Divas Debut: SSO putting female voices center stage

When asked if she’s a diva, R&B / Soul singer Sonia Reid laughs.

Sonia Reid says singing with the SSO will be a full circle moment. (Merge Brand Co.)

“Diva is not always a compliment, like you’re high maintenance. That’s funny because it doesn’t take me even 15 minutes to get out of the house in the morning,” Reid says. “But, in the case of this concert, it’s a compliment. It means we have earned this opportunity to perform. I’m grateful for that.”

Knight says the merging hip-hop with classical is an evolution. (Sweetmoon Photography)

Reid is one of eight Saskatoon vocalists set to take the stage in the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra’s YXE Divas. It will be an evening full of the best pops, rock, blues and jazz voices in our city.

“When you’re exposed to new things, it’s a chance to grow, to create something amazing.”

Rapper Lindsay “Eekwol” Knight is used to spitting rhymes in clubs, backed by only a recorded track. She can’t wait to bring hip-hop into the orchestral space.

“I’m starting to see a lot of the genre blending in the industry. The digital world has connected us and exposed us to all kinds of music,” says Knight. “This is something that may not have happened 10 years ago. When you’re exposed to new things, it’s a chance to grow, to create something amazing.”

Evangelista will make her SSO debut in YXE Divas. (Mattie Elizabeth Photography)

“It’s about being a strong female artist who really goes for it.”

Elyse Evangelista started her career in Toronto performing in musical theatre, cover bands, film, and tv before moving back home to Saskatoon. This will be the first time she’s performed with the SSO.

“I’m so grateful to get the chance to connect with all these musicians,” says Evangelista. “Being called a diva is a badge of honour. It’s about being a strong female artist who really goes for it.”

Other featured artists include Ellen Nasser, Eileen Laverty, Falynn Baptiste, Kateryna Khartova, and Madison McLean, all under the direction of conductor Janna Sailor.

“To watch them be who they are and just bring it. That’s what people fall in love with. That’s a true diva.”

For Reid, this performance is a full-circle moment.

“I was classically trained decades ago and I have such an appreciation for what the symphony represents, how it connects our community,” Reid says. “I can’t wait to hear the other women perform. To watch them be who they are and just bring it. That’s what people fall in love with. That’s a true diva.”