Toni Anderson

". . . singing is more than a melody; it is a message, from the heart...” - Brenda Anderson

Singing sensation, Toni Anderson, has been singing since the tender age of five. She started out in the church, singing for various gospel groups. She spent these formative years honing her craft along the lines of Gospel and jazz, partly by soaking in the influences from members of her local music community.

An avid jazz fan from her early years, she cites Ella Fitzgerald as being among those from whom she drew inspiration for her personal journey of musical scholarship.

This schooling took her through a curriculum of Gospel and jazz, after which she expanded her tastes and pursuits to include Classical music, which she explored deeply during her participation in the musical theatre.

The Motown rendition of the classic "Wizard of Oz"; popularly known as "The Wiz" is one of the productions in which she performed during this early period (circa 1986).

After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the Music Theatre Performance Programme at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

During this time, Toni further refined her craft by adopting, as her own, the Italian Aria, a form of training employed in Classical performances, and developed by Italian classicists for, among other things, the Italian opera.

Her other pursuits during her college years included dancing, (Tap, Modern Jazz & Ballet); acting (Shakespeare, Dramas, Scene Studies, Film and Television).

Toni's curriculum vitae present her as a seasoned professional. Her credits include lead roles in the historic Broadway hit, Disney's "The Lion King" at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.

Additional theatrical performance credits also include "Marat/Sade'! "Nunsense 2", "Stepping Out! and "The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God"at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.

Toni has performed as a soloist at the Niagara and Windsor Casino; the Toronto Jazz Festival; The Toronto Metro Convention Centre; Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto; Harbourfront Festival of Lights; Paramount Canada's Wonderland and Canada Day's Annual Birthday Bash.

Toni had a number one hit-song on CHRY 105.5 FM, a popular radio station in Toronto, Canada., "You and I", featuring Luciano. She is also enjoying considerable airplay on other major radio stations in Canada.

Toni's other credits include voicing for children's programmes; jingles for major companies; commercials; and a leading role on a television production of "A Christmas Miracle".

She also made a guest appearance on an early episode of "Soul Food" ; the hit TV series which was adapted from the movie by Showtime Networks, and can currently be seen on Black Entertainment Television BET.