Festival Kick-Off Concert
As part of Soulocentric's mandate to support the development of emerging artists, we are please to present this concert of youth singer-songwriters in conjunction with the Stampede Talent Search and Pro Arts Society.
The mission of the Stampede Talent Search is to discover, develop and showcase young amateur performers from across southern Alberta. This program is just one of the ways the Calgary Stampede fulfills its commitment to provide the youth of Alberta with the opportunity to develop strong roots in their culture and heritage through programs that enhance personal growth, citizenship and education. Soulocentric is proud to work with the Stampede Talent Search to provide more opportunities for their youth community to perform and access mentorship in the arts.
Registration for the 2012 Stampede Talent Search begins in February 2012 and auditions will be held in April and May. Additional information and online registration is available on the Stampede Talent Search website: www.calgarystampede.com/talentsearch.
Madi Allen is a 19 year old singer/songwriter with a true passion for music. She has come along way with her music and is planning to go even further a pursue a career in music therapy/vocal jazz. For the past three years she attended and graduated from Central Memorial Performing and Visual Arts Program. She has also participated in a number of songwriting and talent competitions. The most recent accomplishment was the Calgary Stampede Talent Search. She has participated two times before, and this summer was proud to have taken 1st place. The Calgary stampede talent search and the whole committee has had a great impact on her and she looks forward to working with them much more in the future.
Sara Tkachuk is an 18 year old from Cochrane, AB who writes and sings original songs. She plays the piano, and the guitar and has competed in the Stampede Talent Search for 4 years, placing 2nd Runner Up this year for her original song "Onions". This is her first year with Soulocentric, and she is very excited to perform. She has performed with the Sled Island Music Fest in 2010, and with various organizations around Cochrane. Music is something that she loves to do and hopes to pursue music throughout her entire life. She currently attends Mount Royal University and is pursuing her Bachelor of Elementary Education.
Jenna and Shelby Doll - The Doll Sisters started out singing harmonies in the little log church near their family's farm. Jenna and Shelby love the fact that being Roots musicians affords them the opportunity to cover their favorite traditional genres.... Folk, Celtic, Bluegrass, Appalachian, and even Cowboy. The girls have been writing their own music now for about 2 years, and in 2010 their songwriting and performance won Red Deer's Central Music Fest's Talent Search and brought them to the finals of the Calgary Stampede Talent Search. They also received First Runner-Up for 2 of their original songs, in Nashville's Gary Allen's (Charlie Daniel's Band), 'The Best Song in the World' Contest in 2011.The girls have received airplay on Edmonton's CKUA, Olds' 96.5, CBC, and even KAOS 91.1, plus several online radio stations and magazines, which has taken their music across the globe. Performing on fiddle, guitar, bodhran (celtic drum), banjo & mandolin with wonderful sibling harmonies, their originals are unmistakably thought provoking and unique. The summer of 2011 has proven to be one of their busiest with several festivals taking them across Alberta, and September sees them heading into British Columbia for performances as well. With invitations to take their music into Saskatchewan, the girls are excited about expanding their horizons and seeing more of their Canada!! They are currently finishing production on their first CD, an acoustic roots album entitled The Road.