Vivaldi's Women

Opera-tastic!

June 2012

Some great news on the opera horizon, more details will be released as plans develop but here's a taster: I'm singing a small principal role the Nickel City Opera August 2013 production of Handel Agrippina. In fact, I'll be working with NCO to form the first ever Early Music Fest in the Buffalo/ Niagara region! The highlight of the festival will be Agrippina, so we'll be putting out a call for performers, scholars, and researchers from across the canon. I'm also going to be involved with Opera Week 2012 in two exciting events: Sat Nov 3rd, Rockwell Hall, Buff State through OperaBuffs of WNY in their Inside Opera Lecture Series; and Sun Nov. 4th, St. Joseph's University Parish, Buffalo for Celebrate Opera WNY. In both events, I'll be giving Lecture-Performances on low female voices in opera, using examples from my own experiences in Baroque opera, footage of Vivaldi's Women, examination of upcoming Met Live broadcasts, and live performance of a range of opera arias. Check the Events calendar for exact details.

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Magazine articles and more

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August 2011

Lots of news so far this month... I was just booked as one of three plus models in The British Bridal Exposition Harrogate, the largest and most prestigious bridal exhibition in Europe! It's a 3-day trade show for industry insiders and gets massive international press. I'm featured in issues of Just as Beautiful, and Anti-Body magazines coming out this week. I did an interview with Psychologies Magazine and after the photoshoot is scheduled I'll know when the issue's coming out. I was appointed Head Event Coordinator for the history-making catwalk show Curves in Couture that Models of Diversity is running in November, featuring top international plus models wearing high fashion. And finally, I'll be singing with Vivaldi's Women at the East Finchley Music Fest in early October.

Summer Baroque Vocal Course

May 2009

Schola Pietatis Antonio Vivaldi ("Vivaldi's Women") announces their Summer Baroque Vocal Course 2009: Discover Your Voice, Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 August, at The Friends Meeting House in Oxford. Are you an undiscovered female tenor or bass? Or a soprano or contralto who would like to develop your technique? Would you like to sing baroque music with more style and flare? This three day course is open to amateur female singers of all ages and will culminate in a performance of Vivaldi's spectacular Dixit Dominus, Gloria, and other works. The course will offer participants the opportunity to: learn more about the history of Vivaldi's all-female choir (which included female tenors and basses) and orchestra at Venice's Ospedale della Pietà; explore the vocal techniques and training methods which give Vivaldi's Women their distinctive sound; explore your voice and vocal range, particularly the lower range; enjoy one-to-one tuition on Baroque vocal technique and style; and sing alongside mentors from the Vivaldi's Women. Men are welcome to attend as observers at the concessionary rate. To find out more about the course, and to Register, please go to the SPAV website.

SPAV

January 2009

Sue has joined the famous "Vivaldi's Women" (SPAV) choir, as Bass I, at the invitation of the Director. Schola Pietatis Antonio Vivaldi is an all-female ensemble of singers and players which aims to recreate the sound of Vivaldi's Figlie di Coro, those foundlings at Venice's Ospedale della Pietà, where the composer spent much of his career. It reflects both the age and vocal ranges of Vivaldi's musicians, with women aged 14 to 60+, some singing tenor and bass at pitch! You may have seen the award-winning BBC4 Documentary about them. Sue, with the choir and orchestra, filmed a documentary for Sky TV based on Peter Ackroyd's forthcoming book Venice, and recorded a DVD and CD in February, both of which will be available by the fall. For more information, see our website and Vivaldi's Women on YouTube.