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When Sasha sings the world listens... With dictionaries of all different languages — Latin, Ger- man, Italian, French — lining her book shelves and beautiful European folk art decorating her walls, one would likely assume Sasha Liebick-Tait was an academic professor or perhaps a travelling historian. But, while her collection of books and paintings do show her love for teaching and travelling, they actually symbolize her passion for another profession a lot less com- mon in today’s modernized world: opera singing. “T never knew I wanted to be an opera singer,” says Sasha, giggling at the fact that most would assume her job was a childhood aspiration. “And I always tell my students now not to be freaked out by the whole opera thing. It’s a lot of training for that type of work out!” After travelling the world as an opera performer, Sasha is now settled with her husband and children in Port Perry, teaching what she refers to as a “healthy use of the voice” to students in all areas of singing - folk, pop, musical theatre. “T like to draw on my experience to offer all that I can to my students,” she explains. “I focus on teaching the correct vocal technique and then they can take it and apply it to whatever they want.” Involved in musical theatre throughout elementary and high school - she was cast in her first role at the age of nine as Gretel in The Sound of Music - Sasha says she was always a “stage rat,” adding, “But I just saw it as a hobby.” Her hobby turned professional at the mere age of thir- teen when Sasha was selected to be a part of the CCOC and. even joined the highly-esteemed “Urchins Chorus” for con- certs. “We were surrounded by big names and big people,” she recalls, “But as kids we were focused on tearing up the stage and having so much fun that we thought we were the stars of the show.” And to some, Sasha really was the star of the show. The following year she was cast in her first opera role in Tosca -a part that was traditionally reserved for males only. After the director asked her to sing on the spot, she was chosen as a double-cast for one of the male solos. But reality set in and Sasha found herself ready to grad- uate high school and looking for a career path. She ended up in commerce at Queen's University but after two years of “not feeling inspired : in her program,” she Sasha was cast in her sransferred to history. first role at the age Her switch to the arts in- . « y troduced Sasha to a new of nine as ‘Gretel’ in eimof opportunities The Sound of Music. anda whole new crowd of people. And with new intro- ile studying, sh ducti new opf i e decided to audition for the Pirates of Penzance school opera. “| thought if I’m lucky, I’ll get into the chorus,” she says. She ended up with the lead role of Mabel for three years in arow. Please turn to page 18 Sasha Liebick-Tait, above, is an accomplished opera singer, who settled in Port Perry with her family. FOCUS -JULY 2010 19