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Global News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Meet the 10-year-old B.C. opera singer taking the arts world by storm
Jake Apricity Hetherington is only 10 years old, but there's nothing little about her voice — or her ambitions. The young, classically trained singer is taking the performing arts world by storm and has already stacked up an impressive resume. That includes singing the national anthem to kick off Vancouver Canadians and Vancouver Whitecaps games earlier this year. 'I don't have stage fright, I never have, and I like performing in front of crowds, so I wasn't really that nervous, but I was a bit just because I had never performed for that many people,' she said of her anthem performance in front of a crowd of 20,000 at BC Place last month. 'I felt happy, overwhelmed, so nervous. I felt like every emotion at the exact same time.' 2:06 Global BC Arts & Culture Scene: 65 years of Vancouver Opera Despite her young age, Hetherington already has plenty of experience: her debut performance came in a production at her grandmother's church at just two years old, when she played a shepherd. Story continues below advertisement Her mother, Melissa Mercier, told Global News her daughter started singing before she even started talking. 'She announced to mom and dad that she was going to be an opera singer at three years old, which we didn't quite take seriously at first, but she started singing it, so we got her a vocal coach,' she said. 'And she never stopped being interested. She's never stopped loving it. And she loves it even more than before. And now she's learning German and Italian. Sure, why not?' Mercier said there are plenty of singers on Hetherington's paternal side of the family, and that performance might just be in her DNA. But she said it's her daughter's work ethic, being willing to 'do whatever it takes,' that has underpinned her successes. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy At age seven, Hetherington handled her first lead role in an operatic performance of Amahl and the Night. Opera, Hetherington said, is an experience like no other. 'It's just the feeling that it gives me, it just feels so inspirational and so beautiful to me because you only have one shot and there's no microphone so you have to sing your entire heart out and I think that feeling is just one of the best feelings in the world,' she said. Story continues below advertisement Mercier said it was this production that made it clear her daughter was a true performer. 2:16 This is BC: Vancouver woman uses latest technology to create opera 'I guess I was nervous because we didn't know. Can she? Can she not? We knew she could sing, but that's different to be on stage for 95 minutes. And she just nailed it. And I think since that moment, nervousness went away. I'm not nervous. I know she's got this.' Hetherington recently made history as the youngest performer to ever star in the titular role of The Little Prince with the Pacific Opera Victoria. When the show premiered, she was only nine years old. 'It makes me feel really proud that I actually accomplished that, and it makes me feel a bit overwhelmed. Like, at first, when I realized that, I was like, 'Oh my God, I did that!'' Story continues below advertisement 'I learned that (being) in a gigantic role is really hard, but also not that hard at the same time. It was kind of just the perfect mix, so I learned that even if it seems like the biggest thing in the entire world, sometimes if you just really focus on it, it's not that big.' On top of the singing, Hetherington has also landed screen credits with a recurring role in the Netflix series Virgin River. While Hetherington's exploits on stage might set her apart from other kids her age, offstage, she's a lot like other B.C. girls her age. She enjoys having sleepovers with her friends, fashion and working on art and science projects. 'Like the ones where you mix a bunch of things and it foams,' she said. 'I love those things. I love foam, that's one of my favourite things in the world.' 1:07 Inaugural Opera in the Park at Burnaby's Deer Lake The little singer has big plans for the future. Story continues below advertisement When she's old enough, she hopes to play the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. The queen's aria, she said, is what inspired her as a three-year-old to want to become an opera singer. 'I was like, 'Mom, Dad, I'm going to be an opera singer. I have to do this.' And I haven't changed my mind. I'm not going to.' She also has advice for other young artists who might be hesitant about getting up onstage. 'If they have stage fright, it's always better to try and maybe not do that good,' she said. 'It's better to just try and see that, 'Oh, maybe this isn't right for me,' instead of not trying and then missing out on a super great opportunity, whether you're scared or not, and whether it seems like a gigantic thing or not.'
The Province
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Red-hot run has Vancouver Canadians in the mix for first-half pennant
This chase for a playoff spot will go on without fireballing right-hander Trey Yesavage, who's been promoted to double-A by the parent Toronto Blue Jays Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox Top Toronto Blue Jays prospect Arjun Nimmala has been one of the key contributors to the Vancouver Canadians so far this season. Photo by Mark Steffen The Vancouver Canadians keep winning games even though they're losing players to promotion. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Toronto Blue Jays' high-A farm team, winners of five straight and 13 of their past 15, heads into a Wednesday night (7:05 p.m. first pitch) visit from the Spokane Indians to Nat Bailey Stadium. Vancouver started Wednesday tied for top spot in the Northwest League with the Everett AquaSox and Hillsboro Hops, with all three teams sitting at 30-28. There were eight games remaining in the first half going into Wednesday. The first half pennant winner secures a spot in the best-of-five league championship series in September. The C's are home to Spokane — who are the Colorado Rockies' farm team — through Sunday. Check the team website for ticket information. The C's might have to make that run at the post-season spot without right-hander Trey Yesavage. It hasn't been announced by the team yet, but there have been various reports that the Blue Jays have bumped their 2024 first-round draft pick up to the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats after just four appearances with Vancouver. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Yesavage did put together dazzling numbers in his time in Vancouver, fashioning a 1.56 earned run average while allowing a mere five hits in 17 and one third innings. He struck out 33 and walked 11. The 21-year-old is the No. 2 ranked Blue Jays prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. They have him as the No. 67 prospect in all of baseball. The C's still have plenty of notable names, led by shortstop Arjun Nimmala, who's the Blue Jays' No. 1 prospect and No. 55 across all teams according to Pipeline. The 19-year-old Nimmala was hitting .273, with nine home runs and 27 runs batted in, going into Wednesday. He was a 2023 first-round pick for Toronto. Also red-hot for the C's of late has been second baseman Nick Goodwin, 23. Going into Wednesday, he was hitting .379 with six homers and 15 RBI through seven games in June. For the season, Goodwin was at .252, with nine homers and 30 RBI, heading into Wednesday. Goodwin was a 2023 seventh-round pick by the Blue Jays. He hit .201, with nine homers and 44 RBI, last season in 113 games with Vancouver. The C's have now hit 16 home runs in their last seven games. After the Spokane series, Vancouver has a six-game road set with the Eugene Emeralds that starts on Tuesday. The first three games of that series close out the first half schedule. @SteveEwen SEwen@ Read More Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Sports Local News
