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Dartmouth teen earns prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music gold medal

Joanne Oostveen

Tarah Sawler (front) and her mom, Cathy, pose with the teen’s gold medal — a Royal Conservatory of Music honour. (Jenny Gillis)

Sixteen year old Dartmouth resident Tarah Sawler won a gold medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music last month.

The Armbrae Academy student received the top mark in Atlantic Canada on the Grade 4 Voice examination.

An extraordinary accomplishment for any young woman. But Sawler has had more challenges than most.

“I’ve always been visually impaired, but I lost what little sight I had about five years ago. A lot of people would wonder how I adapted, and the answer is that I didn’t, really. Needing extra help and technology has always been normal for me.”

Regional gold medals are awarded each academic year to Conservatory examination candidates in Preparatory A and B and Grades one to 10 who achieve the highest mark in their respective province or designated region. Eligible candidates must score at least 80 per cent on their practical examination and must have completed the co-requisite theory examinations for their respective grade and discipline.

The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the largest and most respected music and arts education institutions in the world.

Sawler says she knew she had a lot to learn before she took the exam. She knew this was a big deal.

“The exam that I won the award for is the first RCM exam I’ve taken and I was worried because I didn’t really know what they were looking for. My results boosted my self-confidence a bit. It’s one thing to be told that you’re a good singer, but it’s another thing to see that result when you’re compared to singers of a similar skill level.”

She has been taking voice lessons since she was five. Her current teacher, Zoe Leger, is a leader in Halifax’s contemporary and jazz music scenes. Leger studied with internationally renowned composers and pianists Hans Koller and John Taylor.

Sawler has always had positive professional mentors and family support, but admits that sometimes she has trouble making friends and joining groups.

“People don’t know how to act around me. If anything, my vision impairment has given me a drive to prove to myself and others that I can be successful.”

She sings mostly art and folk songs in her lessons.

“But I like pop music and accompany myself on the piano outside lessons. I like different characteristics of each of these styles, so it’s hard to choose a favourite. I’ve competed in the Kiwanis music festival for several years, often placing in the top three.”

Jeff Embleton is manager of publicity for the Conservatory. He says the Conservatory has had a substantial impact on the lives of millions of people globally.

“Each year, nearly 100,000 examinations are written in communities across North America.”

This win has given weight to Sawler’s goal of becoming a pop singer.

“It has always been my dream to be a professional pop singer. It doesn’t really matter how popular I am though, as long as I get to do what I love.”

Sawler knows what she wants out of life. But music is not her only passion.

She is a pretty good goalball player too, and has been on the women’s and junior girl’s provincial teams.

“And I’ve been performing ever since I can remember. I used to be a little nervous, but now that I’m used to it, I get more excited than anything. I have big plans for my future, and I won’t let my vision loss get in the way.”

She offers wise advice for other young people.

“Take every opportunity you can to get constructive criticism. It’s very helpful to hear opinions from a variety of people. At the same time, remember, you can’t please everyone.”