ASPIRING OPERA SINGER SHOWCASED
Langley Advance

Canwest News Service
January 29, 2010 Friday 03:54 PM EST
Canada

Two Langley girls take centre stage in a symphony concert on Saturday.

At 16 years of age, Tamar Simon’s passion for music is opening doors
this aspiring opera singer never expected.

The Grade 11 Langley Fine Arts School soprano will be demonstrating
her vocal range on the stage at the Chief Seapass Theatre in Fort
Langley this Saturday, the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium on Sunday,
then the St. Gregory Church in Vancouver the following weekend.

Tamar is one of two Langley musicians taking part in a special Fraser
Valley Symphony (FVS) presentation this weekend.

FVS presents The Magical Moldau and More in a set of concerts featuring
a few up-and-coming soloists from the Valley – including Tamar,
explained publicity director Greg Johnson.

The concert will feature selections from Smetana’s Ma Vlast (My
Fatherland), including the famous Moldau, and the Mystical from
Bohemia’s Forests and Meadows.

"I am excited to do this show because it’s giving me the opportunity
to perform with a great orchestra near my hometown," Tamar told the
Langley Advance.

"I am currently working towards upcoming festivals and competitions.

Last year, I travelled to Prince Rupert and I was the intermediate
winner (classsical voice) at the BC Festival of the Arts, and was
honoured to sing as a soloist for the singalong Handel’s Messiah at
the Orpheum (music director Bruce Pullan) for the second year."

She is also a member of the children’s UBC opera ensemble under
the direction of Nancy Hermiston, and currently in the process of
completing Grade 10 voice level with the Royal Conservatory, where
she’s also studying piano and music theory.

As a Canadian Armenian, she has been invited to sing at the 100th
anniversary commemorating Komitas (a celebrated Armenian composer)
during a special concert in Vancouver Feb. 5.

"Opera is my favourite genre of music to perform," Tamar said. "After
obtaining a degree in music, I hope to become an opera singer."

Tamar is joined by fellow Langleyite Aisa Sayama, a pianist who
attends Brookswood Secondary.

Born in Japan in 1994, Aisa started playing piano at age five.

She has a passion for playing chamber music, which has won countless
competitions through the years, including taking first place in
the junior category of the B.C. Provincial Performing Arts Festival
last June.

The local concert is being held Saturday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m. at Chief
Sepass Theatre, 9096 Trattle St. in Fort Langley.

Tickets – $15/adults, $12/seniors, and $6/children – are available at
Wired Monk in Murrayville, Wendel’s Books and Cafe in Fort Langley,
and at the door if available.