Nepean This Week

Catch a Rising Star: Miura wins prestigious music award

Friday October 6, 2006

Julie Fortier

    Nepean's own Ana Miura has earned yet another milestone in her music career with the announcement that she has won top honours with the 2006 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (OCFF) Songs from the Heart Songwriter Awards.

    Miura won the English language grand prize of the 2006 Galaxie Rising Star category for her song He Swallows Whiskey.

    "I was thrilled because this is an award chosen by your peers.  I am truly honoured," she said.

    Miura will receive a Galaxie Rising Star Award of $1,000 and an invitation to showcase at the OCFF 20th Anniversary Conference in Ottawa, Oct. 12-15, at the Crown Plaza Hotel.  She beat out over 500 entrants for the coveted prize. 

    "The judging is done on a blind system, so each judge gets a CD with songs on it, but there are no names with the CD," said Jennifer Fornelli, interim executive director for the OCFF.  The songs are then whittled down further and further until a winner from each language category is selected for top honours.

    "We have quite a reputation for excellence with our Galaxie winners," said Fornelli.  "She has definitely won credibility to go along with the prize, to say that she's the 2006 winner." 

    The St. Pius X graduate has also won the Ottawa Xpress Best Singer/Songwriter for 2004-2005 and was a runner up to Kathleen Edwards in 2005-06.

    Since releasing her full length album, Tenacious Heart in 2005, she has been busy.  Highlights include opening for Sarah Harmer at the Ottawa Tulip Festival, performing at the National Arts centre 4th stage and at the Ottawa Folk Festival. 

    Right now she is finishing up her psychology degree at the University of Ottawa and touring various parts of North America in her free time.

    "After I'm finished school, I'm not sure what I'll do.  I've always wanted to tour the east and west coast of Canada," she said. 

    "Right now I'm in preproduction for my next album and I"m hoping to work with Dave Draves on it," she said.  Draves is a local producer who helped Kathleen Edwards with her breakthrough album, Failer.  Miura said she is also hoping to work with Jim Bryson, a very popular Ottawa musician and also a member of Edward's band. 

    You can catch Miura at one of her upcoming shows:

    Saturday Oct. 7 - at Cafe Dekcuf, Benefit for Wild Bird Sanctuary - Ottawa

    Saturday Nov. 4 - Camellia Teas, Japanese tea Ceremony and Living Room Concert - Ottawa.

    For more information please visit: www.anamiura.com