Another Paper Accepted!

June 2010

Another paper proposal has been accepted for an academic conference; this one is "Collaborations in Practice Led Research," for the University of Leeds and the Royal Musical Association Postgraduate Study Day in late October. I willco-present this Lecture-Demo with composer Emily Kalies, including a performance of noitcelfeRReflection in "Reflecting on Reflection: Examining the Composer-Performer Partnership."

Harrogate International Festival

June 2010

Juniper, my female trio, has just been booked by the Harrogate International Festival to sing at the Hotel du Vin in Harrogate, for the 'Thank Festival it's Friday' series. Composer FL Dunkin Wedd is composing a song cycle for us based on the Exeter Riddle Book, to be premiered in the late 2010 season -- check back soon for further details about dates and repertoire...

Paper Accepted for Conference

May 2010

My paper proposal on my dissertation topic was just accepted by the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Music Network, a study group of the RMA based at Oxford. I will give the talk in late September 2010 at the conference Re-examining the Transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque, about which you can find more information here.

Models of Diversity!

May 2010

I am now a part of the team at Models of Diversity in London! Run by model and agent Angel Sinclair, MoD aims to challenge the fashion industry by supporting models of all races, sizes, shape and ability levels. Look for me on London catwalks, in the media, and in fashion shoots, in July -- see the Calendar for more detail. In addition to modeling with the organization, I will be part of the political campaign - find us at Covent Garden on 11 June.

Trinacria Productions!

April 2010

Announcing the official launch of Trinacria Productions! collaboration across the arts - a facilitating network. Sue and her partner have co-founded a new artists' network. We are a York, UK based consortium of artists, collaborating between different art forms and disciplines, in order to create new and unique artistic expressions. We have a generous and expansive view of arts and creativity, exploring where they overlap, with an emphasis on collaboration. Find out more at our website and Facebook page.

York Mystery Plays

March 2010

The play's the thing... I have been cast in one of the lead roles in the 2010 York Mystery Plays. This event takes place only every 4 years, and I'm very excited to be a lead role in the play "The Transfiguration," as John the Apostle. On 11 and 18 July, and on 6 June at the York Carnival, The Lords of Misrule will perform the play four times in locations throughout town, including the Museum Gardens and Dean's Court, on a movable wagon! The York Mystery Cycle began as an expression of guild solidarity in York in 1376 and continued until 1568; the tradition was revived in 1951. See the Calendar and York Mystery Plays for more information - this event is held in conjunction with the York Early Music Festival.

National Railway Museum

February 2010

"Unter dem Zug zu singen." At the Hall of Harmonies concert on 27 February at The National Railway Museum, I will sing the Tenor solo "Nigra sum" from Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610, with a Javanese gamelan accompaniment, from underneath an old train! The text, taken from The Songs of Songs, is clearly in a female's voice, but Monteverdi chose to set it for a Tenor. We are seeing what happens when a female Tenor sings the beautiful aria. See the Calendar for more information.

RMA post

January 2010

I am happy to say that I have been elected the new Student Representative on the Council of the Royal Musical Association. Two students hold this position in the entire UK, and in my first year of the appointment, I will sit on the Publications Committee, and contribute to the RMA Journal. This came on the heels of the very successful Students' Research Conference of the RMA hosted by University of York PostGrads in early 2010. Learn more about the RMA here.

Things afoot!

December 2009

I had a really amazing day yesterday, ending with some incredible news! First, I helped conduct a workshop for NorthEastern Early Music Forum on Venetian Christmas music, and although I have little directing experience, it went well and I got very good feedback. I conducted two works by Andrea Gabrieli, and met lots of great people. Then I came home to find that I have been accepted to a fantastic event: I have been invited to sing, as a Tenor, in the Monteverdi Vespers in Venice next September! 2010 is the 400-year anniversary of Monteverdi's masterwork (Vesperae Beatae Mariae Virginis 1610), and we will perform it, with period instruments, directed by the amazing Philip Thorby, in Venice at the Frari Church - where the master himself is buried! Only 10 singers were selected for this momentous occasion, and I will be singing some of the tenor solos. To perform one of my favorite pieces of all time, in the anniversary year, on the correct feast day, in Venice, in the main church - I mean, could this be any more incredible?!? 8 September 2010, 9.30 pm... And in other good upcoming news - I've been booked to perform Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire in Rome in the 2010-11 season! And look for a possible revival of the amazing opera Antigone in the next year...

Sensorium Publicity

December 2009

All the publicity for Sensorium is out, and everything looks terrific. Sensorium presents a diverse evening of interactive visual, aural and haptic installation work and performances designed to stimulate the senses. Experience a series of immersive, cross-media artworks presented within winding paths and pockets of light in the Guildhall, York. I will give the world-premiere of noitcelfeRReflection by Emily Kalies, and my husband will contribute the graphic and digital art to another installation by Ms. Kalies. For more information, find us on Facebook, and explore our website and a preview in The Press.

The City As Music

September 2009

On Sunday 20 September at 7pm, Sky Arts TV airs the third of four episodes of the series Peter Ackroyd's Veniceentitled "The City As Music" -- SPAV has provided the music, visuals and subject matter for this episode. Learn more about Vivaldi's Venice as demonstrated by SPAV. Our first DVD, made with footage from the documentary, will be available for purchase before Christmas 2009; this new performance of Vivaldi's Gloria will be broadcast by Sky Arts on Wednesday 23 September at 5.30.