Carriage House Studio would like to thank Brenda for her involvement in this project.  She has been and still is a great addition to the team.  Brenda contributed to the song "Gotta be who I am" written by Juanita Wilkins , she played piano, Harmony Vocals, and extra percussions. She is now scoring the song so we can later add a teen choir to sing along.  

"Gotta be who I am" click play to listen

Music Bio

Brenda Manderson comes from a very musical family and has been actively involved in music since she can remember. She started performing in church as a young girl and was very involved in church music in various capacities, eventually being hired as organist/choir director at St. George’s Anglican Church in Harriston while still in high school. Brenda was a member of the Harriston Brass Band and the Senior Band at Norwell DSS and won the music department award in grade 12.  A well-known musician in the area, Brenda has accompanied many local musicians and played for many community and school events over the years including a reprise performance of “The Major’s Diary” - a musical production written about the history and founding families of Harriston.  Brenda has also been involved with the Grey-Wellington theatre guild serving as Musical Director for many productions including: “My Fair Lady”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Grease” and most recently, “Oliver”. A valued member in the bands “Twist”, “Just Enough Rope” and “The Pleats”, Brenda has also worked with various singer/songwriters including Juanita Wilkins, Lisa Swain and Brenda McMorrow.

Most recently, Brenda played a number of performances as guest accompanist for the Kincardine Fiddle Orchestra under the direction of John Schnarr and performed with Juanita Wilkins and Laurie Dalton at the “Rhythm and Pews” Christmas show in Owen Sound featuring the Larry Mercy trio. Recently, Brenda also played at the National Ballet School in Toronto with Brenda McMorrow, Morgan Doctor, Chris Gartner and Robert Menegoni (percussionist with “The Bare Naked Ladies”).

Based out of her teaching studio in Harrison, Brenda has taught the Music For Young Children program as well as private piano, flute, guitar, voice and theory lessons for the past 15 years. One of her theory students won the medal for the highest theory mark in Ontario with Conservatory Canada in 2007. Brenda studied classical piano and theory with the Royal Conservatory of Music and also studied Music Therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University as part of her undergraduate degree in Psychology. Brenda also is a certified Homeopathic Practitioner, completing the 3-year program at the Toronto School of Homeopathic Medicine in 2008.