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29 Artscene "Singing has always been a big part of my family. I've always loved singing and I got into songwriting when I was about 12." n 29 · Friday, February 12, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2010 Teenager aiming to shine like a star n By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF n Oakville teenager has a passion for singing and she aims to ride that devotion into a full-blown musical career. "I've been (singing) since I could talk," the 15-year-old Liz Loughrey said. "Singing has always been a big part of my family. I've always loved singing and I got into songwriting when I was about 12." Loughrey (pronounced: Lockree) produced a three-track pop EP that she is constantly sending out to record labels. However, it is her live performances that the singer-songwriter highlights in her fledgling career. After performing live at a Hamilton restaurant, she was approached by a promoter of the Rochester Nighthawks National Lacrosse League's team, who happened to be in the restaurant. The manager asked her to perform during the team's season opener. On Jan. 9, she sang the American national anthem during the opening ceremonies before the Nighthawks faced off against the Buffalo Bandits. "It was electric," said Patricia, the teen's mom, manager and promoter. "When you perform for 20,000 people, it's experiences like those that you wet your feet and you realize `that's what I want to do'." A Liz Loughrey PHOTO COURTESY LIZ LOUGHREY STARS IN HER EYES: Oakville teen Liz Loughrey hopes her hard work will pay off with a successful entertainment career. Liz was also a guest performer this December with the York Symphony Orchestra during one of its concerts. Liz added that the EP is a good tool to boost her career. "I'm hoping (the demo) will be a showcase of what I've done thus Liz Loughrey far and hopefully help me get noticed," she said. The Oakville-born Grade 9 stu- the latter on one of the songs on dent attends Hillfield Strathallan her CD. She also enjoys acting, College, a private school in having performed in school plays Hamilton, on an arts scholarship. and in theatre outside of school; When she was still in elementary she plays with the Oakville Soccer school she attended the private Club; and, she still has time for her academic work and social life. Rotherglen School in Oakville. Liz admits balancing her busy She's been trained vocally in pop, schedule has been difficult. jazz, musical theatre and classical. "I make time and also at my "My demo is a bit out of my comfort zone because it has a pop- school community, all my teachers techno type feel, but I'm hoping to are incredibly supportive of everydo more recording in the pop-jazz thing. They know what my goals are, they know how tight I am for genre," she said. But music is not the only thing time so when I have to work with for the youth. She has danced for them on a different time schedule the past 10 years; doing Irish, jazz than everyone else, they're willing and hip hop styles. She plays the to do that." For more information, visit guitar and piano and has played