Haley MacDonald of West River sang O Canada at the 2011 O’Brien Awards – an annual show that recognizes the best in harness racing. That performance is one of many for her over the years. The former member of the St. F.X. X-Women hockey team balances her singing career with her studies in the school’s human kinetics program. (Corey LeBlanc photo)

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Haley MacDonald loves to sing – it’s that simple.
Her most recent performance provided the St. F.X. fourth-year human kinetics student with national exposure. She sang O Canada to open Standardbred Canada’s annual O’Brien Awards, which recognizes the best in harness racing.
“They call them the Oscars of harness racing. If you are nominated for an O’Brien you have really made it,” she said, describing the black-tie event as the “most prestigious” awards in the industry.
“It was an amazing weekend,” she added.
MacDonald said the event had a “fairy tale feeling.”
“It was so far from what I am used to. It was very, very cool and something I am glad I got to experience,” she said.
MacDonald said meeting many of the who’s who of harness racing was a highlight.
“It was great to see people that you are watching on TV – night in and night out – with the million dollar horses,” she added.
MacDonald earned the honour after her mother, Clare, suggested she enter a contest sponsored by Standardbred Canada.
“You had to send in a CD, DVD or Youtube video of yourself performing,” she said of the contest requirements.
She collaborated with Bryan Melanson of Highball Sound Productions in Antigonish to create a CD to enter.
“I sent it off and they picked me, so it was pretty cool,” MacDonald said.
She had to pay her travel expenses, which she said was worth it. The prize package included two tickets (valued at $200 each) and accommodations.
“It was a tremendous experience. I felt like a rock star,” MacDonald laughed.
“It was really, really cool,” she added, noting she received many compliments about her O Canada rendition.
It was her first time at the O’Brien Awards. Her parents had attended before, with her mother, Clare – one of Canada’s top harness racing drivers and trainers – having spent time on the group’s board of directors

Early start

The marriage between her music and harness racing is nothing new.
“If I didn’t have the bracelet from St. Martha’s, that’s where I would think I was born – in the barn,” she said.
The MacDonald family owns West River Stock Farm in West River, Antigonish County.
“I have been involved with the animals as long as I can remember – whether it was having mom putting me on a bucket and rolling bandages or braiding the end of a horse’s tail – I was always doing something,” MacDonald added.
She said horses and harness racing have always been a “big, big part of my life.”
As for singing, she said that has been happening “every since she could talk.”
“Whether I was doing homework or in the barn, I have always seemed to be humming along with the radio and things like that,” she added.
That singing voice – for her it is a family trait.
“I get my voice from my mother, as much as my father likes to take credit – I get it from mom,” she said.
MacDonald described her mother as a “great singer.”
“She is just too chicken to do it in public, but mom can really sing,” she laughed.
MacDonald said she is “awed” by the voices of singers such as Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.
“I love their music and appreciate the talent that they have, but country is my favourite,” she laughed, noting Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood as artists who top her play list.
MacDonald, 21, said her love for performing started early, noting her participation in school Christmas concerts and pageants.
“I was one of the only ones not extremely shy, so I got a lot of the lead parts, which gave me some stage presence and made me comfortable with singing in front of people,” she said.
The performances continued with work on fine arts’ showcases at Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, culminating with her rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah at graduation.
Her singing continued with weddings and funerals – mostly for close friends and family.
Last year, MacDonald started singing with the St. F.X. Chapel student choir, which performs during Sunday Mass.
She has mixed her music with academics this year, taking Music 106 – a vocal ensemble, which includes membership in the St. F.X. Choir.
“We practice once a week and we have had some concerts,” MacDonald said, noting the training she is receiving during that experience.
She continues her musical connection to harness racing annually when she sings during Grand Circuit Week at Truro Raceway – the big harness racing week at the location.
“Their big highlight of the week is the Provincial Exhibition Cup. They get me to sing She’s Called Nova Scotia by Rita MacNeil as the horses are being paraded in front of the grandstand,” MacDonald said, noting she sings O Canada during the opening ceremonies for the racing week.
MacDonald, a former member of the St. F.X. X-Women hockey team, has performed O Canada for their games, along with participating in minor hockey and other opening ceremonies.
“Anywhere they need a voice I am willing to raise my hand,” she laughed.

Staying in tune

MacDonald, who received her X-ring in December, will graduate from St. F.X. this spring. Her next step will be studies in physiotherapy.
Nevertheless, music will not be far from her heart.
“I hope so because no matter what I do in life I think I will always have my voice, so I hope to stay connected to music somehow – whether it is singing in church once a week or anthems for hockey games.
“Ideally, the dream would be to be a singer, but the opportunities are few and far between to make it to the big time that way,” she said.