Newmarket's Alexis Bateman is one step closer to her dream of becoming an opera singer.
The 19-year-old is taking to the stage Aug. 21 in the vocal competion at the 33rd annual CNE Rising Star Talent Competition, one of the longest standing talent competitions in Ontario showcasing undiscovered talent in young artists aged six to 21.
She enters the contest after recently achieving an impressive first-place win in the Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association (ORMTA) 2019 Provincial Vocal Competition.
Alexis has been singing for as long as she can remember, but began to get serious at the age of 12 when she started taking vocal lessons.
Her first music teacher, Shannon Coates, inspired her interest in singing opera.
"It's such as interesting sound, it's very unique" she said, adding that while she enjoys all types of music, she has focused her budding career on opera and classical music.
"It's a form of art," she added.
She recently graduated from Huron Heights Secondary School's arts vocal music program and is excited to be attending the vocal program at the University of Toronto in the fall. She intends to pursue a masters in the opera program after receiving her undergraduate degree, she added.
She acknowledges the important role her mother, Sherry, has played in encouraging her musical ambitions.
"I still don't like to listen to myself," she added with a laugh.
Her teachers, Arlene Charters at Huron Heights, and Heather Faris, continue to inspire her.
"They are really the ones who got me there," she said.
When she's not singing, she enjoys creative drawing.
Contestants in the Rising Star Talent Competition are judged on their natural ability, audience appeal, stage presence and quality of their performance.
Rising Stars Juniors Champions, ages six to 12, take home a cash award of $1,000 and the Youth Champions, ages 13 to 21, win $2,500 — which Alexis said she would use toward her university tuition fees.
Notable past participants include Canadian dancer, pop singer and choreographer Blake McGrath and jazz artist Matt Dusk.
Junior finalists will compete for the grand title Aug. 31, and the youth finals take place Sept. 1.
