On Thursday, Jan 18, the Bulkley Valley Concert Association’s presentation of international artists Roy & Rosemary featuring Cody Karey will transform the Della Herman Theatre into Carnegie Hall North at 7:30 p.m.
Known for their versatility, passion, musicianship, and style, Roy Tan (piano) and Rosemary Seimens (violin) first met while accompanying The Canadian Tenors. Now based in Vancouver, they came from very diverse backgrounds: Roy from Singapore, and Rosemary from a Mennonite farm in Plum Coulee, Man. They each began learning their instruments at the age of three and both discovered they had the special gift of perfect pitch.
Trained by renowned pianist Robert Silverman and renowned violinist Robert Rozek, they have been shaped and molded by some of the best musicians of the day. Roy & Rosemary both earned their Bachelor of Arts Music degrees at the University of British Columbia, and Rosemary went on to complete her Masters of Music in Violin Performance at the University of Miami. They are both the recipients of numerous awards and most recently, Rosemary was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, honouring her for her significant contributions and achievements.
Roy & Rosemary are equally comfortable with classical and pop repertoires and their diverse talents and improvisational skills have led to numerous opportunities, including three different performances at Carnegie Hall, one of which debuted a combined hip-hop and classical concert; a performance as the first ever instrumentalists at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, and concerts at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, as well as the Beijing Summer Olympics. They have even opened Hockey Night in Canada! Roy & Rosemary have appeared on Entertainment Tonight, Canada AM, Breakfast Television and Urban Rush.
In November of 2012, the duo released their debut piano and violin fusion album Once Upon a Dream, featuring some original works along with many familiar and beloved tunes fully orchestrated and realized in a way that is traditional, yet fresh and exciting.
Roy & Rosemary have been capturing the hearts of audiences with their fresh musical arrangements, their technical virtuosity, their endearing on-stage presence, and their ability to invite their audience into the music-making process.
“We put ourselves on the line while on stage, taking requests and composing pieces for people on the spot. We invite the audience into the creative process, which is extremely exciting, personal and interactive. We want the listener to feel as if he/she is a part of the show, a part of the creative process, and if we have taken them on a musical journey, even for a moment, then we consider ourselves successful.”
Their special guest for this tour is vocalist Cody Karey.
If it seems like 24-year-old Cody Karey has been preparing his entire life for his musical career, that’s because it’s true. From the moment the then-18-month-old rose from his high chair to warble along with Achy Breaky Heart at a Pizza Hut in northern B.C., and received a standing ovation, Karey’s destiny was sealed. Cody was singing before he even learned to talk.
By six, he was performing country songs before audiences in and around Fort St. James in a black hat, black shirt with silver collar tips, jeans, belt buckle and cowboy boots, citing Alan Jackson as his favourite to a local journalist. By the time he was a teenager, Cody was taking the stage in big cities and had appeared on television. He then discovered a love for the music of Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli.
“I was pretty much certain that was the kind of music I wanted to do,” he says, “which was certainly weird for a kid from hockey-loving B.C.”
Cody entered a David Foster talent competition, where he reached the finals, and began the eight-year journey that ended with the Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/record exec signing him to Verve Records. During his development period with Foster, Cody made countless appearances on some of the world’s biggest stages including Madison Square Garden in New York. Cody honed his craft by sharing the stage with a long list of world-class artists such as Michael Buble, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Cher, Donny Osmond, Paul Anka, Ruben Studdard, Katharine McPhee, Delta Goodrem, Peter Cetera, Phillip Bailey, Jackie Evancho and Charice.
Cody Karey’s self-titled debut album contains a number of love songs and ballads that truly showcase the power of Karey’s voice, notably his single You Are The Song.
Karey’s passion for love and romance, as well as his 15 years of classical voice training, often lead him to sing in romantic languages, including Spanish and Italian. Not just a nod to an international audience, according to Karey, but a way of expressing emotion through music and melody, rather than lyrics.
“People love the romance of relying on the performance to tell them what an artist is trying to say without necessarily understanding all the words. I’ve always been someone who connects with chords and rhythm more than lyrics. It’s the part of the music that really speaks to me.”
For more information: http://royandrosemary.com and http://codykarey.com
The BVCA invites you to join them for this outstanding musical experience.
Tickets are now on sale at Mountain Eagle Books and will be available at the door. Adults $25, Seniors (60 plus) $20, Youth (under 18) $16.
– Submitted by BVCA.