It's in Emma's blood, said Sue Pedersen.
Sue calls it the "performance gene." Both her daughter's great grandmothers were musicians. One played the piano to accompany silent films, the other sung for soldiers returning home during the Second World War.
Ever since Emma could talk, she was singing and she hasn't stopped.
Fourteen years ago, the Pedersens moved from Comox to Squamish. Once settled, it didn't take long before Emma's free time was filled with choir, dance classes and acting. She quickly became one of acting coach Andriane Polo's most eager pupils, Polo recalled. Emma never missed a rehearsal.
"We just knew she was going to be a star someday," her former acting teacher said.
Emma's portfolio rivals those of people twice her age. Since first stepping onto the stage seven years ago, the Howe Sound Secondary School (HSSS) graduate has been in 12 performances.
Last year, she was the lead in "All Shook Up," the HSSS production that packed Eagle Eye Theatre. She's become a staple at the Test of Metal mountain bike race singing the national anthem and recently sang "O Canada" at this year's Squamish Days Logger Loggers Sports Festival.
Upon graduation from HSSS, Pedersen has been honing her skills in Ontario at Sheridan College the only institution in Canada issuing degrees in music theatre. Her days are booked solid, the 18-year-old admitted. But she's having a blast, Emma quickly added, her voice bubbling through the phone.
"Sometimes I dream of lyrics," said Pedersen, slowing the conversation down briefly with a moment of reflection. "You rehearse and get a tune stuck. It's usually the most annoying song."
She took time out of rehearsals with the Vancouver-based musical program Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! to talk to The Chief about another project the PNE Star Showdown. Emma is a semi-finalist in the province-wide talent show.
"This is my third year trying," she said.
Over a four-day span, from Aug. 20 to 24, she'll be up against nine other competitors, singing Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
"Most people do theatre and music in high school and then go on to do something else," Emma said. "But I've always wanted to sing and act."
Nothing her daughter does surprises her, said Sue, from taking Taekwondo to registering herself for 10 hours of intensive dance training a week. She is continually upbeat even though she doesn't drink coffee, Sue joked.
While Squamish theatregoers may be familiar with Emma's stage presence, there is one little-known fact she's tucked away.
"Emma is a James Bond freak," Sue said.
Both mother and daughter will kick up their heels and smile the day Emma sings a 007 theme song her ultimate career ambition.
"That will be success," Sue said, with a hint of cheek in her tone.
