Arts & Culture
Singers beat odds to make Gateway stage
With an average senior secondary in Richmond running at over 1,000 students, each of the ten finalists, one per school, beat great odds to win the right to compete in this year’s RichCity Idol at Gateway Theatre on May 29 at 7 p.m.
With an average senior secondary in Richmond running at over 1,000 students, each of the ten finalists, one per school, beat great odds to win the right to compete in this year’s RichCity Idol at Gateway Theatre on May 29 at 7 p.m.
This all-student production features the best in not only entertainers but also behind the scenes as the teens do all the promotions, photography, web design, and technical production as well as the hosting duties.
This year’s ten finalists:
Richmond High Grade 9 student, Armine Ghojoyan has been singing since she was a toddler. At age 12 she started singing lessons and performed in voice festivals.
In Grade 10 at A.R. MacNeill, Aldrin Albos has sung since he was little. Long a fan of karaoke, he uses it to hone his singing abilities.
Palmer’s13-year-old Ava Tan in Grade 8, says music plays a fundamental part in her life helping her to gradually gain confidence over time, from her first solo in Grade 5 to performing an entire song in front of her high school.
Also 13 and in Grade 8, Charlie Barstow is a singer songwriter from McMath. Singing since he was 5, Barstow was overall winner in the 2018 BC Youth Talent Search for his performance an original song.
Cambie’s Jada Jubida aged 13, singing since age 5, developed a strong passion for music, offering her first solo performance in Grade 1. She is excited to share her voice.
Grade 10 McRoberts student, Kevin Chen, took a break from singing while his voice was changing. His school’s Idol competition was his first time singing in his new, deeper voice.
17-year-old Liam Fetigan goes to Burnett. He really enjoys singing and one of his greatest dreams is to find success in being a singer/songwriter.
In Grade 9 at Hugh Boyd, Mariam El Lahham’s first song was Barney’s “I Love You.” El Hahham continues to perform having studied singing and musical theatre at the Gateway Theatre Academy.
McNair Grade 8 student, Parker Linzmeier’s interest in music combines a love of listening, performing and competitive hip hop. He also plays in the school band.
Steveston-London’s Sophie Li is 18. While drawn to music all her life, Li cites her high school choir as where she learned music basics and teamwork, as well as the source of her the courage to sing a solo.