Student Kiesza to Perform in London at Canada Day Celebration

Kiesza

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Berklee College of Music student Kiesza has been invited to perform in London at the 5th Annual Canada Day celebration in Trafalgar Square, Thursday, July 1, at 12:30 p.m. The event is set to draw an estimated 30,000 people and would be the largest audience of the Calgary, Alberta native's young career. Kiesza will be backed by Rami Afuni '08, a rising guitarist/producer currently working with Grammy-winning artist Akon, and fellow Berklee student and songwriter Alicia Lemke. 

Kiesza (pronounced Kye-za) has been a tall ship sailor, navy code-breaker, and Miss Universe Canada contestant, but these days, music is the singer/songwriter's main passion. At 17, she joined the Canadian Navy, an experience that later inspired her to ship over 4,500 copies of her self-titled debut album to Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan. A fervent sailor, much of the imagery in Kiesza's music is drawn from her time exploring the sea. 

Kiesza is currently on scholarship at Berklee, where she majors in film scoring and contemporary writing and production. Prior to Berklee, she was enrolled in a contemporary music program at Selkirk College in British Colombia. Kiesza and Lemke also front the band Raising Redwood, which performs to raise awareness for environmental causes. 

Canada Day marks the joining of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces. On July 1, 2010, Canada will turn 143 years old.  

Kiesza's trip to London is sponsored by Berklee's Office of International Programs.