Biography
Ms. Caña enjoys being involved in creative projects with artists in several media. After a productive exploration period while living in New York City, she collaborated for three years with contemporary Canadian musicians, the Ardeleana Trio; with filmmaker/composer/writer Jeffrey Round and Trans4rm Media founder Shane McConnell; with dance companies in Toronto, Manila, Cebu, and Davao; and currently enjoys teaching and sharing her love of music with children of all ages in the Greater Toronto Area.
Past performances and projects include a guest appearance in concert with international singing star Pilita Corrales (July 2003); concert and teaching tours throughout the Philippines (August 2003; 2006; 2007); a recording of original songs by Canadian composer Brenda Muller, Wolf at My Door; a breathtaking tour of the cathedrals of Europe (Portugal, Spain, France and Italy), where Lilac had the pleasure of singing; a cabaret concert with Austrian piano Duo Kutrowatz; creating the role of “Spirit of Love” in the premiere performance (February 2004) of Harvest Sky, an opera with ballet by Douglas J. Rice; concerts with internationally acclaimed contemporary Christian guitarist/composer Fred Cacciotti; and in the cabaret production The Magical Journey from Mozart to Musicals by Daniel Eby.
Recent highlights include: the roles of Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte with Brampton Lyric Opera; soprano soloist with bass-baritone Gary Relyea and the Cellar Singers in A Sea Symphony (Vaughan Williams) and Elijah (Mendelssohn); soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Sacred Music Society; a solo appearance in A Metro Christmas with Toronto’s Orpheus Choir; sold-out concerts during Philippine concert tours with Sinagtala Productions. In 2008 she gave debut performances in Long Beach, California, at the Philippine Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba; gave concerts with the Italian-Canadian Three Tenors, and performed the role of The Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors with City Centre Musical Productions’ Christmas Gala. In 2009 Lilac had the honour of performing at Parliament Hill in Ottawa for Asian Heritage Month celebrations; at the Trillium Gift of Life Network’s annual gala; was soprano soloist in Stanford’s Stabat Mater with Ensemble Tryptych Chamber Choir; appeared as a featured artist at the Tastes of Heaven Gala for the Catholic Missions in Canada, and at the KOL Hope Foundation’s annual Gala. Lilac’s latest CD albums, Believe and Blossom, were launched at a gala at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, on September 19th, 2009.
In October 2009, Ms. Caña received the NEPMCC (National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada) Performing Arts-Humanities award, presented by the Hon. Lt. Governor of Ontario John Onley, in recognition of her contributions to the arts and service to the community as a musician in Canada.
In January 2010, Lilac gave a sold-out performance in Cebu with the Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries to benefit women and children victims of prostitution. In April 2010, she also began performing with Canada’s Pop to Opera Trio. Her creative journey continues to unfold.
