Brenda Chapman

is a warm, witty, and inspiring woman with a rich and diverse background in both the healing and the creative arts. At school she excelled in Art, Music, Drama and Gymnastics. She began singing, playing guitar, and writing songs when she was 14 after receiving a guitar as a birthday present, and playing it until her fingers were raw.

At the age of 20, she was invited to join her first semi-professional band (while still majoring in Painting, full-time, at Art School). She then worked for the next few years as a professional singer and musician, performing as a soloist, and vocalist in rock, folk and world music groups. Brenda then travelled extensively, and studied singing, music, and African drumming, in Australia, USA, Canada and West Africa..

In 1990 Brenda moved from the East Coast of Australia, to base herself in Fremantle, and completed her second Bachelors Degree, in Psychology and Anthropology at UWA. She then trained in counselling, group facilitation, transpersonal energy-work, cross-cultural sound healing, and music therapy. She has also studied; theatre, drama, and creative writing, in many different forms.

For the last twelve years, Brenda has worked in her own private practice, as a counsellor and facilitator, working with individuals, couples and groups. She then began teaching singing, music, and performance workshops, from a holistic perspective. These days, Brenda is invited regularly to facilitate workshops for numerous organisations. Brenda has taught Introductory Singing and Guitar courses at Curtin University, African Drumming Courses at Didgeridoo Breath, and has been employed by DADAA to direct adult workshops in both Singing and Drama. She also leads a variety of counselling trainings and groups.

Over the past twelve years, Brenda has encouraged literally hundreds of people, from all walks of life to develop and expand their creative potential. She is the Musical Director of MARAKADON African Drumming Ensemble, and GO VOCAL World Music Choir. She’s also facilitates an annual Retreat for Songwriters, at the Institute of Human Development in Jarrahdale.