ABOUT THE SINGING AUCTIONEER

The Singing Auctioneer LLC founder, Ellen Toscano, has been a professional singer, actress and stage performer most of her life.  She started singing and performing as soon as she could talk and knew at a young age that she was destined for a life on the stage.  Ellen's first job in high school was singing the National Anthem every Saturday morning at a car auction - how's that for a glimpse into the future?!

Ellen attended New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts studying music and drama where she received her professional training at the Atlantic Theater Company.  During college, Ellen worked as a published writer for Kid Scoop News (now one of our auction clients!).  After graduating from NYU in 2005, Ellen spent ten years as a lead performer in the longest running musical revue in the world - San Francisco's iconic "Beach Blanket Babylon."  Using comedic timing, donning oversized head pieces and sequins, and belting out tunes, she played and impersonated dozens of characters including Carmen Miranda, Chiquita Banana, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Nancy Pelosi, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton and many, many more.  Other favorite performing experiences include: playing the title role of “Evita" with Sonoma Arts Live, performing with other Broadway actors and professionals in Transcendence Theater Company's "Broadway Under the Stars" series, singing at several San Francisco Giants games including the 2014 World Series, performing with the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, American Conservatory Theater, and working with actors John Cleese and Gina Rodriguez.  Most recently, she can be seen around the Bay Area in a commercial for Sonoma Hot Tubs & Pool Supplies and works on ongoing music projects in the recording studio.

Upon leaving “Beach Blanket Babylon,” Ellen started her first business in network marketing & sales.  She also began focusing more on music - singing with bands and for various events around the Bay Area.  One summer evening in 2016, she attended a fundraising event as a guest for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.  The auctioneer that evening was entertaining, compelling, hilarious, quick-witted and genuine.  Whether people were bidding or not, he had everyone's full attention during the live auction and Fund-A-Need which Ellen had never seen in an auctioneer before.  She turned to a friend and said, "That looks like so much fun!  How do I get that job!?" 

As fate would have it, just one week later, Ellen was hired to sing at an Old-Hollywood themed fundraising event at The Presentation School (also now an auction client!) where she wore one of her signature full-sequined outfits.  The auctioneer that evening, an extremely well-known and experienced female auctioneer with a fun, engaging and upbeat, energetic style, was also wearing a very bold outfit and approached Ellen asking if she had ever considered being an auctioneer.  This was the beginning of Ellen's journey as a fundraising consultant, charity auctioneer and emcee which perfectly combined her two greatest passions: performing and helping others in profound ways.  For three years, she worked as an independent contractor with the extremely reputable Generosity Auctions before beginning her own business.  Ellen quickly realized that she could use her musical abilities and skills as an entertainer to help nonprofits raise even more money during their fundraising events and engage donors in a fun, unique, creative, authentic and memorable way.  Thus, The Singing Auctioneer was born! 

A California-based auctioneer, Ellen has raised millions of dollars annually for hundreds of events for nonprofits, organizations, and schools throughout California and across the nation.  Her unique style provides a fun, enthusiastic, high-energy, interactive, engaging, warm, compassionate and genuine atmosphere for events focusing on gratitude and giving from the heart to support incredible causes.  It is important for Ellen to be closely involved with the planning process of the event and organization with whom she is working so that she has a deep, connected understanding of the cause and so she can offer her professional, experienced guidance in all things fundraising and event related in order to raise as much money as possible for the most successful event possible.  That said, she has over a 99% success rate in achieving fundraising goals for her clients, almost always exceeding them!  Her business has experienced a 100% growth rate year after year since its founding in 2019. 

When she's not on stage wearing her signature sequined outfits, Ellen is also a certified Reiki Master Teacher and retreat leader.  Her work as a Charity Auctioneer is a perfect storm of all of her professions and passions:  performing, singing, writing, sales, and bringing in the warmth, heart and ability to connect to others from her energy work.  

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The Singing Auctioneer LLC often books events as far as 12-18 months in advance. Reach out today to make your next fundraising event more uplifting, more heartfelt, and more memorable!