Laura Fernandez facts for kids

Laura Maria Fernandez is a talented Canadian artist, born on May 20, 1960, in Madrid, Spain. She is known for many things: she's a singer, songwriter, and pianist. Laura also produces music, creates beautiful art, and hosts a radio show. She even works as a real estate agent! In 2003, she won an award for Best Soft Rock musician at a big music festival in New York. Today, she hosts a radio show called Café Latino on JazzFM91 in Toronto.

Early Life and Education

Moving to Canada

Laura Fernandez was born in Madrid, Spain. When she was young, her family moved from Spain to Switzerland. After that, they moved again, this time to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her father was a very creative person; he was an engineer, a writer, and a painter.

Discovering Her Talents

Laura started playing the piano when she was in grade 7. She studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music, which is a famous school for music. Later, she went to the Alberta College of Art and Design and graduated with high honors in 1983. While in college, she met another artist named Rick Jacobson. They got married and moved to Toronto, Ontario, where they started their own business called Jacobson Fernandez Illustration.

Visual Arts Career

Famous Artworks

Laura Fernandez has created many well-known illustrations. She painted the famous Maple leaf logo that you see on Air Canada planes. She also designed the painted trillium flower used on the Ontario Driver's License.

Illustrations for Books

Laura has illustrated several children's books. Some of these include Jeremiah Learns to Read, Picasso Soul On Fire, Anne of Green Gables, and The Magnificent Piano Recital. She has also created art for famous writers and important people like Margaret Atwood and Robertson Davies.

Awards for Her Art

Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson have won many awards for their artwork. These include the Toronto Art Director's Awards and the Communication Arts Magazine's Award of Excellence. In 2001, they won the gold medal for illustration from the Canadian Library Association for their work on The Magnificent Piano Recital. This was the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award.

Music Journey

Starting as a Songwriter

Laura began writing songs when she was just 12 years old. She wrote her first songs in Spanish. In 2003, she won the Soft Rock Award at the International Independent Music Festival. That same year, she released her very first music album, which was called The Other Side. From 2003 to 2008, she also hosted an open mic night, where other musicians could perform.

Radio Host and New Albums

In 2008, Laura Fernandez started a new role as a radio host for Cafe Latino on JazzFM91. She released a Latin music album in 2010 called Un Solo Beso. This album was produced by Billy Bryans. In 2020, Laura released another collection of 13 songs titled Okay, Alright. She worked with Peter J Moore, a Grammy award-winning producer, to create this album. Laura still performs live music today.

Sponsored by Steinway

Laura Fernandez is sponsored by Steinway & Sons, a very famous company that makes pianos. She is one of only 19 Canadian musicians who are sponsored by Steinway. This shows how talented and respected she is as a pianist.

Real Estate Work

Since 2007, Laura Fernandez has also been working in real estate, helping people buy and sell homes. She has been very successful in this field, even receiving the Diamond Award for Excellence in Real Estate.

Discography

• 2003 – The Other Side (Independent)
• 2010 – Un Solo Beso (Independent)
• 2020 – Okay, Alright