The Valley Concert Society presents Canadian tenor Richard Margison with pianist Kinza Tyrrell on March 18.Margison is one of the most critically acclaimed singers on the international opera stage. He performs regularly in the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the San Francisco Opera, the Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie in Brussels, Covent Garden, the Sydney Opera and the Grand Teatro del Liceu in Barcelona.Margison’s rise to the top didn’t follow the traditional path. His career began in coffee houses and clubs around Victoria, where he performed with his own rock band for 10 years. Since making his debut in 1980 with Pacific Opera Victoria, Margison has gone on to become a sought-after tenor. In January 2010, Bravo presented a documentary on Margison called The Folk-Singing Opera Star. Now available on DVD, the film features major performances, a musical collaboration with Bruce Cockburn, and a discussion about his life and career. Margison was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001, not only in honour of his contribution to the Canadian music industry but in recognition of his presence on the international stage. In October 2009, he also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the The Giulio Gari Foundation and The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation.Tyrell, a Victoria native as well, made her orchestral debut at the age of 12 under the baton of Paul Freeman and the Victoria Symphony. Over the years, she has worked with world-renowned keyboardists such as Jon Kimura Parker, Anton Kuerti and Gyorgy Sebok. Recent solo performances include her debut with the Vancouver Symphony last fall in Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.Tyrell is also known for her work as a vocal coach, language coach and recitalist. Before accepting the positions of principle repetiteur and musical director of VOIS at Vancouver Opera, Tyrell was on the music faculty at the Canadian Opera Company for three years. This summer she will be joining instructors at Banff Centre’s Opera as Theatre program as chorus master and assistant conductor of John Estacio’s new opera Lillian Alling.The Abbotsford concert starts at 7:30 pm at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 32315 South Fraser Way. Tickets are $25 by phone at 604-859-5192 or at door.