2009 TEEN HONOUR IN THE ARTS

Two years ago she toured Europe and this summer she’s off to tour New York. Under the tutelage of soprano extraordinaire Alexandra Babbel, Haley Blais has been studying voice since 2001. By 13, she became the youngest member of the young women’s ensemble Candesca.

2009 was a busy year for Haley. She was runner up in Junior Classical Voice at the Provincial Kiwanis Music Festival in May and awarded the Top Female Drama Student from Dr. Knox Middle school in June. In August, she went to study voice at Toronto’s Arts Integra Centre on a scholarship and in October she performed with Candesca and as a soloist in the world premiere of Arnold Draper’s, In Arden Woods, performed live with Ballet Kelowna.

She was a featured soloist again in November at both the Jewish Community Centre and the Central Okanagan Hospice Association Fundraiser as well as the Summer Arts Scene for Youth Shooting Stars Gala Fundraiser in Lake Country. She finished off the year with singing in The Nutcracker and giving a piano recital and vocal performance at Kelowna General Hospital on Christmas Eve.