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m m m Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 5559) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: rjerred@haltonsearch.com WEDNESDAY. SEPTEM BER II. 20 02 · Page C 6 A Rising Star Young singer shares best vocal group honours with duo partner By Liz Campbell S P E C IA L T O T H E B E A V E R Christie Menzo may be only 15, but the talented Oakville resident already has a string of impressive credits. For the past two years, she has starred as Dorothy in Oakville Centre's production of The Wizard of Oz. Last year she auditioned for and won one of 29 places in the musical theatre pro gram at The Etobicoke School for the Arts. And this summer, she and her friend and fellow student, Elliot Madore, decided to enter the 16th annu al Rising Star com petition at The Canadian national Exhibition in Toronto where they won top honours as the best vocal group. More than 360 young people, aged 13 to 21 entered this year's contest in one of four categories: group vocal, group dance, solo vocal and solo dance. The competition assesses young people on such qualities as stage presence, audience appeal and natural ability, as well as the quality of their performance. Both had entered the previous year in the solo division without winning hon ours. This year the pair not only won the group vocal award, but they were named the second runner up overall, effectively third place in the entire com petition. Menzo and Madore wore formal dress for their performance of The Prayer, made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Boccelli. pare, she has been taking singing les "A friend suggested we try it, but the sons from two Oakville teachers, Italian was really hard to learn," said Christina Fantina and Linda Fletcher, Menzo. "We sang it at a school ensem for nearly three years. ble night, and we were awful. But we Her instructors have impressed her decided to keep working on it and get it enough to consider following in their right." footsteps between acting roles. M enzo's voice is alto, "I think I'd like to be so the song challenged her a vocal instructor," she "You get up on that range. M adore's baritone said. "I would love to get stage and it's just you more kids interested in was ideally suited to the and the judge and you the arts. I think the piece. He would like to younger they start, the sing opera eventually, and think, `Oh my good thought performing in better." ness, we're alone up front o f a judge was a At school, she has to here.' It's not like being juggle classes in vocal good experience. "The Rising Star is a music, dance, drama, and in a show." music theory with the great experience, very · Rising Star exciting," says the young usual high school cur Vocal Group co-winner singer, who has performed riculum. Christie Menzo the National Anthem at the "Music theory is not Air Canada Centre. my strong point," she admitted. "I wish I had begun much "There's a kind of adrenaline rush." sooner to learn music and dance. I think Menzo echoes his comment. "It was scary, but an amazing experi I would have found it easier." ence," she said. "Everyone is so nice Students must maintain a reasonable down there, but you're competing academic standard to remain at the against 21 year olds. You get up on that Etobicoke School for the Arts. For stage and it's just you and the judge and Menzo, that means using her commut you think, `Oh my goodness, we're ing time on the GO train to study or alone up here.' It's not like being in a catch up with homework because her show." days are so full. But she doesn't mind Menzo was only 13 when she landed the commute or the work load. "I know the role o f Dorothy for the first time, so it's very difficult to get into musical the being on stage doesn't really faze her. atre," she says pragmatically. "You have She would like to be on the musical to have the talent, but you also need the stage professionally one day. To pre look. And it's hard work." j a <*. ·< Glen Thiessen · Oakville Beave\- Singer Christie Menzo in the formal dress she wore for the Rising Star com petition. Brides and Bases art show opens Friday Brooklyn-based artist Rachel Harrison will bring her latest exhibition, Brides and Bases, to Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens Sept. 14 through Nov. 17. This exhibition, curated by Ben Portis, will officially open on Friday, at 8:30 p.m. in Gairloch Gardens located at 1306 Lakeshore Rd. E. (two kilometres east of downtown Oakville). The artist herself will give the traditional Artist's Talk on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Gairloch Gardens. Then, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, Sunday, Oct. 6 and Sunday. Oct. 27. speakers Avril Benoit (host of CBC Radio One's Toronto drive-home show, Here & Now)', Russell Smith (author of modern-day fable The Princess and the Whiskheads, a modern-day fable and CBC and Globe and Mail free lancer); and, John Doyle (author published in North America and Europe) will provide their interpretation of Harrison's art in a new speak ers' series call Reception Line. For her part, Harrison has, in recent years, carved out a distinctive niche on the conr temporary art scene with works and installations that incorporate sculpture, paint and photography. This artist's work examL ines the condition of looking, wanting and having, with a balance of wit, sympathy ancj insight. Each piece combines unusual materials like framed photographs with polyr styrene, papier-mache, ply; I wood or cement. For Brides and Bases Harrison has created a new series of images that address the gallery's location in a public park setting. Harrison's work was included in the 2002 Whitney Biennial. Her work can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modem Art. the Whitney Museum of American Art and th$ Harvard Art Museums. Admission to Oakville Galleries in Gairlocfi Gardens is free and hours are 1-5 p.m:, Tuesday to Sunday! Pre-registration for any of the Reception Line speakers is required. To register, or for other information, call 905844-4402, ext. 23 or visit www.oakvillegalleries.com. Molly Johnson at Abbozzo Gallery It's already In your cable. LET IT IN! Order Cogeco High Speed Internet today. BETTER BECAUSE... <© It's TWICE AS FAST as high speed phone © You get FASTER access to music, games and video clips O It's ALWAYS on. No dial up. No waiting. 0 Leaves your phone line FREE & Connect up to 3 home computers for the same price Q Unlimited connection time Recording artist Molly Johnson will be signing copies of her newest CD, Another Day, at the Abbozzo Gallery, Friday night. Johnson will be at the gallery from 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. to help open the gallery's fall season. The gallery will preview its fall exhibition of new works by textile artist Jane Coryell and painters Christopher Broadhurst and Janice Mason Steeves. Also on exhibit will be works by established and emerging gallery artists including David Blackwood, Cora Brittan, Tim Daniels, Lila Lewis Irving, Andrew Peycha and Daniel Ross', Abbozzo Gallery is located at 179 Lakeshore Rd. E. RSVP to the gallery at 905-844-4481 or visit the Web site at www.abbozzogallery.com. ORDER NOW. O $24.95 per month for the first 3 months. No minimum contract period. No penalties. Order now and get FREE in-home basic installation. Once you try it, you won't want to experience the Internet any other way. It's TWICE AS FAST as high speed phone. COGECO * > > Highspeed Internet There's more in your cable Open call for singers The Tempus Choral Society wants to hear from people who like to sing. The choir is holding an open call for singers on each Tuesday from Sept. 17 to Oct. 8 at St. John's United Church, 262 Randall St. The Tempus Choral Society is a mixed community choir for singers 18 years of age and older from across Halton Region. It has a wide-ranging repertoire including swing, Broadway, inspirational and contemporary pieces. There is no formal audition -- voice placement only. For more information call 905-847-5576, or visit the Web site at www.tempuschoralsociety.com. Call 1-866-548-0100 or visit www.cogeco.com/myspeed Now available at FUTURE SHOP 11 RadioShack M DG ' Offer ends October 31. 2002. Monthly rate after first three months is $44.95. Professional Installation is $49.95, regularly $149.95. Download speed based on file transfer rate of 2Mbps for COGECO vs. 1Mbps for DSL high speed edition by telephone. Based on data published by the leading DSL supplier. Download speeds online can vary with Internet traffic, server or other factors. 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