Just received an email from country singer Hailey Benedict, 14, now in Nashville enjoying the fruits of her labour.
Hailey just won five awards at the 2017 NACMAI (North America Country Music Associations, Int’l) competition in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee held March 13 to 19.
Through NACMAI, aspiring musicians and singer-songwriters in country, bluegrass and gospel are encouraged to compete and rub shoulders with equally talented young artists.
Hailey won the International Female Vocalist of the Year, International Most Promising Entertainer, International Most Promising Songwriter of the Year for her original song Clean Slate, and International Songwriter of the Year.
She also won International New Country Duo with runner-up and friend Hannah Gazso. All the awards were for the 13 to 16 youth category.
Although Benedict has sung at some of her dream locations such as the Grand Ol’ Opry and Ryman Auditorium and had a meet and greet with Vince Gill, she also had a stroke of bad luck.
The airline flying her to Nashville damaged her $1,400 guitar, one she bought herself. Her family is working on getting the airline to replace it.
But in the meantime, Keith Urban where are you? Do you have a spare guitar to give your protégé?
Outgoing MacEwan University president David Atkinson has completed his six-year term. A concert showcasing a smorg of talent will be held at Alberta College Campus on Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m.
Performing at the inaugural President’s Gala Concert is St. Albert saxophonist Charles Stolte, an instructor at both King’s College and MacEwan University.
He opens the concert with Jean-Marie Leclair’s baroque piece Largo et Vivace as well as his own composition True Confessions.
Following is tenor Ron Long with David Tutt accompanying for Songs of Travel. Pianist Dr. Yoanna Kyurkchieva performs Dimitar Nenov’s Miniatures and a string-piano quartet plays Brahms Piano Quartet No. 1.
Tickets are $10 to $20. Call 780-420-1757 or at tixonthesquare.ca.
