Musical event to honour teen who died of cancer

Olivia Wise

Teenagers throughout Ontario have been bursting into song with the hope of performing live on the same stage as Billboard Hot 100 singer/songwriter Andy Grammer. 

In memory of Olivia Wise, the Liv Wise Foundation has created the inaugural Liv, Love & Lyrics event celebrating Wise’s passion for music and singing. It will be held Nov. 30 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts’ George Weston Recital Hall.

On Nov. 25, 2013, the world lost an inspirational 16-year-old beautiful soul when Wise passed away from an inoperable brain tumour. Her confidence, courage, love, and lyrics gained worldwide attention when her heartwarming, inspiring rendition of Katy Perry’s hit song Roar went viral on YouTube, with 3.4 million hits to date.

Three talented winners of a YouTube-based talent competition will open the show as a tribute to Wise.

“It is so hard for me to believe that it’s been a year since Olivia went into the studio to record Roar and that this November will be a year since she lost her battle to brain cancer and I began my battle to live without her,” said her mom, Kari Winemaker, co-founder and director of the Liv Wise Foundation.

“We must lean on Olivia’s legacy and work together to make a difference in the lives of children and families who are suffering with brain cancer today or will be tomorrow,” she said.

The contest was open to Ontario residents ages 13 to 17 throughout the month of October. Participants had to submit a one- to four-minute video performing a song with their choice of a backing track or their own accompaniment. 

A panel of three renowned judges in the music world – Jake Gold, Michelle Newman and Elaine Overholt – have scaled down the numerous submissions to six semifinalists, whose videos have been posted to the Liv Wise YouTube channel, where the public will judge the performances. 

“We have received so many amazing videos with talent that it’s blowing me away,” said Newman, owner and voice coach at Michelle Newman Music, before the six semifinalists were chosen.

Gold, CEO of the Management Trust, said he’ll “know [a good performance] when I see it. This is how I have always assessed anything that I do in the music world. I go strictly on my gut feeling – how it makes me feel.”

“I am looking for someone who has a real passion. You can see that right away,” Newman added.

Three winners will be announced Nov. 6 based on number of views and likes. 

“The winners will have to blast it out to their friends and family. The three that have the most votes, shares and likes will be the winning three that open the show for Andy Grammer at the Liv, Love & Lyrics event,” said Michele Lenick, owner of Bash Events.

Newman will be offering her vocal coaching for the day to the three winners in order to prepare, train, and work on vocal exercises to ensure the right sound.

The Liv Wise Foundation’s mission is to bring hope and happiness to children and families suffering from brain cancer. 

The proceeds of the event will be donated to the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program that provides support and education to children and their families when a significant person in their life is dying, or has died.

The program provided grief counselling to the Wise family both before and after Olivia’s passing.

“The Dr. Jay team of experienced, caring and dedicated grief counsellors has held our hands in a way that truly encouraged and supported us to cope with our extreme heartbreak, our fears, and the loss we were facing,” Winemaker said.

“Our grief counsellor was willing to come to our home weekly to sit with each of Olivia’s siblings and then with myself and my husband. It was something we grew to look forward to. 

“All of us at the Liv Wise Foundation want other children and their families to be able to benefit from the amazing gift of healing which The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program has to offer. We hope that by giving our full support and raising money for it, we can help to ensure that all grieving children and their families will be able to receive the free grief counselling that they need,” she said. 

Ticket prices range from $70 to $170 and are available from ticketmaster.ca. To learn more, visit livwisefund.com.