Tribute to Bill Vincent

To all who are looking for Bill Vincent's Voices and Company:

Bill Vincent retired in 2004 and left Falconer Abraham his long time student of 17 years to continue teaching the spoken-level approach to singing. This tried and true method has been imparted to Falconer enabling him to teach his students with the same expertise as his teacher Bill Vincent. Bill was a long time student of Seth Riggs and was at one time Canada's only certified Speech-level Singing teacher. Mr. Vincent credits included working with some of Canada's top singers such as:

• Amanda Marshall,
• Jully Black, Devine Brown,
• The nylons, Paul Stanley,
• Vivian Williams,
• Jackie Richardson, Tara Strong etc….

It is with deep sorrow that I must announce that my long time friend, teacher and associate Bill Vincent has passed away: Vincent, William L. "Bill" - 60, of Spring Street, Parrsboro, and formerly of Toronto, passed away Tuesday, December 6, 2005 after a valiant battle with cancer. Born in Brockton, Mass., he was a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music [B.M.] with graduate studies in applied voice at McGill University. He's been on the faculty of Ryerson University Theatre Department and the Centre of Indigenous Theatre.
He taught in Montreal, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Toronto and most recently offered professional vocal training in Parrsboro. In addition to his private teaching, he has served as vocal consultant for:

• YTV, Forte and EMI Records,
• Canadian Stage,
• Mirvish Productions ("Miss Saigon" and "Mama Mia")
• and LIVE-ENT (Paul Stanley - "Phantom of the Opera").

He has appeared on CTV (Canadian Living), Rogers Cable and Breakfast Television. He worked with hundreds of gifted and talented singers and actors, each with uniquely different voices and challenges. He believed that good methodology coupled with instinct and inspiration were the keys to good vocal training. Bill enjoyed working with creative people of all ages. He will be sadly missed by the large family of students who attended his Voices and Company Studio in Toronto.