Corbin Vander Zalm rose to the top of last week's Red Robinson Talent Showdown at the PNE.

The 18-year-old Coquitlam native claimed first prize in the talent showcase after performing his song, "One Step At A Time," alongside Zay Bignall.

Netting $5,000 in prize money for his efforts, Vander Zalm bested hundreds of other non-professional participants from across B.C.

Ayries builds Momentum

Alberta-based pop, rock and country artist Chris Ayries will bring her brand of Prairie tunes to Port Moody's Inlet Theatre on Sept. 2.

Ayries is currently promoting her debut album, Momentum, which contains influences ranging from Stevie Wonder to Stevie Nicks and Mavis Staples to Annie Lennox.

Doors for Thursday's show are at 7 p.m. and the performance gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online for $25, or through the Port Moody Arts Centre. For information, see www.chrisayries.com.

Son teams up for national award

Coquitlam's Jennifer Son and her counterparts in the Capella Trio recently came away with a third-place showing at the prestigious 2010 National Music Festival in Montreal.

A cellist by trade, Son teamed up with Langley's Aisa Sayama and Burnaby's Henry Liao to claim the award on Aug. 14, and the trio performed music by composers Antonin Dvoràk and Paul Schoenfield, among others.

Sixty young musicians from across Canada took part in the two-day event at McGill University, and each of those musicians qualified after winning a provincial or national class at one of Canada's 230 local festivals.

Boone County hosts Country Has Heart

Building on the more than the $7,000 they've raised to date, organizers with this year's edition of the Country Has Heart fundraising concert hope to eclipse to the $10,000 mark for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Organized by the Maple Ridge-based country band The Johnson Brothers, the show got off in the ground in 2008 as a tribute to the group members' grandfather, noted Canadian country music luminary Elmer Tippe.

This year's show is slated for Sept. 5 at Coquitlam's Boone County Cabaret, and the acts include Brent Lee, Todd Richard, Hayley McLean, Samantha King, The Johnson Brothers and Chad Brownlee.

The fundraiser kicks off at 7 p.m. on Sept. 5, and tickets cost $15 at the door. All proceeds will be donated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Potters get cracking

The Tri City Potters will kick off their season with a group show at the Port Moody Arts Centre's Blackberry Gallery from Sept. 9 to Oct. 9.

An opening reception for the month-long show is slated for Thursday, Sept. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Other than the show, the group will stage its first meeting of the year on Sept. 15 at Port Moody Secondary School, which is located at 300 Albert St. in Port Moody.

From there, the potters will meet on the third Wednesday of each month, with meetings including speakers, demonstrations and topics of interest.

For more information, see www.tricitypotters.ca.

Nickel releases Rain

Coquitlam-based composer Christopher Nickel recently released his sophomore album, entitled Rain.

Covering a wide array of soundscapes and moods, Nickel's album features guest spots by the Prague Philharmonic, Canadian-Irish soprano Catherine Redding and Vancouver-based horn soloist Beth Orson.

For more info, see www.christophernickel.com.

Place des Arts

hosts Ignite

Coquitlam's Place des Arts will play host to its inaugural adults-only open house on Sept. 9.

Dubbed Ignite: An affair with art, the evening's events will include a gala exhibition opening and features artist talks, hands-on demos, door prizes, live music, class discounts and a complimentary glass of wine.

Slated from 7 to 9 p.m., the open house will coincide with the start of two exhibits at the centre: Diminishing Words 6 by Dawn Emerson and Fossil Fish by Cameron MacDonald.

For more info, see www.placedesarts.ca.

Noted flutist joins arts family

She's performed with the likes of the Moody Blues and Roger Daltrey, and has recorded her music for HBO and the NFL Network.

Suzanne Snizek is the newest addition to the music faculty at Coquitlam's Place des Arts, and will begin offering private flute lessons and beginner's flute classes for home learners this month.

Currently a flute instructor at Trinity Western University, Snizek has performed with many noted symphonies across the world, including the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Harrisburg Symphony, Riverside Sinfonia, Delaware Symphony and the Trenton Symphony.

"I first want to assist my students in developing a positive, life-long relationship with music, both as players and listeners," she said in a press release.

"Important, too, is the development of good technique, tone and musicianship: the skills that allow a person to express their ideas in sound.

"I also appreciate the individuality of the student. Every student with whom I have worked is truly unique, and I strive to be sensitive to the individual while giving everyone a strong basis upon which to develop."

Those looking for ongoing private music lessons (September to June) with Snizek or any of Place des Arts' music faculty members are asked to touch base with the centre's music program co-ordinator Melanie Burner by calling 604-664-1636, Ext. 38.