Cantagiro International Youth Singer s Competition Cantagiro is a well-known emerging music festival that was founded in Italy in 1962. This year, five of our vocal students were selected to compete for the chance to represent Toronto in the 2018 festival being held in Fiuggi, Italy from September 25 - October 1, 2018. Over the past few weeks our students have been working hard to record a cover song or their own original composition as part of their submission. Congratulations to our vocal students who participated! The student chosen to represent Toronto at Cantagiro will be announced in June. Alynia Jade Allan Vocalist Alynia Jade Allan is a 15-year-old, grade 10, RAP (Regional Arts Program) vocal student at Father John Redmond High School in Toronto. She is a featured soloist within the 90-person school choir and is the only student to be chosen to participate in all four, separate, small group choir ensembles (Jazz, Soprano, Treble and Choir-plus). In September 2017, Alynia was selected to perform the Canadian National Anthem in front of the Kennedy family. Alynia has focused on vocal studies at the Columbus Centre School of Music since the age of nine. She has participated in various recitals within the School of Music as well as within the Greater Toronto Area. In February 2018, Alynia participated in the Kiwanis Music Festival Competition where she won 1 st place in her age group category for Classical Vocal and 2 nd place in the Popular Music category. Most recently, Alynia headlined a performance at Loretto Abbey Catholic Academy for a Coffee House fundraiser and has auditioned for competitions including the Next Star, Rising Star and Degrassi. Alynia s next scheduled performance will take place at the Polish Consulate in May 2018, where she will perform in front of European and Canadian delegates. In July, she will travel to Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic to perform for the Pope, and participate in various music festivals. While Alynia s true passion is making music and singing. She is an artist in all aspects as she frequently performs drama and dance, and produces visual art. When not performing, Alynia works as a makeup artist. She also enjoys reading and watching movies.
Natalie Marie Chiarot Vocalist Natalie Marie Chiarot is a 14-year-old vocalist in grade nine at Northern Secondary School. Her love for music started at two-years-old when she would sing karaoke at her zia s house. Natalie s talent at that age was undeniable and her parents enrolled her in voice and piano lessons. Her admiration for the arts only grew when she taught herself to play ukulele. Natalie has a northern Italian background on both sides of her family and enjoys speaking Italian to her Nonno and Nonna. Natalie is very dedicated to her vocal studies and the local Italian community. She will be singing the Nation Anthem at this year s 12 th Annual Villa Charities Giro cycling fundraiser in front of hundreds of people. Natalie s big voice can fill a room. In 2016, Natalie won a Vocal Scholarship Award from the Columbus Centre School of Music. She trains hard and is working on her vocal studies not only at the Columbus Centre but with her school s choir. Earlier this year Natalie performed at Massey Hall with the Sounds of Toronto Concert.
Erica Forrest Vocalist Erica Forrest is an 18-year-old vocalist who began her formal vocal training at age the age of eight with renowned tenor Joey Niceforo. At the age of 14, Erica was accepted into the vocal program at the prestigious Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. She became the lead vocalist for the Cardinal Carter jazz band and performed at numerous concerts throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Cardinal Carter s jazz band is considered one of the top high school jazz bands in Ontario, having taken first prize at several competitions, including the Kiwanis Jazz Festival. Erica was also a member of the Cardinal Carter Choir (also one of the top choirs in Ontario) and has performed throughout Ontario and the United States. Erica Forrest is known for her lush vocals and has performed in numerous concerts and recitals with the Columbus Centre School of Music. She has participated in the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival where she received 1 st prize in her categories. She frequently appears as a guest soloist performing jazz and rock standards in music theatres and clubs within the Greater Toronto Area. In May 2018, Erica will be performing the Italian National Anthem at the 12 th Annual Villa Charities Giro cycling fundraiser.
Sophia Alexandra Lygdas Vocalist Sophia Alexandra Lygdas is a 17-year-old vocalist from Toronto who is completing her third year of a four-year program at a prestigious High School for the Arts in Toronto. Sofia has a passion for the arts in general and has been involved in singing, dancing, musical theatre and piano since the age of four. Sophia recently participated in the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival where she won numerous scholarships and placed 1 st in all of her categories. She also completed her Vocal Level 8 exam with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and is currently working towards her ARCT in Vocal Performance. Sophia has performed as a guest soloist in concerts and festivals within Toronto and the surrounding region, including a Remembrance Day Vigil and a charity concert at the Baycrest Hospital in Toronto. She played the lead roles in the musical productions of Grease, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Dear Edwina and Seussical. She was also featured in a music video called "Nowhere to Run" by Hunter Valentine and Steven Scott for an anti-bullying campaign. Sophia also participates in annual recitals presented by the Columbus Centre School of Music. Future events where Sophia will be singing include a performance of the Italian National Anthem at the 12 th Annual Villa Charities Giro cycling fundraiser in May 2018. Sophia s drive and passion inspire her to continue striving for excellence.
Isabella Parker Vocalist Born of Italian-Canadian heritage, Isabella Parker is 11-years-old and a grade 6 student. Her maternal grandparents were born in the province of Campobasso, Molise and Isabella loves sharing in their Italian heritage, language and culture. Isabella dreams about becoming a singer and dancer someday. She has always loved singing and started studying vocal music in the fall of 2016. She excels in her lessons and won a Vocal Scholarship Award from the Columbus Centre School of Music in 2017. Isabella is an excellent student who always puts her all into everything she does. Her creativity allows her to turn her ideas into songs. She s a dreamer and a doer who plans on saving the world someday through her music.