Natalie Ni Shi

Early life and career

Shi was born to a Chinese family. At a young age, she followed her parents back to China to study Chinese. Her mother is the cousin of philosopher Ai Siqi. Yunnan Tengchong county Chinese family Sub-Lee, whose ancestral home is the United Nations the name house Gallery; father generations of practicing Chinese medicine, the Qing dynasty imperial palace Shi Luan Bordered Blue Banner descent.

At the age of 13, Shi left parents came to the UK alone studying at British private church school Sherborne College and Hurtwood House for O-Level junior high and A-Level high school. It was when the schoolmaster took them to London watching musical Cat she fell in love with musical and opera. After participated in several school musicals, Shi went back to Vancouver and graduated from University of British Columbia with honor degree major in Opera Performance School of Music and minor in Commerce the Sauder School of Business. In the year of her graduation, she was chosen for role Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute by opera artist program Opera Nuova, Canada.

Later that year, she went to Rome, Italy, to study with Rolando Nicolosi (Luciano Pavarotti's pianist and coach). In 2010, Shi was invited to perform in Vienna's Golden Hall Chinese Ensemble Concert Artist, Austria reported by China Central Television (CCTV). Later, while studying with language coach Nico Castel from the Juilliard School of Music, Shi was offered by James Lvyone to sing the main role of his newly composed Chinese opera. Shi realized how important it is mastering a language, understanding aesthetic differences between Chinese and Western music and singing style, then came to Beijing and completed her master's degree at Central Conservatory of Music. When interviewed, Shi laughed at herself as "the Snoopy carrying a burden of dream wondering around the world to explore life."

At the age of 9, Shi participated in a China-Vietnam railway built 100-year anniversary documentary by Japan NHK television. When participating musical and operatic training, Shi generated great interest with acting both on stage and on camera. While at university, Shi has participated in few Hollywood films shot in Vancouver.

In 2015, Shi has joined Toronto Stock Exchange TSX -listed Public Company IEMR Resources Inc. (CVE:IRI) as one of main five Directors.

Honors and awards

Shi performed the Canadian National Anthem for Canadian citizenship immigration and bar association for consecutive years, and received great compliment from Senate Mobina Jaffer and judges. In 2013, invited by ambassador Mr. Guy Saint-Jacques, she was honored to sing Canadian anthem on the National Day of Canada in Beijing. Shi won International Artists music competition 2009; 40th XL Vincenzo Bellini International Voice Competition, Italy 2008 and many others. 2014, she was invited to be the judge of 2014 Miss Chinese Cosmos Pageant Americas Region.

Academia

Chinese National Radio Broadcast – China National Radio featured her seven series of characteristics analysis of each role in opera Le nozze di Figaro.

Her article "Music and Performance analysis of Aria 'Be Kind and courteous' from A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten" has been published in CNKI. Shi participated in opera education concert series at National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA) 2011–2013, Beijing. Her performances for Yunnan 8 Universities Academia Concert was recorded by China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast.

Philanthropy

Shi founded the North America Foundation for Arts and Minorities in 2008, with the aim of helping people suffering from poverty, natural disasters and sickness. Through the years, she did a lot of charity work including several disaster relief benefit concerts both in China and Canada, concerts for the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, concerts for poverty in Yunnan 2009, 2010, 2012; disaster relief projects in Burma 2010, The Arid wells building charity concerts 2013, and so on.

Discography

Competitions and awards

Scholarships