Visit Artist Website: www.theresafanclub.com

Theresa Sokyrka (pronounced  S0-CARE-ka) was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan,  to Sonia and Harold Sokyrka. She has two older sisters, Christina and Elaine.

Her interest in music started at an early age, as her mother was a choir director at their church and her father owned a private music school, when she was born.  The whole family was very active in many facets of music.  A gathering at the Sokyrka household most always included a sing song and jam session with Harold playing the accordion and family and friends getting together to sing traditional Ukrainian folk songs.

The Sokyrka family moved to Saskatoon in 1989, where Theresa became actively involved in her Ukrainian culture, attending the Ukrainian Bilingual Program at St. Goretti School, presently the only school of its? kind in the Province of Saskatchewan. She also studied with Ukrainian dance groups and attended cultural summer camps during her elementary and high school years.  She took voice, as well as violin lessons, and was a member and lead soloist with the Lastiwka Ukrainian Youth Choir.

She attended Holy Cross High School, where she continued her musical involvement as a member of the choir, and also the band, where she played the oboe and bassoon.  Her love of music prompted her to become involved in virtually all of the school?s musical activities. In her senior year, she secured the lead role in the school production of ?My Fair Lady?.  This was perhaps the most solidifying event in Theresa?s life, for after this performance she truly became inspired and desirous of performing on stage.

She vowed  to devote her life to music, and began her preparation by enrolling  in the music program at Red Deer College.  Here she took special interest in jazz vocals, and became convinced that she wanted to be a singer and musician.  She studied there for two years and concentrated on studies in the Stage Performance program.  She also began to teach herself the guitar and began to write and perform her music arrangements.

She joined the experimental group ?Phagoo? as the group?s lead singer performing in various venues throughout Alberta.  She also enjoyed ?busking on the street?   and performing on ?open mike gigs? with jazz groups in Alberta and Saskatoon.

Theresa?s oldest sister, Christina who is also a recording artist with the Ukrainian Vocal Trio ?Voloshky? encouraged her to audition for the local Canadian Idol Contest in Saskatoon in April of 2004.  After 21 weeks of competition and elimination, Theresa emerged as the runner-up, in a field of 10 finalists, which was whittled down from over 9,000 auditions across Canada.

During those weeks Theresa captivated the hearts of millions of Canadians with her vocal artistry, unending diversity, natural elegance and genuine personal modesty.  From her first appearances in the Canadian Idol competitions, Theresa so enchanted her audiences with her lyrical, popular and jazz renditions, that she instantly became a much recognized celebrity, referred to by many as the ?Sweetheart of Saskatoon?.  With her cheerful and friendly personality and her genuinely wholesome demeanor, she attracted legions of fans and has become a refreshing positive role model for young Canadians.

On January 1^st, 2005 provincial leaders including Lieutenant Governor Lynda Haverstock, Premier Lorne Calvert and Centennial Chair Glenn Hagel announced more special plans for Saskatchewan to celebrate in 2005, including naming Canadian Idol runner-up 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.

Due to the overwhelming support that the residents of the City of Saskatoon gave Theresa during the Idol competition, Mayor Don Atchison and the City Council proclaimed the months of August and September as ?Theresa Sokyrka Months?

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 featured on several nationally televised broadcasts including ?Canada A.M?;  ?E-Talk Daily?, ? Vicki Gabereau?, ?CTV National News, and ?NewsNet?.  Locally she has been a regular on ?CTV Evening News?, ? Shaw Cable Saskatoon?, ?Rawlco Radio? ( C-95 FM, 650 AM) , CBC, and Magic ?98 FM , Z- 99 as well asseveral 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 seen on a television commercial for SaskTel and their MAX high speed internet product.