Meet The Team
Freya Meredith-Hanson
Freya Meredith-Hanson (MFA(MT) Candidate, BMus, DipMT) is a versatile performer, vocal pedagogue, researcher, music director and choreographer. She is the founder of Resonant Voice with Freya Meredith and Resonant Voice Online.
Freya discovered her passion for the performing arts at just 3 years old, when her Nanna put her in dance and singing class to help with a speech impediment and shyness. Through countless performance opportunities and the endless support from her Mum and Nanna, Freya won many awards and scholarships as a child. As a teenager, Freya attended Hunter School of the Performing Arts, where she specialised in music and dance. She spent her time after school building her performing arts skill in dance classes and music theatre rehearsals.
Freya began performing professionally at the age of 15. As a proud Worimi woman, Freya performed as an Australian Aboriginal dancer alongside prestigious dance companies such Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre and NAISDA Dance College. It was at this time that she also landed to role of Scallywag Freya with children’s entertainment group ‘The Little Scallywagz’, where she has the opportunity to entertain children Australia-wide live and on programs such as Channel 7’s Sunrise and more. As well as appearing on stage as the lead performer for 5 years, Freya can also be heard on 7 cast recordings, as well as be seen on the Apple TV hit “The Little Scallywagz Playhouse”.
At age 18, after receiving the top grade in HSC Music in 2014, Freya discovered her passion for vocal pedagogy and science. Beginning her teaching career at Young People’s Theatre Inc. in her hometown of Newcastle, Freya has taught more than 300 students in her 5 year teaching career. She also found her love of music directing through YPT, and music directed many shows including Elf Jr., Hot Mikado, Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr., and Madagascar Jr.. Through her time with YPT and Resonant Voice, her students have achieved so many dreams, from admittance into prestigious drama schools including VCA, Brent Street and NIDA, to gaining the confidence to perform on stage in front of their friends and family.
Freya received her Diploma of Music Theatre through ATWEA in 2016 and her Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance and Pedagogy) with distinction through The University of Newcastle in 2019. During her BMus training, she received The Doris Smith Scholarship for excellence in her studies. In 2020, she was offered the Research Training Program Scholarship and a position to become a voice and music theatre researcher at the Victorian College of the Arts, with The University of Melbourne. With her research focused towards sustainability in the belt voice quality in relation to late-adolescent/young adult females in music theatre, she is supervised by Dr Zachary Dunbar and Christopher Nolan.
As well as researching, Freya also teaches with her online performing arts school Resonant Voice with Freya Meredith, where she specialises in music theatre, CCM and classical styles of singing. Along with her husband Brent (a fellow vocal nerd and multi-instrumentalist) and their furbaby Chai, Freya’s purpose in her teaching and research is to make vocal tuition accessible for everyone. Whether it be through private lessons with her or through her online vocal tuition platform, she believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn how to use their voice in a sustainable and lasting way.
Brent Meredith-Hanson
Brent Meredith-Hanson (BMus, DipMT) is a performer, multi-instrumentalist, conductor, music director and music teacher.
Brent has always been passionate about music, coming from a musical family. He began piano lessons at the age of 6 and learning recorder and flute from the age of 7. Being highly involved in the music program in primary school, he continued on to study at the Hunter School of the Performing Arts. Here he was involved in multiple bands and was the Drum Major of the high school’s marching band.
Following on from high school, Brent began conducting the Western Lake Macquarie Concert Band. After playing in the orchestra for various Maitland Musical Society productions, Brent was the assistant music director for Sondheim’s Into The Woods. During this production, Brent met his wife Freya who was Vocal Director. Freya sparked Brent’s interest in performing in musicals and eventually performed with Brent in his first show, a musical revue.
Brent found his passion for musical theatre during this production and went on to study his Diploma of Musical Theatre in 2016 with WEA Hunter. During his time studying at WEA Hunter, Brent performed as Al in A Chorus Line and Mereb in Aida. Brent went on to study his Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance) at the University of Newcastle, graduating in 2019. During his BMus, he received the Doris Smith Scholarship in 2018, and faculty commendations in 2018 and 2019.
As a music director, Brent has led multiple productions including Hot Mikado (2019) and Rent (2017) for which he was nominated for a City of Newcastle Drama Association Award for Excellence by a Music Director.
Brent most recently performed as Frederic along side Freya as Mabel in Pirates of Penznace in 2019.
Brent is excited to be working alongside his wife again with Resonant Voice Online, taking care of the admin side, as well making support and learning opportunities accessible for everyone.
Samuel Jenkins
Samuel Jenkins is an 18 year old performer, director and technical crew member.
Samuel began drama lessons at the age of 8 with Young People’s Theatre (YPT), Newcastle, and has since developed a strong passion for all aspects of performing whether it be on stage or behind the scenes.
During his theatrical training, Samuel has studied a variety of theatrical disciplines including acting, singing, directing and technical crew as a long time student and now tutor at Young People’s Theatre. Freya has been a huge part of his vocal journey as his singing tutor since 2018, as well as Brent, who has taught and musically directed Samuel in both musical theatre classes and productions.
Samuel’s recent show credits include, Old Deuteronomy in CATS Abridged, the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland Jr, The Hot Mikado, Father in ‘The Children of Eden Jr’ (all Young People’s Theatre, Newcastle) and is currently rehearsing to play Casey in Bearfoot Theatre Company’s ‘Do Your Parents Know You’re Straight?’ and Gomez in Young People’s Theatre’s ‘The Addams Family’ for 2021.
In 2019, Samuel achieved an impressive High Distinction in Grade 6 Musical Theatre with Trinity Exams. Samuel has also extended his theatrical experience internationally after being selected to become apart of the 2020 Australian team for the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta, and has also had the opportunity to act as a CONDA Youth Ambassador for 2020 and 2021, representing the Youth theatre community of Newcastle.
Samuel is very excited to be working alongside Freya and Brent as their social media assistant and substitute singing teacher, as he follows their own passion of making educational, performing opportunities accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Chai Meredith-Hanson
Chai (DipCat) is the Resonant Voice resident cat. While he is only new to the family, he has fitted in purrfectly, enjoying a sleep under the keyboard.
Chai enjoys sleeping in the sun, watching birds out the window and listening to Brent & Freya’s random singing. While Chai has not performed in any productions, you may spot Chai sleeping on the chair in the background of videos.
Chai is a lover of all things musicals, and enjoys sitting in the music studio and listening to all of his mum’s wonderful students. His favourite musical is Cats (but don’t mention the 2019 movie to him)! Chai is the proud mascot for accessible and sustainable vocal tuition for all!