Guffman 5 is a dynamic Montreal vocal group with Jule Lafontaine, Mary Burns, Darryl Macdonald & Chris Maragoudakis. They have delighted audiences with their repertoire consisting mostly of jazz standards, with a dash of pop, folk, Broadway, plus a few surprises! Guffman 5 brings a special blend of lush arrangements and playful whimsy to their love of vocal harmonies and classic jazz.
JULIE LAFONTAINE
The newest member of Guffman 5, soprano Julie Lafontaine is thrilled to be part of the “Guffman family”! Born and raised in Montreal, Julie honed her musical talents at Vanier College and McGill University, studying classical voice. She enjoys sharing her gift, working in a variety of venues and singing in many styles throughout the Montreal music scene, but it is with Guffman 5 that she gets to nourish her spirit – especially with “yummy” jazz arrangements! What a blessing this tight-knit group has been in her life.
As a soloist, Julie loves to swing from jazz to pop to musical theatre to opera and it is in this last genre that Julie has had national exposure due to her performances on “Canada’s Got Talent”, where she went all the way to the finals!
MARY BURNS
Mary has worked in professional theatre for over 20 years, as an actor and teacher. She has performed with theatre companies in Ottawa, Vancouver, Halifax and Montreal. She was also part of the acclaimed a capella trio Three Sheets to the Wind, recording and touring across Canada and internationally. Mary is a proud former member of the Lyric Theatre Singers, where Guffman 5 was founded.
CHRIS MARAGOUDAKIS
Chris enjoys performing as the bass in Guffman 5, which he’s been doing for over 10 years. However, his experience on the stage goes way back, having performed in various amateur theatre troupes in and around Montreal since his early adulthood, including the Lyric Theatre. He also sang with the Lyric Theatre Singers as a baritone for over 10 seasons, and he credits his time with them as the source of much of his music theory knowledge and practical experience!
DARRYL MACDONALD
Darryl is a founding member of Guffman 5 and the group’s tenor. He has been singing since he was a child, and was known to wake up the house singing out from his bed. Darryl has performed with many choirs in the Montreal area since moving here in 1985, including The Lyric Theatre Singers. Since being part of Guffman, Darryl has enjoyed the small group dynamic and the tight jazz harmonies as well as the challenge of a capella singing.