“After spending eight years in Arts Specialty Schools, I decided to enroll in the Songwriting and Performance Program at Seneca College, where I was fortunate to have Micah Barnes as my performance class professor. 

From the very first class, Micah created a safe and supportive space, and I found myself deeply inspired by how an industry-level coach worked with his clients. I eagerly absorbed his coaching techniques, always seeking ways to refine my own skills. During feedback sessions, I was quick to offer input to other students, and Micah and I frequently discussed assignments and my career both before and after class. This connection made my transition to his teaching assistant in my second year feel incredibly natural.

In this new role, I gained a fresh perspective by working with a new group of students while learning how to support them academically, emotionally, and personally. Although my primary responsibility was to assist Micah during lessons and help students as needed, he saw much more potential in me. Micah recognized something in me that I hadn’t yet realized myself.

He not only allowed me to contribute in class but also treated me as an equal, encouraging me to provide feedback alongside him. We would meet before and after class to discuss what worked and what didn’t. Before long, we began developing a comprehensive new curriculum for the Performance Program. Together, we implemented this curriculum and saw firsthand how effective it was. Throughout this process, Micah taught me how to become the coach I am today. I was given the opportunity to create and teach lessons, with Micah always focused on helping me grow as much as I was helping the students.

After two years of significant growth, I graduated the same year that Micah stepped down from his position to focus on Canada’s Got Talent. I found myself mourning the end of my time as a student and the mentorship of someone I had come to consider a friend. However, Micah soon invited me to sit in on his adult group masterclass coaching sessions. Initially, I attended as a student, but it wasn’t long before he began asking for my input.

During this time, I closely observed how Micah transformed the voices and lives of his students. I took meticulous notes—not only to give feedback but also to study his unique coaching style. We continued to meet, and Micah mentored me on how to balance life as a coach with my career as an artist, especially as a queer performer. Having spent my life as a theatre performer and four years studying classical vocal music, I often struggled to find my own sound when I began writing music. But through our work together, Micah and I frequently discussed how to balance the life of a coach and a singer, which were topics we often revisited.

Alongside my internship, I was teaching children at a small music school. I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and was often told that I had a natural gift for it. After a year of interning and working with over 50 clients at The Singer’s Playground, Micah offered me the position of Associate Coach.

While this opportunity was truly life-changing, it also came with a degree of nervousness. As a neurodivergent performer, I had often been labeled as inattentive or unable to manage my time. I was worried about how my brain would affect my work, and this is still something I navigate every day. However, Micah has been instrumental in educating me on ways to manage tasks more effectively while also giving me the grace to rest when needed. In turn, I’ve started to give myself that grace as well. One of the aspects of neurodivergent brains that isn’t often discussed is how our different perspectives can work to our advantage. I am incredibly passionate about teaching, mentoring, and inspiring my students, and when I’m inspired, I can create the most innovative content—an asset that helps our business thrive.

Since then, our mentorship and friendship have only deepened. Together, we’ve crafted two new youth performance workshops, modeled after the adult performance masterclasses I attended as an intern. I’ve also taken on private students of my own, and Micah has given me space to contribute to many aspects of the business. He has taught me so much about being a coach, an artist, a business owner, a musician, and a human being.

I’m incredibly proud to be part of this company. I wholeheartedly believe in the work we do. The fact that Micah saw something in me and invested his time to mentor me is a gift beyond words. I wouldn’t be the coach or person I am today without him and the incredible clients at The Singer’s Playground”