2023-03-08

Musical prodigies make a tour stop in Mahone Bay

Mahone Bay - Two young musicians are set to light up the province.

From March 10-27 Halifax pianist LaLa Lee and cellist David Liam Roberts will be making seven stops on an Atlantic tour, through Debut Atlantic, starting in Tatamagouche March 10 and ending in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland March 27.

The duo will be in Mahone Bay March 11 at 11 a.m. at Cecilia's Retreat. For more information go to www.musiqueroyale.com.

Both musicians have accomplished so much in their young careers. Lee is just 21 while Roberts is 23 years of age. The duo made their recital debut in November 2020 for Cecilia Concerts at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall in Halifax.

They have both been named on the list of CBC's 30 Hot Classical Musicians under 30.

Lee has played worldwide with solo, chamber and orchestral performances.

LaLa has performed with many great musicians including conductors Bernhard Gueller, Muhai Tang, Dinuk Wijeratne, and Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. She has played with orchestras including the Shanghai Philharmonic, Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Nova Sinfonia and Chebucto Symphony Orchestra.

In 2018 alone, LaLa was the youngest finalist at the SteppingStone Competition; gave an extensive recital tour across four cities in China over five days for the China International Music Festival; performed in halls such as the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Shanghai Symphony Hall, and Hefei Grand Theatre, Poly Culture Group; and taught her first masterclass at the Changzhou Music School.

Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, LaLa is currently studying to earn her Bachelor's of Music (Honours) at the Glenn Gould School of Music, in the studio of John Perry and David Louie. She has been awarded the prestigious Henry Hung Foundation full scholarship and stipend. From the age of three, LaLa began learning piano, studying at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and with Lynn Stodola of Dalhousie University.

Roberts, 23 was the winner of the 2021 Canada Council for the Arts' Michael Measures top prize. He was also awarded the first prize and the grand award at the 2018 National Music Festival of Canada.

Recent engagements include a solo appearance with the Winnipeg Symphony in a subscription concert performing double cello concerti with Yuri Hooker (conducted by Daniel Raiskin), recorded concerts presented by the Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg and Virtuosi Concerts, and a solo recital in collaboration with Winnipeg's Polycoro Chamber Choir and multimedia artist Taylor McArthur.

He plays a Ruggeri-model cello that was made for him in 2017 by Winnipeg-based luthier, Garth Lee.

In addition to concert engagements, Liam&LaLa will be working with young students through the Debut Goes to School! program. This season, Debut Goes to School offers students throughout Atlantic Canada virtual and in-person access to outstanding classical and global music artists.