Scarlett Bloom finds peace and joy with singing
In anticipation of the upcoming Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival, our newspaper is showcasing a handful of participants in advance of the event.
Today’s feature is on Scarlett Bloom. Q: How old were you when you started taking voice lessons and what inspired you to start?
BLOOM: Ever since I was a toddler, I have found peace and joy in singing and music and have had too much energy for my own good. In elementary school I played baseball, but I was more interested in the song chants we would sing to encourage our teammates. I started guitar lessons but was more interested in singing during my teacher’s demonstrations. Finally, my parents caught on that this would continue to be a pattern in my life. So, at nine-years old, my parents started driving me to singing lessons every week.
Q: Tell us about your first voice teacher. What was the most important lessons you learned from him/her that you still use today.
BLOOM: My voice teacher, Tracy Fehr has taught me so many valuable lessons over the last decade. From cheering me up and teaching me that one weaker performance doesn’t define you, to encouraging me to be proud of my competitors and to always be polite and have good etiquette even when losing. I feel that being patient with my growth is the most important. In the world we live in I feel that we expect instant response, you practice once and you should be a master; if you ask any master you’ll know that excellence is not something that can happen over-night. I am not discouraged by a challenge, I use competition as an opportunity to grow, and I can receive constructive criticism and use it successfully.
This is all due to Tracy Fehr’s incredible guidance and consistently leading by example. I will continue to thank her for her contribution to my journey for the rest of my life.
Q: Beside singing, do you play another musical instrument?
BLOOM: Although singing is my main instrument, I love working on my skills in other instruments as well, like guitar, clarinet and piano. I find so much joy in working on my progress.
Dennis Nordlund has been a fantastic teacher, being by my side during rehearsals, festivals and during our weekly lessons. With his help I have been able to really focus on piano and theory.
Q: What advice would you give to a young person who wants to take voice lesson and make this their career?
BLOOM: The best advice I can think of to give a young singer is to always take constructive criticism from those you trust as a compliment.
It is so easy to feel discouraged and frustrated, however it’s those pivotal moments that can really make a difference in your performance and in your etiquette.
Q: We noticed that you registered a student of yours in this year’s festival. When did you start teaching and are you planning on making a career in teaching voice?
BLOOM: I had an amazing experience with Heather Ayris at Summerland Secondary School, she gave me the priceless opportunity to be the musical director in my Grade 11 year, I had training but was taught the importance of listening to my students and to my own intuition. Through the three years of me teaching my peers, she taught me to be kind and fair. So, when teaching I try to embody all the fantastic teachers who have helped shape me. At first, teaching was my back up plan in case performance doesn’t work out for me, but slowly it’s become a second, very important, goal in my career.
Q: What does music mean to you? What type of pieces do you like best?
BLOOM: In true soprano fashion, I’m obsessed with very complex, high, sometimes ridiculous pieces. I have to admit to my love of Italian Opera and of course anything (Andrew) Lloyd Webber that makes me feel like an alto for the first verse and then I’m suddenly singing in the higher parts of my range for the last half.
Q: What is it about music you passionate about it?
BLOOM: Music is medicine to my brain. Songs bring me back to moments in my life and hold memories. I love how intense music is and how it can feel so effortless and beautiful while still being
that makes complicated and difficult.
Q: What skills have you gained that help you perform effectively?
BLOOM: Honestly, practice is the most important thing possible. I’ve had breakthroughs where I sing some-thing so perfectly but then forget to practice it or feel discouraged to practice because I’m scared and end up failing.
I’ve discovered over time that the best thing to do is practice as much as you can consistently everyday. When you get on stage, your body takes over, your muscles and your mind will do the work for you, all you have to do is believe in yourself enough to give yourself the time to get there.
Q: What accomplishments do you see yourself fulfilling in the next five years?
BLOOM: I have always had ambitions dreams, which there have been times I was the only one who believed I could achieve them. In the next five years I want to get into a school where I can flourish as a performer, where I’m surrounded by people who challenge me and teachers who push me, then I want to just be in as many shows as I can, get that experience and say yes to as many things as I can.
Q: How has the Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival helped you?
BLOOM: The Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival taught me so many valuable lessons about myself and about how to treat others. I learnt how to calm my breathing down to deliver a strong performance, how to stay focused on my growth and how to encourage others.
I learnt how to take a song from just barely knowing it to performing it on a stage in front of other people.
It had been a wild ride and I did not always leave a winner, but it those were the times I learnt the most about myself.
The PKMF is a gift to the young performers of our community and we are so lucky to have highly qualified adjudicators and talented youth every year. Unfortunately, this is most likely my last year as a performer in this festival, but I know because of the PKMF nine-year old me would be so proud of almost 19-year old me.