Holly Collis Handford (she/her) grew up in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island where she studied music, singing, drama, and dance from a young age. In 2020 she graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music with her ARCT in Voice Performance (classical singing) and in 2021 she graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BFA in Acting.
Holly has performed with the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, United Players of Vancouver, Theatre Under the Stars, UBC Theatre and Film, and in Axis Theatre's Commedia in the Park program. She loves to incorporate music into her work as an actor and has composed and performed original songs for multiple theatre and film initiatives including Art Apart (National Theatre School), Play4Change (IdeasXChange), and Six/Ten Productions (UBC). Some of her favourite roles include Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (GVSF), Isabella in Juggle Me Not (Axis CITP), Agnes in Revolt. She said. Revolt again. (UBC), Empress Irene in The Tragedy of Irene (UBC English Students' Association) and Hope Cladwell in Urinetown (PVRA).
Holly plays multiple musical instruments including piano, accordion, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, ukulele, and percussion. She is also a dancer trained in ballet, tap, contemporary, and theatre jazz. Growing up, she attended Steps Ahead Dance Studio and took examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance and the International Society of Teachers of Dancing. Holly loves yoga, chocolate cheesecake, and singing musical theatre duets.
Holly is the founder of Tower Music Studio where she teaches singing, songwriting, piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons. towermusicstudio.ca
Holly has performed with the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, United Players of Vancouver, Theatre Under the Stars, UBC Theatre and Film, and in Axis Theatre's Commedia in the Park program. She loves to incorporate music into her work as an actor and has composed and performed original songs for multiple theatre and film initiatives including Art Apart (National Theatre School), Play4Change (IdeasXChange), and Six/Ten Productions (UBC). Some of her favourite roles include Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (GVSF), Isabella in Juggle Me Not (Axis CITP), Agnes in Revolt. She said. Revolt again. (UBC), Empress Irene in The Tragedy of Irene (UBC English Students' Association) and Hope Cladwell in Urinetown (PVRA).
Holly plays multiple musical instruments including piano, accordion, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, ukulele, and percussion. She is also a dancer trained in ballet, tap, contemporary, and theatre jazz. Growing up, she attended Steps Ahead Dance Studio and took examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance and the International Society of Teachers of Dancing. Holly loves yoga, chocolate cheesecake, and singing musical theatre duets.
Holly is the founder of Tower Music Studio where she teaches singing, songwriting, piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons. towermusicstudio.ca