Ever since her début more than 20 years ago on Montreal's CFCF 12 TV, Sophie LAPIERRE has sung every musical style in front of all types of audiences from Montreal to Cuba to Seoul. In addition to frequent public performances, she accepts singing engagements at private and corporate functions and offers individual voice coaching that emphasizes body-voice connection and incorporates her many years of yoga practice.
Sophie's career started when, as a teenager, she would skip school to sing in bars and nightclubs in her native Montreal. At the same time, she took private lessons in voice, theory and piano with Aline Dansereau and began performing in recitals. By the time she was in her early twenties, she had done a six-month stint with Talent Search and was working as a cocktail singer at Le Bijou restaurant. In 1985, she was hired by the record company Paroles et Musique to sing backup vocals on a number of hit recordings and accompanied several well-known musical groups, including the gospel duo Mary Mary, on cross-Canada tours. This was followed by a two-year period during which Sophie was very active in television, making appearances on many of Quebec's most popular prime-time TV programs.
In fact, it's almost certain that you have heard Sophie's unique voice at some time: she has been featured in nation-wide advertising (IKEA, the Royal Canadian Mint, Coca-Cola, Calgary Winter Olympics), and major public-relations agencies such as Cossette and BCP often use her services.
In 1990 and 1991 she was the understudy for Fantine in the Canadian production of the musical Les Misérables. In 1992 she performed in a number of famous jazz venues in Montreal and sang with the Bernard Primeau Jazz Band. Also during this period, she garnered contracts to perform on overseas cruises for Regency Line, Princess Cruise Line and Sun Cruise. These international forays led her to an exclusive four-month engagement at the prestigious Shilla Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, in 1996.
Upon returning to North America, she undertook a rigorous training regime under jazz greats Ranee Lee and Jackie Presty. Since then, she has charmed audiences at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 1997 and 1998, at the Montreal Casino, and at several jam sessions in New York City.
Sophie recently accompanied Canadian jazz legend Vic Vogel on a musical mission to Cuba, where she shared the stage with Cuban singer Alfredo 'Chiquitin' Morales, Gaston Allen and Tony Perez in a solidarity concert called "Musicians for Doctors". She is also now giving classes in voice exercises combined with yoga postures at Lululemon Athletica, thus offering the public a chance to benefit from her many years of experience as a vocal coach.
Sophie Lapierre never fails to win over audiences with her tasteful repertoire, engaging stage presence and original singing style. Her entire career path reflects her dedication to music, and specifically the voice, as a vehicle for self-expression and exploration.