This Week’s Featured Vancouverite: Madeline Lucy Smith

Hometown:
I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and grew up on an acre of land on the border of South Surrey. My dad, a landscape designer, has since fashioned it into a jungle garden surrounded by trees. Paradise.

How long have you been a Vancouverite?
Basically my whole life! As a child, my parents, my brother and I spent most weekends in Vancouver visiting family, attending live music events and going to festivals. In 2003, I officially moved to Vancouver as a student of the UBC Opera program and have lived in Kitsilano ever since.

Occupation:
I’m a classically trained soprano with a wide range of musical interests.

I am the co-founder/manager/producer of the new singing group Stellaria, Vancouver’s first professional-level vocal ensemble dedicated to music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. I’m a member of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, one of Canada’s only professional choirs, and I also enjoy an active and varied ‘gigging’ life, collaborating with many different musicians and composers that make up the rich music scene here in Vancouver. Visit my website for updates at www.madelinelucysmith.com.

Best venue to take in a live performance:
Vancouver is full of great venues for live music like the Orpheum downtown, the Chan Centre at UBC, not to mention all of the churches and cathedrals.

I also love exploring alternative venues for classical music performance. The community swimming pool, an auto-repair shop and a Vancouver Park Board paint shop are all places where I’ve performed. One of my favourites is The Atrium at the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre at VGH.  The acoustics are just glorious; it’s made entirely of stone and glass.

Favourite Vancouver neighbourhood:
I love the hippy vibe of Kits, as well as its natural beauty and access to amazing walking/biking/swimming. The UBC endowment lands, Jericho Beach to Spanish Banks, Kits beach to Granville Island and onwards to the False Creek seawall are some of my favourites. I love it in the sun, of course, but also in the rain/snow/wind/fog when everything is deserted.

Best itinerary for 24 hours in Vancouver:
In the summertime, definitely start with breakfast at The Naam or The Oakwood, followed by a walk to Granville Island along the beach. Stop at Go Fish for an amazing fish taco to go, rent a motorboat and take it out into Indian Arm, with a picnic stop in Deep Cove along the way. Come back to Granville Island, have a lovely locally sourced dinner at Edible Canada and head back towards Jericho Beach to catch the sunset with a beer at the Galley Patio at the Jericho Sailing Club. It’s right on the water, and has one of the best views of the North Shore mountains.

Do you know someone who would be a great featured Vancouverite? Let us know in the comment box below!

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2013/08/06/this-weeks-featured-vancouverite-madeline-lucy-smith-4/