Laura Fernandez facts for kids

Laura Maria Fernandez (born May 20, 1960) is a talented Canadian artist. She is a singer-songwriter, a pianist, and a music producer. Laura is also known as an artist, a radio host, and a real estate agent. She was born in Madrid, Spain. In 2003, she won an award for Best Soft Rock musician at a music festival in New York. Laura hosts a radio show called Café Latino on JazzFM91 in Toronto.

About Laura's Early Life

Laura Fernandez was born in Madrid, Spain. When she was young, her family moved from Spain to Switzerland. Later, they moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Laura's father was an engineer, a writer, and a painter. This might be where she got her artistic talents!

When Laura was in grade 7, she started learning piano. She studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music. This is a famous place for music lessons.

Laura went to the Alberta College of Art and Design. She graduated with high honors in 1983. While in college, she met another artist named Rick Jacobson. They got married and moved to Toronto, Ontario. Together, they started their own business called Jacobson Fernandez Illustration.

Laura's Art and Illustrations

Laura Fernandez is a skilled painter. She created the famous Maple leaf logo for Air Canada, which is a big airline. She also painted the trillium flower design used on the Ontario Driver's License.

Laura has drawn pictures for many children's books. Some of these books include Jeremiah Learns to Read, Picasso Soul On Fire, and Anne of Green Gables. She also illustrated The Magnificent Piano Recital.

Her artwork has been admired by many famous people. She has created illustrations for writers like Margaret Atwood and Robertson Davies. She also did work for important figures like Bill Gates, Sr.

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

Laura's Music Career

Laura started 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 first music album, which was called The Other Side.

From 2003 to 2008, Laura hosted an open mic night. This is a place where people can perform music or poetry for an audience.

In 2008, Laura became a radio host for Cafe Latino on JazzFM91. This show plays Latin music. In 2010, she released a Latin music album called Un Solo Beso. A famous producer named Billy Bryans helped make this album. In 2020, Laura Fernandez released another collection of 13 songs called Okay, Alright. She worked with Peter J Moore, a Grammy award-winning producer, to create this album. Laura still performs her music live today.

Laura is sponsored by Steinway & Sons. This is a very famous company that makes pianos. She is one of only 19 Canadian musicians who are sponsored by Steinway.

Laura's Real Estate Work

Since 2007, Laura Fernandez has also worked as a real estate agent. This means she helps people buy and sell homes. She has even won an award for her excellent work in real estate, called the Diamond Award.

Laura's Music Albums

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