Cochrane’s Sydney Mae, 13, performed during Country Music Week at this year’s Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) awards in Edmonton, Sept. 4-7.
The up-and-coming singer/songwriter performed twice during the week, first at the kick-off breakfast Sept. 4, where she performed two sets. On Sept. 5, she performed during the Diamonds in the Rough event.
“That is sort of a showcase for emerging artists and songwriters,” Mae said. “I’m super excited that I got invited to do that.”
This is the second time Mae has been to the CCMAs, but the first time she’s been asked to perform. She said it’s a lot to take in.
“I’m extremely excited. I can’t even sit,” she admitted. “It’s hard to sit still.”
Mae, who just started Grade 8 at Mitford Middle School, has been singing and writing her own songs for three years and said she gets a lot of her inspiration from things that have happened to her and to others.
Mae holds the distinction of being the youngest performer ever to take the main stage at the Big Valley Jamboree (BVJ) in Camrose, Alta., an honour she earned by winning the ATB Homegrown Talent Stage competition.
“I was honestly planning what I was going to be singing next year,” she joked. “But I was lucky enough to win.”
According to Lyle Priel, Mae’s manager and stepfather, more than 300 acts entered the competition. Judges eventually whittled that number down to the 12 finalists who battled it out during the BVJ, which was held from July 30 to Aug. 2.
“The major (prize) for me was singing one song on the main stage at BVJ, right before Kip Moore who was right before Miranda Lambert,” she said. “That was super cool.”
Mae also won some recording time from a local studio, a trophy, a cash prize from ATB, and a one-year membership in the Association of Country Music in Alberta.
Mae has picked up a few more awards this year, including the Special Recognition Award on the WOW Stage, hosted by the Western Showcase Committee at the Calgary Stampede and the Award of Distinction - Composition and Top Mark - Composition honours at the Cochrane Rotary Youth Talent Festival.
She was runner-up in the youth division at the Global Country Star Search hosted by Global Country, a non-profit organization that supports the development of new country music talent, and was one of the top four finalists for the Alberta Music Education Foundation Student Recognition Award for Community Service. Mae also supports her hometown Heritage Junior B hockey team, the Cochrane Generals, by singing the national anthem at as many home games as possible and will be there for the Sept. 27 home-opener.
Mae admits she’s already decided she wants a career in the music industry.
Videos and dates for upcoming performances can be found on Mae’s website, sydneymae.ca.
