Corinne Yantha

Everyone knew that I loved music from a very early age. Growing up in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, I used to listen to records on our old record player and memorize “everything” so that I could sing along. Later, at the age of eight, I began my first formal music lessons on a borrowed accordion.

Years later, after private lessons on accordion, fiddle, and piano, choir and solo singing, high school musicals, and high school bands playing the clarinet or trombone, I found myself at a crossroads. What did I want to do with my life? I had been spending my free time composing songs while sitting at my keyboard, and then recording them onto cassette tapes. And dreaming. I knew I had to choose a life with music in it.

I decided that going to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario for a music degree was the right thing to do. As I was classically trained in brass and voice, I grew from an amateur enthusiast with traditional accordion and fiddle playing roots to a professional musician. At university, I enjoyed playing trombone in the Symphonic Band (wind ensemble), the Stage Band (jazz), the Symphony Orchestra, and the pit band for the Queen’s Musical Theatre, and singing with the Chamber Singers and the Choral Ensemble. During my time at university and afterward, I met a lot of other musically inclined people. We formed a few pop/rock bands, wrote a lot of songs, and chased the dream. And we had a great time doing it!

Since graduating from Queen’s, I continue to pursue my first interest in music—singing—and sing wherever and whenever I can. This has meant singing (including solos at each concert) with the Lakehead Choral Group, Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus, and Timmins Concert Singers. I continue to receive requests to sing at community and private events. Most recently, I performed at a hospital fundraiser and at the chapter launch of a local charitable organization.

In June 2003, I won a radio station-sponsored singing/songwriting contest in Timmins, Ontario. My entry, “How are you today?” has gone on to receive airplay on local radio station, EZ Rock (FM 99.3). After going into the studio and doing some more recording, I now have a three-song demo CD showcasing my singing/songwriting abilities.

At my “day job” as a high school teacher, I have been busy bringing music back to the school I work at. For two years running, I have organized a Spring Talent Show to showcase the arts and the many talented students and staff that we have at Roland Michener Secondary School. At events such as these, I always have requests to sing, which I oblige of course! The community response has been very gratifying and satisfying. In fact, at the 2003 graduation ceremony, the valedictorian declared, “Who needs Celine Dion when we have Ms. Yantha?” Future plans include holding events such as these in combination with other area high schools (i.e., a city-wide battle of the bands).

I have also been fortunate enough to bring music back to the academic timetable and course calendar at RMSS. During the 2002-2003 school year, I taught Gr. 9-10 vocal music to an enthusiastic group of young people ranging from Gr. 9-OAC. The 2003-2004 calendar year will witness the addition of a Gr. 9-10 instrumental music course.