Lauren Margison

Fifteen-year-old Lauren Margison first attracted attention with her singing abilities when she joined the Canadian Childrens’ Opera Chorus in 1999 at the age of seven. Quickly promoted to the principal chorus of the CCOC (2000), usually reserved for young singers between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, Lauren appeared in the mainstage production of the Canadian Opera Company’s production of ‘La Boheme’ in that same year, resulting in her invitations to sing a solo recital at the International Childrens’ Festival at the Harbourfront Centre and to make an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno. In 2001, she sang in ‘The Snow Queen’ (CCOC) at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre and appeared as a solo guest artist for the Canadian Opera Volunteer Committee luncheon at the Hummingbird Centre. A highlight of the following year (2002) was her debut performance of ‘Arctic Dreams’, written by Greek/Canadian composer, Christos Hatzis, for Beverley Johnston (percussion), Susan Hoeppner (flute), and Lauren. This took place at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto with the multi-disciplinary theatre company, COLLABORATIONS: A Chamber Arts Experience.

Lauren received critical acclaim (“…Shania and Celine, consider yourselves put on notice…”, Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 2005) as a featured artist for the Opera Ontario Christmas concert, ‘Richard Margison and Friends’ and appeared with distinguished artists Richard Margison, Elaine Overholt, Glenn Morley, and John Fanning. In May 2006 Lauren was invited back to be the featured artist at Opera Ontario’s ‘Champagne Auction’ at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and was again received with critical acclaim (“…the spicy, seasoned voice of a 30-year-old…”, Hamilton Spectator).

In June 2006, Lauren made her TD Toronto Jazz Festival solo debut as one of the ‘Real Divas’ and shared the stage at Nathan Phillips Square with some of Canada’s great jazz artists. In August 2006 she performed in the highly acclaimed Ottawa Chamber Music Festival in the opening gala concert of the season with her father, Richard Margison.

On January 25, 2007, Lauren appeared as a guest artist with international operatic tenor, Jose Cura, at the Pavilhao Atlantico in Lisbon, Portugal, performing before an audience of 8000 people and a television audience across Europe.

Recent appearances include performing as the ‘Shepherd Boy’ in Opera Hamilton’s production of ‘Tosca’ (May 2007), and a performance at the Princess of Wales Theatre on May 14, 2007, with Ross Petty Productions sharing the stage with distinguished artists such as Louise Pitre, Sheila McCarthy, Rex Harrington, and Mary Walsh. In July, 2007, Lauren made her debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the direction of Erich Kunzel.






LAUREN MARGISON

Vocalist



Fifteen-year-old Lauren Margison first attracted attention with her singing abilities when she joined the Canadian Childrens’ Opera Chorus in 1999 at the age of seven. Quickly promoted to the principal chorus of the CCOC (2000), usually reserved for young singers between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, Lauren appeared in the mainstage production of the Canadian Opera Company’s production of ‘La Boheme’ in that same year, resulting in her invitations to sing a solo recital at the International Childrens’ Festival at the Harbourfront Centre and to make an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno. In 2001, she sang in ‘The Snow Queen’ (CCOC) at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre and appeared as a solo guest artist for the Canadian Opera Volunteer Committee luncheon at the Hummingbird Centre. A highlight of the following year (2002) was her debut performance of ‘Arctic Dreams’, written by Greek/Canadian composer, Christos Hatzis, for Beverley Johnston (percussion), Susan Hoeppner (flute), and Lauren. This took place at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto with the multi-disciplinary theatre company, COLLABORATIONS: A Chamber Arts Experience.



Lauren received critical acclaim (“…Shania and Celine, consider yourselves put on notice…”, Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 2005) as a featured artist for the Opera Ontario Christmas concert, ‘Richard Margison and Friends’ and appeared with distinguished artists Richard Margison, Elaine Overholt, Glenn Morley, and John Fanning. In May 2006 Lauren was invited back to be the featured artist at Opera Ontario’s ‘Champagne Auction’ at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and was again received with critical acclaim (“…the spicy, seasoned voice of a 30-year-old…”, Hamilton Spectator).



In June 2006, Lauren made her TD Toronto Jazz Festival solo debut as one of the ‘Real Divas’ and shared the stage at Nathan Phillips Square with some of Canada’s great jazz artists. In August 2006 she performed in the highly acclaimed Ottawa Chamber Music Festival in the opening gala concert of the season with her father, Richard Margison.



On January 25, 2007, Lauren appeared as a guest artist with international operatic tenor, Jose Cura, at the Pavilhao Atlantico in Lisbon, Portugal, performing before an audience of 8000 people and a television audience across Europe.



Recent appearances include performing as the ‘Shepherd Boy’ in Opera Hamilton’s production of ‘Tosca’ (May 2007), and a performance at the Princess of Wales Theatre on May 14, 2007, with Ross Petty Productions sharing the stage with distinguished artists such as Louise Pitre, Sheila McCarthy, Rex Harrington, and Mary Walsh. In July, 2007, Lauren made her debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the direction of Erich Kunzel.
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Josephine Biundo

Josephine Biundo is an internationally renowned singer having performed all around the globe. She has reached great heights of success at a very young age and has dazzled audiences with her expressive vocal sty ling and dynamic stage presence. The versatility in Josephine’s repertoire ranges from pop, jazz, musical theatre and even classical. Not to mention her ability to sing in the beautiful Italian language, which Josephine truly has a passion for. Her performances deliver a combination of great standards and original compositions. This five foot brunette exudes confidence and charm and delights fellow musicians and audiences alike. Josephine is truly an elegant and sophisticated performer.
Josephine spent time studying with the top vocal coaches in Canada which helped her versatility in singing different genres of music. It was at this time Josephine started writing her own material. To her wonderful surprise her first original song entitled “Let Me Live Off Your Love,” won first place in the Hamilton Spectator Competition. After wining first place with her original song Josephine gained confidence in her song writing skills and continued to write more. Her next original song won her first place in the prestigious CHIN original song competition. Where she won with her song entitled “Io Vivo Per Te.” 

And since then Josephine continues to take first place at CHIN. In 2005 with her original song “Io Non Ti Penso Piu” and most recently in 2006 with her song entitled “Adesso Mi Trovo.” Josephine decided to take the opportunity with her original Italian songs and compete in Italy at the International original song competition and was pleased to be the first runner up with her original song “Io vivo per te.”
Josephine also has a passion for jazz and just recently graduated with honours from the Mohawk college jazz music program. Where she was able to study with such professional and amazing musicians. She also had the opportunity to work with the Mohawk college big band under the direction of Dave McMurdo. She is currently working with the All Star jazz big band and traveling to Europe with them for many exciting performances. Josephine also has her first c.d. out entitled protégé and is currently working on her second album.

Sophie Berkal-Sarbit

Tracking jazz artists across the globe for interviews is par for the course; but when the Star learned that Sophie Berkal-Sarbit was in Spain, we thought we'd missed the boat on the 16-year-old Winnipeg singer.
"No, not performing," she said when we finally got her on the phone in Barcelona. "Sightseeing, shopping, going to tourist attractions."
Turns out the 11th grader was on a 10-day high school field trip, her first time in Europe, with stops in London and Paris. 

Based on her debut disc The Gypsy in My Soul, which hits stores Tuesday, it won't be long before she's cashing in per diems. 

Backed by an A-list cast, including bassist Dave Young, guitarist Jake Langley, trumpeter Kevin Turcotte and producer Bill King, Berkal-Sarbit acquits herself impressively on chestnuts such as "The Man I Love," "Skylark" and "Someone to Watch Over Me."
Toronto audiences got a taste last summer when she appeared on the Divas bill at the Toronto and Beaches International Jazz Festivals. Another chance to look and listen comes with Berkal-Sarbit performances at Tuesday's National Jazz Awards and her CD release party at Live@Courthouse the following night.
The young songstress, who started off singing with her grandfather (a respected cantor who recorded his first CD at age 87), is also an award-winning dancer whose first turn centre stage was playing Annie in a Grade 4 production.
According to her bio, musicality came early: "Apparently in utero, I would kick and stop in synch with whatever music (my parents) were listening to."
And Berkal-Sarbit was only too happy to interrupt her overseas adventure to chat about her forthcoming album and upcoming gigs.
Q What was it like being in the studio with that stellar group of much older musicians?
A It was very intimidating at the beginning. I'd barely been singing jazz for two years and here I was recording with people like Dave Young ... they made me feel comfortable. A lot of those musicians play on the Divas shows, so I was familiar with them. Bill (King) got them all together; I didn't really have any involvement in the musician part.
Q When you eventually have your own band you'll be the boss.
A I know. I definitely have to learn assertiveness training. Bill's been doing that for me now and I've been watching him carefully.
Q How did you decide on the songs?
A Bill sent me a bunch of CDs and I went through all of them and found the ones that inspired me. A lot of people ask, `How can you sing a song about love and all that kind of stuff and be able to portray it with feeling and emotion?' I say actors can do it, so why can't I? You just have to find a personal connection, even if it's not the same thing the song is talking about; it doesn't have to be, `Okay, I got dumped and drink and smoke now.'
Q What was your introduction to jazz?
A My dad is a huge jazz buff, but as a kid I didn't pay much attention to it. I used to sing musical theatre. About three years ago, I was participating in the International Music Festival. I did a lot of Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder songs in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, but when we got to New York, my dad suggested I sing a jazz song. So I did "Angel Eyes" and "The Man I Love." I realized that music was way more challenging and fun – more of a storyline, more dynamics – and I wanted to continue learning about it. I listened to all the old Ella and Sarah and Carmen first, because I wanted to get the basis. And then I moved on to more modern artists, like Molly Johnson.
Q Which female jazz vocalist would you like to emulate?
A I think Diana Krall has an amazing career. She's made it to a point where a lot of people know who she is, yet she has complete privacy. That would be amazing. I do want to be a singer, but I have fallbacks.
Q Like what?
A I want to be a chef. I love cooking and baking. I also want to go to law school, but I don't know.
Q What does the word diva mean to you?
A I know that I'm not one. A diva is someone fussy, someone requesting water at a certain temperature. I don't need a lot of prepping. I go up there and I sing. It's pretty simple.
Q What do your friends say about you singing jazz?
A Some of them are really supportive, but I get crap from lots of them too. I don't think some of them get it in terms of the commitment and how much it means to me. It's something that I've chosen and the people that support it are my true friends.
Q Do you listen to other music?
A I listen to the pop station once in awhile. I know all those people, I'm not completely out of it.

Kinga

At 4 months, as Kinga was getting baptized and screamed out her first note, the priest said that she was going to be a singer. It was three years later when Kinga sang her first song and won first place in the Children’s competition that her parents realized just how right he was.

Born in Poland in 1979 to parents Roman and Krystina and younger sister to Sylvia. Kinga lived in Poland for five years before moving to Holland Amsterdam in 1986. She resided there until December of that same year and then immigrated to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where she quickly picked up the language and is fluent in both.

Kinga found herself stung with a particular affinity for the sound of jazz rather early as she was first introduced to the world of jazz by none other then her mother who would constantly play songs by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, the Platters, and other jazz greats. With her father, still to this day, playing in his own cabaret, it was difficult for Kinga not to be immersed into the soothing sounds of jazz as a child.

Kinga has long established herself as a rather versatile vocalist, with a studied background in both classical and contemporary music as well as classical piano and voice theory by the age of thirteen. Kinga began sharing her gift through recitals and musical competitions shortly thereafter. From pop to jazz, she has gained a true appreciation for the latter and developed great admiration for the jazz greats of yesterday and today. Naturally, Kinga has found her element in the spotlight, paying homage to her musical influences. Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, Renee Lee and the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald as they all have homes in her repertoire. It was in high school where she performed her first ever jazz song with ‘West Berlin’; a jazz band which her and three friends put together. West Berlin continued to perform in and around the Ottawa area, but unfortunately broke up when high school came to an end and Universities/Colleges came into play. Kinga also sang with an Ottawa band called ‘The Brian Downey Big Band’ as a fill in at some clubs and the Tulip Festival in April of 1998

Eventually, providence and her love for music brought Kinga to Humber College, where she would continue to refine her vocal talents through uncounted hours of instruction and dedication rehearsal. Kinga soon managed to find herself studying under numerous professionals such as Trish Colter, Lisa Martinelli, and Lisa Sullivan. Building on her extensive training, she would go on to perform with contemporary icons like Renee Rosnes, Guido Basso, and the legendary Don Thompson. Fortune followed quickly, and found Kinga lending her vocals to Don Thompson and his own jazz ensemble, as well as Denny Christianson’s Big Band at Humber College.

In her 3rd year of college , Kinga worked at the Merriam school of Music in Mississauga and taught in-home voice, piano, theory and ear training lessons to 25 students aged 6-45. A year later, in 2003, Kinga worked at Studio Arts in and again taught voice, theory, ear training and improvisation to 30 kids aged 5-15 in studio.

Throughout Ontario, Kinga can regularly be found performing live with her trio, quartet or quintet at various establishments of well repute. Alongside her, are long time as well as recent Juno award winner Don Thompson for ‘Best Traditional Jazz Album’, as well as the likes of Bill King, Terry Clarke, Jim Vivian, Reg Schwager, Kelly Jefferson, Ted Quinlan and Richard Whiteman to name a few. In fact, chances are you may have already seen, and heard her waxing lyrical at select restaurants, pubs, lounges, private parties, weddings, arena’s, stadiums and summer festivals.

Accomplishments in the summer of 2006 included a top 100 finish at Canadian Idol for the second year in a row, a 2 song duet with legendary Jeff Healey live at Healey’s Bar in downtown Toronto, the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems at a Toronto Blue Jays game to a crowd of 36 000+ as well as the Canadian anthem in partial French for a Montreal Canadians vs. Toronto Maple Leafs televised hockey game to a sold out crowd of 18 980. The fall brought much of the same…the singing of the national anthems at a couple of Toronto Raptors game, a Toronto Marlies game, a Hockey Night In Canada Nationally televised performance and the completion of her long awaited and highly anticipated debut album!

Through perpetually immersing herself in the industry, and with established musicians, Kinga maintains aspirations of one day headlining her own events, with a very avant grade approach to her performing. It seems rare to find someone like Kinga who manages to elevate jazz beyond mere music to an indisputable art form; a thing of beauty worthy of an eager ear. If her love and dedication for jazz are any indication, then it will not be long before the music community sits up and takes careful notice of this young star waiting to shine.

Jessica Lalonde

A native of Midland Ontario, Jessica Lalonde has been singing since early childhood in local music festivals and eventually with jazz ensembles and as the vocalist for the Music Maker’s Big Band in Midland. Following her passion for music, she completed her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and attained her Opera Diploma at Wilfrid Laurier University.
At Laurier, Jessica held the title role in Puccini's Suor Angelica, and performed La Princesse in Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges, Lady Billows in Albert Herring, and Sarah Good in The Crucible. Also dedicated to the oratorio repertory, she was the featured soloist for Brahm's Ein Deutsches Requiem with the Wilfrid Laurier Choir in the spring of 2007. In addition, Ms. Lalonde has been featured soloist at various charity venues, galas, and choral concerts. She has recorded and been broadcast in the world première of Craig Galbraith's The Spell of the Rose on CBC Radio Two's "New Hours" in 2004, and recently created the role of "Rebecca Reid" in the première of a new Canadian opera, To Daniel , by Glenn James. In 2006, she was the winner of the Laurier Concerto Competition, the Stratford Civic Orchestra's Concerto Competition, a finalist in the Guelph Spring Festival, and the recipient of the Keith Knight s Memorial Award for Performance at Laurier. In the summer of 2007, she traveled to Italy and participated in the renowned Centro Studi Lirica opera programme, under the direction of Joan Patenaude-Yarnell.
This spring she is engaged to sing Poulenc’s Gloria with the Stratford Civic Orchestra, Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate in her hometown, and in the summer, she is the featured soloist with the Via Salzburg Orchestra at Cedar Ridge Pops Benefit Concert.
Her deep-rooted love and passion for music in all its forms combined with her versatile voice continue to provide her with flowering opportunities.