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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TV DOCUMENTARY ~ another life's dream come true

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April 2012

Biggest, best news EVER! I've been approached by Minerva Media, a Manchester-based production company, to be the main Presenter/ Host for a documentary about the experiences of Medieval female mystics! This is precisely what my MA research at Harvard was about, and the documentary, which will film all over the world over the next few years, will air on the top network in the UK. We'll explore mystics like Margery of Kempe, Angela of Foligno and more, especially in light of the erotic nature of their experiences. Jean-Claude Bragard, the creative director of Minerva, worked at the BBC for many years and produced some of their most important documentaries. This is BEYOND exciting!!! We start filming the short taster version this summer and fall, fully funded by the TV network...

Charity Calendar

March 2012

Great news - I was just selected out of 100s to be one of the 18 models featured in the Help for Heroes: Hollywood for Heroes Charity Calendar 2013! It will be available to purchase nation-wide and internationally by July on ebay.co.uk, inspired by iconic movies from the 1940s/1950s era. A videographer will film behind-the-scenes footage at the photoshoots and interviews with the models featuring in the calendar, which will be shown via YouTube, as a publicity campaign.

Nickel City Opera & Vocalis

March 2012

I'm excited that I've recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of Nickel City Opera in Buffalo, NY. NCO was founded by WNY native and Met baritone Valerian Ruminski, read more on the website and in this press release. In addition, I'm the newest Tenor in Buffalo's top chamber choir Vocalis -- this group is made up of professional singers and gives around 10 concerts a year.

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Movie filming and busiest week ever commences...

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March 2012

This week alone -- I've been cast in the lead role in a short film called Cassandra's Cleaning, which will film around York all this week. In addition, I am submitting an abstract for an academic journal about the history of low female voices; I'm doing a magazine interview; lots of rehearsals & performance for a choral concert... and more great news to follow shortly!

New Agencies

February 2012

I've signed with two new agencies this month -- the first is Curvy Model Management, the UK's only size 16+ agency based in London, run by Colin Hampden-White, an internationally renowned photographer whose work has appeared in GQ, ID, Vogue, Traveler, New York Times, LA Times, and the National Portrait Gallery New York. Colin has shot Anna Wintour, JK Rowling, London Fashion Week, and many other celebs. One of my fellow models is Fabia Cerra, star of Britain's Got Talent. The rolling launch will take place this March, supported by the promo shoot with me and other models. The second is Midlands-based Mentor Model Agency -- I'm in their Curves division.

New year, new gigs...

January 2012

I've added some exciting modelling and singing gigs on both sides of the Atlantic to my calendar for early 2012: I'm walking for designer Phase 8 in the Liverpool Fashion Festival and for a bridal boutique at the Bredbury Hall Wedding Show in Cheshire; modelling at the York's Festival of Vintage, and with a group of London plus model for a magazine publication; and I'm singing at a private wedding in York, including a work composed by the bride herself.

I'm signed to the top casting agency in the UK!

December 2011

GREAT NEWS - I am now officially represented by the #1 casting director in the UK, Mark Summers! I first became aware of Mark when he was a judge on BBC 3's Britain's Missing Top Model in which my friends Kelly and Debbie participated. When his agency decided to open their books, 2000 applied and 100 were accepted, so it's nice to be in the top 5% of something. Mark has personally cast some of the biggest media events in the world such as Michael Jackson's “This Is It” tour and now he's my agent, so this is very exciting.

Curves in Couture a huge success!

November 2011

Models of Diversity's history-making show Curves in Couture of the top healthy, curvy plus models in the world was the talk of the London fashions scene last week! We've had tons of positive press so I don't even know where to start, but as Event Manager I'm most proud of our reviews in Vogue Italia Curvy, More! Magazine, and from the government itself. I'm especially proud that both the British Fashion Council and a Minister of Parliament were such strong supporters of the event. I was also one of the plus models walking in the MoD Diversity Show. Learn more about this history-making event and view images from the gallery here. And you can view some videos of the event featuring me here.

Curves in Couture is coming!

September 2011

I'm really excited to release information about Curves in Couture, a charity catwalk show of healthy, curvy models supported by the British Fashion Council, produced by Models of Diversity. I'm Event Manager and one of the plus models walking in the MoD Diversity Show. Learn more about this history-making event here, and get some of the few tickets remaining for sale to the general public. It's going to be AMAZING...

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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.

Recording and Workshop next week

June 2011

I'm finally going into the studio to record a proper performance DVD of Emily Kalies' noitcelfeRReflection next week. At the world-premiere the audio and video both died halfway through; then we performed it an a academic conference so we couldn't film; then it was meant to be recorded with a brand-new film backing in Dublin, but I was unable at attend due to a health crises; and finally a snow storm prevented another chance. So the 5th time must be the charm! 

Also, I was just invited to sing as a Tenor in a workshop at the Uni Music Department next week on Alessandro Striggio's astounding Mass in 40 parts (1566) lead by Robert Hollingworth of I Fagiolini. I've had the great pleasure of working with Robert before as a singer and scholar (he advised my PhD dissertation, and actually started me on my path as a female Baritone). 

And in weirder news, I hit a low F# the other day! Yep, you read that right -- the one at the bottom of the bass stave.

More model news

June 2011

As of this week, my fashion editorial spread in Diva Magazine is out! I'm really excited, Diva is Europe-wide with a distribution in the millions. I've also been hired as a fit model with La Senza. And a shoot I did for Models of Diversity in London a few weeks back will be published by at least 2 magazines in the UK -- look for that later this summer.

Web Appearances

May 2011

I appear on websites of stylists and other fashion industry professionals with whom I've worked lately: photographerJackie Clitheroe who took my old Hollywood glamour photos; photographer Michael Cheetham produced my old Comp Cards; I'm the featured model on the Events page for make-up artist Natalie Greenwell; and you can see images from my session with stylist Riccardo Hoyte.