Trish Colter
Biography
TRISH COLTER (vocalist, lyricist, arranger, educator) was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has been performing as a professional vocalist since 1976. Her studies include formal education at the University of Western Ontario ( B.A. B Ed.) and extensive private voice training in both the classical and jazz genres. She joined the music faculty of Humber College in 1986 and in 1987 was appointed full time head of the vocal department, a position she continues to hold.
During her early career, Colter toured extensively throughout North America and Europe, performing with notable jazz artists including Phil Nimmons, Guido Basso, Pat LaBarbera, Frank Mantooth, and Don Thompson, and opening for important acts by Buddy DeFranco and Marvin Hamlisch. She continues to perform in Toronto jazz clubs and has been appeared at numerous jazz festivals over many years including including the mainstage at the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival in Toronto, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and regional jazz festivals throughout Ontario.
Trish Colter has been a featured artist on the CBC Radio series Live At Five and on CBC Winnipeg, as well as at Laurentian University, the Brandon ( Manitoba ) Jazz Festival, and the Markham ( Ontario ) Women In Jazz Concert Series. She has been a guest vocalist with the <st1:personname>Paul</st1:personname> Ashwell Jazz Orchestra and on Bill King's Diva series. She is the vocalist with the Humber College Faculty Jazz Ensemble which has performed with such luminaries as Bill Holman and Maria Schneider. In 1998 Trish, along with pianist Paul Read, released her first CD, The Dance Never Ends. The pair's recordings have also been featured on two compilation CD's, From The Ground Up and Hidden Treasures. The second CD, At Long Last Love, was released in February 2002 to rave reviews.
Colter is also a talented lyricist, an accomplished arranger and a well-known music educator. She conducts the award winning Humber College Vocal Jazz Ensemble, which has been featured in concerts at the Ontario Vocal Festival, MusicFest Canada, the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) Conference, and the Hummingbird Centre. Her choral arrangements for vocal jazz and rhythm section have been featured on Standards Volumes 2 and 3 on Humber Recordings. She was also head of vocal jazz for the National Music Camp's Jazz Program from 1992 to 2001. Trish Colter is in demand as a clinician for ensemble and solo voices in high schools, colleges and universities and has adjudicated and been a featured clinician at many music festivals across Canada and the United States.
