Teira Andreeff went from the hardest hitter on the Sea to Sky Sirens to the most harmonious opera voice in Squamish.
And now she鈥檚 ready to put those award-winning pipes up against some of 小蓝视频鈥檚 best.
Opera wasn鈥檛 always the intended destination for the Howe Sound Secondary School (HSSS) grad. She鈥檚 only been practicing the singing style for a year after having been 鈥渄iscovered鈥� at the 2013 Howe Sound Music Festival (HSMF).
鈥淟ast year I did HSMF and adjudicator Gail Suderman took a big interest in me because of my voice type,鈥� Andreeff said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize I had such a strong instrument and she told me I should be pursuing opera instead of musical theatre. She said I had a rare voice and that I needed to switch to opera now.鈥�
Andreeff listened to the director of voice and choral studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and for the past year has been immersing herself in all things opera. Suderman arranged for Andreeff to attend the provincial competitions as a classical observer for the HSMF last year and Andreeff said it really exposed her to the genre.
鈥淚t was such a great eye-opening experience for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o after that I went to Long and McQuade, bought a piano and a giant stack of theory and vocal books and got to work.鈥�
She鈥檚 working with four teachers in Squamish and Vancouver to perfect her craft. These days, her life is all music and she has little downtime for other activities.
All of her hard work paid off at the HSMF earlier this month, as Andreeff competed in light opera, art song, musical theatre, concert class and lieder 鈥� winning gold in all categories.聽
鈥淚t was an honour to win,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 managed to win two scholarships [most promising vocalist 28 and under] and when I won the opportunity to go to provincials, my hand went over my mouth and I thought I was going to fall backwards because of shock.聽Tears came pouring out because all of the hard work and sacrifice I鈥檝e made over the past year was validated.鈥�
Some of Andreeff鈥檚 mental toughness and strength blossomed on the floor as a member of the Sirens roller derby squad. Known as 鈥淒ark Raider,鈥� Andreeff was a defensive force, winning the hardest hitter award in 2012. She also helped lead the Sirens to their first-ever win. She also sang the national anthem at several bouts.
鈥淚鈥檓 no longer on the team, but they were always so supportive of my singing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was an absolutely incredible experience to be on the team and I felt very powerful on the Sirens. It was really empowering to be a woman in an all-women鈥檚 sport like that.鈥�
Next up for Andreeff is the provincials in Penticton from June 3 to 7. She admitted the competition will be stiff but she鈥檚 looking forward to the event.
鈥淪o many others I鈥檓 going up against started earlier than me, so I鈥檝e got a lot of catching up to do,鈥� she said.聽鈥淏ut I鈥檓 so glad I went last year because I鈥檓 mentally prepared for what I鈥檓 walking into this year. It鈥檚 not going to be easy because so many of them have more experience than me, but I think I鈥檓 at a good age [24] and my voice is just starting to fully mature.鈥�
Andreeff will also appear in the North Shore Light Opera Society鈥檚 production of The Gondoliers in her first lead role in an opera this May. After provincials, she said she will continue her studies and then decide where to go to school or even travel to Europe to perform there.聽She recommended Squamish Academy of Music for any young singer and offered advice for those who may want to follow in her footsteps.
鈥淵ou need to have passion for anything you do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you want it, chase it.鈥�
Stay tuned to The Chief for results on how Andreeff fares at provincials. 聽
