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Justin
Buyukozer
Justin Buyukozer is a theatre student at York University, who has
interest in musical theatre as well as theatre. During high school
Justin ran and established their improvisation team, their news
paper, and their Arts Council, along with being involved with other
groups. He has worked as a volunteer counsellor for two seasons at
Ontario Education Leadership Centre with Ontario Peer Helpers'
Association in Orillia. Justin has also been going to Centauri since
2000, and has been on staff since 2007.
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Carol Cheyne
Carol will be one of the co-heads of Brock, the younger girls’ dorm, for
Summer 2010. It will be her 10th summer at Centauri, and 3rd on staff.
Carol is a chemistry student at the University of Toronto, and she loves
theatre, swimming, nature, science, and laughter! Last year she spent a
month volunteering at a daycare in Thailand, and she loves teaching and
working with young people. She is SO excited for camp to begin!!
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Melissa Freilich
Melissa Freilich is a student at Washington University in St.
Louis, where she plans to study Theatre and Classics. She began her
theatre career ten years ago at Centauri Summer Arts Camp and has
loved the arts ever since! She is particularly interested in
directing, clowning and stage combat.
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Geoff Ernst
Geoff is super excited for the upcoming
summer. Currently a student at the University Of
Windsor in the program Drama In Education and Community ,
Geoff is entering his sixth year at Centauri . For his 5
years as a camper, Geoff took programs such as Clowning,
Improv, Writing, and Theatre. He is now thrilled to put on
his yellow hat and take on the greatest role of his career…
A JUNIOR COUNSELLOR! Geoff looks forward to an amazing
first summer on staff.
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Melissa
Gallant
Melissa Gallant is a third year Dramatic Arts student at
Brock University. She is excited to be back after being a
fellow camper at Centauri five years ago! She is interested
in all aspects of theatre performance, and has recently
discovered a new aspect: stand-up comedy! Melissa spent last
summer in Walt Disney World Florida as a performer, and has
also participated in many student productions at Brock,
including most recently: a postmodern show about technology
where she was zipped up in a duffle bag! She loves
experimenting with art with her peers, and wants to bring
this to Centauri!
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Bethany
Gray
From her various arts experiences over the years,
Bethany has accumulated the biggest costume box known to
man. She began in musical theatre, and quickly branched out
to puppetteering, film, and writing theatre reviews.
Eventually, she landed her current job running Princess
birthday parties for kids. Some would consider this a dream
job, but Bethany could not be more excited to be joining
Centauri Staff, the real dream team, for summer 2010.
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Olivia
Hadwen
After
several summers taking writing programs with us, Olivia joins us on
staff for her 2nd year, and will be working with girls
in the upper side of Brock. She enjoys art and music - but her
greatest passion is writing. She is a prize-winning author, and just
last year wrote the winning entry in the poetry division of the 2008
Carleton University Writing Competition. Other achievements include
playing the piano for nine years, doing research work for the
Canadian Museum of Civilization and participating in several choirs.
Olivia loved camp as a camper, and is now thrilled to have the
opportunity to 'give back' to the community!
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Katie
Hemingway
Katie is thrilled to be back at Centauri for her 10th
summer and her 5th on staff. Katie is currently working
towards her degree in English and History at the University
of Toronto. Katie is an avid reader and writer. She enjoys
playing the saxophone and dancing. She's also and expert
knitter, and very crafty. She also enjoys art, like Picasso
and Garfunkel.
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Jeremy
Large
Jeremy has been a part of the Centauri community for nine
years, the last four of those as a counselor. This year he joins
the MC team as a Peer Evaluator. Jeremy is finishing up a B.A.
in Creative Writing at Concordia University, and employs the
skills he learns there in teaching writing workshops - which he
loves. Jeremy is also an accomplished stage combatant, having
taken Centauri's program for several years, and loves helping
out with the end-of-session shows. When not teaching or
counseling, Jeremy can be found reading and discussing comic
books, discussing cinema, and generally having a good time.
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Evan
Moore
Evan is a part – time film student at George Brown this year
and will be attending Humber College next year for media.
This is Evan’s 6th summer at Centauri and 3rd as a
counselor. Evan has also spent 5 months living in London,
England and travelling around Europe. He is beyond psyched
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Rhiann Moore
Rhiann will be the g2 junior counselor for summer 2010.
It will be her 8th summer at Centauri, and 1st on staff.
Rhiann will be beginning the Humber Fashion Arts program in
September, and she loves dance, making crafts and having an
all around awesome time. She has in the past worked at an
after school program with the YMCA and really enjoys working
with young people. She loves camp and is so excited for
summer 2010!
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James
Nelson
James is an undergraduate at the University of Ottawa and has
been involved in the arts for many years. He has studied various
styles of dance for over 10 years, including Jazz, Salsa, and
Ballroom, and is in his third year of Hip Hop. He was on his high
school's Improv team and is part of the University's Improv Club. He
has been playing the drums for 9 years and enjoys jamming with his
band. He also loves creative writing, especially writing lyrics for
his band's original songs. James is looking forward to his third
year on staff and can't wait for the summer!
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Maria Rothenberg
Maria is so excited for her eighth summer at Centauri and
third on staff! This summer, she will be one of the
co-Heads of Brock, working with campers on the younger side
of the building. When she's not at camp, she studies
English and Community and Global Health at Macalester
College in Minnesota and sings with her school's African
Music Ensemble. Maria loves just about all arts, but
especially writing, music, and film. She can't wait for
another fantastic summer at Centauri!
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Lauren Saunders
Lauren is thrilled to be joining the wonderful staff team after six
years as a camper. An avid arts lover, she sang with the Toronto
Children’s Chorus for eight years, and worked for the organization
as a head chorister, camp counsellor, and conductor’s assistant. She
was appointed Drama Head at her high school, and also wrote for
their literary magazine. Now, Lauren is in the Concurrent Education
program at Queen’s University. She has participated in several
extracurricular shows, and looks forward to continuing her
involvement in the theatre department. Most importantly, though, she
can’t wait for an INCREDIBLE summer at Centauri!
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Brenna Sobanski
Brenna has been dancing since the age of 9, taking
classes in many different dance disciplines,
assistant-teaching, and competing. She enjoys all forms of
dance but is especially fond of modern and tap. She also
likes theatre, having been involved in various school
productions and theatre programs at Centauri. Brenna has
spent the past year travelling and volunteering in Peru and
Ecuador, and working. She was a camper at Centauri for 5
years and is extremely excited for her first summer on
staff!¨
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Matt
Stein
Matt
spent 6 summers as a camper with us, taking many films programs! He
is now with us for his fourth summer as a counsellor, and is in
charge of Butler building, where all the boys live. Matt's passion
remains films, and he assists with film programs at camp as well as
teaching film workshops of his own. He is currently studying film at
Humber. Matt loves Centauri, and enjoys planning big camp
activities, as well as 'hanging out' with the boys in the dorms. His
enthusiasm for film, love of camp, creativity and energy make him a
hugely valued member of the counsellor team!
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Jennifer
Stubley
Jennifer Stubley is looking forward to starting her first
year of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo in the
fall, however her passion for fine arts led her to Centauri
11 years ago and she has returned every summer since then to
expand her knowledge of drawing, painting and the arts in
general. Jennifer is very excited to be back this summer for
her first year on staff!!
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Sidney Wilson “Sid”
An excited member of the Centauri Staff team, this will be
Sid’s second year as a counsellor at Centauri, fourth year
as a camp counsellor, and first year with B1. He brings a
wealth of experience working with youth to the role. Having
been a peer mentor, day camp counsellor, and at one time a
kid’s department sales representative at a bookstore, Sid is
both “hip” and “jive” with the interests and needs of his
campers. In this last year, he’s explored the depths of the
working life en route to a post-secondary education, and has
taken the time to further hone his skills as a creative
writer and jazz saxophonist. A seasoned hand in magazine
editing, theatrical tech and public speaking, Sid hopes to
make the first Centauri experience for this year’s B1
campers the best ever!
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Becky
Yaffa
This is Becky’s fifth year at Centauri and her first
year on staff. She is thrilled to be joining the
Centauri team as the G3 junior counsellor! Part of her
high school’s vocal music program, she developed her
passion for live performance, along with years of dance
training and musical theatre. She also loves public
speaking, acting as M.C. for many of her school’s
concerts and special events. Becky is super excited for
Centauri 2010!
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More counsellor bios coming soon!
To see the bios of the Program
directors, click here!
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Our Counsellors...
All our counsellors are over the age of 18, so they bring to camp a level
of maturity that makes them excellent role models for our campers.
Typically, our counsellors are outstanding undergraduates specialising in
the arts. Many hope to become teachers, all come with us because they enjoy
working with young people, have a passion for the arts and exude the kind of
energy and enthusiasm that helps make camp a special place.
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