Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.04.2012, Page 10

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10 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • April 1 2012
Pure. Natural. Unspoiled.
This is Iceland.
For tr avel inFormation: visiticel and.org
OwNer/Dealer rOberT FrIDFINNsON
www.mymidtownford.com
100-1717 waverley sTreeT
waverley aUTO Mall
wINNIPeg, MaNITOba r3T 6a9
1-800-665-1632
204-284-7650
Ari Jakobson, crooner, has been singing since he was six years old and
joined Rosalind Vigfusson’s
New Iceland Youth Choir. His
mom has always encouraged
him to sing; at first he was
not too interested, but then he
heard “crooner” music on a
commercial for video games,
loved it, and decided that was
what he wanted to do.
The music programs in his
home town in Arborg had been
cut, so he started taking lessons
from vocal teacher Alison King.
Alison, a native of Lundar, noting
the lack of musical education in
small town Manitoba, decided
to give lessons, and drove to
Arborg each Saturday to do so.
Since Grade 8, he has qualified
to take part in the Provincial
Honour Choir performance. Ari
moved to Gimli in Grade 10,
where his involvement in music
really blossomed; he is now
involved in choir, band and jazz
band, in which he is a vocalist
and congo player. He graduates
from Grade 12 this year, and
plans to go on to pursue his
musical education, perhaps at
the Grant MacEwan University
in Edmonton.
Ari’s big break came when
he opened for Tom Jackson at
the Celebrity Concert segment
of the Icelandic Festival in
August 2012. Since then he has
had many engagements, with
coffee houses, band fundraisers,
company parties, and, most
recently, at both the Arborg and
Winnipeg Þorrablóts.
Ari says, “I am super
excited about performing at the
Brandon Convention Saturday
night before people from all
over North America.”
I am personally looking
forward to hearing him again,
as I really enjoyed his polished
performance at last year’s
Icelandic Festival.
642-5504Ernest Stefanson
Garry Fedorchuk
Claire Gillis
Pat Sedun
Melissa Jacobs
PHARMACISTS
Live well with
PHARMASAVE
Lighthouse Mall Gimli
PHARMASAVE
Theresa Thordarson is a student at Brandon University’s School of Music where she is completing her B. Mus. in Piano
Performance. She grew up in Langruth, Manitoba
and has performed along with her many musical
family members at Icelandic community events
around Manitoba. Last summer, she received
the opportunity to perform chamber music at the
National Festival in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and
also to attend Chetham’s Piano Summer School
in Manchester, England. This trip also gave her
the chance to visit Iceland for the first time, and
she hopes to return as soon as possible! Most
recently, Theresa performed with the Brandon
University New Music Ensemble in both the
Brandon University New Music Festival and
the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra New Music
Festival. The focus of these festivals in 2012
was on Iceland and she and the Ensemble
performed Icelandic music and worked with
composer Kjartan Ólafsson, including the world
premiere of one of Ólafsson’s pieces. Theresa is
planning to continue on to a Master’s degree in
the next year.
Theresa Thordarson named as accompanist
Gail Einarson-McCleery, O.F.
Toronto, ON
Young crooner, Ari Jakobson, is also involved in choir and
bands
Young singer slated for conference
performance
PHoto courtesy of tHe jAKobson fAMiLy
Theresa Thordarson