private instruction, I remain actively involved in the local theatre community as both a creative designer, director and performer. My work has been recognized with regional theatre companies and featured at festivals such as the North Island Zone Festival and the Vancouver Island One Act Play Festival.
Jennifer Kelly 
Jennifer has been my performing arts teacher for nearly ten years, ever since I was thirteen. I took her speech arts classes and musical theatre classes every year when I was a teenager and loved it so much that I continued to come back even into adulthood. I started out as someone who had never been on a stage before, couldn’t keep on pitch, and had such anxiety around performing. In just a couple of years I was a proficient singer who could perform complicated pieces, and was entering into acting competitions with several different types of pieces (prose, monologues, poetry). She helped me gain confidence in myself and my abilities with continuous guidance and reassurance, and was always there to provide any extra support. She is a truly gifted educator who works so well with students of all ages. She inspires her students to believe in themselves and pushes them to be the best they can be.
She is an amazing instructor, performer, and person. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone!
Jennifer has been teaching our daughter since 2023, and Jenna has thrived under her mentorship. Jenna performed in the Mid Island Performing Arts Festival (Speech Arts category) last year, and was chosen to represent our region for her age category at Provincials. It was Jenna’s first time at any sort of competition, and it really helped her grow as a performer. Working hard and developing skill creates earned self-esteem, and the experience has given our daughter more confidence to share her gifts in other contexts – communicating clearly and creatively is applicable to almost any situation!
Jennifer understands how to balance excellence and compassion – she knows when to push and when to encourage, and is able to bring out the best in her students in a healthy way. She is extremely talented with deep experience in the arts, and we are grateful that she is able to invest in our children.
I started taking class with Jennifer in 2016, and am now living full time in Vancouver as a performance artist with a Musical Theatre Diploma from Capilano University. I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today without Jennifer’s guidance and support.
Taking speech arts with Jennifer has given me a huge advantage heading into the professional theatre scene on the mainland. My experience with prose pieces, monologues, and cold reading have come in handy more than I can count, and being able to speak clearly in my own voice, as well as several accents and character voices, has found me some success in the voice over industry as well.
I am grateful to have had such an incredible mentor as a young performer. Jennifer not only set me up for success as an artist, but also as a confident young woman. Her patience, drive, and true love for the arts are all qualities I have looked up to for almost 10 years now, and I cannot recommend her highly enough for emerging artists both young and old.