Gratitude for a changing career

My life has gone completely nuts in the past 7 months.

In September 2024, I auditioned for and was appointed to Lyyra, the new wonderful six voice treble ensemble from the VOCES8 Foundation. Three months later, I was asked to join VOCES8 for their month-long US tour as a sub. This came on top of booking a very satisfying schedule of freelance work for this season. I’m finally quitting my part time day job, which I never thought I would be able to do, and I had fully come to terms with that.

If you know me, you may have noticed that I have a tendency to gush about music/gigs. As someone who never thought they’d never have a performance career (see: late teens and early 20s ravaged by allergies, undiagnosed and untreated allergic asthma, and extreme laryngeal tension), every new opportunity has come as a delightful surprise. Making it into All State Choir in high school? Surprise. Making it into chamber choir in college? Surprise. Getting into grad school? Being hired for a church job? My first fully professional choir experiences? All delightful surprises. For me, that has never changed. Even though I have greatly improved my technique, it honestly took me being appointed to Lyyra to make me admit to myself that maybe I am a good singer. It’s silly, I know. But brains are like that sometimes.

The problem with having gushed for years is that I have run out of ways to express my gratitude for the newest opportunities that have come my way. I’ve used up all of my adjectives to describe extraordinary music making. So, I’ve settled into a wordless sense of awe. If I seem subdued lately, it’s because I’ve had too much to process in the last seven months. My dreams have come true in a way I could never have fathomed and I am deeply, emphatically grateful. Instead of experiencing my usual rabid excitement over every new thing, I have settled into a state of delighted calm.

I think my nervous system has had enough of my antics. And maybe that’s okay.

"You sing a lot of Bach, don't you?"

It has recently come to my attention that I sing rather a lot of Bach.

I am perfectly happy with this arrangement.

I never sang a note of Bach's music before moving to Boston in 2015, besides preparing my graduate school audition (somehow I thought it would be a good idea to struggle through the virtuosic BWV 1 soprano aria with no prior experience). I thought it might be fun to keep a running list of what I've done since then. Boston tossed me into a sea of dizzying melismas as soon as I arrived, and I had no idea what had hit me! Here is my comprehensive Bach repertoire list, mostly for my amusement and to gather the memories, but also as a supplement to my ordinary resume. I hear that sometimes people want to know everything you've ever sung, ever. Let's go!!

Bach Cantatas:

BWV 4: Christ lag in Todesbanden
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, April 2016 *soloist
Boston University Graduate Recital: Motoaki Kashino, April 2017 *soloist
BWV 6: Bleib bei uns, den es will Abend warden
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, November 2015
BWV 8: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, April 2019
BWV 10: Meine Seel erhebt den Herren
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, November 2016 *soloist
Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival: 1724/2024, April 2024
BWV 11: Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen (Ascension Oratorio)
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, 2022
BWV 22: Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe
Oregon Bach Festival, June/July 2023
BWV 28: Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, November 2019
BWV 29: Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, January 2022
BWV 31: Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, February 2016
BWV 36: Schwingt freudig euch empor
Handel+Haydn Society: Bach Christmas, December 2017
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, November 2021 *soloist
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023
BWV 39: Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot
Back Bay Chorale, October 2021 *soloist
Emmanuel Music: Sunday Cantata Series, March 2023
BWV 41: Jesu, nun sei gepreiset
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, September 2019 *soloist
BWV 46: Schauet doch und sehet
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, November 2018
BWV 47: Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden
Emmanuel Music: Sunday Cantata Series, October 2022
BWV 61: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Handel+Haydn Society: The Glories of Bach, October 2022
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023
BWV 63: Christen, ätzet diesen Tag
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023 *soloist
BWV 69a: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach and Bernstein, April 2018 *soloist
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, April 2018
BWV 70: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!
Emmanuel Music: Sunday Cantata Series, November 2023
Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, January 2024
BWV 74: Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, April 2017
BWV 75: Die Elenden sollen essen
Music at Marsh Chapel: King’s Chapel Noon Recital Series, October 2016
Bach Akademie Charlotte: First Annual Bach Festival, June 2018 *soloist, partial
Emmanuel Music: Sunday Cantata Series, October 2022
BWV 80: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, October 2021
BWV 91: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival: 1724/2024, April 2024
BWV 95: Christus, der ist mein Leben
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, November 2017 *soloist
BWV 110: Unser Mund sei voll Lachens
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023
BWV 127: Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, February 2019 *soloist
BWV 130: Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Second Annual Bach Festival, June 2019
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, September 2021
BWV 132: Bereite die Wege, bereite die Bahn
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023
BWV 136: Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, February 2018
BWV 140: Wachet auf
Handel+Haydn Society: The Glories of Bach, October 2022
BWV 147: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
Handel+Haydn Society: Bach Christmas, December 2017
Bach Akademie Charlotte: First Annual Bach Festival, June 2018
BWV 182: Himmelskönig, sei willkommen
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Family Motets and Cantatas, January 2018
Music at Marsh Chapel: Bach Experience Cantata Series, April 2022
BWV 191: Gloria in excelsis Deo
Handel+Haydn Society: The Glories of Bach, October 2022

Other vocal works:

BWV 225: Singet dem Herrn
Bach Akademie Charlotte: First Annual Bach Festival, June 2018
Handel+Haydn Society, May 2019
BWV 226: Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Florilegium at 400, April 2022
BWV 227: Jesu, meine Freude
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Priceless Treasure: Bach and the Motet Tradition, October 2018
Tallahassee Bach Parley/Festina: The Sincerest Form of Flattery, June 2022
BWV 228: Fürchte dich nicht
Handel+Haydn Society: Jubilee Day Concert, December 2017
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Florilegium at 400, April 2022
BWV 229: Komm, Jesu, Komm
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach and the Class of ‘85, October 2019
Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival: Appear & Inspire, April 2023
VOCES8: After Silence & Miserere Mei programs (US Winter tour, February-March 2024)
BWV 230: Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden
Handel+Haydn Society: Jubilee Day Concert, December 2018
Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival: Appear & Inspire, April 2023
Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival: 1724/2024, April 2024
BWV 232: Mass in B minor
Bach Akademie Charlotte: First Annual Bach Festival, June 2018 *soloist, partial
Upper Valley Baroque, May 2022
Oregon Bach Festival, July 2022
Charlotte Master Chorale/North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, October 2022 *soloist, exclusively
Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival, April 2023 *soloist, partial
Handel+Haydn Society, April 2024
Clarion, April 2024
BWV 234: Missa Brevis in A Major
Emmanuel Music: Sunday Cantata Series, April 2024
BWV 237: Sanctus in C Major
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023
BWV 238: Sanctus in D Major
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023
BWV 243: Magnificat
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Second Annual Bach Festival, June 2019
Oregon Bach Festival, June/July 2023 *soloist
BWV 244: St Matthew Passion
Music at Marsh Chapel, 2015 *soloist, partial
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Second Annual Bach Festival, June 2019 *soloist, partial
Handel+Haydn Society/Orchestra of St. Luke’s, May 2022
Oregon Bach Festival, July 2022
BWV 245: St. John Passion
Handel Society of Dartmouth College, May 2018 *soloist, exclusively
Music at Marsh Chapel, March 2018 *soloist, partial
Oregon Bach Festival, July 2022 *soloist, partial (does Ancilla count?)
Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival: April 2024 soloist, partial, exclusively
Upper Valley Baroque, May 2024 *soloist, partial
BWV 248: Christmas Oratorio
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, June 2023 *soloist, partial
Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis (cantata 6), January 2024 *soloist, partial
BWV 249: Easter Oratorio
Music at Marsh Chapel, 2016
Bach Akademie Charlotte: Bach Festival, July 2022
Handel+Haydn Society, March 2023

Somehow I always want to sing more. Always yes to more Bach.
last edited: 04/12/2024

Marsh Madness! The Adventures of a Baby Soprano

[This blog entry was originally posted on May 24th, 2016 on another platform.]

Hi there.

Let’s get straight to business: I’d like to share a bit with you about how stinking wonderful Music at Marsh Chapel is.

Back in February 2014 when I auditioned at BU, I sat in on the Marsh Chapel Choir’s rehearsal of Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil and fell immediately and desperately in love. I knew, right then, that I had to move to Boston. I had to move to this beautiful, blizzard stricken city where people get off work and casually go make some of the most delicately polished and breathtaking music I’d ever had the pleasure of hearing. A huge, happy bubble of longing had taken up permanent residence in my chest, and I knew I simply must own that BU audition. You know the rest. I was accepted to Boston University despite my nice feelings of crippling self doubt and nearly cried all over Meredith Cornwell, who was very nice about it indeed. I waffled between a couple of schools for a bit, before finally submitting my decision to BU. Fast forward to August 2015, trundling through New York behind a U Haul. I got a very crackly phone call, this time from Scott Allen Jarrett. He offered me a position as a choral scholar at Marsh Chapel, you know, if I thought I’d be interested. Hold. The. Phone. Someone wants to PAY me to sing in the ensemble that captured my heart and mind in one simple evening rehearsal? Hmm. How do I phrase this? YES PLEASE, I AM THE MOST INTERESTED OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS EVER. And it turned out to be everything I could’ve wanted and much, much more. What follows is a list of everything the Marsh Chapel Choir sang this school year, leaving out service music, special services, and chamber music concerts.

I was incredibly honored to sing a healthy number of solos, as well.

Bach Cantatas:
Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66
Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6
Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31
Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4

J S BACH Easter Oratorio

Resilient Voices: 1915-2015
A concert dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide- MANSURIAN Requiem (Boston Premiere) with Harvard University Choruses and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project

The Forty-Second Service of Lessons and Carols
2 hours’ worth of wonderful carol arrangements

J S BACH St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244

James Kallembach’s The Most Sacred Body of Jesus
Good Friday- WORLD PREMIERE

“Regular” Sunday Repertoire:
Arise, my Love- Julian Wachner
Alleluia- Thompson
Os justi meditabitur- Bruckner
A New Song- James MacMillan
Hear my Prayer- Moses Hogan
Exaltabo te Domine- Palestrina
Verleih uns Frieden- Mendelssohn
Quam pulchri sunt- Victoria
Pater noster- Verdi
Notre Père- Duruflé
A Hymn for Peace- Alistair Coleman
Ubi caritas- Duruflé
Beati quorum via- Stanford
Haec dies- Byrd
Jubilate Deo- Britten
Mass of Creation- Haugen
I want Jesus to walk with me- arr. Moses Hogan
O taste and see- Vaughan Williams
Unsere Trübsal die zeitlich und leicht ist- J.L. Bach
Der Gerechte, ob er gleich- J.C. Bach
Justorum animae- Stanford
In paradisum (from Requiem, Op. 48) Fauré
Ochte nash- Nikolai Golovanov
God is gone up- Gerald Finzi
A spotless Rose- Howells
Magnificat “The Advent”- James Kallembach
O Radiant Dawn- James MacMillan
O thou the central orb- Charles Wood
Ave maris stella (from the 1610 Vespers)- Monteverdi
I’m gonna sing ‘til the spirit moves in my heart- arr. Moses Hogan
Set me as a seal- René Clausen
Sicut Moses- Schütz
Light of the world- Elgar
Herr, nun lässet du deinen Deiner- Mendelssohn
Laudate Dominum (Vespers, K339)- Mozart
Miserere mei, deus- Allegri
Hear my prayer- Purcell
Call to remembrance- Farrant
Love bade me welcome (Five Mystical Songs)- Vaughan Williams
Agnus Dei- Morley
Civitas sancti tui- Byrd
Fix me, Jesus- arr. Augustus O. Hill
Drop, drop slow tears- Leighton
Sing and Ponder- Larry Fleming
Ego sum panis vivus- Byrd
Tantum Ergo- Duruflé
O vos omnes- Pablo Casals
Hosanna to the Son of David- Gibbons
Rise up, my love- James Kallembach
Alleluia, Christus surrexit- Felice Anerio
Worthy is the Lamb (Messiah)- Handel
This joyful Eastertide- arr. Charles Wood
Mitte manum tuam- James MacMillan
Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt Coenantibus autem illis- Juan de Lienas
Thou didst rise (Vespers, Op. 37)- Rachmaninoff
Te Deum in C- Britten
To thee, victorious Leader (Vespers, Op. 37)- Rachmaninoff
The Beatitudes- Arvo Pärt
O sacrum convivium- Messiaen

And so, my friends- if I have gushed to you at any point during the last 8 months about Music at Marsh Chapel, know that I was severely understating how special it is. And at the urging of Scott, I’ve finally made time to sit and reflect upon it. I am a grateful baby soprano. Special thanks to Scott Allen Jarrett, Justin Blackwell, Carey Shunskis, Jacquelyn Stucker Drye, Kimberly Sizer Leeds, Doug Dodson, Sam Kreidenweis, Ethan DePuy, Dominick Joseph, Patrick Waters, Meg Weckworth, Kevin Neel, Sean Watland, and Anna Carro, for being mentors by example and a wonderful staff.

From the U.K. to Texas, or, how dream chasing can be unpredictable

"There is no such beauty as where you belong."

When I auditioned for the U.K. Voces8 Scholars Programme last winter, I thought it might be a long shot. Any time I'm competing with British singers, I know that they will have been sight reading since the age of six months or something, and have been brought up in the rich English choral tradition, which was unparalleled far before the birth of the U.S. I only though that if I stood a chance, it would be a privilege to learn from singers of that background. 

Enter the U.S. Voces8 Scholars Program.

Apparently there was so much American interest in the program this year that Voces8 was kind enough to begin an American program, which resulted in the emotional roller coaster of a half rejection, half acceptance letter that I shortly received.

On Thursday, six young singers, ages 22-26, showed up in Plano, Texas with not the slightest idea of what was about to happen (other than some music making). So, what did we learn? What was the end result of this adventure?

• We engaged with the community and learned some incredible pedagogical techniques designed to get even the most hesitant of singers to sing (check out Paul Smith's 'Pas de Deux' and 'The Voces8 Method' for more on that).
• We learned exercises and techniques to create a cohesive small ensemble sound for one on a part singing.
• We learned how to connect across the ensemble, to unify entrances, and to communicate with each other.
• We learned how to run a rehearsal without a leader, but with six leaders working as a team, and trying things out whether they worked or not.
• We had the luxury of rehearsing just a handful of pieces for hours on end, and found that everyone was so nerdy that we LIVED for the picky details.
• We convinced Paul to make a Bitmoji, which is likely the most important thing that happened.
• We became friends in three days.
• We were treated to vigorous Southern hospitality by the staff (especially Taylor, Jonathan, and Philip) and choir of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, TX, and ate far too much food.

It was a huge privilege to learn from Paul Smith of Voces8, who is extremely knowledgeable and was kind enough to guide and mentor us. It was also a huge privilege to learn from my American colleagues as they brought their variety of knowledge and experiences to the table in our collaborative rehearsals, the likes of which I had never experienced.

I write this in my hotel room. Everyone has departed except for me, so here I sit, unpacking this beautiful, whirlwind experience so that the memories don't slip away as soon as I fly home to Boston. I look forward with great anticipation to whatever comes next, and hope that it involves all of the wonderful people I just met.

For a long time now, whenever I hear the soprano solo in Paulus's 'The Road Home', I will hear Christine's ridiculously silvery and lovely voice. Seriously. Get it, girl.

As if all of this wasn't enough, I have finally lived my dream of singing Renaissance polyphony one on a part. This is a dream I've had since seeing the Tallis Scholars perform at ACDA in Dallas. I was both changed and transported by that performance, because apparently the combination of British singers and Texas creates actual magic.

I am, forever, the most grateful of sopranos.