ARTIST BIO
Cari Burdett : Artist Bio
Jazz, Classical, Gypsy, Folk, World Music & Songwriter
Enjoy the sensuous sounds like the great Mercedes Sosa, Lhasa De Sela, Pink Martini, Joni Mitchell sung by 2016 VIMA ‘Vocalist of the Year’ CARI BURDETT
CARI BURDETT, a Vancouver Island based songstress, delivers an exotic blend genre-defying fusion of jazz, art song, folk and opera. Feel the raw, passionate power of her sultry mezzo vocals and her performance energy which enchants audiences with a timeless theatrical flair. Cari establishes an intimate rapport that dazzles all with a multilingual repertoire of Classical Masterpieces, Operatic Arias and Original Songs. Be transported into the international cabarets of yesteryear – Paris, Rome, Berlin, New York where you will sense the energy of a 40’s French Swing, hear a sizzling Spanish Gypsy Jazz song, enjoy a traditional Swedish folk tune, a sweet Italian love melody or an Edith Piaf medley.
This performance is a show-stopping culmination of a talent in full bloom, drawing strength from Burdett’s formidable experience as a singer, multi-instrumentalist, grand dame of stage performance, and her incredible life journey. She is proud to present a luxurious collection of arranged classics and original songs threaded together by her powerful presence, passion, and award-winning accompanists.
“Her warmth and humanity bubble up through the rich honey of her voice.”
— The Cowichan Valley Citizen
Burdett’s multifaceted education spans a number of disciplines that include; classical voice, new music, opera, vocal improvisation, art song, dance, acting and musical theatre. She holds a music degree in Opera from McGill University, Montreal and a Master’s degree in Performance Voice from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London. In fall of 2017 Cari joined Victoria Conservatory of Music as a voice teacher, and is the first faculty member to have a firm foothold in both the School of Contemporary Music and the Classical Music School departments.
Burdett released her first full length album ‘Magnolia’ in 2015, receiving nomination for World Album by Western Canada Music Awards. ‘Magnolia’ recorded with Grammy and Juno winner Joby Baker was awarded ‘Producer of the Year’ and Burdett ‘Vocalist of the Year’ 2016 by Vancouver Island Music Awards (VIMA). Her band mates have included international known musicians; Adrian Dolan, Richard Moody and Scott White of ‘The Bills’ from the West Coast of Canada.
In January 2018 Cari met Rhiannon and Lawrence Hodgood in Hawaii to continue in her musical studies – It’s All Music – a Vocal Improvisation, arranging Form & Freedom Workshop. This Spring is filled with performance across Canada – Winnipeg Jazz Festival, in Toronto and Montreal. Also, 2018 is busy the creation of two videos for original songs for the upcoming album plus honing her song writing skills. Burdett will be again produce her eighth annual ‘Winter Solstice’ series which is always well received with venues sold out through Vancouver Island.
Cari resides in the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia (where she is raising her three children), and is joyously sharing her training through performance/touring, teaching, and is the Director of Lila Music Centre.
AWARDS
Scholarship, Banff Centre of Fine Arts, Music Residency Program 2017
Vocalist of the year, Vancouver Island Music Awards, 2016
Album of the year nomination,Vancouver Island Music Awards, 2016
Artist of the year nomination, Vancouver Island Music Awards, 2016
Video of the year nomination, Vancouver Island Music Awards, 2016
Producer of the Year, Joby Baker for Magnolia, Vancouver Island Music Awards, 2016
Western Canada Music Awards– nominated for Best World Album 2015
Scholarship, Banff Centre of Fine Arts, Music Residency Program 2015
Semi-Finalist in the 2008 Eckhardt Gramatté competition
Scholarship recipient at RAM and McGill University
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Cari Burdett and The Lila Music Centre respectfully acknowledge that we operate on unceded territory within the ancestral and unceded traditional lands of the Quw’utsun, Malahat, Ts’uubaa-asatx, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz’uminus, Lyackson, Pauquachin, Ditidaht & Pacheedaht Peoples.
Follow Cari Burdett & The Lila Music Centre
- 32228A Gibbins rd, Duncan BC
- + 1 250 710 4174
- cari [at] cariburdett.com
