NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA OPERA HOUSE
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For more than 25 years Susan Aglukark has established herself as a Canadian icon.
Affectionately named Canada’s Arctic Rose, Aglukark is a singer-songwriter whose hits, O Siem and Hina Na Ho (Celebration), introduced a new generation to the power of storytelling through music.
Perfecting the blend between contemporary melodies with the traditional sounds of her ancestry — Aglukark is of Inuit descent — Canada’s Arctic Rose has made a name as one of the most impactful artists of our time.
As a part of Artist Life Stories, this February audiences will have the unique opportunity to uncover the experiences that shaped Aglukark into the renowned storyteller of a generation. An annual Orillia Opera House production, Artist Life Stories invites artists to share their unique journey through live performance art, intimate conversation, and an interactive question-and-answer period with audiences.
Susan Aglukark’s artist story began in Arviat, Nunavut, where her formative years saw an interest in music evolve into an established career. At the age of 25, having already gained notoriety throughout Inuit communities for her vocal abilities, she independently released her first solo album, Arctic Rose, an album that would gain the attention of major record companies and set the stage for her chart-topping breakthrough, This Child, in 1995.
Despite a meteoric rise — This Child was triple certified platinum — Susan’s music has remained both intimate and wonderfully honest. Each carefully crafted song is a reflection of the stories that impacted her life, her ability to connect with the culture of her people, and the lives of many Indigenous peoples today.
Since first hitting mainstream success, Susan Aglukark has released seven studio albums, won three Juno Awards along with the 2022 Special Humanitarian Juno award, was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada in 2004, received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and holds several honorary doctorate degrees. She is also known for her charitable work with a focus on aiding Northern Indigenous communities.
Truly one of Canada’s most significant cultural treasures, Susan Aglukark’s Artist Life Stories performance is one not to be missed.
Kicking off the series Feb. 28, Susan Aglukark is just one of four in an all-star Canadian lineup. The 2023 series features renowned choreographer Debra Brown on March 28, triple-threat musician April Verch on April 25, and folk legend Valdy on May 30.
Aglukark takes the stage on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $60 online at OrilliaOperaHouse.ca, though all four Artist Life Stories can be purchased in a package at a discounted price by contacting the box office at 705-326-8011.
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