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Michelle Kasaboski, BISC’12

An award-winning Jazz and Contemporary singer on the Canadian music scene, Michelle credits her time at the Castle and the impact of BISC Musicians in Residence, Diana Gilchrist and Shelley Katz, in particular, with deepening her love affair with music.

Growing up in Kingston, professional musician Michelle had always wanted to study abroad, but the Castle experience presented itself at something of a crossroads in her undergraduate studies. Michelle had taken a year off after her second year at Queen's because, by her own admission, she had become unsure of her goals and was struggling to stay motivated.

“I remember learning about the Castle's Spring and Summer semesters (the format is a little different now) and knew immediately that I wanted to go there,” says Michelle. “I also remember telling my Dad about my decision to go and how determined I was to save up the money and apply.”

Michelle felt that the Castle could be a great way to transition back into her studies, and her instincts proved to be spot on! “I found myself feeling very inspired by the campus and grounds, as well as being exposed to so much incredible art and culture on trips to London,” she says. “The course content combined with more ‘hands-on’ opportunities to take in the subject matter made me hungrier for educational experiences that excited me and were more integrated in their approach.”

After the Castle, Michelle returned to Queen's to complete a BA with a specialization in music and graduated in 2013. She then went on to complete a post-graduate diploma in Business Administration in Human Resources at St. Lawrence College, before moving to Montreal. Inspired by the city’s spirit and art scene, Michelle ended up working in a fashion photography studio, but it soon became clear to her that pursuing a full-time career in music was what she needed to do. For Michelle, that meant returning to Queen’s to complete a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, where she currently juggles her studies while performing as a professional musician.

Michelle has been commended for her rich tone and vocal command. She continues to draw praise from audiences and musicians alike, with sold-out performances at the Isabel Rehearsal Hall and Kingston’s Grand Theatre. Michelle’s most recent stamp of approval has come from platinum selling recording artist and Canadian tenor, John McDermott, with whom Michelle joined as a guest at his Kingston and Ottawa Christmas concerts in December 2019. In addition to such performance successes, Michelle was one of six artists to win the YGK Emerging Musician competition in 2019 and to perform at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s.

“My time at the Castle holds a special place in my heart as a professional musician because my perspective on singing was changed there,” says Michelle. “Studying with Diana and Shelley changed my life because they helped me to connect with my voice and with music in a way that I had yet to experience.”

For more information on Michelle and her upcoming events, visit

Laurel Hilton-Devitt, BISC'08

Proud Castle alumna Laurel jumped at the chance to attend the BISC’s 25th anniversary celebrations last summer. She says her time at the Castle has impacted her life in a huge way.

Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Laurel enrolled at the Castle for the winter term in her third year at Queen’s.

“A trip to Europe when I was 18 solidified my hope to be a citizen of the world and started my love for travel,” says Laurel.  “The Castle was the perfect choice because it seemed like an ideal balance of international education - a place with a rich history and a great base from which I could check out other European countries.”

Laurel was able to take elective courses such as Early Modern England History and Art History that weren’t directly related to her degree, but had been personal areas of interest for a long time. Ultimately, while studying at the Castle, Laurel became more interested in business, marketing and current affairs and also made a fairly momentous decision: “I really did become focused on the idea of coming back to the UK to live and work,” she says.

After graduating from Queen’s, Laurel completed a marketing internship at Flare Magazine, Rogers Media Inc. in Toronto. “I had always wanted to work in publishing, either as a writer or on the business side,” she says. “As I became more interested in business, I enrolled in a graduate marketing certificate at the University of Toronto and completed it while working.”

Following a successful internship, Laurel started full time at Rogers Media and worked in marketing on almost every major title they owned including Maclean’s Magazine, Canadian Business, Today’s Parent, Sportsnet and Chatelaine brands. She then took her other passion for current affairs to the business-to-business world and to PwC Canada on their Marketing, Brand and Sponsorship team.

“I still had that desire to work in the UK that the Castle had inspired in me,” says Laurel, “so when I turned 30, I realised I needed to finally make it happen! I applied for a visa and a job at PwC in London.”

Just over three years later, in her current role as Marketing Lead in Deloitte’s UK Global Office, Laurel drives marketing and business development activity across key geographic markets, identifying strategic partnerships for the firm.

Laurel describes the Castle as the catalyst for her international career. “I have adapted to life here and cannot imagine my love affair with all things England without my experience at the Castle. I met my London-born partner here and hope to pursue British citizenship next year.”

For Laurel, the BISC’s 25^th anniversary celebrations were an opportunity to show her partner the special place that had made her want to live in England. “We had an incredible time with friends, and I decided it was time to give back,” she says. “I have set up annual contributions to the BISC as a proud alumna, because of the impact my time at the Castle ultimately ended up having on my own life.”