I don't do Boxing Day bargain shopping anymore. I prefer to stay out of the malls when they are busy. However, my cousin's daughter-in-law and granddaughter were singing on Boxing Day at 7 PM at Tsawwassen Mills Shopping Center.
Tsawwassen Mills has 192 stores, is 1,200,000 sq. ft. and has 6,000 parking spots. We often go there on weekdays when it's very quiet. They have some great restaurants and the mall is very wide so it's a pleasant walk especially on a rainy day.
We left early to have dinner and they enjoy Julie Reich Duerichen and her daughter Holly Duerichen's performance. We normally enter in the second entrance. There was a police car with flashing lights at the second entrance and it was coned off. When we passed. they were just stopping cars from entering. As we drove down Salish Sea Drive we could see there was no parking available and cars were driving around in circles trying to find a parking space. The line to get out of the mall was very long so we knew going in would just be frustrating. Disappointed, we didn't enter the mall but kept driving. Thankfully it was a lovely evening. Highway 17 was lined with cars so we took the back roads to Ladner. It was a nice drive as there were many houses with Christmas lights.
Julie Reich Duerichen:
With over 28 years teaching experience, soprano Julie Reich has taught in the Vancouver area at Douglas College, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Walnut Grove School of Music and Dance, and previously in Maryland at Anne Arundel Community College.
Julie is a scholarship recipient of Calgary Opera and a 2008 laureate of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques programme in Montreal. She was also a finalist in the Marie. E. Crump Vocal Competition in Washington D.C.
Julie holds a Master of Music Degree in Opera Performance from the University of Maryland, and Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Calgary, both graduating with honours. In 2005, she studied in Hannover and Cologne, Germany, and attended the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart. She is a certified practitioner of EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques).
Julie performed for several years at Vancouver's Pan Pacific Hotel Opera Buffet and appeared in the premiere of East Van Opera's Alma, singing the role of Kelsh. Julie can be heard regularly in the Vancouver area at concerts with Burnaby Opera and Opera Lirica. She has appeared with Burnaby Opera as Musetta in Highlights from La Boheme, Euristene in the world premier of La Spartana Generosa, and 1st Woodsprite in Rusalka. Over 50 performances with Opera Pro Cantanti include: Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Violetta in La Traviata, Gilda in Rigoletto, and others. She has also sung with Calgary Opera, Annapolis Opera, Wolftrap Opera, and Washington Opera.
Holly Duerichen
It’s always a little disappointing when you miss a performance you were genuinely looking forward to, especially when it’s artists you really admire. Julie and Holly Duerichen have such a warm, textured vocal blend — I will see them next time they perform.
