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Cari Burdett is a focused woman with a vision to improve other’s lives through her own passion for music. Her passion began at the age of seven, when she became involved with music theatre, igniting a flame that continues to burn brightly.
When Cari was twelve her musical journey continued studying voice with Karen Smith of Victoria B.C. and entering various Music Festival Competitions. Karen continues to be part of Cari’s life as a friend and mentor.
Even at this young age Cari was not one to rest on her laurels adding ballet, jazz, tap, and song and music theatre to her already busy schedule over the next six years.
Sylvia Hosie, a professional Music Theatre performer, entered Cari’s life at eight. Of studying under Sylvia Cari says with conviction, “Sylvia was the teacher who brought the two worlds of dancing and singing together; she gave me confidence and inspiration.”
Cari went on to audition for several schools including The Boston Conservatory of Music. It was Karen Smith who gave Cari the insight to audition for a larger stage and supported her in her applications for McGill University in Montreal and the University of Toronto.
After considering her offers and options she chose McGill where she began a six year program studying opera. She says, “It was a love/hate relationship with opera, I had to find my place in it.”
Cari also found the constraints of opera rather restricting, she wanted to expand her training as a mezzo-soprano to include more contemporary, collaborative work. Holding true to form she became involved in electro acoustic improvisation in her last years at McGill.
One of her collaborators was Dave Bennett, an accomplished musician in his own right, who created a background music composition while Cari composed the vocal lines with the help of Meg Shepperd. She says of this collaboration, “I was thrown into a world of new music which allowed me to be creative in classical music.”
Coincidently at this time Rhiannon, a world renowned performing artist, was instructing a very popular voice improvisation workshop in Montreal. Though the program was already full Cari was insistent she be allowed entry and states emphatically, “It was a matter of my life.”
Not surprisingly for this musically driven woman, Cari was accepted and says of her experience, “I saw the other side of song and music, it changed my life.” Cari and Rhiannon’s relationship flourishes still; Rhiannon has invited her to a year long advanced training workshop, ‘All the Way In, beginning January 2008.
After graduating McGill Cari took time off travelling to Italy, learning the language of romance, before enrolling in London’s Royal Academy of Music in September 1998.
During her first year [of a three year performance program], Cari felt the urge once again to expand and utilize her talents. She applied for and was accepted to the Master’s Program and for the next two years worked collaboratively, once more, with composers and musicians.
It was in London that Cari met and married, Massimo Pintus, a native Sardinian. She says, “We fell in love while I sat beside him speaking to him in Italian.” It would seem her time spent in Italy was a fateful part of her life’s journey.
Becoming pregnant with their first child the couple moved to Sweden where Cari says, “We had a wonderful time learning to become parents and I taught English for and studied with pedagogic Par Ahlbom for six years.” She adds, “Intuitive pedagogy changed my outlook on music and life again. It’s at the core of all my teaching now.”
Returning to Canada in 2005 and now residing in Duncan B.C. with their two children, Cari and Massimo fill the hills with glorious music. Cari taught for others before officially opening, Lila Music Studio, in September of 2007 with her husband.
They bring the joy of music to enthusiastic students with a variety of programs and workshops for all ages. Massimo shares his talents as a teacher of classical and Spanish guitar as well as Werbeck singing [personal musical and vocal aspirations of each student] while Cari lends her talents as an accomplished classical vocalist in opera, runs workshops, teaches parent and child music, improvisation, social development with games and leads a choir.
Through pedagogy, Cari learned how to develop her intuition saying, “I teach students to overcome the fear that lives inside all of us by working with game play, music and movement; building coordination, listening and awareness skills with improvisation. It’s a lot of people working toward one solution.” Using music and movement creates a nourishing place for parents and children and promotes a child’s healthy development.
One of Cari’s goals is developing Lila Music Studio to offer workshops around North America, saying, “I want to offer exciting and dynamic workshops; workshops to hone your voice, power and truth.”
Cari sees definite benefits in offering her workshops to the business sector as well, adding, “Improvisation can help with staff retention through cooperation and team building,” she continues enthusiastically, “it creates trust, joy and health in the work place.” Cari adds with sincerity, “Building community is important, to have a process going on to become part of something larger.”
This vibrant and talented woman, wife, mother and teacher is, as she has done throughout her life, looking to accomplish more; to take it to the next level.
Studying with internationally acclaimed Canadian soprano Nancy Argenta in Victoria, Cari is again pursuing her opera career. The world is her stage and she takes it with grace and pride.
Written by: Carmen Borthwick
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