Natalie Ni Shi

Natalie Ni Shi (Chinese: 石妮; born 9 May 1983) is a Canadian lyric operatic soprano and film actress. She has received critical acclaim since her debut as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.[1][2]

Natalie Ni Shi
Shi in 2014
Born (1983-05-09) 9 May 1983
Occupation(s)Opera singer, actress

Shi has performed in cities like Vancouver, Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Rome and Vienna.

Early life and career

Shi was born to a Chinese family in Canada before moving back to China with her parents. Her mother was the cousin of famous Chinese philosopher Ai Siqi, and her father's ancestor was a Qing Dynasty imperial doctor.[3]

When she was 9, Shi participated in an NHK television documentary about the 100th anniversary of the China-Vietnam railway, which sparked a love of performing.

At the age of 13, she left her parents to move to the UK, where she studied at the Sherborne College and Hurtwood House. Her love of opera and musicals began during a school trip to watch Cats. After participating in several school musicals, Shi returned to Vancouver and graduated from University of British Columbia, where she majored in Opera Performance and minored in Commerce. In her final year, the opera artist program Opera Nuova cast her in Queen of the Night.[4]

Shortly after graduating, she moved to Rome to study with Rolando Nicolosi (Luciano Pavarotti's pianist and coach). In 2010, Shi was invited to perform in Vienna's Golden Hall, and later studied with language coach Nico Castel at the Juilliard School of Music, where James Lvyone offered her the main role in his newly composed Chinese opera. Shi realised the importance of mastering the language and started to notice more aesthetic differences between Chinese and Western music styles, which inspired her to complete her master's degree at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

In 2015, Shi joined IEMR Resources Inc. (CVE:IRI) as one of main five Directors.[5] [6]

Honors and awards

Shi performed the Canadian national anthem for Canadian citizenship ceremonies, receiving compliments from Senate Mobina Jaffer and judges.[7] In both 2013 and 2014, ambassador Mr/ Guy Saint-Jacques invited her to sing the Canadian national anthem at the National Day of Canada celebrations in Beijing.

Shi has won many awards and competitions, including the 40th XL Vincenzo Bellini International Voice Competition in 2008.[8]

In 2014, she was invited to be the judge of Miss Chinese Cosmos Pageant Americas Region.[9]

Academia

Shi created a seven-series analysis of Le nozze di Figaro, which was broadcast on China National Radio.[10] Her work on A Midsummer Night's Dream was published in CNKI.[11] China Central Television broadcast her performances at the Yunnan 8 Universities Academia Concert.[12]

Philanthropy
Shi preparing for Charity Concert Gala night in Vancouver

Shi founded the North America Foundation for Arts and Minorities in 2008, with the aim of helping people suffering from poverty, natural disasters and sickness.[13] She has since held several benefit concerts in China and Canada for disaster relief, such as for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake or for projects in Burma in 2018.[14] She also held the "Classical Enlightenment" performance in 2016, which raised money for an Alzheimer's Disease charity.[15]

Discography
  • 2004: Beauty Lies Within
  • 2009: Keep it up

Repertoire
Role Composer Opera
Königin der Nacht Mozart Die Zauberflöte
Adele Johann Strauss Die Fledermaus
Betly Donizetti Betly
Oscar Verdi Un ballo in maschera
Olympia Offenbach Les contes d'Hoffmann
Norina Donizetti Don Pasquale
Titania Benjamin Britten A Midsummer Night's Dream
Gilda Verdi Rigoletto
Musetta Puccini La bohème
Liù Puccini Turandot
Countess Mozart Le nozze di Figaro
Zerlina Mozart Don Giovanni
Rosina Rossini Il barbiere di Siviglia
Chiang Ch'ing John Adams Nixon in China
Lucia Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor
Xia James Lvyone Xia Xin Don
Old woman Lloyd Burritt Dream Healer

Filmography
YearTitleDirectorRole
1999関口知宏の中国鉄道大紀行 (Tomohiro's Railway Tour of China)NHK JapanNi Bao
2007Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferTim StoryFan[16]
2014Thousands age Thousand miles ride (骑迹)Wang XiaoHai (王小海)Zhou Mi Shu[17]
2015Psychic SnakebiteEric TaylorMarie (voice)[18]

Competitions and awards
  • International Artists music competition 2009 (Winner)[19]
  • 40th XL Vincenzo Bellini International Voice Competition, Italy 2008 (Winner)
  • Voice Division, Richmond Music Festival, Vancouver, 2006 (Winner)
  • Kiwanis Vancouver Music Festival, Vancouver, 2006 (First place)
  • International Chinese Vocal Competition, New York City, 2007 (Semi-finalist)
  • Reigate & Regill music Festival, London, England, 1999 (Honorary award)[20][21]

Scholarships
  • Canadian Millennium Scholarship 2006[22]
  • British Columbia Scholarship for academic incline in undergraduate study 2008
  • Opera Nuova 2008[23][24]
  • 2007 Beijing Outstanding International Student Scholarship 2012[25]

References
  1. "critic review" [With songs of love to endorse] (in Chinese). Wenku.baidu.com. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  2. 乘着歌声的翅膀 [On Wings of Songs_News_Yunnan Daily] (in Chinese). News.163.com. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  3. "华裔石妮：以美妙的歌喉活跃在中加美". www.bcbay.com. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  4. "Critic review on UBC newly grad Ni (Natalie) Shi 'Edmonton'2008 published by Opera Canada". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  5. "IEMR Resources Inc (CVE:IRI) Company information and Directors". infoventure.tsx.com. 16 June 2016.
  6. "IEMR Resources Inc (CVE:IRI) Market Data and company information". bloomberg.com. 22 June 2016.
  7. 有偈傾 51 外國歌劇 [Interview 51 Western Opera]. Hk.ifengus.com (in Chinese). Phoenix TV. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  8. 人物專訪: 石妮 [Personal Interview: Natalie Ni Shi]. Ifengus.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  9. 2014華姐美洲賽區總決賽評委名單出爐 [2014 Miss Chinese Cosmos Pageant Americas Region Judge List]. Ifengus.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  10. "中广网_频道" [China National Radio Broadcast Program List] (in Chinese). Cnr.cn. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  11. "Paper Publish Journal" (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  12. "Performance for Yunnan 8 Universities Academia Concert". Cnr.cn. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  13. 人物專訪: 石妮 [Personal interview Natalie Ni Shi]. Ifengus.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  14. "Arts critic Journal on Charity Concert (online version)". Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  15. "Sidewalk Runway: Natalie Ni Shi". www.asianpacificpost.com. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  16. Interview. Ifengus.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  17. 人物專訪：石妮 [Personal Interview Natalie Ni Shi]. Ifengus.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  18. Psychic Snakebite (2015) at IMDb
  19. "critic review" [With songs of love to endorse]. Wenku.baidu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  20. "zh:歌剧《费加罗婚礼》嘉宾·石妮" [Opera "Le Nozze di Figaro" Guest Host Natalie Ni Shi at China National Radio] (in Chinese). Cnr.cn. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  21. 人物專訪：石妮 [Personal Interview Natalie Ni Shi]. Ifengus.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  22. 有偈傾 51 外國歌劇 (in Chinese). Hk.ifengus.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  23. "Opera NUOVA - Opera Training & Music Events in Edmonton Canada". Opera NUOVA - Opera Training & Events in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  24. "Critic review on UBC newly grad Ni (Natalie) Shi 'Edmonton'2008 published by Opera Canada". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  25. 歌剧《费加罗婚礼》嘉宾·石妮 [Opera "Le Nozze di Figaro" Guest Host Natalie Ni Shi at China National Radio] (in Chinese). Cnr.cn. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
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