Marla Mayson - Alto
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Originally from Montreal, Mayson's musical training began with the piano at the age of six. She later studied clarinet as part of the band program in high school, where membership in the choir was required. In the choral program, she discovered her love of singing.
She began formal voice studies at Vanier College, and continued on to McGill University where she earned a diploma in Voice Performance under the tutelage of Jo-Anne Bentley. Upon leaving university, she was an active soloist and ensemble singer performing with such organizations as the Tudor Singers, Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, and the professional core of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Having sung as a church musician since the age of fifteen, Marla also enjoyed a long tenure as a section lead and soloist at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, as well as at Temple Emanu-el Beth Sholom, where she was a chorister and occasional cantorial soloist. In 1990, she met and became engaged to well-known Vancouver vocal arranger Ron Smail, and, two years later, returned with him to the west coast where they were married. Shortly thereafter, Marla became a member of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, the renowned twenty-voice professional ensemble. In addition to a busy private studio,and teaching voice at the Western Conservatory of Music, Marla is a section lead and soloist at Ryerson United Church. She has appeared as soloist with several organizations including the CBC Radio Orchestra and the Vancouver Island Symphony. |