Pianist/vocalist Marque Smith is a very busy, well-known musician in the London area. Since moving to London in 2007, he has been the musical director for plays with Musical Theatre Productions, London Community Players and Original Kids Theatre Company, to name a few. He is also a very experienced choral musician and has been a member of The Karen Schuessler Singers, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir and The Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus.
He has performed with many of the city’s leading soloists, choirs and ensemble groups, including Denise Pelley and London Symphonia. He is currently the Accompanist/Band Leader of the London Gospel Collective.
Marque was the Recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor General for dedicated service to his peers, his community and to Canada.
What follows is an edited Q&A Interview with Marque conducted by The Beat Magazine’s Publisher and Content Manager, Richard Young.
(Pictured: Marque Smith.)
Some basic stuff first: Where were you born? How long have you lived in London?
I was born in Toronto. I lived in London from February 2007 to September 2025. I moved to Port Stanley in October 2025.
Was yours a musical home? Did you have any professional training, or are you self-taught? A bit of both? Could you tell me about your early musical endeavours as a child and teenager?
Yes, music was played quite a bit in my home. I studied classical piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music and jazz piano at Humber College. I sang in The Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, The Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, and The Karen Schuessler Singers.
Do you remember the moment when you made the decision that music was going to be a big part of your life?
I was in my last year of high school when I decided to pursue music as a career.
How long have you been playing music professionally?
I have been playing music professionally for twenty-seven years.
Other than keyboards, do you play any other instruments?
I am a vocalist. In elementary school, I played the Baritone and in high school, I played the guitar.
(Pictured: Marque Smith.)
What are your main musical influences?
I love classical, jazz, disco, R & B, hip hop, rap, gospel and pop music.
What influence does your Christian faith have on your music?
I grew up in the church, and faith has had a huge impact on my life.
Tell me about the various groups and musicians you have played with since you started playing professionally. Who are you currently playing with?
The list is long indeed. I perform with a variety of vocalists, instrumentalists, and choirs.
Tell me about any recordings you have made in your career.
I recorded two albums with Nathaniel Dett Chorale, one album with Elizabeth Paddon, one album with Cindy Ashton and one album with Angus Sinclair.
(Pictured: Marque Smith in concert with London Symphonia, The Sounds of Home, December 6, 2025.)
Your social media posts suggest that you are a very busy musician. What projects are you currently pursuing? Do you have any gigs coming up this month or two you would like our readers to know about?
I have a concert on Saturday, December 13 in London with London Gospel Collective and one on Saturday, December 20, with Maggie Grace and Guitar Gord in Port Stanley. There will be more in 2026.
In addition to your musical endeavours, are you involved with any other arts organizations or activities in the London community?
I am a collaborative pianist at the Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts in London. I occasionally perform for The London Arts Council, as well.
Is there anything else you think our readers should know about Marque Smith the musician and Marque Smith the individual?
I am the music director at Grace United Church, Sarnia and have been since October 30, 2022. I have been happily married to my husband, Andrew Koornstra, since September 28, 2024.
London rocker Rose Cora Perry returns home for a gig at the Palasad Socialbowl on October 24. The Beat Magazine 2025 spoke with Rose in between gigs during her international tour about her developmental years in London and her life as a musician on the road.
The Beat Magazine featured a cover story, Driven to Succeed, about Rose Cora Perry in its Fall 2012 issue.
At that time, author Bob Klanac described Rose as a “snarky punk-popper” who also modeled, wrote, acted, and hosted her own Rogers TV show entitled London Driven, a program that profiled the city’s young entrepreneurs. She was also working on an album.
A lot of water has run under the bridge since that story was published. These days, Rose fronts and tours internationally with her band, The Truth Untold.
The Beat Magazine 2025 caught up with Rose before her homecoming gig at London’s Palasad Socialbowl on Friday, October 24.
It would appear she’s still Driven to Succeed!
Q. It’s been a while since we last talked, years even. What have you been up to in the intervening years since then?
Only over a decade, but who’s counting?! Allow me to summarize. I hosted a couple of TV shows, acted in some short films, released a second solo album and toured as a singer/songwriter, wrote some columns that got published in multiple media outlets and achieved acclaim, emceed some amazing mental health awareness-raising events…and most recently I’m back where I belong: on stage fronting a rock’n’roll band called The Truth Untold.
Q. You certainly have been busy! Let our readers know a little bit about Rose Cora Perry, the musician and person. Where were you born? How old are you? How long have you lived in London?
I’m a born and raised Londoner – specifically a proud Byronite. And you should know it’s impolite to ever ask a woman her age.
Q. Was yours a musical home? Did you have any professional training, or are you self-taught? Could you tell me about your early musical endeavours as a child and teenager?
I love ‘em, but my parents have zero musical ability. They are both phenoms in their own right, however, as incredibly successful athletes and entrepreneurs.
My father is an insurance broker/financial advisor, and former World Powerlifting Champion, and my mother is a fitness trainer/guru and former Bodybuilder. I probably should’ve grown up to become an Olympian with their genetics, but alas became a depressed teenager and turned to rock to deal with my angst.
My late brother, however, was a tremendously talented natural musician who could pick up just about anything by ear – his presence growing up definitely influenced my musicality. This was supplemented by the fact that my parents, early on, recognized I liked being the centre of attention and on stage, and promptly enrolled me in classical vocal training, which I studied diligently for over a decade. When I was 15, I founded my first rock band.
Although I studied voice and theory through the Royal Conservatory, achieving my grade seven and grade two, respectively, I am an entirely self-taught guitarist, so much so that I actually invented my own tablature for the purposes of writing songs.
Q. Do you remember the moment when you decided that music was going to be a big part of your life? How long have you been playing music professionally? Do you consider yourself a full-time or part-time musician?
I don’t think I “decided” to “make” music a part of my life so much as I was “given” a gift that I don’t take for granted. There have been many times throughout my music career when I’ve felt defeated and beaten down, but then the muse once again strikes.
Any musician will tell you, you cannot simply “turn off” being a musician; it is a part of who you are intrinsically, a part of your identity.
Even if I wanted to give up touring, for example, songs just come to me – I have no control over that ability. Most of the time, I consider it a blessing…unless it’s 2:00 am and I’m really fucking tired. LOL. In those cases, it’s a bit of a curse.
However, I believe each of us is given very special gifts to share with the world, and the universe blessed me with the gift of music.
I consider myself a professional musician and gig in accordance with having a work/life balance. I have been fronting bands in a professional capacity since I was a teenager.
Q. Other than vocals, do you play any other instruments?
I do! I am well-known for my rhythm guitar prowess as a down-stroking queen. I also rock the lower clef on bass and have written/recorded bass on several albums.
Q. What have your musical influences been over the years? Songwriting-wise, I adore Alanis and Chris Cornell. My biggest influence as far as style is irrefutably Veruca Salt.
However, I have diverse tastes, and on any given day, you might catch me listening to big band/swing, metal, or pop – it just depends on my mood.
Q. Tell me about the various groups and musicians you have played with since you started playing professionally. Who are you currently playing with?
High school years: HER. Cofounded with the late Trish Doan on lead guitar. She later went on to rock bass as a beloved member of Kittie. I was the frontwoman, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist. To write and release an album with this band, I practiced six hours a day for six months on guitar, until my fingers bled, and I could competently sing and play at the same time. True story!
College years: Anti-Hero. We got signed to a major label, played some notable festivals in Canada and the US. Got to perform at Warped Tour the year that Joan Jett headlined and hang with her backstage. Swoon!
Again, I was the frontwoman, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist. Fun fact. While in the studio recording our hit single, “Unpretty”, I learned on the spot how to palm-mute; a technique which has become integral to my playing style.
Post-college: Released two solo albums in the singer/songwriter vein. Toured briefly, armed only with an acoustic guitar. HATED it. I decided to form a band again because I missed distortion and being obnoxious.
Present Day: The proud frontwoman, singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for award-winning rock quartet, The Truth Untold.
(Pictured: The Truth Untold L-R, John-William Kostecki, Steven Skrtich, Rose Cora Perry, and Jessie Taynton)
Q. Tell me a little bit about any recordings you have made in your career.
HER: Straight from the Loft (album)
Anti-Hero: Unpretty (album)
Rose Cora Perry: Feisty (demo), Off Of the Pages (album), and Onto the Floor (album)
The Truth Untold: Other Side of the Story (EP) and One Thing Left to Say (EP)
The Truth Untold is currently in the studio recording a brand new EP entitled Phoenix Rising. We’re super stoked about the new music we’ve been working on and excited to have collaborated as a band on this project.
Listen to The Truth Untold’s new single, Excuses:
Q. What projects are you currently pursuing? Do you have any gigs coming up in the next month or two you would like our readers to know about?
We are winding down our summer tour, which started in May of this year, and among its highlights were Hills & Hollers Music Festival (Pennsylvania), Fun Fourth (North Carolina), Skatepark Fest (Ohio), headlining Strummerfest (Waterloo), and opening for Big Sugar at this year’s Taste of Edmonton (Alberta).
We’re super excited to be having a homecoming of sorts on Friday, October 24, at the Palasad Socialbowl. This will be the first London gig we’ve had in two years! The last time we played locally, we opened for The Killjoys at the same killer venue.
This time around, we’re sharing the bill with Howlin’ Circle and Baby’s First Pistol. All ages are welcome. It’s a $5 cover and doors open at 8:00 pm.
Q. In addition to your musical endeavours, are you involved with any other arts organizations or activities in the London community?
I’m part of several fun meetup groups that take part in everything from hiking to board games. You’ll also see me, of course, attending concerts supporting my fellow locals.
Q. What do you do for fun/leisure when you’re not performing and/or recording?
Apparently, attempt to be witty while answering interview questions. Just kidding! I love action movies, rollerblading, and drag racing my Camaro – not necessarily in that order.
Q. Is there anything else you think our readers should know about RCP the musician and RCP the individual?
If there is, it’s probably well-documented on my website www.rosecoraperry.com, but if anyone has a burning question for me, they are absolutely always welcome to reach out.
I love connecting with fellow musicians and fans, and I appreciate all of you wonderful people for reading this fun interview.
Q. Just one last question. Do you ever smile in your promo pics?
Why would I do something silly like that when I have such a glorious, sultry pout?
Best friends, Jenn Weatherall and Maria Colonescu, are presenting a double bill – No Lilies & Everything I Didn’t Get to Say (In a Collection of Petals), while Maria is performing one of her own, The Companion, at this year’s London Fringe.
“They are haunting, emotional pieces that explore life and death, strength and fear, words never said, loss and pain,” says Jenn. “Our shows are the only all women productions in the festival, and we are the only two female playwrights in the festival. Maria is the only female director.”
Show Highlight: The Companion at Procunier Hall
We should all be so lucky to have that one, constant companion, there for us in our most difficult moments – patient, honest, kind. Or should we? Even the things we thought we knew could change in an instant. The Companion is an intense, demanding, cerebral two-hander that will have you confront life’s big moments: terrifying and hilarious, gentle and cruel. You will be captivated by two superbly challenging performances from Maria Colonescu and Andre Furlong and leave the theatre thinking about what it all means.
Show Highlight: Everything I Didn’t Get to Say (In a Collection of Petals) at Procunier Hall
Sometimes, words fail. Sometimes, you don’t get to say the words at all. Sometimes, words are not necessary to begin with. Everything I Didn’t Get to Say (In a Collection of Petals) is a colourful journey into the past, revisiting moments that went wrong, moments that went just as they should have, and moments that only happened in an imagined alternate reality – all through the beautiful and fragrant lens of flowers and their world of meaning. A fever-dream of story-telling, poetry, and botany, all packed into 20 minutes!
Show Highlight: No Lilies – at Procunier Hall
Preparing for any big life event can be terrifying. Perhaps if we were free to strip away all the pressures and expectations put upon us by those around us, society, even ourselves…maybe then we could experience life with a purity so many of us search for. No Lilies is an exploration of just that; of finding the strength to reject everyone else’s wants and putting yourself first to encounter your life with complete transparency and truth.
This is a piece that was written as part of Flush Ink Productions’ annual “Write or Flight” program. It was performed both in Flush Ink Productions’ Unhinged Festival of Disturbing Theatre, and the Guelph Fringe Festival in which it was awarded Outstanding Performance.
The Beat Magazine 2025 