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Okotoks teen third in Stampede talent search

A big voice in a little package made a huge impression at the Calgary Stampede Talent Search over the past two weeks.

A big voice in a little package made a huge impression at the Calgary Stampede Talent Search over the past two weeks.

Okotoks teen Zasha Rabie took judges by surprise when she performed an emotionally charged Alto’s Lament about a young singer who has a lower voice range and dreams of being a soprano.

Rabie was one of the youngest performers on stage and placed third.

“I was overjoyed,” said the 14-year-old Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School student. “When they announced it I could not stop smiling. I was almost jumping up and down.”

More than 300 young people from across Canada auditioned for the chance to sing, dance, act or play instruments in the annual Calgary Stampede Talent Search showcase.

During the preliminaries, 67 senior performers ages 13 to 21 and 12 junior performers, ages 6 to 12, were selected.

Being one of the youngest performers in the senior category, Rabie thought her chances of making it to the top were slim.

“The contest is for 13 to 21 yeas olds, so I didn’t think I was going to get far,” she said. “All of the contestants were incredible. I didn’t expect to get anything.”

Twenty-year-old Calgary cello-player Lizzy Munson took the grand prize of $10,000 and 21-year-old pianist Craig Henderson, of Victoria, won $2,000 for second place. Rabie, won $750.

This was her second year in the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’s talent search.

She was among 60 selected in the preliminaries last year, but didn’t make the cut to the semifinals.

This time, with a summer camp at the Calgary Actors’ Studio behind her and two years training under Edmonton Citadel Theatre music director Don Horsburgh, Rabie felt more prepared than ever to captivate the judges and her audience.

“This year I really let loose,” she said. “(Horsburgh) made me so much better. He taught me so much about what I am able to accomplish.”

The Stampede Talent Search is a step closer for Rabie to reach her ultimate dream of performing on Broadway.

“I’ve always loved musical theatre,” she said. “I love the concept of live theatre and performing for a live audience. I love the audience reactions.”

Rabie’s vocal skills have her playing the lead role of Elle Woods in the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School’s fall production Legally Blonde.

“I want to get involved with musicals as much as I can,” she said.

While Rabie’s talent continues to flourish, she admits she couldn’t have done it without the support of her mom Ana-Maria Oelschig.

“My mom has done so much for me,” she said. “She choreographed my piece, made my clothing and drove me. I couldn’t do it without her.”

Oelschig has watched her daughter’s talent grow each year, yet she was still “blown away” when watching her perform at the Boyce Theatre last week.

“She did such a great job,” she said. “The audience loved her. I heard people around me go, ‘She should win, she’s amazing, she’s fantastic.’ I heard some of the judges say she should go to Broadway.”

Oelschig said her daughter is working hard to achieve her dream of being on Broadway. She is confident one day she will watch Rabie walk on stage to receive a Tony Award.

Oelschig admits she’s harder on her daughter than anyone else.

“When she sucks I tell her she sucks,” she said. “She knows when I say that was an amazing performance that it was an amazing performance.

“When they called her up it was such an amazing moment. It was a moment of sheer awe of my child. We were so thrilled. She gave it her all.”

The competition was fierce, but Oelschig said she was not outdone by anyone.

“She earned her spot,” she said. “She is good at what she does and she’s worked very hard for this. All 12 who made the finals are incredibly talented. Each one of them is going to be something one day in the music world.”

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