Jada McKenzie-Moore, a 15-year-old singer and songwriter now living in Vancouver, has won a top spot on Team Canada, competing in the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA). It’s an international Olympic-style competition for performers – actors, models, dancers and singers – and it takes place in Los Angeles in July with over 50 countries competing for medals and scholarships.
Naturally her family and friends are proud of her, so much so that Sandy Kay and Jim Nielsen of Halfmoon Bay have planned a gourmet, six-course Italian dinner and concert on May 28 as a fundraiser with Jada singing for the guests.
“As a painter,” says Sandy Kay, “I have always supported emerging artists and charities, both by donations and by teaching and demos. It is my way of contributing to the arts and of supporting my community.”
Travelling to Los Angeles and the costs associated with the 10-day event will amount to $8,000 – money that Jada does not have. She has set up a gofundme account and she is happy to sing for donations as she did at the Halfmoon Bay store at Christmas. Kay recalls that though the Christmas Day event involved Santa and hot chocolate, it was very cold. That didn’t stop Jada from singing and playing guitar outside in the freezing weather for a couple of hours for their enjoyment and for donations.
She began singing professionally around the age of nine and has always had an undeniable passion for music. Since then, she has won dozens of competitions and has sung at big venues all over B.C. and Alberta such as Vancouver’s PNE and the Calgary Stampede. Two years ago she made the decision to start doing her school courses online to make more time for the things she loves. She is currently attending the Sarah McLachlan School of Music and is in the studio collaborating with producers on her first EP. In the future she would like to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Though Jada’s mother grew up in Sechelt, she moved to White Rock just before Jada was born. But the singer’s family has always been associated with Halfmoon Bay, where she has spent many holidays and enjoyed summer camps and other community events.
The gourmet Italian dinner is offered in Halfmoon Bay as a fundraiser and guests can dine while listening to the vocalist in a private home with a waterfront setting. Purchase your $50 ticket and you have the chance of leaving with a 25-bottle collection for your wine cellar after participating in a raffle. Details are given when you register. Seating is limited. You can reserve your space now by emailing: [email protected].
All proceeds from this event will be donated to Jada, to help fund her trip this July. If you can’t make the dinner and concert, you can help her reach her goal at her fundraising page: https://www.gofundme.com/jadawcopa2016.
