Soprano, Jacqueline Woodley, admits she had to step out of her comfort zone during her performance at the My First NAC Showcase, last May.
“As our encore, I was asked to sing a duet of Mack the Knife with the jazz combo. It was definitely more stressful than what we usually do but it ended up being tons of fun,” Jacqueline says.
Jacqueline was one of eight young musicians featured at the third annual My First NAC Showcase. Presented by Astral Radio, the showcase places a spotlight on some of the most promising Canadian musicians who have come through NAC training and mentoring programs. In addition to performing on the NAC stage, winners also receive a financial prize.
“I was very excited to be selected” recalls Jacqueline, a participant of NAC’s Summer Music Institute (SMI) for the last two years.“I chose to sing a Spanish set of music I’d been dying to learn.”
The set included a Spanish lullaby. “I’m expecting a baby and it was a moving moment to perform this piece,” Jacqueline says.“It was a wonderful feeling to sing in an intimate and supportive setting and think about how many times I’ll sing this song to my own baby in the future.”
Jacqueline is grateful for the opportunities the NAC, along with caring supporters like you, have given her. “Exposure is as important as education when a career is first taking off,” she explains. “Having the chance to work with great musicians, either in lessons and masterclasses or on the stage is invaluable.”
This story appears in the fall 2013 issue of Full Circle.
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