A Life of Travel, Languages and Music   Joëlle was born in Winnipeg, Canada shortly after her parents emigrated from Brittany, France. She grew up on Vancouver Island and, at the age of 16, ran away from home to see for herself the faraway lands of which her parents often spoke. After travelling for three years through more than 30 countries, she returned home to Vancouver Island where she now resides. Joëlle's fervent love of life, language and travel comes to life in her stage performances, making her a unique singer with a cornucopia of emotions and styles upon which to draw when performing a song. "Good times and bad times, we've seen 'em all and, my dear, we're still here..." "A master musical story-teller, she wove her magic spell through energetic high-spirited gypsy love songs and slow, haunting laments...Joëlle was the consummate actor onstage...with her melodies and poetic lyrics, she skilfully painted marvellous canvasses...Joëlle Rabu entertained, informed and persuaded through her magic, her memories and her beautiful music." C. V. Record "Long ago and far away, life was clear so close your eyes... Remember, is a place from long ago, Remember, filled with everything you know..." The Time of our Lives combines musicality and theatricality into a rare and magical event. Drawing from her European background, her west-coast upbringing and her travels throughout the world, each song is delivered in a unique, powerful way as Joëlle embraces life's diversities with passion and humour. "Each day was a circus parade, the nights were like songs to be sung, and love was a lovely charade, for hearts that would always be young" Joëlle's background of travel and culture is the source of a varied spectrum of expression, joie de vivre and pure love of entertainment. Whether performing in English or in French, Joëlle smashes linguistic barriers with her rich, intoxicating voice and emotional delivery. "Every woman's a warrior, and war takes a son. A woman's work is never done." The combination of Joëlle's passionate vocal delivery and honest stage presence offers an evening of pure entertainment. The thoughtful musical arrangements by award-winning composer J. Douglas Dodd offer myriad styles and moods. Together they bring to the stage the past, the present and the future. Get ready to be soothed, cajoled, shaken and wowed. In a word...entertained! What the Critics have said about Joëlle Rabu's performances "It is Joëlle who challenges the Gods for us, who demands to be heard, to survive, to laugh, sing and dance as if life were something to celebrate." Vancouver Magazine "In any language, Joëlle is la belle. A marvellous compendium of emotions from which to draw when selling a song." Phoenix Symphony Orchestra Concert, Phoenix Gazette, Arizona   "She is Judy Garland, Edith Piaf and Carol Burnett all rolled into one." R. Dale, St. Catherines, Ontario "Une Performance Incomparable et Inoubliable." La Tribune, Quebec "Rabu is Magnifique in any language. A show full of Powerful Pizzazz...Gutsy Bilingual Charm...Dramatic Voice...Aching Intensity drawing out extremes of feelings..." Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra Concert, Kitchener-Waterloo Gazette, Ontario   "Rabu is one of the most exciting performers on the Canadian Stage today...the audience was lifted into a plane of pure musical power." Times-Colonist, Victoria, BC "Rich, powerful voice...Rabu born to thrill an audience ." The Calgary Herald Career  Highlights Special events across the nation have seen Joëlle share the stage with Rita McNeil, Holly Cole, Michael Burgess, the Vancouver Mens' Chorus, the late Danny Kaye, the Peking Pops Orchestra and the Russian Children's Choir and, master impressionist André-Philippe Gagnon, to name but a few. Joëlle's performances have received standing ovations from audiences across Canada, the United States, China, England, Poland, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Mali, Africa Joëlle has received 2 JESSIES, has been nominated for a JUNO and received a third JESSIE nomination for her portrayal of Marg Osborne in the play Don Messer's Jubilee. She has also released a French video of her song 'L'enfant~The Child' in collaboration with Radio-Canada. Command solo performance for Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York at Ottawa's National Arts Centre. Special event at B.C. Place Stadium, accompanied by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, premiering J. Douglas Dodd's new theme song for the Special Olympics, 'A Dream Fulfilled' which was later recorded on her CD Heart of the Night.   Hosted and performed at the Opening Ceremony of A Symphony of Sound and Light - Reflections of Canada which ran from 1994-1999 on Ottawa's Parliament Hill. Director for Radio-Canada's and the CCAFCB's live broadcast of Chant' Ouest 2003 Director for 5 'Gala de la Chanson Provicial' for the CCAFCB Joëlle has also offered her voice to many charitable events such as Timmy's Telethon, the Canadian Red Cross, AIDS Vancouver, the Variety Club, The SPCA, The Canadian Liver Foundation, the Neil Squire Foundation and the United Way. She has written and recorded the theme song for the umbrella chapter of The Canadian Mental Health Association, Open Minds, Open Windows and has produced & directed their fundraising concerts since their inception in 2003. She has supported the Vancouver Island Symphony and their 'Woman of Note' program for 5 years, and was script writer for their Educational Concerts. Joëlle Rabu Guest Performances with Symphony Orchestras Symphony Nova Scotia - Conductor Gregory Burton Vancouver Island Symphony - Conductor David Hoyt Vancouver Island Symphony - Conductor Marlin Wolfe Canada West Orchestra - Conductor Bruce Dunn Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra - Conductor Bramwell Tovey Vancouver Symphony Orchestra - Guest Conductor Bruce Dunn Kamloops Symphony Orchestra - Conductor Juliette Proudman Kamloops Symphony Orchestra - Conductor Bruce Dunn Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra - Conductor Bruce Dunn Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Arizona, USA - Conductor Ron Daniels The Time of Our Lives is also scored for symphony orchestras ~ All scores arranged by J. Douglas Dodd ~ Contact jr@joellerabu.com Please click here for Technical, Booking and Contact Info for Time of Our Lives Home