Local singer asks for community support in young talent competition

Article content

A local singer prepares to test her skills against some of the best singers in the Edmonton area.

Article content

With her passion for music and performing, Archbishop Jordan Catholic School graduate Tadiwa Mharapara hopes to wow audiences at Stage-Edmonton’s Emerging Talent Show on Saturday, July 6, at 5:30 p.m. at MacEwan’s Triffo Theatre (#11-130, 11110 104 Avenue NW).

Presented by The Live Initiative – a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering, nurturing and developing talented youth in the arts – the talent show will feature two rounds of competition. In the first round, the top six acts will be determined by audience vote. The audience-selected artists will advance to the second round, where they will perform in front of a panel of judges. The top three performers will receive prize packages, including tuition contracts at the Act With Purpose Performing Arts School in Toronto.

Article content

Mharapara is no stranger to the stage. She was a member of choirs throughout her school years. She recently sang at the Canada Day breakfast in Larkspur Park and had the opportunity to perform on the stage at Festival Place as a child. Mharapara said she has always loved singing.

“I remember singing everywhere I could, in the shower, in my bedroom, even at dinner. I remember my mother getting angry with me and saying, ‘You have to eat!'” Mharapara recalls.

Mharapara draws inspiration from powerful singers like Beyoncé and Whitney Houston and said her style is a combination of soul and pop music. Some of her current favourites include “My Mind” by Yebba and “Fur Elise” by Canadian musician Faouzia.

But as for her plans for Saturday’s performance, Mharapara remains tight-lipped about her song selection.

Article content

“You won’t know until you come here and vote for me. I tell that to everyone I know who asks,” she explained excitedly.

A longtime resident of Sherwood Park, she said she hopes to bring community support to the performance at the Triffo Theatre.

“Since the audience was able to vote in the first round, it is extremely important that people come to support me, watch the performance and vote,”

Mharapara explained that each audience member will receive two votes for the different candidates: “This is based on a majority vote and this is my chance to win and move on to the second round.”

She plans to study musical theater and get a Bachelor of Fine Arts after high school, and says this performance could be a great opportunity for her career.

For more information about the show and tickets, visit theliveinitiative.ca/tickets.

[email protected]

X: MacLeodTheodora

Article content