I am excited to announce that I am one of the recipients of the S&R Foundation's Washington Award! This award honors "forward thinking emerging artists pushing the boundaries of their artistic and performance practices." I had the privilege of performing two of 2015 Grand Prize winner Lembit Beecher's pieces at last year's Washington Award Gala, and am absolutely thrilled to return as an award recipient this June. Huge thanks to everyone at the S&R Foundation as well as Lembit Beecher, Jeremy Ney and Ryo Yanagitani.
[The Avanti Orchestra Concert]
Back in November I had an incredible time performing with the conductor Pablo Saelzer and the Avanti Orchestra of the Friday Morning Music Club of Washington DC. The concert was part of my First Prize Award for winning the Washington International Competition for Voice this year. In addition to singing Glitter and be Gay and in Manuel De Falla's Sombrero de Tres Picos, I had the privilege of giving the second performance of Andrew Hsu's Teasdale Songs for orchestra and soprano. I hope to make music again with this wonderful group of musicians.
Me with Conductor Pablo Saelzer
[To Hide in a Tree of Sound Workshop]
Last week I had the honor of singing in composer Lembit Beecher's workshop for his new opera To Hide in a Tree of Sound. Lembit is one of my favorite composers, and this project includes some gorgeous music as well as a beautiful libretto by Hanna Moscovitch. I spent the day making music at the Curtis Institute in Philly with the Aizuri Quartet and Lembit, who played everything from a custom build sound sculpture (built by the ExCITe Center at Drexel) to a wine glass, to a bicycle wheel! I am very eager to follow the development of this piece. Thanks for including me, Lembit!
Fun Fact: Lembit and I went to High School together at York School in Monterey, California and performed together in a production of Kiss Me Kate! Go Yorkies! I'm so glad we're making music together again :)
I got to play a music box!
Here is a live recording of me singing another piece by Lembit entitled A Paradoxical Thing from his song cycle Looking at Spring.
[Extraordinary Measures]
A few weeks ago I was honored to sing in a revival of Eve Ensler's one man show Extraordinary Measures, which embraces and honors death, life, and everything in between. I had no idea what I was getting into when Daniela Candillari mentioned to me that she was recommending me for this project. All I knew was that Daniela would be there, as would award winning playwright, activist and all around badass Eve Ensler. I was sold. The days I spent working on Extraordinary Measures were some of the most inspiring and artistically fulfilling days of my life thus far. It's hard to put it into words, but I will say that it was a true honor to share a space with a group of individuals who completely embody what it means to be an artist and an activist for social change. It is such a rare and special gift to make real connections with humans who share the desire to change the world for the better, and I am changed forever for having had this experience.
Unending gratitude to Diane Wondisford, Tony Montenieri, James Lecesne, Tony Speciale, Daniela Candillari, Jennifer Panara, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Koshin Ellison, Lester St.Louis and Eve Ensler.
Please stay tuned for information about more performances in the near future!
[Praise for Odysseus' Women/Anais Nin]
Last week I was honored to perform the Center for Contemporary Opera's US Premiere of Dutch composer Louis Andriessen's double bill Odysseus' Women/ Anais Nin at National Sawdust in Brooklyn. Everyone on this project was mindblowingly talented and inspired. Shout outs to conductor Neal Goren, director Jorinde Keesmaat, dramaturg Koen Bollen, designer Ascon de Nijs, assistant director Lauren King, stage manager Suzi Bonnot, jack(ie) of all trades Katja Andreiev and the amazing cast of Augusta Caso, Nicole Mitchell, Hilary Ginter and Sharin Apostolou. This project has left me speechless because of how much it brought to my life. All I can really say is- guys LET'S DO IT AGAIN.
The cherry on top was getting a stellar New York Times review, and my first official photo in the New York Times. (I was caught in the background of a review photo in The Metropolitan Opera's Boris Godunov in 2010 but I consider this my first real photo.) #proudsoprano #yeanewmusic
The women of Odysseus' Women/ Anais Nin with conductor Neal Goren
[Louis Andriessen Double Bill]
Learn more about Jorinde Keesmaat, director in residence at the Center for Contemporary Opera, and her vision for this Andriessen Double Bill. I am so thrilled to be performing in Odysseus' Women/ Anais Nin at National Sawdust in just over a week!
[Portrait by Israel Gutierrez]
My dear friend and incredible artist Israel Gutierrez surprised me with a portrait based on a production photo from when I played the chain smoking punk kid "Le Feu" from Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortiléges with Utopia Opera! My heart is so full from this amazing gesture from such an beautiful artist and person.
Here is the original photograph...
A Kidney for Kara
Here's to a hugely successful benefit concert for Kara YImoyines this Saturday at the Winchester Unitarian Society! During the benefit I performed art song, arias, and musical theater with pianist and music director John Kramer. Kara Yimoyines gave a wonderful speech about what it's been like living with lupus, and what the future holds for her. We were joined by over 60 members of the community, including family, friends, and church members. Over the past few months we've raised over $3,600 on our YouCaring Page and we took in over $300 in cash donations at the benefit. Everyone's support has been amazing and together we've raised awareness about lupus, kidney disease and organ donation as well as money to help Kara's future donor pay for things not covered by insurance, such as travel and loss of income. It means so much to us to be able to give back to the generous person who will give Kara a new lease on life by donating a kidney. Stay up to date on Kara's condition by following her Facebook Page A Kidney for Kara. You can find out more about the event in this Patch.com interview!
John Kramer, Piano with Kara Yimoyines and Maggie Finnegan, Soprano