Fine arts grad wins Handel Singing Competition

Stefanie True [BFA Spec. Hons. ’03] has recently experienced what she calls her very own Oscars moment, wrote The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder April 12.

True, who is originally from St. Andrew’s West, nabbed first place in…the Handel Singing Competition, which took place last Thursday, in London, England.

"Is shock an emotion?" she says, on the phone from her home in The Hague, Netherlands. "If so, that was (what I was feeling). I was really happy, and completely freaking out with joy."

True, now 30, pursued her studies in early music at the Royal Conservatory, in The Hague, and graduated in 2009. She is also a graduate of York University’s Faculty of Fine Arts music program in 2003 and is a Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School alumnus.

The Handel Singing Competition took place just around the corner from Handel’s house, in the church he used to attend.

"I kind of did feel connected to him," she begins. "It sounds weird, but I felt kind of like I gained a deeper understanding of his music, just because of all of the heightened sensitivity and emotion. It helped to go a level deeper into the music. It almost makes you feel his presence in the church. Quite a few people said the same thing. It was a really powerful feeling, very powerful."

Automotive parts company is led by Schulich grad

Vince Butera [MBA ’88] joined NUCAP Industries in October 2006 and became CEO in 2009, wrote AfterMarketNews.com April 11. Fifteen of his 30 years of experience in manufacturing leadership have been in the automotive field, with responsibilities in Asia, Europe and North America. A native of Toronto, he obtained his MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.

York students’ Japan relief effort inspires school to do the same

Newmarket students are sending their best wishes for Japan’s recovery, wrote YorkRegion.com April 11. Kindergarten students, with help from their Grade 6 peers, at Crossland Public School made close to 1,500 paper cranes and raised close to $1,500 for relief efforts in Japan after the March 11 earthquake.

The students are selling the cranes for $1, with proceeds going to Red Cross relief efforts.

While on March break, kindergarten teacher Laura Walker was touched by York University’s 1,000 Cranes of Help fundraising campaign and brought the idea to her students.