After almost two months on the road
I’ve had a few days at home to reflect on new characters that have come into my life…and new places the music has taken me. Sitting in gratitude, feeling a bit weary, but ready to jump west again! Here are a few recent highlights, and new news!
Montana & Pacific NW
I crisscrossed Montana for solo shows and commission premieres. I loved driving solo across that land, which always takes my breathe away. I attended a gorgeous premiere of my 3 movement choral + piano commission, Headwaters, and got to perform ‘The Voice Is A Traveler’ in university and folk series’. February wrapped up with some quick flights between Wintergrass with Jayme Stone’s Folklife and the midwest with Seamus Egan Project.
March West & East
Singing / playing Seamus Egan Project music with a full orchestra was delicious. It was also amusing to feel the banal, almost bored energy of orchestral musicians in rehearsal, and then…the musicality suddenly snaps into place for the concert. It brought back memories of the weird wonders of music school. This is one way to survive millions of notes on hundreds of pages a year. Let’s talk more about the rest of March below…
‘Headwaters’, performed by Helena & Capital High School students, is a piece I composed based on three maps of the Missouri River as it begins in Montana. The piece turns the performance space into a topographical map, and the singers into moving water.
Come to a show!
*withJayme Stone’s Folklife
**with Seamus Egan Project
Northwest
3/28 Tacoma Court House Square
3/30 Seattle Phinney Center Concert Hall
3/31 Vancouver, BC Notional Space
California
4/5 Los Angeles, California*
4/6 Pasadena, California*
4/7 Claremont, California*
4/11 Santa Cruz, California*
4/12 Walnut Creek, California*
4/13 Winters, California*
4/14 Oakland, California
Savannah, Georgia
4/8 Savannah Music Festival AMS
4/9 Savannah Music Festival Morris Center**
4/10 Savannah Music Festival AMS
Swannanoa Gathering’s Contemporary Folk Week
I’m teaching two workshops this summer.
July 28, 2019 – August 3, 2019
Join me for either or both!
1) Wild Wild Voice explores the far reaches of our vocal color palettes. We’ll spend some time listening to and discussing recordings of truly wild singing that ‘wow’ us, from many genres. We’ll break down and try out elements of singing that define ‘style’ and our relation to it. We’ll write mini-songs to explore this in ourselves. We’ll learn about the contexts for singing that bring unique, expressive singing forward.
2) Songs, Movement & Improvisation: Body percussion, vocal & theatrical improvisation, gesture work, breath work… these will form our playful exercises, discussions and musical games. Group vocal improvisation (circle songs and other structures) will alternate with more personal/solo songwriting and performance exercises. Explore fresh, physical ways into songwriting while at the same time strengthening your confidence, clarity and presence.
“Why Sing?” Workshop
October 4 – 6, 2019
Explore the social impact of singing in this fun weekend for all levels, co-taught by Charlie Beale and myself! From very different musical worlds, we will each bring wit and wisdom to fill a room with fiery, joyful song. We’ll explore styles and traditions from jazz, folk, and pop to the songs of immigrants and minorities. Learn to write original songs, connect with audiences, and free up your voice!
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Thank you for making it all the way to the bottom! I hope our paths cross soon…. |
