On the stage, in front of the stage or behind the stage are some of the places you can find Waterloo’s multi-talented Amanda Kind. Singer, songwriter, actor, theatre director, vocal coach and arts administrator are some of the artistic hats that Amanda wears.
Singer Amanda Kind
While Amanda was trained in the world of classical music and opera, her heart always belonged to musical theatre and pop. “Even when I was in school for opera, I spent my time in practice rooms belting out Mariah Carey, which should have been a clue as to where my future was headed,” she says.
Last year Amanda released her first album called Hello Heartache, a catchy, contemporary exploration of love and loss which shows off her beautiful voice. “Hello Heartache was a huge undertaking,” she says. “I worked all day, taught in the evenings and then recorded from 10 pm – 1 am. I was exhausted and broke but it was worth it.” She has plans for a follow up record which will reflect her evolving style and maturity.
Amanda spends big chunks of her time coaching young performers-in-training. She teaches at the Renaissance School of the Arts and is the vocal director for KW Glee (yup, it was inspired by TV`s Glee). She loves teaching and her passion is obvious when she says, “I am always looking for ways to promote my students’ work and help them get opportunities to perform.” In fact, she is pretty excited about her student, AJ Bridel who is currently competing for the role of Dorothy in the CBC reality show, Over the Rainbow. (And she would like you to vote for her!)
(Watch Amanda in action with KW Glee)
Earlier this year, Amanda stepped off the stage to direct a production of RENT, at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener. “RENT was a wonderful experience and it came at a time when I really needed to throw my energy at something,” she says. Her mom had been diagnosed with cancer and she felt helpless. “Leading that project kept my mind occupied during some hard times and I feel very proud of the production.”
Amanda has her hands in all things dramatic and musical (her day job is at Drayton Entertainment) and finds herself happy as long as she has some kind of artistic project on her plate. “At my core I’m a singer and I’m at my happiest when I’m singing songs I love.”
You can check out some of the songs Amanda loves to sing when you buy her album, Hello Heartache or follow her on Twitter to find out when you can see her perform live.
P.S. Amanda’s favourite topic of conversation: Someone’s favourite song and why.
Red leather booth 