Dacia Gramlick performed to a packed audience at the Stettler Alliance Church on Saturday evening, Dec. 19 as she belted out soulful renditions of classical music.
Accompanied on the piano by Veronica Weber, the concert also included special performances by Rhonda Sylvester and Kaylee Somerville.
In September, Gramlick became a member of the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers Choir and will be visiting Greece during her Christmas break.
In consultation with Sylvester, who has trained Gramlick for eight years and with one of her teachers in Edmonton, Shannon Hiebert, Gramlick organized this concert, her first in her hometown.
"I loved the idea of doing a concert in my hometown because they have supported me so much over the years," said Gramlick. "Veronica Weber has played for me in the local music festivals, so when I decided I was going to have a concert she was the first person I thought of to play for me."
The order of the music was decided by all three performers, keeping the classical pieces towards the beginning and the Christmas numbers at the end.
"I had sung with Kaylee for quite a few years and this being her senior year, I thought it would be awesome for her to perform, but if it weren't for Rhonda I may not have been at the level I am at today," said Gramlick. "She was my teacher for eight years and taught me most of what I know today, so I definitely wanted the chance to perform alongside her."
'O Mio Babbino Caro' was Gramlick's final solo and she said, "It has been probably my favourite song that I've worked on and this year, it has gotten better than last year so I really wanted to share that with everyone."
Music has been Gramlick's passion for years, and she started taking singing lessons since Grade 4, while the past four months she has been taking music at the University of Alberta with "some profound teachers".
"I truly believe she was made to sing and I have loved every minute throughout the years and seeing how far she has come takes my breath away," said Gramlick's mother, Michelle. "There is something special about her and I know I'm not the only one to think that way."
Gramlick has been a part of the American High School Honors Choir who performed in Carnegie Hall, New York for two years.
She was also a part of the Alberta Youth Choir in 2014.
For solo performances, Gramlick has placed every year except for one in provincials.
In May 2015 Gramlick placed first in the Musical Theatre Ballad category.
"I still don't really have a person in the music world that I am individually inspired by but all the different kinds of music itself inspires me," said Gramlick. "I am so excited to see where I can go with it."