Emili Losier is warming up her vocal chords for a special concert in Hope next week.
The 27-year-old Hope Secondary School grad is currently completing an opera master’s degree in Helsinki, Finland and recently returned home for a short visit with family and friends.
“I’m doing this concert to give back to the community,” said Losier.
“Because I’m only here for two weeks, I wanted to just keep it really simple. I wanted to just do some basic short easy listening music.”
The concert will consist of one lead cycle – multiple songs written by one composer to fit with each other – and 10 opera arias in English, French and Italian.
Losier grew up around classical music and began taking singing lessons 10 years ago. She admits she wasn’t immediately drawn to opera, but quickly found a love for its expression and challenges.
“Opera is the ultimate challenge for the voice. It’s like the Olympics of music,” said Losier.
“It also takes me on a personal journey within myself. I need to have so much control over my body and mind that it’s almost like searching for enlightenment. You almost have to be one with yourself.”
Losier moved to Finland after high school graduation in 2002 to pursue her opera passion. She was able to obtain dual citizenship because her mother is Finnish. Losier said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to study abroad since universities there have no tuition fees for regular degree students – education is subsidized by the government. She now has a music degree in voice, specialization diploma in voice, and a degree in music and media management. Losier dreams of becoming an international opera singer.
“I want to touch people and make people feel something,” she said.
“I want to help people forget their life for a few minutes and take them to a different place.”
Losier will be performing in an international opera festival this July before going to Berlin to study German for four weeks. She hopes learning the language will help increase her job opportunities after university.
“Germany is kind of like the mecca of opera,” said Losier.
“This is the place now that has all the opera houses and has the most jobs in a condensed area.”
Losier performs at Grace Baptist Church on May 23 at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going to fund an opera Losier is producing this winter.