TRURO - When she was just four years old Allison (Bent) Angelo told her mom she wanted to take singing lessons.
"Up the street from our home on Duke Street was (voice teaher) Chella Henderson," said Angelo, a 34-year-old Truro native and emerging opera singer.
Angelo's mother spoke to Henderson about letting her daughter sing with Henderson once, because of her young age.
"After I sang songs that I already knew, Chella told my mom, ‘you know, she really can sing and seems motivated, so she can keep coming for lessons if she wants.'"
For 10 years, Angelo worked with Henderson and she also performed in various groups in Truro, including choirs, school musicals and jazz bands.
While studying music at Dalhousie University, a new musical theatre program was introduced during Angelo's second year.
"I really thought I was going to go into musical theatre, not classical music, but my voice faculty sort of convinced me that not everyone could do classical music and that I could," she said.
"I love the challenge and the repertoire of it."
Following university at Dalhousie, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theatre, Angelo attended the University of Toronto where she received her Artist Diploma in Voice and Masters of Music in Opera Performance.
Over the past year, Angelo, who now lives n Toronto, has been doing mostly recital and concert work, working her voice and body back into opera after having a child 11 months ago.
She was also recently named the Musician in Residence at St. Cecilia Concert Series in Halifax. She's already performed two of the four concerts through the position.
Angelo will return to Truro to play a ‘homecoming' concert on Jan. 25 at the Marigold Cultural Centre.
"I've spent a lot of time in Halifax and none in Truro, so I'm really excited to be coming home," she said.
rtetanish@trurodaily.com
IF YOU GO:
- Who: Allison Angelo
- What: Cobequid Arts Council Celebration Series
- Where: Marigold Cultural Centre
- When: Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.
- Special guest: Simon Docking
- Tickets: $25 available at the Marigold at 897-4004
