Review: Niagara Star Singers Jingle Bell Christmas Concert

After 4 months of practicing Christmas songs and a grueling weekend consisting of 12 hours of staging over 2 days, the Niagara Star Singers had our Jingle Bell Christmas concert last night in St. Catharines, ON.  There was an audience of almost 200 people out for a fun family night and to help our group do some fund raising for a trip to New York City in May.  We performed more than 20 songs during the 2 hour performance.  The audience was great, the venue fine and we felt amazing after the concert.  Our choir director, Lisa Brillon, once again planned and executed a very entertaining, challenging and professional event.

Here are some photos.

I’m so happy. The happiest elf on stage.

My sister staring as Suzie Snowflake.

They swept me off my feet.

There she is… the littlest Star Singer.

The awesome grand finale from the NSS Jingle Bell Christmas concert.

We often play reindeer games… we’ve got rock and roll antlers.

I’ve decided that having my own backup singers is a good way to go.

A selection from Elf: The musical. I’m the special elf!!

NSS Christmas Concert

The Niagara Star Singers are presenting a concert on Sunday, December 6th in St. Catharines, ON.  I’ve been a part of the group for the past 3 years and I can tell you that this will be our biggest most amazing concert in recent history.  We’re performing over 20 numbers.  You’ve really got to come out and enjoy a great evening with us.  If you are interested in tickets, you can email niagarastarsingers@gmail.com .  I hope to see you there.

Status Update: After the Music Festival

Wow.  What a crazy couple of days it’s been.  I competed in 4 competitions over 3 days and did amazing.  I took home 3 first place finishes and a second.  Not only that, but I got recommended to the Provincial level of the competitions again!  I’m glad that since I’m already going someone else is able to come from this festival.

The level of competition in my age category – preteen – was crazy high and it was the only category that needed to be broken into 2 groups because there were 16 singers.  While a few of the singers were new to me, I already knew most of them.  Half of the singers are in Niagara Star Singers with me.  Since we knew each other, the atmosphere around us was so upbeat and supportive.  We were all high fives and congratulating each other after we sang.  It makes it a whole lot easier to put it all out on stage when you’re in among friends and all around nice people.

I was really impressed with Rebecca Poff, the adjudicator.  She treated us like professionals and spoke to us just like we were doing a show.  Her comments were very insightful and will go a long way to helping me improve.  It’s funny but the level of competition was so high that she almost never made reference to the quality of singing.  She focused instead on making our performances more genuine and helping us to connect better with the music and the character.  I particularly was advised to make my performances come right up from the ground through my body instead of acting mostly from the waist up.  I was also told to learn the lyrics so solidly that I could forget them and then discover them fresh as the character when I sang.  So a lot of very esoteric but oh so important advice for those of us that plan to do more in this business.

I was the very last performer in the festival and finished it off with a huge bang when I sang The Ballad of Farquaad from Shrek.  I was asked to sing it again at the Awards Gala and we got it on video.  Look for that performance to be posted up later today.  So yeah, months of practice, 3 grueling days of performances and a Niagara Star Singers performance at the Awards Gala has left me tired, proud and enthusiastic about the Provincials coming up.  It also left me with 4 great scores, quality critiques, a scholarship cheque, a trophy and a big smile on my face.

Review: Disney Performing Arts Workshops

Yes, I could be paying attention, but I knew there was a camera on me.

On Jan 31, and Feb 1st, as part of the Niagara Star Singer’s Disney World tour, I took part in two workshops with Disney Performing Arts.  In a very short summary, they were awesome.

For one workshop we were whisked “backstage” at Epcot to work in a great rehearsal space and for the other, we worked in a performance theatre at one of the resorts.  So the venues were great and we had a Disney performer named Cameron work with us.  He was everything you could ask for in a coach.  Cameron had energy to burn, he pushed us and pulled us along, he was able to share all sorts of insider stories about working at Disney and he was a super teacher.

“So when I’m famous, I’ll have 2 ponies and a mansion…”

Learning the Moonwalk at Disney Performing Arts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While at Epcot, we worked on staging a classic Disney stage number called Adventureland and we staged the opening scene to Beauty and The Beast in our other workshop.  Cameron led both workshops which was great since he already had an idea of what we could do and cuz we liked him so much.

I can’t recommend these workshops highly enough to anyone that does musical theatre or live performance.  We were treated so well and we learned so much.  They were great and two of the best mornings I’ve spent in a long time.

The end of our workshop with Cameron, Minnie and all of the Niagara Star Singers

Celeste and I are rockin’ out with Minnie.

Now Onstage at Downtown Disney: Niagara Star Singers

On stage in Downtown Disney… The Niagara Star Singers.

I think I should always be flanked by beautiful girls.

I’m doing my solo… pay attention to me not those dancers.

This is it… I am on stage in Downtown Disney.

On Friday, Jan 30th, I performed in Disney with the Niagara Star Singers.  We had a crowd of about 500 people watching and cheering our performance.  Lisa Brillon, our music director, convinced Disney to let us do a huge 25 minute set with songs like Happy, No Business Like Show Business, several mash ups from Glee and Dance to the Rhythm of One World.  There’s no feeling quite like live gigs.  We all loved it.

NSS: Disney Show

It’s -18 C today and I got to walk to school.  The forecast says 15 cm of snow today is possible.  My crazy ex-girlfriend has been texting me for 3 days.  I am so ready to go to Florida on Thursday.  22 C temperatures have never looked so good.

Lookin’ slick in sequins.

I’ve got my shorts and bathing suit all packed.  My sequined hat and bow tie have been shipped ahead of us and I just can’t wait to be on that plane.

We will be performing a show in Downtown Disney on Friday afternoon around 4pm.  So if you are in Orlando, stop by and see us.  On Saturday and Sunday, we will be doing workshops with the Disney performers and then the trip home late Monday.  I hope I’ll have time to work on my tan.  It seems pretty whirlwind but I know the group is going to have major fun.

Dad will try and post some photos from Florida.  In the meantime, I just have to avoid frostbite for 2 more days.

Update: Suessical – The Musical

My sister Maya in costume for Seussical: The Musical.

Launched into the New Year like a missile.  We have less than 15 days to get our school musical down.  Our rehearsals are now going four days a week and since I have a lead, I am working like crazy.  I still don’t have a costume yet, although dad is scrambling to find boy’s yellow dance clothes.  Hint – they don’t exist!!  So the pressure is on and we are always on the run.

Oh yeah.  You’ll recall that Niagara Star Singers are headed to Disney for a performance at the end of the month.  So that means rehearsals on Fridays and Sundays and a ton of new material, choreography and so on to learn.  God, I love being a crazy actor.  I can’t wait to go to Florida – I’m totally sick of the -26 degree weather here.

Bring on the shows!!!

Christmas Message of Thanks

Just before I disappear for a week of holiday fun, I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays etc.  There are so many people that have been important and supportive of my this year.  I’m grateful to all of them.  In no particular order…

• Lisa Brillon – What a great singing teacher you are and I appreciate all the extra help you’ve given me.  I have so much fun working with you not only one on one but also with the Niagara Star Singers.  We are going to rock both Disney and the Provincial singing competition in 2015!
• Arthur Massei – Thanks to you and everyone at TalentInk-NY for the great opportunities you’ve pitched me for.  2015 is going to be the year of the Visa, I can feel it.
• Lisan and Brooke Dingman-Nagy – You two have made a real impact on my dancing and my fitness this year.  I never thought I’d be so flexible nor be able to do so many crunches.
• Geoff Chapman and Stanlee – Thanks for the jobs this year.  I’ll miss hanging out backstage with Stanlee, but I know she’ll be enjoying her retirement.
• Sterling Johnston – This has been a super year together.  Thanks for your enthusiasm and creativity.  We’ve got plenty more movies in us, but let’s cast some girls this year, huh?
• Brigitte Robinson, Guy Bannerman, Dianna Donnelly – All of you have helped coach me for various auditions this year.  I’m so lucky to have great actors nearby that are willing to work with me.  I’m really blessed.
• Heather Kiemele – I really appreciate that you decided to have a school musical this year and that you cast me in it.  We are going to put on a show to remember.  One more year with you, so start thinking about next year’s musical.

Lastly, I’d like to thank my mom and dad for all the times they’ve driven me to Toronto for 5 minute auditions, found time and money for extra coaching, for all the love and support that you give me.  Thank you doesn’t say enough.

Niagara Star Singers Concert – Dec 7th, 2014

If you can ignore Dad’s shaky hands at the beginning, he is 42 after all, the video is from a darn good performance of Gonna Catch That Santa.  We were part of a Christmas concert put on by the Queenston Ladies Choir.  It took place in Niagara-on-the-Lake at St. Mark’s Anglican Church on Dec 7th, 2014.  Here are some photos that were taken during the rehearsal and the performance.  We had a ton of fun.

 

You didn’t think that I took jazz for nothing, did you? I’m a dancing machine.

It’s true! I’m a Christmas elf. Honourary.

Lisa!!!! Geena is pushing me…

Here is a shot of us paying solemn attention to our choir director, Lisa. She is great and scary, too.

Milo’s Crazy, Wild, Nutty Month

Going into grade seven has been a bit of a shock.  Did you know that they make you take math home with you every night?  They expect us to answer questions at home and then bring them back?  Do you go to work all day and then bring home things to do???  This is child abuse!  No, illegal child labour… I don’t know what those teachers do with all these solved equations.  Probably sell them to the NSA.  Anyhow, it has sure cut into my time for things like blogging.

Also with start of school has been the start of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Niagara Star Singers and singing lessons.  Dad has been submitting me for film roles left right and centre and I’ve had 4 auditions.  My amazing Manager, Arthur Massei from TalentInk-NY, got me a self-tape submission for the upcoming 9Th Life of Louis Drax.  I spent 2 days working with my coach, Dianna Donnelly on that submission but in the end it was some really great work.  Still waiting to hear about that one.  I also auditioned at Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton, ON) for their Christmas production of Mary Poppins.  I’m really pumped about that productions because I had a callback for it 2 days ago.  Once again, waiting to see.

I was rehearsing with Niagara Star Singers yesterday and Dad picked me up with the news that I landed a film role in a movie called Oliver.  Oh yeah, it started shooting today and will finish up Sunday.  So much for a relaxing weekend.  That’s how I missed half my jazz class this morning and rushed up to Toronto to shoot.  I’ve posted a couple of photos below and some on the Fun and Frolic page.

Our school is doing it’s first ever musical this year.  We are doing Seussical The Musical.  Since I don’t have enough going on, I am going to try out JoJo.  My audition is on Tuesday.

I’m sure I still have some spare time… I wonder what else I can get up to????