Jonny Venvell
Chad St Louis
Business Development Intern
Hi all!
I couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the Encore team at such an exciting time in the company’s development. I feel very fortunate to be working within a company that has a passion for supporting musicians and a love for live music at its core; particularly at a time when live music needs support more than ever.
My musical journey starts at age 4. You see, my mother always regretted not learning the piano when she was younger, and so was adamant her children were going to be the next Mozart. I resented having to do grades, sight-reading, scales and generally having to practice. I worked much better learning music by ear, improvising and accompanying myself as I hummed a tune. Playing the piano slowly turned into somewhat of a chore and singing and songwriting became my obsession. I started singing at age 6 and, to the annoyance of anyone who has spent any sort of considerable time around me, I have not stopped.
I enjoyed singing literally anything at school, from barbershop to opera, but it was being a part of the school show that really instilled my deep love for everything Musical Theatre. Despite this love for music and the fact I knew deep down I wanted to go to Drama school, I decided to study History and International Relations at the University of Exeter. Please do not ask me why – four years and a degree later I still couldn’t tell you. What I can tell you is that I did as little History and IR as possible to make up for my mistake, and much of my time was spent singing instead (mostly singing a cappella). For two years I sang with Semi-Toned, the UK’s premier all-male a cappella group, performing in national and international tours and in consecutive five-star sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Other than singing, I love cooking for friends and family, eating good food at good restaurants, reading, and going to the cinema. I truly cannot wait to get stuck into work at Encore and properly get to know everyone in the team!
– Chad singing ‘I Am Changing’ from the musical “Dreamgirls” at a West End Cabaret Evening
