The Aura of Maura - a Filipina makes her mark in the Opera

Maura Sharkey-Pryma is an established lyric coloratura mezzo soprano based in Edmonton.  The first time I heard her sing in a church concert, I was in awe with her vocal prowess and equally proud upon learning that she was also of Filipino heritage, tracing her maternal roots to Lipa, Batangas.  

So when we were organizing the Philippine Arts Festival in 2010, we knew that it was essential to have her as one of the featured artists.  That production served as her “debut” to the Filipino community and events, and a shining example of the Filipino artist excelling in the global stage.

The span of Maura’s professional operatic career includes appearances with the  Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, Edmonton Opera, Manitoba Opera, The Opera Project, Opera NUOVO, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton Chamber Orchestra, Edmonton Composers’ Society and a collaboration with Juno award winner Malcolm Forsythe and the University of Alberta Orchestra in Elgar’s The Music Makers.  Described by a critic as “an exuberant Canadian mezzo soprano... shows herself comfortable in all the registers, bursting precision and engraves resonance”, she has essayed roles like Cinderella in La Cenerentola, Mercedes in Carmen, Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte, and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors.

As a young girl, Maura initially wanted to go into musical theatre but a penchant for classical music and a flute-like voice quality opened up opportunities for her in opera.  A holder of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music at the University of Alberta, she is one of those people who was constantly at the right place, at the right time - with offers and opportunities smoothly tossed her way.  This does not imply, however, that she never worked for or deserved those opportunities.  Lucky as she was, she impressed me as a very hard and determined worker, fully grounded and recognizant of her true place in her art.  As attestation, she has won the Western Canadian Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions in Vancouver in 1998; was a two-time awardee of the Johann Strauss Scholarship, and again, a two-time recipient of the Anne Burrows Foundation Scholarship.  She was also the Canadian representative in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels, Belgium in 2004.

In addition to her personal achievements, Maura has generously been sharing her musical skills since high school, starting out as a piano teacher and eventually a voice teacher, coach and adjudicator.  “My purpose is to help each student build a solid musical foundation that will provide him/her a lifetime of enjoyment.  My job as a voice teacher and mentor is to inspire and uncover each student’s potential, and to be a guide-helping to develop and strengthen these gifts.  I am devoted to helping singers discover their voice, and present them in successful performances.”   From her private home studio and her studio at the MacEwan Alberta College Conservatory of Music in Edmonton, she trains ambitious young singers in classical, musical theatre, song interpretation, and extensive breathing and vocal techniques in the Bel Canto method.  She is also a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Music (NATS), the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association (CMFAA) and serves on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Music Education Foundation (AMEF).

In an interview I had with Maura, she reminisced about her musical journey and how her mentors have ingrained their distinct characteristics on her; the balancing act between her love for music and her family; the excitement of learning new roles and materials; her anecdotes as a teacher; and her aspirations.  She shared her dreams of having her own music centre, of portraying the roles of Carmen, Suzuki in “Madame Butterfly” and more Rossini operas, and of doing some recordings, especially the Filipino songs.  She proved that she knows her stuff -- what she needs to work on, what she excels at, and acknowledges the realities of her industry.  Her advice to young singers is to find a good teacher & learn as much as they can, ensure always that the voice is technically sound before pursuing a career, persevere, and pay their dues.

Our conversation was relaxed, an exchange of thoughts between two artists.  As we talked about art and other mundane things, she presented herself as a regular human being, yet somehow provided the sense that one has chanced upon someone special - a person cut above the rest.  She spoke with passion and at the same time, with logic.  That she is blessed in talent, wisdom, generosity and humility is palpable, and she possesses this luminosity that I call the “aura of Maura”.  Witness her live in her next performance as the title role in Carmen with the Calgary Concert Opera Company in their 2012 season.

* This article was written for the November 2011 issue of Pinoy Times.

First Filipino-Canadian Gala

The First Filipino-Canadian Gala was held last September 17 at the Northlands Edmonton Expo Centre.  A night of dinner, entertainment and dancing, it was a celebration of Filipino-Canadian achievements and a way of giving back to the community.  The net proceeds from ticket sales and auctions were earmarked to the Edmonton’s Food Bank.

On hand to deliver special greetings for the event were: Minister of Public Works and Government and Minister for Status of Women Rona Ambrose; Executive Director of Edmonton’s Food Bank Marjorie Bencz; Chair of Edmonton’s Food Bank Board Anne Smith; Ward 12 Councillor Amarjeet Sohi; and President and CEO of Northlands Richard Anderson.

Along with the Philippine cuisine-inspired dinner, guests were treated to a night of Filipino talent: Philippine Choral Group, who sang the Philippine & Canadian national anthems; The Lucila Project, a neo-ethnic dance company; singers Wency Calderon, Jo-Ann Aguilar and Shwag choral group ; Alyssa & Monica Tungul, pianist & violinist, respectively; hiphop groups ILLustration and Hot Sauce; Saranay Kwerdas, an ensemble using traditional Filipino instruments; and bands The Sour Patch Kids and GERIS Project.  The Philippine Outreach Program was also honored and Filipino Canadians who passed away recently were remembered.

Guests may have come to enjoy themselves for the evening but generously participated in the “giving back” portion of the night through the silent auction items and live auction of a Lexus CT200 Hybrid car and some dinner and hotel packages, conducted by Kastner Auctions.

It was a highly successful event with about 800 people in attendance, a third of which were non-Filipinos who came out to support this Filipino fundraiser.  And with this success came pledges of support and participation for next year’s Filipino-Canadian Gala, which is slated for September 2012.  Credit goes to organizer Lixmila Serrano and partner producer Ramon Cifra for their boldness in conceptualizing and hurdling the various obstacles that come in organizing such a massive but elegant event, and for securing major sponsorships from Lexus of Edmonton, Dolce Vita Homes, Wild West Shooting Range and Sun Life Financial.    

The Filipinos are the fourth largest group of immigrants to Canada and many have established their niches in their adopted country.  They are great contributors to not only the Canadian economy but the Philippines as well, supporting family back home and actively participating in various fundraisers and causes in the Philippines.  This event was another manifestation of the Filipinos’ “balikbayan” spirit - that spirit of community and giving.  

* This article was written for and published in the Pinoy Times, October 2011 issue.

The Lucila Project at the Alberta Arts Days - A. Blair McPherson School, Edmonton

All across Alberta, from Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 were events marking Alberta Arts Days.  Alberta Arts Days began in 2008 as a one-day event to recognize the value of Alberta’s arts and cultural communities.  Since then, it has expanded into a vibrant, three day province-wide celebration that has helped inspire the creation of Culture Days, showcasing the province’s artists, arts organizations and cultural identities, while encouraging Albertans to discover the important role the arts plays in developing a prosperous, vibrant society.  This year, a total of 64 host celebration sites were chosen by the Govt. of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit.

This is a brainchild of Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Lindsay Blackett, who says “We’ve got so many great artists of all different types and genres in all different places, we have to come together as a province to celebrate it.”  He fondly refers this as the “Pied Piper” project, “We’re just going to keep adding people until every Albertan joins in, like the Pied Piper.”

In Edmonton, the three day event was marked in various ways: free admission to provincially owned historic sites, attractions and museums; Film & Writing workshops, and a Storytelling Festival at the Edmonton Public Library; tours of the Winspear and Citadel Theatres; Edmonton Symphony Orchestra open rehearsals and special performances; InFuse, by the National Black Coalition of Canada, Edmonton chapter; and workshops and exhibits from the artists at the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts.  Two schools were also chosen to participate in this Alberta Arts Days Initiative: the Bishop Greschuk Elementary School and the A. Blair McPherson School.

Amongst the artists showcased at the A. Blair McPherson (ABM) School Alberta Arts Days Celebration is The Lucila Project. This is a dance company specializing in modern ballet pieces infused with Philippine traditional customs and images.  Under the artistic direction of Jojo Lucila and Ida Beltran-Lucila, they held a dance photo exhibit, conducted a lecture-demonstration dance class and presented dances ranging from the contemporary, lyrical, athletic and tribal styles.  Their participation introduced the community to Philippine ethnic dances and traditions, music and modern ballet technique.

Other performers/artists at the ABM were: West African Dance Troupe (interactive workshop); French, German and Italian opera; traditional Indian dance; Prince Charles School Fiddlers and Dancers; Rosslyn School Chinese and Lion Dancers; 3rd Street Beat; Beaumont Society School of Dance; Bobby Boogaloo; Cindy Clarke The Clay Teacher; City Arts Centre Director’s Cut Program; Gail de Vos (Storyteller); Gail Sobat (Author); Jeff Hendrick (Saxophonist, Soul-singer, Songwriter & Canadian Producer); Shelley’s Dance Company; and Les Bucheron French Canadian Display.

It was a great couple of days for participating in art, dance and improvisation workshops, viewing exhibits, watching performances and shopping in the International Market.  The general feedback is enthusiasm for next year’s celebration, proving the concept of the Alberta Arts Days as a “Pied Piper” project.

* This article was written for and published in Pinoy Times, October 2011 issue.

Lifting the People’s Spirits through the Arts – Bacolod’s Masskara Festival

October marks the celebration of the Masskara Festival, which occurs from October 1-20 and celebrates Bacolod’s charter day anniversary, which is on October 19. The festival name is a morpheme of the word “mass” for crowd and the Spanish word “cara” for face. “Maskara” is also the Filipino word for masks, providing then the double meaning of “many faces” for the festival. This name was conceived by Ely Santiago – a painter, cartoonist, cultural artist and then President of the Arts Association of Bacolod.

A smiling mask is the symbol of the fiesta to reflect the happy spirit despite difficult times, and the locals’ nature of being strong willed yet warm hearted. The city is also known as the City of Smiles, so it is just fitting to hold a festival of smiles. The Masskara Festival was envisioned in 1980 when the people were suffering from an economic downturn of the sugar industry, the city’s main revenue. They were also grieving for hundreds of relatives and friends who perished in 1979 when a ship sailing from Bacolod collided with a tanker. The city’s leaders thought that a festival was an optimal way of rallying the people and lifting them from dejection.

The festival since then has evolved into a 20-day celebration with food fairs, mask-making contests, brass band competitions, musical concerts, beauty and talent pageants, a windsurfing regatta, competitions (pig catching, pole climbing, drinking, eating), trade fairs and exhibits. The climax is a mardi gras parade where revelers don elaborate masks and costumes, and dance in the streets. Everyone in the community participates – the civic associations, businesses, schools and government organizations. It has become one of the popular attractions in Negros, drawing thousands of people within and outside the country.

The Masskara Festival has also been judged the most beautiful and colorful festival among various contingents from other countries - notably in the Chinggay Festival in Singapore in 1988, the Lunar Festival of Hong Kong in 2001, in the International Tourism Festival of Shanghai in 2004 and in the Midosuji Festival Parade of Osaka, Japan, emerging as champion in the foreign category and first runner up in the local category – the first award to be given to a foreign participant in the 10-year history of that Japanese festival.

What was borne from a difficult time has propelled into a force that brings the community together, draws people from within and outside of the country, turns the economy around as one of the tourist destinations, and lifts the spirits of the people. The Masskara Festival is not based on any historical, religious or cultural premise but is definitely a creative undertaking. It is a manifestation of the people’s sentiments, their ingenuity and passion. And most importantly, it is a shining example of how one instinctively turns to art for expression, for escape, for hope and for celebration.

* this article was written for the October maiden issue of Pinoy Living, published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Filipinos Shine in the World Stage of Ballet

Candice & JM in "Diana and Acteon"

Candice Adea and Jean Marc (JM) Cordero have been consistently putting the Philippines in the international dance map for the last couple of years.  Both principal dancers of Ballet Philippines, resident dance company of the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, the onstage & offstage partners have been representing the country in prestigious international ballet competitions.  

Candice in "Don Quixote"

Most recently, they represented the country in the 8th Seoul International Dance Competition held from July 24-31, 2011.  The pair made it to the Finals, despite a raging fever during the elimination rounds for JM, and with a Bronze finish for Candice.  Last May,  the pair garnered Special Awards in the 1^st Boston International Ballet Competition (BIBC).  They won the Lead Role in Russian Ballet Performance, an award given by the Artistic Director of Chelyabinsk State Academy Opera and Ballet Theater to a dancer/pair of the highest level.  They will be dancing the lead roles in the full length production of Don Quixote.  Candice also won the Maris Liepa Prize for Outstanding Artistry.  This special prize, presented by BIBC 2011 judge Andris Liepa, son of late ballet legend Maris Liepa, is an invitation to perform in Paris in 2012 along with stars from Bolshoi and Marjinsky Theatres (two of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world) presenting Fokine ballets as part of the Russian season in France.  Candice will be performing “Firebird.”

JM in "Don Quixote"

In June 2010, they competed with 119 other contestants at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, considered the Olympics of Dance.  Candice won the Silver Medal in the Senior Division, the first Filipina to ever win a medal in this competition.   Cordero was a semi-finalist, the farthest any Filipino danseur has placed here in Jackson.  It is worth mentioning that they were early favorites in the competition, receiving a standing ovation as early as the first round.

Their partnership started in 2007 for the New York Ballet Competition.  From then on, they have been essaying soloist and principal roles in the seasons of Ballet Philippines.  In 2009, Candice received the Gawad Buhay Award for the Most Outstanding Female Lead Dancer.

in Augustus Damian III's "Evacuation"

I first saw Candice when she was preparing for the ballet competition in Tokyo, Japan, as a student of the Makiling High School for the Arts.  This was for the 9th Asia Pacific Ballet Competition and at the young age of 13, finished as finalist.  I remember then feeling the thrill in the gut that you get when you see someone special, a person of real promise.  Then having worked with her in Ballet Philippines, I have witnessed her dedication, her love for dance and also her quirkiness, which are lovable and amusing, nevertheless.  JM, on the other hand, is a surprise since he was really just taking ballet to while away the time he was waiting for Candice, his girlfriend since their Makiling days.  To have achieved all these, despite starting training at the age of 18, is indeed quite a feat.

Candice in "Diana and Acteon"

Today, with all their international achievements and recognition, they have acquired an artistic maturity that is achieved through the rare combination of hard work, commitment and humility.  And with this, it is only inevitable that they attract more admiration, support and recognition.  Their achievements also prove that the Filipino talent, provided with the support of both the artistic and business community, is indeed world class.  In an interview after her Jackson competition feat, Candice was quoted as saying, “We Filipinos are not far behind from the rest of the world, especially if we put our heart and mind to it.  Everyone was good, but what set us apart was our soul in dancing.”  And what beautiful souls they have, I can attest.

* this article was written for Pinoy Living, launch edition

Pinoy Singing Sensation 3

* this article was written for Pinoy Times, published in the September 2011 issue

Darren Espanto, Pinoy Singing Sensation 3 Champion

The Pinoy Singing Sensation (PSS) had its Season 3 Finals Night last August 20 at the Gateway Alliance Church in Edmonton.  With contestants from Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatchewan, the young singers went through vigorous rounds - American Idol style, singing Billboard Top 100 and OPM (original pilipino music) songs, complete with judges’ comments and scoring, and audience and web voting.

The PSS was established by Tony Surtida of Le Tigre Entertainment Productions to discover the untapped talent pool in the Filipino community in different cities.  It is open to anyone who is of Filipino descent and has attracted these past years both citizens, permanent residents and temporary foreign workers.  The annual competition has slowly extended its scope through the years: by conducting auditions in areas outside of Edmonton and even out of province; by launching a Junior edition; and by adding web voting, thereby allowing anyone from anywhere in the world to cast their votes.  Future plans are to add a Masters’ edition for ‘mature’ singers, extending the geographic scope of the competition, an online competition and raising the financial awards for contestants.

This year’s crop of contestants unexpectedly whittled down from 27 contestants to 13 due to health reasons, logistics and inability to secure leave from work, particularly those from outside of Alberta.  The age range was from 8 to 35 years old.  I had the privilege of hearing the singing prowess of all 13 contestants since they requested that all be allowed to sing in the Finals, rather than the originally planned Top 12.  The evening had the American Idol like atmosphere - what with the crowd cheering for their own candidates and applauding for every sustained and high note sang by each contestant.  It was incredible to witness unassuming, shy and at times awkward young people walk on stage only to transform in a matter of seconds, as soon as they open their mouths to sing.  Gleaning from the judges’ comments, the contestants have taken to heart the critiques they have received in the previous rounds and have over all improved their performances.  But in general, these young performers will benefit from more singing opportunities and voice coaching in the future to overcome nerves, develop audience rapport and improve performance technique.

the 6 finalists

After the first tally of audience and judges’ votes, the contestants were pared down to the 6 finalists and with another round of voting, the winners were announced:  

• Darren Espanto - a 10 year old who made PSS history by scoring a perfect score from all judges during the previous round and whose angelic voice, boyish charm and strong stage presence earned him the Championship
• 15 year old Alexandra Villamar, a powerhouse of a girl who landed in 2nd place
• Charmayne Javier - a new immigrant from Davao, with a very good voice quality (3rd)
• Jade Pearl Dancel - who exudes a maturity and confidence beyond her age (4th) 
• Sunshine Bautista - an English teacher who was tone deaf but was able to overcome this through determination and hard work; she is the contestant who understands most about imaging and packaging herself in accordance with her choice of songs (5th)
• Rofelle Antonio - a winsome girl with a captivating voice and expressive face (6th)

Prizes at stake were: $ 3000 (1st Place), $ 1000 (2nd Place), $ 500 (3rd Place) and $ 150 (4th-6th Places).  It was interesting to watch the final round and witness one singer after another stepping up to the plate, singing their hearts out and thereby heating up the competition and erasing all previous notions that a particular candidate had the win in the bag.

the judges

It was admittedly a long evening (4 hours) but taking into account that it allowed one to share in somebody else’s shining moment of fame made it worth it.  There were some moments when I got the goosebumps when faced with what was apparently God-given talent.  I remember an instance way way back in my past when I was so impressed with a singer in an amateur show.  So much so that I did not forget her name.  She was Chona Velasquez who later on changed her name to Regine Velasquez.  And so with these young singers, who joined the competition either for fun, for a learning experience or as a stepping stone for a professional career, there is the hope that they realize and develop their potential.  

The Pinoy Singing Sensation then serves its purpose of being a platform for young talents to indulge in their vocal prowess for whatever purpose they will decide on.  It is now up to the organizers to develop a format that would make this more interesting and marketable to the general public.  One that would create an audience who would view the show for its program content and not just for relatives and friends who would come to vote for their respective candidates.  Undoubtedly, the Filipinos are a talented race and something that we should always showcase and continually be proud of.  And seeing how this competition has improved in its 3 years of existence, it is anticipated that the organizers would find a way to meld the artistic and commercial aspects of this endeavor.

Mayor's Arts Visioning Committee - Edmonton as a Cultural Hub

I was fortunate enough to be a part of a Discovery Dialogue for Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel's Arts Visioning Committee last August 10.  Co-chaired by Dianne Kipnes and Brian Webb, the committee was tasked to understand and develop how Edmonton can use arts and culture to promote citizens' pride in the city through 2035 and beyond.  In the kick-off event "Think Tank for the Arts" last June that brought together artists, entrepreneurs, activists, performers, students, developers and community leaders, Mayor Stephen Mandel remarked that "Arts and culture form the very heart and spirit of a community, and are the things from which great cities are made.  I believe that Edmonton's vibrant arts community, knack for creativity and innovation, and unique multicultural character position us for success. This Think Tank event is about listening and working with the community to start to pull together an integrated and coordinated plan to raise the profile of arts in our city."

The Discovery Dialogues were the next round of consultations with various sectors of the community undertaken by the committee over the summer. Present were Councilor Ben Henderson, Dick Wong of the City Arts Council, Brian Webb and John Mahon, Executive Director of the Edmonton Arts Council. There were also representatives from various cultural communities engaged in the different arts - dance, music, opera, literature and the visual arts. The discussion centered around concepts and sharing of experiences on gaps in the Edmonton arts community, strategies, integration of arts and the business community, possible arts venues/locations, mentorship program, opportunities for emerging but mature artists, networking opportunities, festivals, free or low cost space, more quality performing venues, grants and other sources of revenue, artist recognition and integration of the arts further into the civic fabric.

The next round will be business, design and architecture stakeholder conversations on transforming and repurposing identified areas. These include the Rossdale Power Generation Station and riverfront plaza, MacEwan Centre for the Arts and Communications, Quarters area, downtown area and airport lands. Topics will include developing and planning the details about the amenities, programs and services that can be offered in these locations. The report with recommendations is targeted to be submitted by the Arts Visioning Committee to City Council by end of the year.

Ida Beltran-Lucila with Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel

It is gratifying to see that in these times of financial uncertainty, city government is pulling out all the stops in raising the profile of the arts and elevating it across the city, whereas other governments may be inclined to relegate it to the bottom of the priority list. After all, in the words of Mayor Mandel, "If we truly want to focus on attracting business and creating a superior quality of life for Edmontonians, we must start with the creative industry of our citizens... Opening our city up to the kind of creative excellence and energy that drives the arts industry is good business.  The arts can be a valuable economic driver for region."  Indeed, Edmonton will prove itself to be a good place for people, especially artists, to be.


* this article was written for Pinoy Times, published in September 2011 issue