Singing, a Family Tradition

Music has always had a special place in my life. From losing myself in the sweet-sounding way songs flow through noise canceling headphones to watching musicals from backstage beaming with pride. But for me what started my affair with music, was choir. 

One of the first memories is singing Zip a dee doo dah for my Babas’ senior ladies choir. Singing has always brought me a ridiculous amount of joy. I grew up singing in a children's choir in White Rock. It was something special I shared with my grandmother, I was the only one who really took after her infatuation with music. Her whole life was devoted to music. Ola Natalie Sage (my grandmother) was an incredibly accomplished pianist and teacher, maybe that’s where my love of education comes from as well. She worked as a music teacher for the duration of her career and was the recipient of many awards. Later in her life she conducted and was the pianist of many choirs. So through her I fell in love with choir and it became a really big part of my life. 

In 2019 I got the pleasure of being a part of the SD73 District Honour Choir. It was my first year of high school, and choir meant the world to me. It was the first time I met a collection of people I would reconnect with in the community later in my music journey. Christy Gauley, Jaymi Daniels, Daniella Cinel. People I now have the honour of calling my colleagues during KISSM 2024.  I bonded with some of the seniors in the music department and due to their kindness I devoted a lot of my high school career running PR for the department after they graduated (one of those people being a former HRDC, Senora.) 

I began singing in community choirs shortly after my Babas’ passing, 3 weeks later to be exact. I’ve always wished she had seen me sing in at least one of my choirs as I began singing more complex classical music. I’ve spent the last few years singing in the KSO chorus as well as a selection of other choirs in Kamloops. I’ve also spent time in intensives at The Victoria Conservatory of Music. I have a special place in my heart for classical and lyrical choral music. When you get it “right”, there’s something magical that happens. The whole room echoes with this sound I can’t call anything but pure magic. If you’ve heard this, you know what I mean. 

Eventually, this led to me working for the Kamloops Music Collective. Ironically, I was actually hired for my future career in technical theatre. Nonetheless I’m so incredibly grateful to be surrounded by music day in and out. KISSM is something incredibly special. From a student to faculty, there’s something that stays the same through that transition. It’s the love of music and performance art. Both students and faculty have this infatuation with music and it radiates as this unbelievably beautiful excitement and glee. It has been so incredibly fulfilling to be a part of something so special and get to share this love with all the people I work with. I have the honour of sharing this joy with the students I teach. So that’s what music means to me. It’s not a thing I can find a word for but I can tell you it’s special.