about Sarena (continued from homepage)

Finding her voice and her place on stage at the age of three, Sarena spent her childhood in and out of auditions, television studios and voice booths.  Her sweet voice and personality earned her a 5-year spot on the renowned CBC children’s series Mr. Dress-Up, and she lent her singing and speaking voice to dozens of radio and television jingles and animation series.

Sarena was also fortunate to play the recurring role of Velma Bugle on the Canadian Classic television series Road to Avonlea.  She also appeared in Ready or Not, Katts and Dog and the feature film Fly Away Home. 

Training as a classical soprano, Sarena developed a fascination for foreign languages and repertoire.  She quickly learned the value of versatility singing in a number of choral groups. 
At the age of sixteen, Sarena made her first appearance as a soprano soloist with the Boris Brott National Academy Orchestra and by the age of seventeen, she presented her debut recital with songs in 6 languages. 

Since then, Sarena’s musical endeavours have taken her from the role of Christine Daae in the Canadian Phantom Unmasked tour with Peter Karrie, to the 8th International Mozart Festival in Salzburg, Austria, to performing with Jim Witter in Memories of a Winter’s Eve.  She has sung with a backup ensemble for Canadian and international music icons such as Susan Aglukark, Paul Anka, Sarah Brightman, the CCMAs, Reba McEntire, Frank Mills, The Nylons, Roch Voisine and Michelle Wright.  Sarena also toured France, Switzerland & Germany with a 20-piece big band, performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, ZMF Festival and the most profound experience of the tour for her - the Juno Beach Memorial.  Sarena has also produced many of her own concerts and she is part of the team responsible for starting the Remembrance Day concert tradition which takes place at the Ronald V. Joyce Centre – Hamilton Place every year. 

After graduating with the Alumni Gold Medal, a B.A. Honours in Spanish and a minor in Music from Wilfrid Laurier University, Sarena ventured out full-time into an independent music career.  In 2004, Sarena self-produced and released an album of jazz standards entitled Almost Like Love.  This record drew the interest of WELCHEN MUSIC PUBLISHING HOUSE based in Taiwan and China.  In November 2006, after investing a great deal of time and effort, WELCHEN re-released Almost Like Love for the Asian Market and are eagerly awaiting new projects from the young singer.

November 2006 also marked another important event in Sarena’s music career.  After many critically acclaimed performances and Sarena’s long-standing interest and involvement with the WWII Veterans, she released her album Remember, produced by J. Richard Hutt– in honour of the veterans and peacekeepers of the past and present, especially those serving in Afghanistan.  Spending close to a year in development, Remember not only features Sarena as a vocalist but also her first efforts as a songwriter.  She is extremely grateful for the guidance and mentorship that she has received from her outstanding co-writers on this project.  Sarena’s project and commitment to the veterans attracted the attention of VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA.  She was invited to perform at the prestigious Senate Ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa during the Veterans Week in 2006.  Her songs were also showcased on national radio programmes, during the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day.  Sarena has also been asked to perform her first single from this album “Honor Thy Fallen”, written in honour of fallen soldiers, firefighters, police officers, and RCMP, at a number of memorial services for fallen O.P.P officers.  Remember is available nationally at all CHAPTERS INDIGO Music Locations and SAM THE RECORD MAN in Toronto and Halifax.