Opera Singer Theo Tams Wins 2008 Canadian Idols

Canada got it right - Lethbridge, Alberta's Theo Tams has just been crowned the new Canadian idol! Throughout the competition, Tams displayed the most well-rounded musicality the show has ever had, what with his wide dynamic range, even legato, his talent at the piano, and his innate feeling for each song. Prior to the contest, the 22-year-old University of Lethbridge student (double major in Psychology and Classical Music) had been training in opera performance (the U of Lethbridge website shows Tams singing the Count in a scene from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro), and the training has definitely paid off. On Monday night's finale (September 8), while fellow contestant Mitch MacDonald at times sang off tune and sounded underwelming, Tams's solid vocals clearly set him apart. I predict that he will not just be the flavour of the year and will withstand the test of time. Moreover, Tams victory shows that a solid musical education makes a big different, and all of Canada concurs. The last time a trained classical musician won, 18-year-old Kalan Porter caused a jump in music and voice lessons in Alberta. Let's hope history repeats itself across Canada, and that it will be good news for music education.