Former Moose Jaw resident returns to Saskatchewan to perform at Regina Folk Festival

After spending the last four years studying music in Toronto, Meredith Jordan Shareski is returning home to perform in front of a home province audience.
The 22-year-old is one of the many artists selected to perform at this year's Regina Folk Festival.
"It feels pretty good to be back performing in Saskatchewan. It's always exciting to come home and play for the people who have kind of watched you progress as an artist over the years," she said while in Moose Jaw on Thursday.
Shareski, who now performs under the name Meredith Jordan, said she is excited to have been given the opportunity to perform in the Regina festival.
"This really is a great opportunity for me and one that doesn't come along too often."
At the festival, Shareski said people can expect to hear a cross between jazz and folk music from her.
She said she also likes to use a bit of humour in her songwriting.
"I'll sometimes talk about serious subjects with a bit more of a light-hearted approach. It's not all downer kind of singer/songwriter music. I try to keep it really light and quirky."
Known best to many people in Moose Jaw as one of the two young women who made it to the Toronto auditions of Canadian Idol back in 2005, Shareski said people would be surprised to know that a lot has changed since those days.
Besides having spent the last four years studying jazz, vocal jazz and composition in university, she has also been developing her tools as songwriter and as an artist.
"I really have grown a ton since living in Toronto. Although it was at times musically draining to go from studying music from 9 (a.m.) to 5 (p.m.) at school each day, to coming home and having to work on my own stuff, I have to say it has been a good four years."
Having returned to the Prairies only three days ago, Shareski said her visit thus far has been one of stress and silence.
Upon arrival, the singer lost her voice. Since being back with her family and friends she has been on constant vocal rest, which isn't so easy when visiting and trying to catch up.
She said the vocal rest is posing a challenge due to the fact she is so excited and happy to see everyone.
"It was funny, because the other day my friends had come over to visit me and I had to write everything down."
As of Thursday, Shareski said her voice was slowly returning and was confident it would be back in full force at the festival on Saturday afternoon.
For more information on Shareski and her music, visit www.meredithjordan.ca.

Lyndsay McCready can be reached at 691-1256.