Music Spotlight: SHINE has lined up a mass of talent for the upcoming extravaganza on September 10th at the Commodore Ballroom. Today’s spotlight is on two accomplished musicians, Rosemary Siemens and Eli Bennett.
Rosemary Siemens
Known for her versatility, passion, musicianship and style, world-class improv violinist and vocalist Rosemary Siemens has mesmerized audiences around the world since the age of three. Hailing from Plum Coulee, Manitoba, Rosemary is a small-town farm girl addicted to bling and sparkle and is currently dominating the world-stage while playing a 300-year-old violin that was played in King Louis XIV’s orchestra.
Equally comfortable performing classical and pop music, her diverse talents and improvisational skills have led to countless performance opportunities, including four performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall and being the first solo instrumentalist to ever perform at St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican since its first mass in 1483. She’s also performed in over twenty countries as well as the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics,
Hockey Night in Canada and concerts for Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Bentley, Thunderbird Studios, Vancouver International Film Festival, Vancouver Fashion Week and L’Oréal Paris. She is currently the artist-in-residence at New York’s newest luxury lifestyle hotel, The Quin Hotel.
She was also awarded the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, a commemorative medal for her significant contribution to the arts in Canada. Rosemary is currently writing music for and recording her debut bluegrass album, that will be released to coincide with the unveiling of her own sign at the entrance of Plum Coulee that states “Plum Coulee, home of Rosemary Siemens.” This new musical venture will be called Rosemary & The Sweet Sound Revival.
Eli Bennett
35-time internationally award-winning saxophonist and 4-time Leo-Nominated film composer Eli Bennett, is one of Canada’s most awarded and recognized emerging jazz artists. At 27, Bennett is a two-time recipient of the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award from the National Jazz Awards, a D’Addario Woodwind’s Artist, and a Selmer Paris Performing Artist. He has performed twice at the GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles and shared the stage with GRAMMY Winners Oscar Peterson and the Neville Brothers.
Awarded the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award for music and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Premier of BC, Bennett has toured North America, the U.K., and has been featured on Canada AM, ET Canada, CTV, CBC Radio’s Hot Air, JazzFM91, and articles in The Vancouver Province, The Georgia Straight, and DownBeat Magazine. Bennett’s debut album “Breakthrough” received a nomination from the Western Canadian Music Awards for “Jazz Album of the Year”, and was one of the top selling albums on iTunes Canada Jazz in 2015
Link to SHINE: ticket and event information.
