City girl's gone country
News
Posted By NICKI CRUICKSHANK, BARRIE EXAMINER
Updated 1 month ago
There are many things Victoria Marie can live without.
Her trusty guitar isn't one of them.
"I can live without these, although I love them," the 11-year-old from Barrie said, pointing down at her favourite pink cowboy boots. "But I can't live without my guitar. I drag it everywhere with me."
The young country singer's fingers are practically fused to the instrument, after only picking it up last Christmas. Add in her sweet little voice singing modern-day country and it's clear she's onto something.
"I'm more into pop-country. I like Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana," Victoria Marie said. "I've always liked making music and I've been doing it since I was really little. I started playing violin at three."
Singing came soon after, and then she started her guitar collection -- an electric, acoustic and electric-acoustic -- all of which she plays regularly.
She's even mastered tricky chords and songs likeThe Climbby Miley Cyrus.
"I feel very happy with music in my life. It brings me peace," the youngster said. "At home, I usually just print off some sheet music, take my guitar to my room and start playing."
She is putting on a free concert Tuesday night at Music Pro, 56 Barrie View Dr., from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It's another outlet for her to play, and to showcase her skills to her city.
"I'll be performing with my four-piece band," Victoria Marie said, perched excitedly on a chair at the Music Pro Education Centre (MPEC) on Cedar Pointe Drive. "After, I'll also be teaching kids how to play some instruments."
The thought of playing for possibly 200 people at the show is a little unnerving to the youngster, but her mom, Valerie Hathaway-Warner, said it's nothing she can't handle.
"She has no fear. In fact, I think it excites her and gives her joy to perform," her mom said.
"If it's a small show, I'm fine. But, for more than 50 people watching, it's a bit scary," Victoria Marie said. "At first, I might think I can't do it, but once I'm on stage, I'll be fine."
The child comes by her love of music honestly. Her eight-yearold brother has started playing the drums, and Valerie has her own music business and also teaches at MPEC.
"When Tori was seven, we took her to the Arizona Opry and she took off on me," Valerie recalled. "I found her in the stage wing with the band members. They asked me, 'If we give her a microphone, can she sing?' So, she sangTwinkle, Twinkle Little Staron stage there."
Warner has been given an opportunity to perform at the Opry this December.
"She's been offered a gig, and we're taking them up on it," Valerie said.
When she isn't strumming a few chords or belting out lyrics, Warner has another love. She can be found grooming and riding her horse, Jasmine.
But once that six-string starts calling her name, she's back in the saddle playing her heart out. And she and her mom have big dreams for her musical future.
"I'd love to convert a school bus and have a stage fold out from inside, so she can go and perform anywhere we can park," Valerie said.
"I'd love to have it painted hot pink, and have all my fans be able to sign the bus," Victoria Marie added.
ncruickshank@thebarrieexaminer.com
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