Young performer hitting all the right notes
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This article was published 25/03/2010 (5860 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A young North Kildonan performer recently earned the musical equivalent of a pot of gold.
Montana Lehmann, 13, hit all the right notes at the 2010 Winnipeg Music Festival, held at various locations throughout the city earlier this month.
Lehman so impressed judges with her March 11 performance that she earned the Rainbow Stage Trophy and Scholarship. What made her accomplishment even more noteworthy was the fact that she beat out experienced performers as much as twice her age to claim the award.
“I was really shocked and very happy,” an excited Lehmann said days after her performance. “There were a lot of really, really good performances so I was excited to win — and the trophy was so heavy!”
Lehmann earned the recognition for her rendition of My Party Dress from Henry and Mudge. Wearing her own party dress made it easier for her to get into character.
“I don’t really think about anything when I perform and I’m not nervous, more excited,” she said. “It helps to just be in the moment and get into character.”
Lehmann’s ability to get into character was a big factor in her win. The adjudicator described her as fearless and noted she captivated her audience and brought them into the story she told.
It all makes her family — dad Sean, mom Eugenia, and five-year-old brother Keenan — very proud.
“She’s always been singing and dancing,” her mother said, noting her daughter first caught the musical theatre bug while watching her aunt, Tannis Francis, perform.
“She used to go busking at The Forks with her grandfather. She’s just always singing.”
Lehmann practices at least 11 hours each week, including one hour of voice lessons with Melanie Whyte, six hours at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People studying Shakespeare, and up to six hours at the Junior Musical Theatre Company.
“I don’t even realize I’m practicing anymore,” she said with a laugh. “I just love it! I love the whole thing. It’s a really cool feeling getting on stage, I can’t really describe it. I want to do musical theatre. That’s my dream.”
Lehmann’s dream is already coming true with a busy season ahead of her. She will perform in a A Midsummer Night’s Dream in April, The Little Mermaid in June, and Danny Schur’s Strike! in July and August.
ryan.crocker@canstarnews.com