The lights come up, the stage is lit. Woodwind, strings, brass and percussion sections emit melodic notes that hang over a packed audience. A lone performer dressed as a cleaning person enters stage right. The music stops. The sanitary worker begins to clean and comes across a pair of shoes. She puts them on and smiles, then starts to dance with her broom. She comes across a microphone, gives a quick tap on the mic, she looks around to see if the coast is clear, and belts out, "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom." The crowd roars with laughter.  Andrea has the audience. Again on the mic, she warms up her voice and then sings the words, "I hope I don't get caught." Just then, the curtain opens and the full Regina Symphony Orchestra (R.S.O.) comes into view. The guest conductor, Charles T. Cozens, looks at the singer and says, "And who are you?" "I am Andrea Menard," is the reply. The conductor then asks the audience if she can stay.  Clapping erupts at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. 

On May 3, 2014, Andrea Menard made history by being the first Métis person to headline with a full scale orchestra. Along with Andrea was her team of composers and arrangers, Charles T. Cozens and Robert Walsh. The team met up in Hamilton to put the final touches on the show.  Robert and Andrea have worked together before, writing songs and performing, and it shows when they duet on stage. In preparing for the show, "there is no room for error," commented Walsh. "We only had two rehearsals with the Orchestra."

Andrea Menard took time to share with her fans and to sign autographs. Jeff Elliot

This night also saw the launch of Walsh and Menard's new album called "Lift."

The philosophy behind "Lift" came about because Menard was feeling low one day, and couldn't find a playlist to pick her up.

"Well, let's write it," said Walsh. "The album is an attempt to create a vibration, we want this album to be the one you put on when you're feeling low and want to tap into your humanity, no matter what your spiritual beliefs are. We want this album to resonate with people."

Amongst such hits as White Cliffs of Dover and I've Got The World On A String, Menard also stayed true to her Métis roots during the performance. At centre stage, Menard picked up her smudge bowl, smudging herself and her drum before facing east to sing "The Four Directions Song" to a mesmerized audience.

"She has a very powerful voice,"mentioned one symphony-goer. "I really liked the jigging as well, although she may have not been the best dressed for jigging."

Menard wore traditional flower beading on a black velvet dress.  Backed up by the fiddle, she brought the Red River Jig to life. 

"She seemed like she was floating and bouncing on the stage," said Sarah Abbott, a patron of the arts in Regina.  

Thoughout the show, Menard shared stories of her life, and even included audience participation. One song called "I Fell For The Wrong Man Again," had three audience members take the stage, each holding a sign with lyrics that the audience could sing along with when the song called for it.   

A professional artist true to her art forms, Menard's show touched on aspects of theatre, music and dance, all backed by a recognized Regina musical establishment, the R.S.O. Her performance drew on the emotions. The audience was engaged throughout.  And the show itself rang out with the appropriate title, "I am Andrea Menard."