posted on December 28th, 2009
Christmas is always a time for surprises, and this year hasn’t been any different. From unexpected family gatherings to church services, singing played a leading role. Within the past week I’ve sung Faure’s “Pie Jesu” twice under extenuating circumstances, hymns and carols on a different part from what I’d rehearsed, and even a solo in what I’ll consider my All Saints debut.
On Christmas Eve around 7:45 PM, the director called asking if I was free to come a little earlier to rehearsal. The choir’s soprano soloist had fallen ill and a sub was needed post-haste to sing “Maria’s Wiegenlied” in the 10:30 PM service. Though I was fatigued from travel and worried if I’d make it to Brookline in time, I said “of course!” and hightailed it to the church.
After a brief run-through, I suited up and took my place within the choir pews at the altar. When it came time to sing, I stepped out, shakily held my folder and prepared to face a large crowd gathered that chilly evening in the Sanctuary. When I’d finished, I saw a few tiny smiles in the faces of the congregation and thanked the powers that be for letting everything go so well.
posted on December 27th, 2009
10-26 Dec 2009: Holiday Pops Concerts with the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Symphony Hall, Boston, MA
This afternoon I finished my Holiday Pops concerts with the “green team” of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. I think that, after a month of Santa hats and Christmas flair, surprise choreography from Keith Lockhart, score cuts, bad Santa jokes, guest artist changes and nearly shouting out the Hallelujah chorus multiple times I’ve come to consider myself a fully-baptized member of the TFC.
From this summer’s Die Meistersinger, through rehearsing (and trying to memorize!) the upcoming MacMillan St. John Passion and, finally, finishing out 2009 with the Boston Pops, I’ve come to really enjoy singing at Symphony Hall and out at Tanglewood with some wonderful people. TFC is really, truly one big happy family. There are members who have sung with the chorus for decades, and I can only dream to last that long.
Many, many thanks to Betsy, Laurie, Deb, Tracy and anyone else who has had the heart to “show me the ropes” in row four. My holiday favorites? They are the “Winter Weather Medley” and the “12 Days of Christmas,” of course!
posted on December 15th, 2009
December is nearly at a close and it’s time to shift to holiday-planning in the middle of all the performing, teaching and directing. I can say with confidence that my voice and choir students at Franklin School for the Performing Arts and the German International School Boston have been upwards of exceptional in learning and performing all of the music I’ve tossed their way.
A huge congratulations goes out to the German International School’s Kinder Chor for not just one, but two concerts at Boston’s Goethe Institut. Their performances of German and English holiday songs brought glad tidings and good cheer to audiences from both sides of the Atlantic! Many thanks to Kiki Xander, Ursula Hassmann, and Sarah Bellott for their help in coordinating these events!
Also, I have to extend further accolades to my voice students at Franklin School for the Performing Arts for their ongoing efforts in giving their “all” in Humbug: A Holiday Revue, The Nutcracker, studio recitals and school musicals. Keep up the good work!
posted on November 8th, 2009
8 Nov 2009: Before, Brahms and Beyond with the Boston Cecilia, Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
November’s performance of the Brahms Requiem and choral pieces by Schuetz and Whitacre presented similarities and contrasts between themes of calm and death. I was intrigued to rehearse these very different works throughout the fall months and contemplate the changing leaves to “selig sind die Toten” (blessed are the dead) and Whitacre’s idea of “surrendering unto Sleep”. Although these three works came from different eras — Baroque, Romantic and composed within the last decade — they all interpreted the calming effect that music can give to the human spirit.
We, the Boston Cecilia, sang this concert in collaboration with Belmont’s Musica Sacra under the baton of Mary Beekman and a splendid professional orchestra. The Brahms’ heavy orchestration and lush choral parts needs the number of voices our two groups provided, and the resulting performance was well-received.
Although this collaborative performance required more rehearsal time, commuting and score study than the norm, I think that it was well worth the effort. The Brahms Requiem is a stalwart in choral music and, for me, will be difficult to forget. I look forward to the opportunity to sing it again, soon!
posted on October 22nd, 2009
Rehearsals have begun for the MacMillan St. John Passion with the Boston Symphony and Tanglewood Festival Chorus. With Sir Colin Davis conducting, it should be an incredible weekend. Our performances are January 21-23, 2010 at Symphony Hall.
Tickets: http://bso.org/bso/mods/perf_detail.jsp?pid=prod3240102
This series is part of the BSO’s $20 tickets for patrons under 40 years of age.
posted on October 2nd, 2009
19 Oct 2009: Open Mic at the Alchemist Lounge, Jamaica Plain, MA
My dear friend Zillah Glory hosted an open mic night at the Alchemist Lounge in Jamaica Plain, MA. As a toast to her, I sang Musetta’s aria, “Quando men vo” from La Boheme. In a pub more used to folk songs, Indie bands and slam poetry at open mic nights, my opera aria was met with a total hush over the room, then thunderous applause. Sheepishly, I grinned and took a bow. Who knew opera and a pint could go so well together?
posted on September 16th, 2009
September brings the return of rehearsals and enlightening minds with music. This year I’ll teach lessons and voice classes at Franklin School for the Performing Arts and at the German International School of Boston. Both positions encourage creative and challenging ensemble work as well as stretching my class management skills in the more traditional sense. So far, students are between the ages of 6-18 and have a wide range of interests, abilities and repertoire. Here are our upcoming concerts!
Upcoming Events at FSPA and the GIS
15 Nov 2009: FSPA Troupes Show — Gershwin and Porter Review at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA
20 Nov 2009: FSPA Voice Recital — Classical Art Songs, Franklin, MA
2 Dec 2009: GIS Kinder Chor concert at the German American Business Council, Boston, MA
11-13 Dec 2009: FSPA “The Nutcracker” ballet in Franklin, MA
13 Dec 2009: GIS Kinder Chor concert at the Goethe Society, Boston, MA
18-20 Dec 2009: FSPA “Humbug” Holiday revue in Franklin, MA
posted on July 11th, 2009
Review of Act III from Die Meistersinger in the New York Times:
…as the players, especially the strings, started tentatively in an act that begins, after all, in medias res, in the subdued aftermath of the riotous end of Act II. But as matters progressed — with the Mastersinger and cobbler Hans Sachs coaching the young knight Walther von Stolzing for the climactic song contest, which would in the end win Walther the hand of his beloved Eva — the orchestral fabric grew richer, more coherent and more vibrant throughout its ceaseless flow.
My first Tanglewood residency as a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus was inspiring, at some times grueling, jovial and cathartic. The week-long rehearsal process under Maestro James Levine and alongside a full orchestra of bright young artists and internationally renowned opera stars gave me a fresh start in how a full-scale production is formed. Sort of, anyway. This was Wagner, where a single act of this opera was nearly three hours. To me, Maestro Levine’s opera knowledge gave us the color, background and story behind these culminating scenes and it made standing in the Shed under a thunderstorm more fun than it was ever imagined possible.
posted on May 1st, 2009
“Bring on Brahms” with the Boston Cecilia, First Congegrational Church, Cambridge, MA
Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes are some of my favorite songs, so the chance to perform them again was a joy. The contrast of the joyful tones from this work with others of the 2008-09 Cecilia season gave us a breath of fresh air for spring, and we inhaled deeply. I love Brahms for his ability to write songs whose musical lines are deeply rooted in text, but still maintain a folk-y nature.
I first sang the Liebeslieder in 2004 in Nordic Choir with guest conductor Craig Jessop from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and he instilled in us the playfulness of these waltzes and how they are meant to be sung in small vocal chamber groups. As a 72-member choir, we did our best to sing this way, and the resulting performance was great fun. In Cecilia, we encountered the same larger-vs-small group conundrum, but we sang through the waltzes expressively.
posted on March 2nd, 2008
Masters Degree Recital, Williams Hall, New England Conservatory, Boston, MA
Listen below!
