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SPRING 2014
L A R E E S I M O N N E W S L E T T E R : I N A U G U R A L I S
S U E
VOL. 1.1
Yeah...its me, Tonya. Since my initial outreach to you and many
others regarding fundraising efforts for
summer study in Europe through the AIMS program, I have been
relatively quiet about whats going on (and not...), my continued
efforts and new goals.
Well, the time for an update has come, and Im happy to share
some news with you!
As briefly, but as interestingly as possible, I will share what
Ive experienced since you sent me to
Europe and what I have seen come to pass in the time after. Ill
tell you now, its been a rough and sobering enterprise trying to
discern exactly how
to carve out my personal road to success (whatever that really
means), in order to fulfill my calling, if you will.
Nonetheless, God has graciously shared this peculiar gift with
me. Through faithful persistence, I will do my best to
share the journey and this special endowment with you!
Warmly,
Tonya aka Laree
I think I know that girl...what is she doing now?
PICTURES FROM GRAZ, AUSTRIA (SCHLOSSBERG-ABOVE;
DEVON CASS PHOTOGRAPHY-LEFT)
REBIRTH & ASPIRATIONS CONCERTS DEBUTS
LAREE S INGS!
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Around March of last year, I reached out to
you to let you know that I had received a
scholarship, the Nora Sands Memorial
Scholarship to be exact, to facilitate my
attendance in a comprehensive and highly
intensive international study program for
classical musicians in Graz, Austria. I wrote
extensively about my daily life and brief
travel there in my churchs newsletter.
(Please request one! :-)) What I didnt
report, however, was how the actual study
of the voice, the technical work I did with
my now current teacher, Elizabeth
Hagedorn, polished my sound and renewed
my singing mind. You see, life interrupted
my personal and musical growth many
times in a most inconvenient way; the
effect on my singing and career progress
was damaging. Sure. I had recouped much
of my ability via old lesson recordings and
work with local coach, Michael Crabill.
However, your willingness to dig into your
pockets helped introduce me to a woman,
who was not only a positive person, but
who quickly diagnosed the minute
hinderances to acquiring a more
professional, polished classical sound.
Therefore, I now boast engagements in this
newsletter which, include a contract with
the Washington National Opera Chorus!
(Come to find out, my making the chorus
master smile in an audition was as rare as a
solar eclipse. Ha! Naturally, I feel honored
by the invitation to perform with them
next season.) Since last summer at AIMS, I
have made three wonderful debuts and
have connected with performing resources
in both DC and NYC. I feel re-born in a
way... My new sound, colleagues and
opportunities all come with a new sense of
hope -and a new name, by the way. Well,
actually not; my mother gave the name to
me at birth. But the other stuff, I have the
good Lord and YOU to thank for that!
Rebirth at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in
Graz, Austria by Laree Simon
A PEEK AT GRAZ!
GRAZ OPERA HOUSE (OR OPERN
HAUS) , DESIGNED IN THE BAROQUE
STYLE, WAS INAUGURATED IN 1899
ELIZABETH HAGEDORN, TEACHER,
WHO PRESCRIBED MY NEW VOCAL
EXERCISES (BELOW, LEFT)
SEXY & I KNOW IT URBAN ART
SEEN ON CITY WELCOME TOUR
HISTORIC RED CLAY TILES AS SEEN
FROM ATOP THE FAMOUS K& DEPT.
STORE OFF THE MAIN SQUARE
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DIG INTO YOUR POCKETS HELPED INTRODUCE ME
TO...A PROFESSIONAL POLISHED CLASSICAL SOUND.
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Christmas and the Gift of Making Debuts by Laree Simon
Singing for a Season St. Marys Episcopal Church at Foggy Bottom
generously provided a concert space for friends
and I to share traditional and not so traditional songs in
celebration of Advent and Christmas. Not even a bomb threat in
nearby Georgetown
could hold back the entire audience. Soprano, Angeli Ferrette,
Organ Master, Julius Tilghman and I presented to a healthy crowd,
who joined us afterward for refreshments and
conversation. The free will offering collected was applied to my
February audition fees in NYC.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: NEW THEATER ROLE & CREDIT; NEW OPERA
ROLES; NOTABLE VENUE & NEW OPERA COMPANY
Watch out, kids! She can sing AND act!Tom Minter, playwright,
has been active on the
national theater scene for over twenty years. The fact that he
pegged me to create his version of a young Ethel Waters still
humbles me, even now. I had the distinct honor of
debuting along side exceptional professional actors in BLUES FOR
A ROYAL FLUSH, a poignant commentary on entertainment, social
and inner-cultural relationships of Black history through the
eyes of Jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Ella
Fitzgerald and
Ethel Waters. This commissioned work by the Stanford School in
Washington was presented as a closed event in January, but will be
reprised at the National Portrait Gallery of Art this fall.
Carnegie Hall & Company DebutAlthough more about this
exciting milestone in my life and artistic journey will be
expounded upon in the next church newsletter -yes, I am
loyal to St. Marys readership!- I must at least say that
performing on such an historic and prestigious stage gave me a rush
Ive never
known! My role debuts as Konstanza and Countess Almaviva in my
NY Lyric Opera Theater debut for their opera showcase was
invigorating to say the least. I had a blast!
SONGS OF CHRISTMASTIDE
December 19, 2014
ACTION SHOT INDICA HARVEY, CAPTURED MY PARTICIPATION IN A
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN/CAROL DURING THAT EVENINGS PERFORMANCE. SHES
GOT A GOOD EYE AND GREAT INSTINCTS. YOULL BE SEEING MORE OF HER
WORK IN THE FUTURE!
BLUES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH
January, 25 2014 & September 22, 2014
BEHIND THE SCENES ACTRESS, JOY JONES, HAS BEEN ON TV AND THE
WEB, BUT SAYS SHE LOVES THE THEATER. HERE WE ARE BACK STAGE DURING
A DRESS REHEARSAL OF BLUES. SHE WAS A MESMERIZING ELLA FITZGERALD--
YOU SIMPLY BELIEVED EVERYTHING SHE SAID AND DID.
C ARNEGIE HALL
May 3, 2014
HOW DO YOU GET TO CARNEGIE HALL?... PRACTICE, PRACTICE,
PRACTICE, OF COURSE! UPON ENGAGEMENT, I HAD JUST UNDER THREE WEEKS
TO BE COACHED AND MEMORIZE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ARIAS MOZART
EVER WROTE, MARTERN ALLER ARTEN. YOUTUBE IT (EVA MEI VERSION)
SOMETIME...THE PRACTICE CAME IN VERY, VERY HANDY!!!
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SNAPSHOTS FROM THIS YEAR
The peacock pictured above was one of many prancing around the
grounds of a castle we AIMSers visited. It is said that
the peacock is symbolic of integrity, immortality, nobility and
beauty when a person walks in the truth of themselves. And walk
about this earth before each of
you, while under the eye of my Savior in those attractive ways,
is what I intend to do. Yes. Ive had some really outstanding
reasons to strut this year, but they do not amount to much in
the scheme of things. In a very practical sense, Ive yet to
earn
enough compensation from all this singing stuff to just break
even! Its hard to see your mate (my Cedric) working
their buns off to help make a dream
come true when all you can do is try follow leads and stay
prepared. (Getting back into a day job is imminent, unless I
find some profitable side hustles- or a group of benefactors.
Pshh! I am so not holding my breath.) Ultimately, I focus on
consistency and must employ no little
amount of grit to actively live out this life, which by the way,
I dont quite understand. All I know is God put this
passion in me. His way is perfect. It never dies, never fades.
Therefore, my duty is to pursue this dream with great intent
and
abandon. The ensuing ups and downs, even plateaus that will
accompany me are nothing more than the colorful plumes I fan before
you and all of heaven as I sing!
Reflections on a Peacock and Divine Drive by Laree
SimonUPCOMING
& RECENT GIGS...1. BLUES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH,
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY OF ART, SEPT22ND
2. CAAPA 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA EVENT, BUSBOYS & POETS (U
STREET LOCATION), APR 2013
3. COLORED FOLKS SONGS: BLACK COMPOSITIONS & POEMS, ST.
MARYS CHURCH, FEB 2014
4. LAUNCHING SOON!! @LAREESINGS/TWITTER
@LAREESINGS/INSTAGRAM
Mariatrost Kirche
Peacock of Eggenberg Kastle
Jackie Armstrong Photography (Upper R; Lower L); Weill Hall in
Carnegie Hall (Below)