TWO FABULOUS THINGS! ~With the esteemed Judges of the evening~ 1. Last night was wonderful. I was selected by the audience and judges as winner of the semi- final round of Opera Idol! Everyone sounded truly fantastic and it was an honor to be chosen from among such great artists last evening! However, this year - I will be double booked on the night of the finals~ (It is the same weekend that I will be competing at the Florida Grand Opera!) so they informed me that next year, I will advance directly to the final round of this wonderful competition that Sherrill Milnes has created. What an honor! Thank you to the judges, who were in charge of 60% of the decision, and thank you to the audience who covered the other 40%! 2. The Sparrow has found her Songbird! The other development I am ecstatic about is that I have found my Sparrow! While searching online for a little sparrow songbird to use in thank-you notes... I found the perfect image! I am SO thrilled and grateful to have found the artist Krislyn Dillard! She has a WONDERFUL collection PLEASE go check out her artwork! (and buy some!) Here is my little sparrow, in grey, and in color! I simply LOVE this beautiful watercolor and the joyous flight and soul that Krislyn so expertly enlivened this little sparrow with! This little bird just brightens my soul every time I look at it! Watch Krislyn draw, or follow Krislyn on Twitter! I LOVE it!! It is going to be a part of all of my stationary from here on out! Description of the sparrow by the artist, Krislyn Dillard:
(Watercolor painting of a sparrow with her wings wide as she takes off into the air.) "Not long ago I was riding in the car with my husband when the Simon and Garfunkel song "Sparrow" came on. It is pretty amazing how music can inspire the creative mind. The song is beautiful yet ends tragically. Several days later it came back to me. In the spirit of the song yet with my own vision I set out to paint the little sparrow back to life. I was so successful I painted two more. Here you have the results of those efforts and so I am selling them together as a little triptych series."
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For me, 'Audience Favorite' is the best prize that you could ever win. It was a lot of fun! And yes, BLUE was the color of the evening! Haha.
Throwback picture below- from this same competition a year ago, when I placed Second, and also received the 'Audience Favorite' award. Congrats to the winners this year! My hat is off to you! Thank You, Comic Opera Guild, for a wonderful experience! And thank you, dear Jackson Symphony Hall (Michigan) audience, you rock. Performance Photos & Masterclass with Kristen Blodgette: Post-American Traditions Competition3/2/2015
What a fantastic experience at the American Traditions Competition in Savannah, GA this past week. My hat is off to the winners, there was PHENOMENAL talent and UNREAL singing happening all over the place! I learned so much from watching my brilliant colleagues and also gained some fantastic friends! And what other competition can you watch so much vocal variety? By the way, serious SHOUT OUT to Annastasia Victory. Pianist EXTRAORDINAIRE! Check her OUT!
It was so valuable to receive feedback from the judges and also to participate in a masterclass with Kristen Blodgette, best known for being the conductor/musical director for The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and touring productions for the past 27 years. Her feedback was extremely valuable! She helped me with Ado Annie's "I Cain't Say No"- and also "You Don't Know This Man" from Parade. What's more, is that Kristen seriously just the kindest and most sincerely genuine person! Making everything even more lovely, I was able to visit family on my way to and from Georgia, in Nashville, including celebrating the life of a beloved Great-Aunt, and visiting my 98-year-old grandmother in Nashville, and catching up with cousins and old friends. I was SO fulfilled on this trip, I do not feel as if anything was 'lost', only gained! What a wonderful time. Enjoy the performance below! My favorite, I think, is Star Dust. Looking forward to the next two competitions: at Harold Haugh Light Opera this Sat & Florida Grand Opera in April!
Thank you to my friends who joined me for the show this Tuesday night! And thank you to Winnetka Congregational Church for sponsoring our venue! If you missed it! Here it is-- The main reason we had the concert was in order to make this video below for the Lotte Lenya competition audition: AND you can see the folk and jazz songs on the full 45 minute program ON THIS YOU TUBE PLAYLIST. Here's to hoping to compete in NYC's Lotte Lenya Competition this March. Here is the 15 minute/4 songs/4 characters/4 genre Musical Theatre video I submitted for them...fingers crossed! See below description of the characters and songs. Also, check out the fun pictures below too! See Playlist of the entire concert HERE! -----
"Pirate Jenny" (0:00) Kurt Weill (The Threepenny Opera) The 'Pirate Jenny' portrayed is a prostitute who has intense hatred for the men she is dependent upon. She dreams up this story and 'ship' that would allow her to enact her vengeance; but, all she really wants is to be rescued. "I Cain't Say No" (4:16) -Rodgers & Hammerstein (Oklahoma!) There could not possibly have been a more different character to switch into, than this lovable & slightly awkward Ado Annie, who tells us a bit about her dilemma with men. "You Don't Know This Man" (7:00) -Jason Robert Brown (Parade) Lucille's husband has been sensationalized in the media as the rapist and murderer of a 14 year old girl who works at his factory. Lucille is telling off the reporter whom is responsible for the rumors, and whom has just been haggling her to give more details about her husband. "Glitter and Be Gay" (9:15) -Leonard Bernstein (Candide) We are full circle with another prostitute, or er...courtesan, (it's always more complicated than that) though you can feel free to laugh at this one. Through not really any fault of her own...she has gone a little crazy, a little melodramatic, depressed, and eventually finds her consolation amongst her jewels. ---- Dearest Friends! I would be so honored if you came to this FREE program! I am presenting solos that are "American Songs of the Heart" to prep for upcoming competitions! ~ Invite Your Friends! ~
(Please no children under the age of 5, for recording purposes) Tuesday January 27th, 7-7:45 pm At Winnetka Congregational Church (see location) That evening, we are recording a live musical theater audition for the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition in NYC, where, if I am selected: I would compete in the semi-finals New York City. The first prize winner is given $15,000, exposure in NYC, and masterclasses with some of New York City's top directors/coaches. I have noticed that whenever I record 'live auditions' in front of a camera, it is a lackluster experience without a 'live' audience, and challenging to do my best just for a camera. That is why it would mean so much to me to have you in the audience to cheer me on, as I perform some of these pieces for the first time ever! The other big competition that I'm preparing for, is called the American Traditions Competition. They have chosen 28 contestants from all over the United States to compete in Savannah, Georgia- ... these vocalists are the best at singing any genre/style they are given. So, my program includes one song in each genre of folk, jazz, musical theater, opera, art song, Johnny Mercer, Great American Songbook, spiritual/gospel, and modern cabaret! The first prize winner of this competition is also awarded $15,000 + additional awards like Audience Favorite, and Best Jazz Performance. I posted briefly about this competition on this blog here. SO there will be a lot of variety on this short program. There is no charge! Donations are always appreciated and would go towards travel & accompanist expenses for these competitions. But I would just be SO thrilled to have you there!! Program Run-Time: Less than 45 mins The Sweet Heart Tree (Johnny Mercer) The Water is Wide - (Folk song) -- -- I Cain't Say No- (Ado Annie from Oklahoma!) You Don't Know This Man - (from Parade- Broadway) Pirate Jenny - from The Threepenny Opera (Musical Theater Kurt Weill) Glitter and Be Gay - (Candide) -- -- Heart We Will Forget Him - Copland-(Art Song) Star Dust - (Jazz) Bewitched - (Jazz/Great American Songbook) Girl in 14G - (Modern Cabaret) Dear Friends and Family! This is my Christmas Card & Gift to all of my dear friends, colleagues, mentors, and students! Please enjoy this assortment of Christmas music I have sung this season. You should be able to just hit play/and the play list can play on the background in your home/computer/wherever you are, on this beautiful Christmas Eve/Day! And here is a private link, that can be shared with anyone who has the link...so feel free to share, but know that none of it is 'professional quality' recording. LINK: https://soundcloud.com/sparrow-coloratura/sets/christmas-gift-rachel-sparrow/s-phxpU Most of these (with the exception of 'He Never Said a Mumblin' Word,'(-from Carnegie Hall Debut) and 'Rejoice Greatly') were very casually recorded at a Holiday Party I sang at a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy their laid back nature...and imagine I am singing at YOUR holiday party. Indeed I wish I was with all of my family and friends on this wonderful day! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Love, - Rachel- There's no shortage of places to sing this Holiday Season! With 7 concerts last week and 6 concerts this week... I have had hardly any time at all to breathe--but somehow, things always seem to work out! I am very much looking forward to singing in the Music of the Baroque Concerts this weekend! The Holiday Brass and Choral Concert is simply going to be STUNNING! And it will also be broadcast on WFMT. Buy your tickets now! You can purchase $25 tickets for this Thursday night and Friday night concerts only, this week, Simply call the Music of the Baroque Box Office at 312-551-1414, and tell them you would like to buy ____ tickets with Rachel Sparrow's Chorus discount. Box Office closes at 5 pm (but you can leave message and they will call you back) Here's 3 minutes worth of "My Fair Lady" from a recent audition submission. Enjoy! I'm very excited to offer these private in-home concerts to all of my friends here on the North Shore of Chicago (and beyond) in order to help raise funds for my first concert tour and hopefully also my first recording! Here is the very beginning of my efforts! Spread the word, we are booking January Concerts now!
It's very exciting~ I've been selected as one of 28 Quarter-Finalists for the American Traditions Competition. After an intense application process and pre-screening, the judges selected just 28 contestants from all over the United States, to compete as part of a week-long festival in beautiful Savannah, Georgia, in late February. Unlike so many competitions, this one reimburses travel costs, and provides host-housing during the festival. Each of these contestants specialize in versatility of the voice- as they must demonstrate the ability to sing across all genres, from Opera to Country and Folk Songs to Jazz and Hymns & Spirituals, to Broadway! I am very excited about befriending and hearing other people who love these genres as much as I do. A description from their website states: "The American Traditions Competition was established as a world renowned arts institution located in Savannah, Georgia. It was established to provide a forum for showcasing tomorrow's vocal talents and superstars; and to celebrate the diverse repertoire of standard, classic American music." This song: "The Sweetheart Tree"---was my favorite clip that I submitted for the application (I also submitted Star Dust, and Girl in 14G, which you can watch on my youtube page); but this simple Johnny Mercer song, has special meaning for me- I remember singing it as a kid when my Mom gave me a bunch of old sheet music from my Grandfather's Piano Store. I never knew my Papa Kurtz; he died from Heart Disease before I was born, but I have been told lots of stories about him by my 98 year-old Nannee (grandma) in Nashville, TN. That stack of old sheet music was well-loved by me, because for some reason just knowing it was labeled by my Papa and sitting in his store in the 50's and 60's always took me to a different place. Sometimes, a simpler place. At least, that's how I imagine it. Like this song. |
"Becoming a mother changed me. I have more love, passion, and fulfillment in life; which in turn, enriches my artistry. Please join me in normalizing motherhood within the performing artist's culture."
- Rachel Sparrow AuthorRachel Sparrow is a professional singer, musician,(violin, piano, ukulele) actor, teacher, arranger, writer, and most importantly: a wife and a mommy of two littles. She loves to help parents make everyday life musical with their kids as well as share backstage stories, and performance experiences here. She earned her Master's degree in Voice Performance from Northwestern University, and also holds two Bachelor's degrees in Voice, and Music Education (certified to teach k-12 vocal & instrumental music) from Idaho State University. She is also a certified Music Together Director (music class for birth-5 yrs). See about Rachel. "Think Outside Your Box" means 3 things: 1. Be Selfless - think beyond your own "box". (and for singers, there's more to life than your voice box!) You're capable of helping and healing others. 2. Feel Empowered to bust out of the proverbial "box" made of societally-induced-parameters. 3. Be Bold. Innovate. Stretch yourself. You can do anything if you set your mind to it. "THINK
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October 2023
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