MEET: Clio Marden, Singing student with Andrew (Year 11, CIS)

Katterwall: How long have you had singing lessons?

Clio: I started having twice weekly lessons with Andrew in October 2009 focussing on musical theatre. This is the first time I have ever had any formal vocal training, previously I have only sung with friends casually or in band.

K: What performing experience do you have?

C: I perform a lot with HK Youth Arts Foundation, mainly dance shows - URBAN Dance Festival, Arts in the Park etc. I have also performed in musicals at my school.

K: Why did you start having singing lessons?

C: I discovered a performing arts school in the UK that I wanted to audition for. I saw that they had musical theatre, drama and dance courses but if I wanted to get onto their musical theatre course I would need to have formal singing training. A friend of mine Natalie Lipin [Ed- previously a part-time teacher with Katterwall who is currently working as a performer at Universal Studio, Singapore] recommended Katterwall to me.

K: We were very pleased to hear that your audition was successful. Can you share your experience with us?

C: It was terrifying, I have never been so nervous before! I went with my mum but she was just as nervous as me. I walked into a huge room, just like in the movies with four intimidating people sitting behind a huge desk. I took one look at them and my insides turned to jelly. I then remembered what Andrew told me “ This is something you love to do; you shouldn't let your anxiety take over that.” So I began my first song and started to feel slightly more relaxed. After the audition, I had a meeting with the Principal and was offered a place on both the drama and musical theatre courses. I was so excited and couldn't speak for 10 mins, then I started squealing - like a pig!

IN FOCUS: Soul Sister 2 with Kassia Women's Choir

We reprise a favourite Kassia Women's Choir show this month and discover a beautiful new venue to sing in, St. Mary's Church, Causeway Bay.

Soul Sister 2 features many powerful gospel and spiritual numbers including:

This Little Light Of Mine
Bridge Over Troubled Water (as featured in Raising The Roof 2007)
Feel Good (featured on Kassia Women's Choir's CD 'The First Five Years')
The Storm Is Passing Over
Joyful, Joyful (as seen in Sister Act 2)

There will be a retiring collection for the Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre, the only dedicated provider of pro bono legal aid to refugees which strives to ensure that all refugees in Hong Kong have access to high-quality legal aid, fair refugee status determination procedures, and human rights so that they can begin to rebuild their lives.

Tickets are $200 each and available from the Katterwall office and choir members.
Ages 4+ are welcome.

Please click here to see highlights of our first Soul Sister show from 2004.