Liam MacIntosh is following close in his sister’s footsteps… so close, that their footsteps will mount the stage at Rose Gellert Hall together on Friday.
Liam has just finished his first year of music studies at University of Ottawa.
He prefers classical music, especially chamber music, and his instrument of choice is the cello.
His sister, Anne-Marie, eight years his senior and a soprano with the Emerging Artists program of the Calgary Opera, is “super proud of him,” adding, “He’s pretty rare, for someone so young to sound so amazing.”
They’re both excited at the chance to perform together publicly in their old stomping grounds at Langley Community Music School.
The brother and sister grew up in Langley, along with three other siblings who all are also artistically inclined. All of the MacIntosh kids play musical instruments, although only Liam and Anne-Marie have chosen music as a career path.
Both speak enthusiastically of the support they received from their parents and family in their decision to pursue their music.
Their parents have been “entirely supportive – I’m lucky to have parents like them,” said Anne-Marie.
It was her mother who “really encouraged” putting on the recital at LCMS this weekend.
Liam said he first took an interest in music when he was in Grade 4, when he first got music lessons at LCMS from Joel Stobbe, one of two “great teachers” who have musical ambitions so far.
The other is Paul Marleyn, U. of O. professor, who was an adjudicator at the Kiwanis Music Festival. Liam received some music training from Marleyn, and decided to apply to further his studies with the renowned cellist.
Music isn’t Liam’s only artistic talent. When he applied for university, he also considered pursuing visual arts in drawing and sculpting.
He enjoys performing in public, but confides that he is “learning to enjoy it more.” He admits to getting “definitely nervous” before a performance… until he starts to play his music.
This week, he’ll be rehearsing with his sister to prepare for their Friday recital.
“I’m looking forward to performing with my sister,” he said last weekend. “I haven’t heard her sing for a while.”
Anne-Marie is equally eager to join her brother at Rose Gellert Hall.
She has high praise for her younger brother’s musical ability.
And she has been doing pretty well herself.
She was recently re-hired for a second year with the Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist program, and so will be returning to Calgary in October to work their through the winter.
The opera hires eight “emerging artists” each year, giving them opportunities to perform in smaller roles with the main company, but also offering some shows that focus on the up-and-coming young stars. The company provides “lots of experience and learning” to the young performers.
Meanwhile, Friday’s recital will be followed with other projects, including a role in August as one of Cinderella’s “ugly stepsisters” at Calgary’s Opera In the Village – “It’s like Bard On The Beach, but opera,” she explained.
Playing the stepsister affords a chance to play a role that’s different: “It’s lots of fun to play a mean character.”
And for children, the stepsisters are the funniest characters. “We really get to play around with [the role],” she said.
Anne-Marie started singing formally at age 12, when she began taking voice lessons, although she had participated in a children’s choir before that.
She’s looking forward to performing for friends and family, and especially for the chance to perform with her brother.
The recital at LCMS also “kind of feels like coming home.”
She started on violin at LCMS when she was 7, and stuck with it through Grade 12.
After graduating from Langley Christian School she went to UBC for her bachelor degree in music, and continued to her masters at University of Manitoba.
She “loves the academic side” of music, but now is focusing on getting her musical career underway.
There’s always a bit of nervousness in the approach to a performance, but “once I’m on the stage, I love performing.”
“I’d love to make a living as an opera singer,” she said, acknowledging that there’s a hard road ahead of her. The goal will be to eventually join an opera company in North America or Europe.
For Friday, the MacIntosh siblings are planning a “really cool” set that includes work written especially for cello and voice. Anne-Marie recently performed it in Toronto with another cellist and is “really excited to do it with my brother.”
Anne-Marie and Liam MacIntosh will perform:
– Cello Suite IV, “Padre, germani, addio,” from Idomeneo by W.A. Mozart;
– Lalo Cello Concerto in D minor, “Par le rang… Salut à la France,” from La Fille du regiment by G. Donizetti;
– Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor;
– Drei Lieder set Ophelia, op. 67 by R. Strauss; and
– Akhmatova Songs for Soprano and Cello by J. Tavener.
They will appear in Rose Gellert Hall at Langley Community Music School, 4899 207th St., at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26. Entrance is by donation.