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Claire Chase - Flute & 8 Voices At Northwestern New Music Festival

4/18/2018

At "work" tonight! We are grooving in Galvin Hall with the incredible Claire Chase (who does flute acrobatics you've never heard) and 8 all-star voices of NU Bienen school Alumni under direction of Grammy-Award winning one and only Dr. Awesomeness Donald Nally Donald Nally NU .... Richard Beaudoin's piece: "Another Woman of Another Kind" is unreal. Worth staying up late for. 10 pm. This Friday Night April 20 at Galvin Hall, NU -It's FREE. !

UPDATE EDIT:
What a fantastic experience this was! Richard Beaudoin was a joy to work with, what a cool composer, CHECK HIM OUT! Also. Claire Chase, Ladies and Gentlemen... And the infallible Donald Nally....

Princess at a Tea Party

3/18/2018

I had such a nice time dressing up like a Princess and having Tea with these Mommy's Grandmama's ...and daughters! :) So super fun to entertain in this way! I feel as if I got a taste of what it must be like to work at Disneyland and be a princess. These girls were just absolutely stunned and star struck, they LOVED the "singing princess" Rachel Sparrow. .... "My friend Cinderella let me borrow this dress and said that I could sing a few of her songs for you!" All the happy feelings! Thanks to the brilliant Andrew Blendermann on the keys again!

4 New Videos! Enjoy this variety show!

2/10/2018

These are all fresh out of the recording oven.... just put these videos together for some auditions coming up that included video submissions. There are four contrasting styles of singing in these four videos. Special thanks to Andrew Blendermann on the keys. He's the best.

And special thanks to Liz Butler, my dear friend who helped at the camera, and in keeping my energy up. It was a very tricky recording day for me, I was beyond exhausted, bedraggled, and tired by that point in my day, as many things had not quite gone to plan- I will spare you all the details, but I was so very grateful for her support and help.
...Anyway -Wish me luck! And enjoy! Let me know if you have a favorite!

Translation: Una voce poco fa (The Barber of Seville):

A voice a while back
echoes here in my heart;
already my heart has been pierced
and Lindoro inflicted the wound.

Yes, Lindoro shall be mine;
I swear it, I will win.

My guardian will refuse me;
I shall sharpen all my wits.
In the end he will be calmed
and I shall rest content...

Yes, Lindoro shall be mine;
I swear it, I will win.
Yes, Lindoro shall be mine;
I swear it, yes.

~ ~ ~

I am docile, I'm respectful,
I'm obedient, gentle, loving;
I let myself be ruled, I let myself be ruled,
I let myself be guided, I let myself be guided.

But,
but if they touch me
on my weak spot,
I'll be a viper
and a hundred tricks
I'll play before I yield.

Kurt Weill: Denn wie mann sich bettet so liecht man - from The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
---
Background: Jenny, a prostitute, has just been asked to put money forward to help Jim (who hires her regularly), since he can't pay for his bill at the pub, and he is about to be arrested for it. This is her response:

Vs 1. Gentlemen, my mother labeled onto me once, a nasty word. I would end up in a the show-house (morgue), or in an even worse place. Yes, such a word is easily spoken, But I tell you, out of that will come nothing. You can not do that to me! What will become of me, we will yet see! A person is not an animal (pet).

Chorus: Because how you make your bed, so you lie. Nobody tucks you in. And when somebody kicks, then that's me. And when someone gets kicked, then that's you.

Vs 2. Gentlemen, a fellow lover said on an occasion, while gazing into my face, "The greatest thing on earth is love, and don't worry about tomorrow" Yes love, that is easily spoken. But as one gets older every day, Love is requested less and less. You must use the short time you are given wisely. A person is not an animal (pet).

Chorus: Because how you make your bed, so you lie. Nobody tucks you in. And when somebody kicks, then that's me. And when someone gets kicked, then that's you.

I don't feel like 'Maybe This Time' needs an introduction...everyone knows this classic!

I Won't Mind by Jeff Blumenkrantz (1965 - ) was written for an unfinished musical, The Other Franklin. This character, after years of desperately wanting a child, and then ultimately miscarrying, has learned that she will never bear a child. She sings this song to her godson (her best friend's baby) in the nursery, while everyone else is in the next room celebrating the christening.

"Sparrows" - by Schwantner, Live Stream tonight!

12/4/2017

I am very honored to be a guest soloist this evening at my alma mater, Northwestern University... for quite possibly one of the most difficult and rewarding and vocally acrobatic pieces I think I've ever encountered.

Program starts at approximately
6 pm Central Time
The first piece on the program is about 11 mins long,
and then "Sparrows" is second, and it is about 19 mins long.
There will be a brief intermission, and then the final instrumental piece
on the program is around 30 mins long if you wish to
stay tuned to see Daniel's awesomeness on that piece!!

Be sure to hook the sound on your device up
to some nicer quality speakers,
if you can, for an enhanced experience!

HERE IS THE LIVE STREAM LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak_uL4_kaH4

Congratulations and Thanks to Daniel Cook
on his wonderful recital program.

Download/See the program notes below, as well as a "preview video" from rehearsal and a shot of the musical score.

Here is a snippet from rehearsal the other day, in Galvin Hall.

Pictured below: One of the Trickiest pages of the score:
(Vocal line on top, instruments on each subsequent line below)

New photos with my baby girl!

9/26/2017

I was 9 weeks along in this picture!

Then here is my baby girl 9 months old!

So blessed to have this angel girl in my life! She enriches my art everyday by filling my life with her light. And luckily, she lets me sing to her. :)
Thanks to: Liz Hansen at lizhansenphoto.com

NOT moving from Chicago to Boise After all!

8/17/2017

UPDATE!
WE ARE NOT actually MOVING AFTER ALL!

{I am leaving the original post below, simply for those who may be super confused by the previous newsletter that I wrote earlier this past week.}

UPDATE (8/27/17):
I can't believe I'm saying this. It feels like a bad joke.
Or, like canceling a wedding the night before.

We are NOT moving to Idaho after all!

My husband Trent began training for his new job this past Monday. And by Friday, he and I realized it was not what we had expected and that this was quite possibly the wrong decision. We also then came to realize that the entire move was not what we needed to do. There were other factors as well, but the main instigator was the fact that his new job opportunity was not what he had expected or hoped for. It was a very sad and heartbreaking realization for him, (and me as well, in many ways honestly), because we had looked forward to being closer to family, but it seems we will just need to make priorities to see them more often, in other ways.

Not jobless

We are so lucky and blessed that Trent's previous job will still employ him, and they were thrilled to welcome him back. (with the understanding of course that we won't be making a habit out of this.) Many of my students are thrilled that I will be staying, I will still have my full studio, but I have decided to cut back on my teaching hours significantly.

"But you sold your place, now what?"

In fact, now we are looking for a house/townhouse or larger condo now in the same area hopefully. While we LOVE where we were at, we still feel that it's fine for us to be displaced from our condo because we are outgrowing it anyway!

Perspective & Blessings

It's amazing what happens when you think you have to leave somewhere, and you have a change of perspective about what you will miss or what you want & need/etc. In my belief, in some cases "mistakes" are what God/Fate/Life needs you to do, in order to show you what is most important to you.

It's my belief that we had to "go through" all of this (we had just only moved our minivan out there so far, the actual move was to happen next weekend, it could have been SO much worse) to recognize that we needed to make some life changes, in order to continue getting the most out of where we live, no matter where that may be.
My heart is with my little family, and my little family could be in Antarctica, and all that would matter would be that we are together.

Happy to be staying in CHICAGO!!!

______________________________________________________________
ORIGINAL POST:
To my friends and artistic colleagues,
this seems like a very sudden, unthinkable, and bold move.

"But you're an artist, you need a big city! How will you do what you do?"

I LOVE Chicago. It has a vibrant artistic and cultural scene. It is insane to think for an instant that I "wanted" to leave it. BUT! -I am okay! And I will be back often!

"Why Boise?"
#1.
My husband Trent has been offered a position that sort of "popped" up, that will be a great growth opportunity for him, and there are several other benefits as well
(such as tuition reimbursement for his MBA, & relocation).
And we feel that this is the direction Life/God/Fate has chosen for our little family.
#2.
Idaho is where much of our family is located, so we will be moving nearer to them. We don't know Boise very well, but we do know Idaho.
I lived in Southeast Idaho for 6 years in my pre-Chicago life.
Trent is going back "home", and I have siblings there and also a dear Uncle and Aunt.
#3
I am (finally) confident and secure as a performing artist, and I don't say that lightly. Artists should be constantly improving and developing, and I certainly do not presume or believe that I have everything figured out. However, I feel that I have gained enough experience now within my artistic life, to not need to rely on where I live, in order to achieve fulfilling artistic experiences. The world is increasingly smaller, and I will be just a plane ride away from anywhere I want to be at any time.
#4
It's much more affordable to have a nice home, and as we grow our family it is an added perk. (stupid Illinois taxes). Having a lower cost of living frees up financial space for travel! (Also, having family nearby that can take the baby)
It also relieves the pressure I felt to teach so many hours per week.
I love teaching; but felt that SO many hours of teaching, while having a child, was unsustainable. It has drained my energy & time for other artistic projects.
I will now be able to afford to teach a little less, and perform a little more.

Optimistically speaking,
This makes the world my oyster!

Those who know that I have an
8-month-old daughter, may say:

"Are you moving because you're a Mom now?
Are you going to stop performing?"
...

I could not possibly answer more emphatically
with a "NO" to any question ever asked.

Clarity
Having a child does change your perspective. It changed mine in the best way possible.
I now look at every opportunity presented or pursued and ask myself:

Is this REALLY what I want to be doing as an artist?

Is this worth the time (or money/efforts) - away from my family?

...If there is any doubt - it's tossed out the window. I have never had more clarity on WHAT I want to be doing! It is as if I am wearing new glasses and suddenly seeing the individual leaves on distant trees, after the fuzzy blur before. After viewing each opportunity through this new lens, any performing/producing/directing/recording projects that I choose, MUST be a 'pearl' in the aforementioned oyster.

This SHOULD mean, a higher frequency of "pearls"
-the most fulfilling kind of ventures!

Fear
I hope to retain my artistic credibility, and continue creating on the highest level possible. I am a little worried that artistic entities will "write me off" or disregard my abilities simply because I no longer live "in town". They may think I don't wish to travel "so far" to do a contract or concert when housing isn't offered. But, as far as Chicago or NYC (or even Savannah, Georgia!) are concerned, my friends are amazing and have expressed that I can stay over anytime.

I plan to reach out to my esteemed connections, collaborators,
and any artistic "powers that be", to express this sentiment:
Yes, I DO WANT TO COME SING IN CHICAGO/NYC/SAVANNAH/ANYWHERE!
It is my sincere hope that they take me seriously.

Excitement
Boise has a vibrant artistic scene of it's own!
And it is a new side of the country to explore.
I look forward to new people and new projects!

Moving isn't permanent. (I hope never to move again--moving is horrible).
It always feels so final, but it doesn't have to be. It could be that down the road we move back, or elsewhere, etc. - who knows?
But for now, this is what we are doing and it's going to be an adventure for sure.

I am ready to grow. I am ready for change.
I can 'fly' anywhere; literally, figuratively, and artistically.

Excited to meet you, Boise.

Melodious Mama's Sing Again, at The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Winnetka Chapter

6/9/2017

Yesterday, The "Melodious Mama's" reprized much of our concert from October (when we were all "expecting"!) for
The Lyric Opera of Chicago's Winnetka Chapter.
Such a lovely audience. Such a special time with them! We laughed, and shed tears, while sharing such exquisite pieces of humanity and Mommy songs!
I loved producing and performing alongside these brilliant folks.

The beautiful new Mom's: Soprano Ingrid Israel Mikolajczyk, (baby girl 4 months) and Mezzo Soprano Amanda Koopman (adopted son 2 yrs old)
Mr. marvelous Andrew Blendermann on the keys (yep, he's got two kids as well but he's not as new to the job, and not a mommy, but a fantastic Daddy!)

Following our program, we had a lovely luncheon with these wonderful ladies.

Bella Voce Award (again!) at Bel Canto Competition 2017

3/11/2017

The audience tonight was so fun. It's not every day that while singing you stroll around flirting, stroke a beard one second, and then smack a kiss onto a bald head the next. That was with "La Pastorella delle Alpi" by Rossini, --that sassy shepherdess. Don't worry, I cleaned up my act by following it with "Caro Nome". ;-)

Very Honored to have received the "Bella Voce" award at Chicago's Bel Canto Foundation, and I feel doubly honored to have received it again. Seems to be a theme lately, and I'm not complaining. :)

Audience Favorite (again!) at American Traditions Competition 2017

3/8/2017

Rachel presented with the "People's Choice Award" at ATC 2017

As luck would have it, I have been fortunate enough to have the honor of winning the People's Choice Award during the Semi-Final Round, at The American Traditions Competition 2017! The fun part is, I won the exact same award in 2016!
Thank You Savannah, you are so special! A gem of a town. What a slice of paradise!

As usual, the American Traditions Competition was amazing and full of the best singers from all around! Our esteemed judges were Broadway composer, phenomenal actor-singer, Andrew Lippa (Addams Family & Big Fish), Soprano and operatic legend-turned American songstress, Silvia McNair, and Kurt Ollmann (Leonard Bernstein's favorite Baritone).

I can't wait to return to this awesome competition, where the artistry is second to none and the audiences couldn't be more warm and enthusiastic. Here's a link to more of my raving about this competition in a post a year ago!

-My best performance yet! Introducing Baby Sparrow

2/5/2017

Here is Miss Ella, our newest songbird.

Born just a week after Thanksgiving, we had so much to
be grateful for this past Holiday season.
We love her. She is a light - and a blessing to our lives.

Her birth was my best performance yet.

Picture taken New Year's Day, 2017 - A Special day for our dear Ella, (1 month old) wearing an outfit that her grandmother wore 62 years previously. and shoes handmade by her great great grandmother.