ESTEVAN — Grace Hall’s singing talents earned her a chance to shine on a national stage.
The 12-year-old Estevan girl, who is the daughter of Dustin and Jocelyn Hall, was selected to perform for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Celebration of Excellence recital Dec. 7 in Toronto. She was selected to perform after she received the gold medal for having the highest mark in Canada for Level 5 singers with a 97 per cent score in her exam.
Level 5-10 musicians performed at the national recital. Hall was the only one for Level 5.
“Because she got the highest mark this year for her exam in her level, she was invited to perform in Toronto for the recital,” said her mother Jocelyn in an interview with SaskToday.
Grace said it was “pretty neat” to be at nationals. She performed an Italian song, Cara è la Rosa e Vaga by Andrea Falconieri at the national recital; Jocelyn noted Grace sang it for her exam as well.
“It’s a really classical, fancy song in my level,” said Grace.
The other musicians at the recital were really talented, Grace said. They were also gold-medal recipients. Speech arts, guitar, violin, piano, percussion and instrumentalists were part of the event.
Jocelyn said that to get an RCM national gold medal, a musician needs to have the highest practical mark in Canada for a specific level and discipline, with a minimum score of 90 per cent, while completing all required theory co-requisites – such as history, harmony and analysis for that level – must be passed in the same exam sessions.
"It’s not just about scoring high, but about being the best in the country at that particular exam, while meeting all other academic prerequisites,” said Jocelyn.
Prior to this year, Grace won two regional gold medals and performed in Regina, but this marked her first national gold and the first time she was eligible for nationals.
Grace hopes she can qualify for the national recital again. She will have to move up to Level 6 – a process she has already started.
“It’s like school. You take Grade 1 one year, the next year Grade 2, and then Grade 3,” said Grace.
“And then you do the exams at the end of the year. And it was the exam where she achieved the 97 per cent,” added Jocelyn.
Grace said she loves to sing because she likes performing for others.
“You get to express your emotions in singing,” she said.
She is singing all the time, Jocelyn said. Grace often sings O Canada at Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins’ home games and in her church. Prior to, during and after the Toronto experience, she received lots of congratulations and support from people in the community.
The Halls spent a few days in Toronto. Grace met with the collaborative pianist who played for her and she participated in a couple of rehearsals on Dec. 5. They returned to Estevan on Dec. 8.
