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Dr. Alan Shiner
Creative Director
& President, Nova Sounds Entertainment
He
was
barely out of Junior High in Toronto when, on a dare, Alan
Shiner entered a local talent show with his band
Nova Sounds....and won. Who knew that would be the beginning of a
career that has seen him write songs for pop icons like Mariah Carey,
play keyboards on some of Boz Scaggs biggest hits and work as Music
Director/Conductor for such incredible acts as The Pointer Sisters,
Harry Belafonte and The Diamonds plus famous comedians George Burns,
The Smothers Brothers and Rich Little.
Along the way, he's turned out more advertising jingles and copy than
he can even remember, starting with that never-to-be-forgotten one for
what was then a relatively unknown player in the fast food industry -
"967-11-11,
phone Pizza Pizza, hey hey hey!"
Oh, and let's not forget that running tandem with much of that career
has been Alan's dental practice. Even while writing exams at The
University of Toronto to get his degrees in Science, then Dentistry,
he's never stopped composing, producing and playing on everything from African
Lion Safari,
Marineland, Sleep Country Canada, Sleeman's
Brewery,
Coca Cola, Quaker,
Petro-Canada
and Sunwing
commercials, to playing gigs at clubs, corporate events,
galas, private
parties and on cruise ships, to leading live bands for T.V. awards
shows, to leading the band on a nationally televised C.B.C.
variety series (Paul Shaffer was his sub).
In his "spare" time, he penned and recorded, showcasing the Nova
Sounds, the uplifting anthem
"Voyage
of a Lifetime (Follow Your Dreams)",
used at the
Athens Olympics and
conceived as a tribute to all of the past, present and future athletes
of the world. Even more recently, he created all of the new music for
the Broadway-styled show
"You
Don't Have To Be Jewish",
starring Jamie Farr (of Mash T.V.fame). He also composed the new theme
song for
"Unique
Lives & Experiences",
North America's always-sold-out
celebrity women's lecture series.
Alan continues to pitch his mainstream pop and
hip-hop
compositions to recording and publishing companies. As
the chief cook and bottle washer of Toyhouse
Media Creations ™, he
feels
just as motivated now as the day he started in "the
business". He attributes much of his inspiration to his daughter and
twin sons and, of course, the many talented
performers he is privileged to surround himself with in the Nova Sounds.
Sonia
Vocalist
& Performer
Nova
Sounds Entertainment is proud to feature Sonia Collymore as a lead
female vocalist and performer in the Nova Sounds Band. She is a
two-time JUNO Award winning artist (2003, 2005) with a unique sound
supported by a bold yet warm and accessible stage presence.
Although Sonia's recording niche is Reggae, she is equally adept in all
vocal stylings. She can easily segue from Pop, Jazz, R&B and
Rock to Latin, Disco, Broadway and even Classical. As well as
English, Sonia can sing in Spanish, Italian, French and Hebrew.
Her extensive repertoire and team playing attitude provide great assets
for the Nova Sounds Band.
Sonia's talent, beauty and style are not only obvious while she is on
stage with the band.
She also has a unique ability to interact with and wow the guests at
any kind of event. Although you may only get to know her for a
few
minutes, she will make you feel as if you have know her for
years!
Braxton
Instrumentalist
Saxophone and Woodwind player (tenor sax, alto sax, soprano sax, flute,
piccolo, and clarinet) Braxton Hicks is an exciting addition to
the Nova Sounds. He is a versatile instrumentalist, equally
comfortable in an incredible range of styles, including Pop,
R&B, Caribbean, Rock, Latin, and Jazz.
Playing woodwinds for 18 years, and classical piano for 23 years,
Braxton’s musical education is as diversified as his
playing. He first studied woodwinds with
multi-instrumentalist Don Englert (Buddy Rich, Lighthouse), and while
attending the Humber College Jazz Studies Program, studied with
world-renown saxophonist Pat LaBarbera. He was also fortunate
enough to study at Loyola University in
New Orleans and recently studied with
saxophonists Harry Allen (John Pizzarelli), Norbert Stachel (Tower of
Power, Roger Waters) and Lenny Pickett (Saturday Night Live Music
Director).
Chris
Guitarist
Guitarist Chris Smit is at home in a wide array of musical environments:
from Classical to Jazz, or from Funk to Hard-Rock. As an accomplished
session player, Chris' playing has been featured on the radio, TV,
feature-film, and on numerous recordings. Chris is also a respected
educator, having been on the guitar faculty of the Thornhill School of
Music for the past fifteen years, and is currently finishing work on a
modern. three-volume guitar method. Chris' musical breadth, musically,
and dynamic performances, make him an exciting component of any Nova
Sounds event.
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