THE BAND
About Us
A Million Dreams In Me is created by (lead singer) Karen Coughlin and (drummer) Ed Mortenson — two Canadian artists (and parents) who make live music productions with a purpose: giving young people and their families a shared language for confidence, resilience, and big feelings. The show is a live family rock concert built around seven themes — Empowerment, Body Positivity, Courage & Confidence, Kindness & Empathy, Resilience, Letting Go, and Celebration — blending the songs kids love with interactive moments and youth-narrated video segments, so the conversation that starts in the theatre continues at home.
KAREN COUGHLIN — Lead Vocals
Creator & Producer
Karen Coughlin is the creator, co-producer, and star of A Million Dreams In Me, fronting the show's five-piece all-Canadian band as both singer and host — the guide who talks directly to young audiences through every theme.
A Nova Scotia-born performer with an honours degree in acting from Dalhousie University, Karen has worked professionally as a singer and actor since 1999. She starred as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, touring across Canada for five years, and performed with Disney Cruise Line as Sleeping Beauty and Meg from Hercules. A two-time Nova Scotia Talent Trust award recipient, she has headlined with symphonies and starred in many musicals across Canada for Drayton Entertainment, Theatre Aquarius, Neptune Theatre, The Grand Theatre, Lighthouse Festival, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, and many more.
Karen is also the writer, producer, and star of The Linda Ronstadt Show, a touring "Docu-Concert" tribute. In addition, she also performs with tribute productions including ABBA Revisited and We Walk The Line. For the past six summers, she has empowered youth through music and performance at Catapult Camp in Nova Scotia.
While performing has been a lifelong passion, Karen considers her favourite roles to be much closer to home: Mom to Jacob and Marcus and wife to Daniel.
ED MORTENSON — Drums, Producer & Co-Creator
Ed Mortenson is a Mississauga-based drummer, producer, and co-creator of A Million Dreams In Me, and Karen's partner in developing the show's 45-minute School Edition.
Imagine all of the points that you look for in a drummer, multiply them exponentially, and then add a groovy pocket so hard it hurts! Toss in some serious education, experience and musicianship. What you get, is Ed Mortenson. Genre is not an issue. Ed handles all styles with professionalism and incredible musicality. Big pocket. Big Ears.
Conquering the Red Deer College Music Program as a Percussionist and Vocal major, Ed's passion for knowledge led him to Grant MacEwan's Jazz Program. After graduating this program with Honours, Ed continued his studies at Grant MacEwan and received his diploma in Recording Arts and Live Sound.
Ed toured the 5 Star Hotel circuit throughout Asia for three years, he played for the Canadian Troops stationed in Afghanistan; with the San Diego Symphony. And In early 2014, Ed traveled to Sochi Russia, to play for the NHLPA at the Winter Olympics. Ed has recorded with some top-notch-world class producers who have worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Skid Row, Janet Jackson, Alice Cooper, Queen, Big Wreck, Blue Rodeo & more.
A drum teacher and mentor to many young students, Ed brings a musician's ear and a teacher's heart to everything the Collective creates for young audiences. But his favourite title is "Girl Dad".
Alex Harrison — Guitar Cambridge, Ontario
Alex is a seasoned session player, performer, composer and teacher, playing music professionally for over 25 years. He earned an honours degree in Jazz guitar from Humber College. Alex has performed with tribute acts including Bob Seger, ABBA, David Bowie, Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Supertramp, Coldplay and The 60's British Invasion. He also plays weddings and corporate events. Girl Dad extrordinaire.
Bruce Tournay — Piano
Burlington, Ontario
An accomplished bass player, music producer & recording engineer, Steve has worked with a wide range of great Canadian talent including; Rik Emmett, Honeymoon Suite, Suzie McNeil, Alannah Myles, Amanda Marshall, Jason Blaine, Marshall Dane, The Morganfields, and The Gandharvas. Steve trained in analog recording at London Ontario's acclaimed MIA program, and later studied bass at Humber College in Toronto. A Georgetown Ontario native, he studied classical piano at an early age, and played in local rock bands. He developed his love for the bass guitar after listening to bass legends like Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, and Geddy Lee. Equally at home in concert halls, studios, or clubs, one of Steve's career highlights was recording, mixing, co-producing, and playing bass on the 2016 Mascot Label release, Rik Emmett and RESolution 9. Steve is a Groovy Dad!
Steve Skingley — Bass
Collingwood, Ontario
BELIEVE TO ACHIEVE!
Dream it. Believe it. Sing it.
You can achieve anything!
Together with Karen and Ed, they are the five-piece all-Canadian band behind the show's big concert sound.
Bruce has been performing as a pianist and vocalist for over 30 years. His career has taken him from clubs to private parties and from churches to soft seat theatres across North America. Some of Bruce's highlights include winning a medal for jazz performance from Pat Lebarbera, recieving a government grant for his own compositions, singing for radio and corporate jingles such as Canadian Tire ads & performing with Icons like Russell Peters, Wayne Brady, Terri Clarke and Brad Garret. Bruce won the Hamilton Spectator Scholarship from Mohawk College and the Humanities Medal of Special Achievement from McMaster University where has an applied arts diploma and a honors bachelor degree in music. Proud Husband & Father
Both Karen and Ed are parents — they create this work not only as artists, but as parents with a personal stake in the conversations it starts at home.
