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 many theatre companies including Renegade Arts Company, the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, Steel Wolf (Vancouver Fringe Festival), Theatre Under the Stars, United Players of Vancouver, and Axis Theatre (Commedia in the Park). She is also a music director and has composed and performed original songs for companies and initiatives such as Curious Creations (Waiting For Garbo), National Theatre School's Art Apart (Papa Records Everything), Play4Change (IdeasXChange), the UBC Players Club (The Croc, the Witch, and the Elevator), and Six/Ten Productions (The Last Jubilee). Some of her favourite roles include Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (GVSF), Agnes in Revolt. She said. Revolt again. (UBC Theatre), and Empress Irene in The Tragedy of Irene (UBC English Students' Association). Holly has performed in many student films and is the writer and director of Late Bloomer, a short film presented by Short Film Lab.
Holly plays multiple musical instruments including piano, accordion, 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 is also a member of the main stage ensemble and performs regularly with The Improv Centre on Granville Island.
Holly is the founder of Tower Music Studio where she teaches singing, songwriting, piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons. towermusicstudio.ca
Holly has performed with many theatre companies including Renegade Arts Company, the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, Steel Wolf (Vancouver Fringe Festival), Theatre Under the Stars, United Players of Vancouver, and Axis Theatre (Commedia in the Park). She is also a music director and has composed and performed original songs for companies and initiatives such as Curious Creations (Waiting For Garbo), National Theatre School's Art Apart (Papa Records Everything), Play4Change (IdeasXChange), the UBC Players Club (The Croc, the Witch, and the Elevator), and Six/Ten Productions (The Last Jubilee). Some of her favourite roles include Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (GVSF), Agnes in Revolt. She said. Revolt again. (UBC Theatre), and Empress Irene in The Tragedy of Irene (UBC English Students' Association). Holly has performed in many student films and is the writer and director of Late Bloomer, a short film presented by Short Film Lab.
Holly plays multiple musical instruments including piano, accordion, 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 is also a member of the main stage ensemble and performs regularly with The Improv Centre on Granville Island.
Holly is the founder of Tower Music Studio where she teaches singing, songwriting, piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons. towermusicstudio.ca
