▼Gala Judges | Gala MCs ►

We are fortunate to have three amazing celebrities on our judges panel this year who will use their insight and professional opinion to help guide the audience voting. Be Brave and Believe is grateful for their support and their help in making this a truly memorable event.

Amy Sky

Toronto born, multi award-winning international singer-songwriter, music producer, actor and spokesperson, Amy Sky, now adds Be Brave and Believe to the myriad charities she graciously supports. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in classical theory and composition, she was recruited as a backup singer and performed around Southern Ontario for the legendary Ronnie Hawkins. Well known to Toronto audiences, Amy’s song writing and rich, soulful voice led her to relocate in Los Angeles in 1986 where she built a reputation as a go-to songwriter for the likes of Reba McEntire, Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-John, Heart, Sheena Easton, Marie Osmond, Anne Murray, Natalie McMaster, Melissa Manchester, The Rankin Family, and dozens of others. She met and married Marc Jordan, a fellow Toronto expat singer-songwriter and in the mid ’90s, with a toddler and a baby on the way, the couple decided to return home to Toronto to raise their children.Her debut CD Cool Rain achieved Gold status in Canada and spawned four hit singles, including “I Will Take Care Of You.” Her career has taken her from starring in theatre (Blood Brothers with David Cassidy), making a #1 music video with “Till You Love Somebody”, TV hosting and being featured in 2 network specials of her own.  Amy is currently active in the Toronto, Nashville, and Los Angeles music communities and has just released her 10th CD, the beautiful and healing Liv On with Olivia Newton-John and Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Marc Jordan

Marc’s songs have been on over 35 million CD’s  and he has recorded 14 CD’s of his own material on various labels. He was born in Brooklyn NY, the son of singer Charles Jordan and grew up in Toronto. In 1978 Marc was signed to Warner Music in Burbank, California signed as a staff writer for several big publishing houses in Hollywood. He spent 16 years in LA writing songs for, and with, Diana Ross, Chicago, Manhattan Transfer, Kenny Loggins, Amanda Marshall, Amy Sky, Bette Midler, Natalie Cole,  Canadian Tenors, Shawn Colvin, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, Josh Groban and Cher. Marc co-wrote Rod Stewart’s worldwide #1 hit “Rhythm Of My Heart” and several other songs for the artist. . Marc Jordan has numerous film credits and he starred opposite Olivia Newton-John in the film SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL which opened the Toronto Film Festival. He is chair of the song-writing department at Norman Jewison’s Canadian Film Center and is on the advisory board of Humber College.  Marc continues to perform on tour with the writers group Lunch At Allens. He is currently in the studio working on album # 15, a collection of Jazz Standards and originals.

Lisa Howard

Lisa Howard Cerone appeared on stage beside Christine Glen in their 8th grade production of the children’s opera The Little Sweep. They were fast friends and fellow altos since 5th grade at St Peters Choir School in London Ontario. Lisa spent the first twenty years of her career acting on stages across North America and on dozens of television shows including series regular roles on Days of Our Lives, Highlander and Suddenly Susan. For the last 18 years, she stayed home to raise her two kids, Lulu and Jasper, while founding Ever After Production Company with her husband, television writer/producer Daniel Cerone, serving as Senior VP. Their projects In Los Angeles have included Dexter, The Mentalist, The Blacklist and Canadian TV Series Motive.

Gala MCs

Sharon Heldt

An established actor with over 30 years experience, Sharon has performed in theatres across Canada. Highlights include: Two seasons Stratford Festival, Banff’s Advanced Actors’ Workshop (TwelfthNight) Unplugged Productions (Macbeth), Blyth Festival (Ginkgo Tree) , Tarragon Theatre/ Grand Theatre/ NAC (Pal Joey), Theatre Aquarius (Real Estate & The Long Weekend), MTC (Emerald City),Tarragon Theatre (Catering Queen). For NYC, 47th Street Theatre (Top Gun, The Musical!)

In 2005, Sharon established ACTING OUT! Kids Theatre. Sharon is the Artistic Director of this thriving children’s theatre company in Toronto, teaching improv to young and mature students alike and in the fall prepping teens for arts based high schools. Upcoming: May/June, Sharon will be reviving her role of Margot in Norm Foster’s The Ladies Foursome for Port Dover/Post Colbourne Theatre.

Sharon hopes that love continues to surround the Glen/ Coussee family, as they soldier onward with Christine’s Be Brave and Believe legacy. Miss you Christine xo

Eddie Glen

Actor Eddie Glen is a two time Dora Nominee. His recent stage credits include Peter Pan (Ross Petty Productions), The Pirates of Penzance, Spamalot, Les Miserables ( Drayton), Man of La Mancha (Globe), West End Theatre: Miss Saigon ( Drury Lane), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium).

Eddie is the Voice of Thomas in Thomas and The Magic Railroad, and is in his 18th year as the Voice of YTV!