Theresa Sokyrka (pronounced S0-CARE-ka) was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Sonia and Harold Sokyrka. Some of Theresa?s earliest memories include those of her family and friends gathering in the Sokyrka household to sing traditional Ukrainian Folk Songs. The Sokyrka family moved to Saskatoon in 1989 where Theresa attended the Ukrainian Bilignual Program at St. Goretti School. She also took voice and violin lessons and was lead soloists with the Lastiwka Ukrainian Youth Choir.
Upon entering Holy Cross High School, she became involved in, virtually, all of the school?s musical activities. It was her lead role in "My Fair Lady" during her senior year that solidified her determination to make performing her vocation. She began to teach herself guitar and to write and perform her own music and joined the experimental group "Phagoo" as lead singer. Theresa also experimented with "busking" and performed with jazz groups at "open mike gigs".
Theresa auditioned for the Canadian Idol Contest in April of 2004. After 21 weeks of competition and elimination amongst over 9,000 contestants, Theresa emerged as the runner-up. During those weeks, Theresa captivated the hearts of millions of Canadians with her vocal artistry, diversity, natural elegance and genuine modesty.
On January 1st, 2005 provincial leaders including The Honourable Lynda Haverstock, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, The Honourable Lorne Calvert, Premier of Saskatchewan, along with the Saskatchewan Centennial Chair, Glen Hagel, announced Theresa Sokyrka as the Saskatchewan Centennial 2005 Youth Ambassador.
On February 14, 2005 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Science and Culture Organization) Theresa Sokyrka was named the spokesperson for the ASPNet (Associated Schools Project Network) with a mandate that is aimed at eliminating intolerance, racism, discrimination or illiteracy, or in promoting a better understanding of the appreciation of the customs, traditions and values of others. UNESCO is a world organization with affiliates in over 190 member countries. Theresa shares this title with fellow Canadian artist, Celine Dionne and Buffy St. Marie.
She was Voted "Newsmaker of the Year for 2004" by Joanne Paulson, Entertainment Editor for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix , and appeared in hundreds of newspaper articles across Canada.
Premier Lorne Calvert attended the final show of "Canadian Idol" in Toronto and made the following quote: "Theresa, You have won the hearts of a city, a province and a nation!". Theresa has been selling out her concerts across Western Canada including a performance with the Regina Symphony Big Band. She has been featured on several nationally televised broadcasts including "Canada A.M"; "E-Talk Daily", " Vicki Gabereau", "CTV National News", "NewsNet", "CTV Evening News", "Shaw Cable Saskatoon", "Rawlco Radio" ( C-95 FM, 650 AM) , CBC, and Magic '98 FM , Z- 99 as well as several other radios stations across Canada . Due to her strong Ukrainian cultural heritage, she has been interviewed by "CBC Radio International" - which was broadcast into Ukraine in February 2005. Theresa has recently been featured in a television commercial for SaskTel and their MAX high speed internet product.
Source: http://www.theresafanclub.com/
