2016 Dr. Frances Gray Performance Competition finals
The UPEI Department of Music is proud to present the 2016 Dr. Frances Gray Performance Competition finals on Thursday, February 4 at 7:30 pm at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, UPEI. The concert will feature seven UPEI student finalists who were chosen by a panel of Music Department faculty members during the preliminary round of the competition held earlier in January. This year’s competition will feature Canadian repertoire.
Parker Clements
Parker Clements is a baritone in the studio of Stephen Bouey. During his Bachelor of Music degree at UPEI, Parker has had the opportunity to perform under the direction of Sung Ha Shin-Bouey in UPEI’s Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Men's Ensemble, and Musical Theatre Ensemble. Parker is currently in his fifth year as choral scholar at the Kirk of St. James. He has also appeared with Indian River Chorus, New Brunswick Chamber Choir, Chœur Louisbourg, and is an alumnus of the National Youth Choir of Canada (2014). Parker has appeared frequently as a soloist. Upon graduating in May, Parker hopes to continue his vocal studies at the graduate level.
Marc DesRoches
Born in Summerside, PEI, Marc DesRoches is a second year oboe and composition major at the University of Prince Edward Island. He studies oboe under the direction of Dr. Karem Simon and Belinda Code of Mount Allison University. Marc is principal oboe of the UPEI Wind Symphony and the Strathgartney Chamber Orchestra. In addition, he plays baritone saxophone in the UPEI Jazz Ensemble and UPEI Saxophone Quartet.
Leah Jordan
Leah Jordan is from Montague, PEI, currently residing in Charlottetown. She is a second year clarinet major studying with Dr. Karem Simon. Leah has been playing with the UPEI Wind Symphony since 2013 and this summer made her symphonic debut with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra. After completing a Bachelor of Music Education she wishes to teach music in the public school system and inspire young musicians.
Lindsay Gillis
Lindsay is a fourth-year voice major at the University of Prince Edward Island under the instruction of Professor Sung Ha Shin-Bouey. She has been a performer since her childhood, her musical beginnings dating back to her days in the Confederation Center Youth Chorus. Since then, Lindsay has been an avid performer of both classical music and musical theatre. Her musical theatre credits include Grace Farrel (Annie), Cinderella’s mother (Cinderella: A Fairly Tall Tale), and the Princess (When in Rome). As a classical vocalist, she has been a featured vocalist numerous times in the UPEI Concert Choir, including a solo in Handel’s Messiah (2015) and a solo in Mozart’s Coronation Mass (2014). She performed her junior recital in March of 2014 and has performed numerous times in the UPEI afternoon recital series. In addition, Lindsay was the 2013 Provincial Music Festival winner in the Advanced Vocal and Advanced Musical Theatre categories, as well as a Senior Rose Bowl Finalist. Lindsay is currently auditioning for graduate programs and plans to further her studies with a graduate degree in vocal performance in the fall.
Emily Proude
Emily Proude is a native of Charlottetown, PEI, and is currently a third-year music education major at UPEI. She is principal saxophonist in the UPEI Wind Symphony and lead alto in the UPEI Jazz Ensemble. At UPEI, she has studied with Dr. Karem Simon, Kevin MacLean, and Dr. Nicole Strum. In addition, Emily is a member of the UPEI Saxophone Quartet and Concert Choir.
Alexandra Smith
Alexandra Smith was born and raised on PEI, and currently resides in Sherwood. She is in her second year of study in the Bachelor of Music program at the University of Prince Edward Island, as a voice major under the direction of Professor Sung Ha Shin Bouey. She has been featured in ensembles such as the UPEI Concert Choir, UPEI Jazz Ensemble, and Le Ragazze Girls Choir. She also performs as a soloist in various churches across the island. Alexandra performs in diverse styles ranging from musical theatre, to classical, to jazz.
Johanna Vessey
A student at the University of Prince Edward Island since 2013, and native to PEI, Johanna Vessey is in her third year of pursuing a Bachelor of Music alongside a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Computer Science. With clarinet being her primary instrument, she has been a student of Dr. Karem Simon for all of her years at UPEI. She has been a member of the UPEI Wind Symphony since 2012, and is presently involved in the ensemble as the librarian, president of the executive, and principle clarinetist. Before attending UPEI, Johanna was in school bands and provincial honours bands for years. As a member of the Cadet program, she was also involved in Cadet bands, and was provided the opportunity of performing in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in 2011 and 2012. This May, Johanna will be immersed in another musical experience as a member of the National Youth Band of Canada 2016.
The judges for the final competition, Alan Reesor, Kelsea McLean, Kirsten MacLaine, Natalie Williams-Calhoun and David MacDonald, are all well-known musicians and educators in the PEI music community.
Tickets are $15 Adults & $10 Seniors/Students and are available online or by contacting the Music department office at 902-566- 0507 or music@upei.ca.
