– by Gillian Crowley –
Sidney’s own Sunny Shams has embraced the chance of a lifetime in a new leading role with Vancouver Opera. The 27-year-old tenor will play Boy, the main character in the world premiere of Stickboy, based on B.C. poet Shane Koyczan’s verse novel of the same name with music by Neil Weisensel. Koyczan burst onto the world stage during the opening of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics with his poem We are More. His libretto for this opera, based on his own life, exposes the chilling world of bullying and its impact on its victims.
Shams says, “This is a fast-paced lyrical opera, a real whirlwind on stage where you go through a rollercoaster of emotions.” In this inaugural performance, Shams says he enjoys the combined freedom and challenge of creating a new role from the ground up. As for connecting with the opera’s theme, he says, “I was always a happy-go-lucky kid and was fortunate not to be bullied myself. But I was often a buddy to those who were being bullied so I can relate to what they were going through.” During rehearsals Shams was looking forward to meeting Koyczan to “study his mannerisms and pick his brain.”
Music was always part of Shams’ life growing up in Sidney, especially as his parents are both music fans and arts supporters. During the years that he helped out at his parents’ business, Alexander Café, he credits friendly community support for helping him find gigs. At first a pianist and jazz singer, he didn’t switch to opera until Grade 12. Joanne Hounsell, his teacher at the Victoria Conservatory, felt he had more in his voice to develop recommending he attend the local summer opera school. At UBC he worked for several years with baritone Peter Barcza who encouraged him further. Taking part in an exchange program with the Czech Republic gave Shams an opportunity to sing opera in a number of small towns. “It was also where the relationship blossomed with soprano Shadan Saul, while we sang romantic duets in La Bohème.”
Since university graduation, Shams has performed a variety of roles as a lyric tenor. His 2012 debut with the Victoria Symphony in a concert titled The Romantic Tenor was followed by appearances with the Vancouver Symphony, UBC Opera and in Montreal. Recently, Island audiences were charmed by his two performances with the Palm Court Light Orchestra.
Currently, Shams and Saul are being coached by Melvyn Poll, chair of The Met Opera National Council Northwest Region. “Melvyn’s been hugely instrumental in helping to develop my voice, especially my technique.” A number of directors from North American opera companies are expected to attend Vancouver Opera’s world premium of Stickboy. Once performances end November 7, who knows what doors may open for Sunny Shams?
