tag:www.randifay.com,2005:/blogs/meet-janet-planet?p=2Independent, Inspired and Empowered2021-03-24T15:13:12-05:00Rändi Fay Musicfalsetag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/65836352021-03-24T15:13:12-05:002022-04-27T12:29:51-05:00Meet Multi-talented Showman Frank Hermans ✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/28ec7ba21c3dc9d84dcff7f5683c250f788a98be/original/frank-5-graphics.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />It takes a man with an exorbitant amount of energy and drive to wear multiple hats in the entertainment industry, and it takes a man with an even more exorbitant amount of talent to do so successfully. Wisconsin entertainer Frank Hermans is just the creative dynamo to fit this playbill, or whatever playbill he decides to take on and write! Comedian, singer, writer, composer, producer, promoter, publisher, TV News personality and wait… father of EIGHT?? Wowza. The list goes on and on. </p>
<p>Frank has been an icon in Northeast Wisconsin for the past 30 years, being awarded “Best of the Bay’s” for his musicianship ten years in a row (2009-17) within that time. His entertainment troupe “Let Me Be Frank” will be celebrating its 22nd season in 2021. That’s 134 shows with over 1700 performances to over 350,000 people! He co-writes the show’s scripts and then inserts timely and appropriate popular music selections performed with the utmost skill by his uber-talented cast and band. In Frank’s words: “LMBF is like nothing else in the area: we take local lore add a bit of fiction and hilarity and then add a genre of music. Wha La LMBF.“ And his recipe works! Also, true to his roots and commitment to giving back, in the past 19 years LMBF has given over $550,000 to local charities through fundraising, tickets and cash. That is another WOWZA. Thank you Frank!!</p>
<p>If you haven’t been to an LMBF show, or more especially if you need a great night out full of laughs, Frank is opening a new show this weekend: “My Big Fat Pulaski Wedding, Ten Year Reunion.” Tickets are available online at meyertheatre.org or call ticketstar at 920-494-3401. </p>
<p>Read on for more on Frank: </p>
<p><em><strong>Interview:</strong></em> </p>
<p><em>1. You are an incredible multi-tasker- can you narrow down your involvement in music, performance and promotion to five of your top roles and share those with us? Do you identify with any role more than another? </em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/5ed8385ed026d5a88e0b331a3194250a6eb9c874/original/frank-and-amy.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />• (Role) First performance after college was when I was 30 and it was as Rueben, the oldest brother of Joseph in ”Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” ’94 and '95 Music Theatre. This is where I met the future cast of Frank’s Dinner Theatre. </p>
<p>•(Role) Bob Cratchet in the 95’ UWGB musical version of “A Christmas Carol.” Playing the Wiedner taught me a lot about big productions. </p>
<p>•(Production) Brent, in the 2011 production of “Brent the Musical.” I wrote the score and the book on this musical and played at houses all over WI. It was my first attempt at the big time with an original musical, probably the most lucrative of all my adventures. </p>
<p>•(Marketing) After the depletion of staff and coverage at the Press Gazette, I started my own magazine selfishly in 2015 to promote my brand (Frankly Green Bay). It ended up doing that and more, but then Covid happened and we have ceased printing operation. The magazine is now digital. </p>
<p>•(Performance) Singing the national Anthem at a Packer game in 2019 and messing up the words. This performance has defined me in that it was an amazing experience and the most embarrassing thing that could happen to a performer. In hindsight it was the best and worst of times. Flexibility as a performer is paramount; I wasn’t ready to be “the fill in.” </p>
<p><em>2. When did music come into your life? Which artists did you follow when you were young? Favorite albums?? </em></p>
<p>Elvis and George Michael have always been my favorite singers and performers. George’s “Older” is still on my playlist. </p>
<p><em>3. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Placing 4th in the Elvis Ultimate Tribute contest in Branson MO. in 2009 when I really didn’t know what I was doing yet. </li> <li>Meeting my future wife Amy in 1999 at the Sports Corner in De Pere. She is the true star of LMBF Productions. </li> <li>Deciding to make the move in 2006 to the Meyer Theatre and dissolve my partnership with 3 others in the SC Grand and the Sport corner. Gutsy move that paid off tenfold. </li>
</ul>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/e1c86c8b2d9d036ac391286a44411f057a624edb/original/cp-telethon.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />4. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success?</em> </p>
<p>Desire, Flexibility, Confidence. </p>
<p><em>5. What do you feel has benefited you more in your career- your formal education or your experience? </em></p>
<p>Experience by far. If you don’t fail you do not learn, learning from your mistakes is so important. You can’t keep doing the same thing over and over, progress and business cultures change all the time. </p>
<p><em>6. You are incredibly energetic when you perform, interview, and simply converse. What keeps you going? What about prep time? Do you ever get nervous? </em></p>
<p>My wife gets asked this quite frequently, “Is he like this all the time?” The answer is “yes.” You have one life and I feel you need to do what you can to enjoy it and make others enjoy it also. As far as getting nervous? The answer is yes sometimes, mostly it’s when I do Elvis contests where I am judged, I stopped doing them in 2012. As far as what we do with LMBF? Sometimes when there is a contemporary in the audience but usually I am so focused I do not think about it. </p>
<p><em>7. What’s the biggest "oops" you have done on stage? How about the biggest laugh? </em></p>
<p>Well the anthem thing is the biggest, other than that.. only a thousand other things that can happen nightly on stage. </p>
<p><em>8. Your job(s) are very demanding! Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>I feel I really don’t have job because I get to do everything I love and I get paid for it, crazy. I do sometimes dream I need to get a job back in the corporate world, especially during Covid, but then I wake up and know I am living a dream. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/e3ee617fba403155c56d03cd02592372a1fdbbb0/original/blake-2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />9. You have such a strong musical family- do you have music on all the time at home? Who sings the most?</em> </p>
<p>Music is 24/7. We have every musical instrument you could imagine in our house form Oboe to Piano and they are all played constantly. We have 8 children and let’s just say we never ever have a quiet household. I think who sings the most is a tie between Amy, me, and my third youngest Harrison. Harrison gets on these kicks, lately it’s been the musical Hamilton, he can rap with the best. As far as Amy she is always working on a project or music for the next show and as far as myself I am constantly finishing people’s conversations with a song from the last word they have said. Example, if my wife finishes a sentence with the word so.. I start singing “back in Canaan the future looked rough, Egypt’s family was finding it tough”. </p>
<p><em>10. COVID has decimated many theater groups. How did it impact your shows? How do you see live performances returning as COVID becomes tamed but not eradicated?</em> </p>
<p>We did cancel shows in April and June but came back with the blessing of the County and the City with a “pod” system of seating folks socially distanced. Our business was down 70% last year and devastated us financially. That being said people want to get out and we can see that with our last show “Menoma Mia” which actually out sold last February’s show even with socially distanced seating. And our season ticket sales are right on track to outperform last year’s sales. I think we will see a dramatic turnaround once vaccines are distributed to everyone. </p>
<p><em>11. Tell us about your upcoming show "My Big Fat Pulaski Wedding: 10 Year Reunion." Where can we get tickets?</em> </p>
<p>This our third story about the “Couple from Pulaski." We did “My Big Fat Pulaski Wedding” in 2011, with a sequel in 2013 called “My Big Fat Pulaski Wedding, the Honeymoon is Over.” You don’t need to see the prior two to get the gist of the show as it is a completely a new show this time set in the ‘80s. Tickets are available at meyertheatre.org or call ticketstar at 920-494-3401. </p>
<p><em>12. Do you have any words of wisdom that have helped you get through this past year? </em></p>
<p>Be mindful in all you do and say. </p>
<p><em>13. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that are inspirational to you? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Ed VanBoxtel, former employer of mine who should have been a performer. Taught me so much about business and creation of an image. </li> <li>Joe Kiedinger, co-founder of Frank’s Dinner Theatre. He was the brain child of the fledgling troupe. </li> <li>Amy Riemer, my awesome wife who taught me to think about my reactions and comments. </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>Just for fun: </strong></em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/94735ac1997d60ea0f59ec6b6085ae355d6e895e/original/148580199-10221188997206745-3069472114291453287-n.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />Do you have a nickname?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Yes, my whole family still calls be Beaver. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you prefer fiction of non-fiction? Favorite book?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Everything, I am a voracious reader. I have three books going now: One on cd in my truck, one on my kindle when I go to bed, one on Audible with my ear buds. Just finished “Warriors of God” and “I’m your Huckleberry”. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>I would become a better guitar player, and I would have studied more. There is so much to know in the world. </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>Connect with Frank: </strong></em></p>
<p>Websites:</p>
<ul> <li>www.letmebefranks.com </li> <li>www.franklygreenbay.com </li>
</ul>
<p>Facebook:</p>
<ul> <li>https://www.facebook.com/letmebefrankproductions </li> <li>https://www.facebook.com/letmebefrankstribute </li> <li>https://www.facebook.com/frankhermansbeaver </li> <li>https://www.facebook.com/thehistorybluff </li> <li>https://www.facebook.com/movietymemike </li> <li>https://www.facebook.com/FranklyGreenBay </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/3ecd7d3744df3a1ed1eebe3ae6b6671b632fb06f/original/denmark3.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_none" alt="" />Fun Facts about "Let Me Be Frank's" </strong></em></p>
<p>• “Let Me Be Frank” will be celebrating its 22nd season in 2021. That’s 134 shows with over 1700 performances to over 350,000 people in that time.</p>
<p>• Pat Hibbard and Frank Hermans have been a writing team for the past 18 years. The pair will also write original music and stories for clients by request. </p>
<p>• LMBF’s home is the historic 1000 seat Meyer Theatre, built in 1933 the theatre opened on Valentine’s Day. It has been the home of LMBF since 2007. LMBF’s season contains six original shows with 98 performances at the theater with another 40 at other venues. 1200 season tickets are sold annually. </p>
<p>• LMBF features the best and brightest talent in the area. All players are paid for their services with most being their full time job. Most performers have their degree in vocal performance, and or theatre. The band is seasoned musicians with over 60 years experience between them. </p>
<p>• Current and former cast members Sarah Hibbard, Amy Riemer, Kasey Schumacher, David Gusloff, and Kelly Gusloff are former members of Knights on Broadway, a show troupe from St. Norbert College. </p>
<p>• The LMBF Band has been voted best of the bay five times and Frank Hermans has been voted best of the bay musician for ten consecutive years from 2009-2018 until they ceased the category in 2018. </p>
<p>• Frank, Pat, and Dennis were the Larry McCarren statewide TV Show (former packer) show band for 23 years. </p>
<p>• Two former members of LMBF have made it to “American Idol”. And one made it to the final 50 3 times in “The Voice”. </p>
<p>• LMBF has been the main entertainment for the CP Telethon on WBAY TV 2 for the past 17 years. Frank Hermans has been one of the anchors of the broadcast for the past 17 years. Amy Riemer joined on as a co-anchor in 2018. Pat Hibbard is the music director. </p>
<p>• LMBF also has a season at The Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc with each show having an encore performance there. </p>
<p>• President Bill Clinton caught a portion of one of LMBF’s show “The Age of Aviation” at Jet Air at Austin Straubel Airport. </p>
<p>• LMBF rehearsals are a family affair as all of the folks of LMBF have kids. We have a running total now of age 9 and under there are; 8 young ones and ones on the way. Rehearsals are quite exciting. LMBF has a bounce house for the kids and tons of toys and props. </p>
<p>• In the past 19 years LMBF has given over $550,000 to local charities through fundraising, tickets and cash</p>
<p>• Frank Hermans, and Amy Riemer have been with LMBF from the beginning. Frank Hermans is the only member who has performed in every show, only missing a weekend with a heart scare. </p>
<p>• Pat Hibbard is a cancer survivor. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/0be5bdd3207df7509358e5f213c558c61fe2a022/original/franks-tribute-2.jpe/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpe" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />• Let Me Be Franks also has a satellite business called “Frank’s Tribute”, where performers impersonate iconic stars. Amy Riemer impersonates Reba, Dusty Springfield, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, and Ann Wilson. Kasey Schumacher impersonates Karen Carpenter. Pat Hibbard impersonates Yakov Smirnoff and Sonny Bono. Lisa Borley impersonates Barbra Streisand. Paul Evansen impersonates Neil Diamond. Sarah Hibbard impersonates Adele. Mike Hermans bother impersonates George Jones. Frank Hermans impersonates Elvis and Cher. </p>
<p>LMBF shows have been described as an SNL musical. Shows are usually PG with the Xmas show being Squeaky clean. Relevant Americana is used constantly with some ad-libbing. Most folks think we make stuff up on the spot, though in reality most is scripted and rehearsed. </p>
<p>LMBF does have two shows designed for children: “The King and the Princess” and “Frank and the Friendlies”.</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/65460962021-02-13T00:00:00-06:002021-02-13T00:00:07-06:00Meet Trumpeter, Teacher, Composer and Filmmaker Bob Levy 🌟<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/38ddf7810f0c5fa54e7ca62f8a9a3d4fb5a5a7f3/original/rl-in-trpt-in-studio.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_thin" alt="" /></p>
<p>I absolutely love Bob Levy. I am envious of those who have had a longer association with him than I have. He infuses the idea of “possibility” into those around him, and as a composer, performer, conductor, teacher and collaborator, that is an INCREDIBLE gift to share. </p>
<p>The jazz scene is notoriously a rough scene to fit into. I have never been a learned jazzer, and there are many in the genre who won’t let me forget that… So I can tell you first hand how absolutely refreshing it is to meet someone like Bob who treats others’ music like a gift. There is no doubt that he can be demanding in his roles. And he should be!! Be prepared, be present, work your music with your heart and soul. But the fact that he listens to new and emerging artists and musicians with a fresh ear, and gives them respect that sows the seed of “possibility” in their self-belief, makes Bob a man in a million. </p>
<p>Bob has a resume that is way too long for me to share here, and his story is just as “can-do” as his approach to music. Here is a brief excerpt from his bio- </p>
<p>“In the classical world, as a trumpet soloist, with brass quintets, as a conductor, composer and recording artist, Bob has been a leading proponent for American music… this led to premiering new works, getting performers to link up with numerous composers and committing his life to gaining awareness of American composer Alec Wilder (1908-1980). In addition, Bob had a near 40-year teaching career as a college professor (Lawrence University), created an award-winning summer music festival, was a jazz artist and a big band leader, all bringing him into contact with students and musicians as he led a parallel life as an educator and performer, traveling worldwide with some of this country’s foremost musicians…”<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/b91e6c2fb8765ed84c6125bf29581f26c0590695/original/1540292-801782809866778-3607239421174008008-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_thin" alt="" /></p>
<p>In 2014, I was SUPER fortunate to have Bob on my recording team for my CD "Falling." In honor of Valentine's Day, click on this link to hear Bob adding his signature warmth to my nostalgic love song, "<a contents="FALLING:" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/jaKGAL5NSi8" target="_blank">FALLING</a>."</p>
<p>To learn more about Bob first hand, read on:</p>
<p><strong><em>Interview:</em> </strong></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/9b71b85ef35750de387dcb70aab5201bf7fe97db/original/3.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_thin" alt="" />1. What is the inspiration behind your music? Do you identify more as a performer, a composer or a teacher? </em></p>
<p>All my activities as performer, composer, conductor, and teacher are woven together and intertwined and I continually study and learn from each. </p>
<p><em>2. Have you earned your expertise more from formal training or have you learned more from experience? </em></p>
<p>Definitely have learned more from experience. </p>
<p><em>3. What are three qualities that you possess that have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<p>Qualities I think I possess that have made me successful include: </p>
<p>being passionate and enthusiastic about music, maintaining a positive energy while striving to do my very best, and this impulsive desire to keep learning and searching out new ideas! That keeps you forever YOUNG! </p>
<p><em>4. What have been the greatest barriers to you achieving the work you want to create? What do you do to overcome those? Do you ever feel like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Greatest barriers: Not enough hours in a day! Try as I might to create the 30 hour day, I just fill it!. Maybe 30-35 years ago I considered giving up the trumpet because I just felt too spread and unable to keep at practicing. That lasted about a week as I sorely missed playing and haven’t turned back since. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/dcdf73077555e85db0b574e7e57e4b1752a5fe74/original/20170708-193812-copy.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_right border_thin" alt="" />5. I have known you most for your connection to jazz. What is it about jazz that has drawn you into that genre? Do you ever play classical music? Or any other favorite genre? </em></p>
<p>It’s a funny thing about name recognition. It simply has depended on where I was and what I was currently doing. If I’d been a guest conducting a classical ensemble they were shocked to learn I knew anything about jazz and the reverse was true when playing with a jazz group. They had no clue how I could be a serious classical conductor. Our society simply puts “labels” on you and people have trouble slotting you in more than one place. It’s been the story of my life. I enjoy it all </p>
<p>But….Jazz has always been at the forefront of my interests since high school. I even led an 18 piece big jazz band my senior year! One of my first childhood memories was hearing one of the Military bands from Washington DC. They came to my hometown and when three trumpet players came stage front and played LeRoy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday”—that was it for me, and then later appearing on a NY city television show, the Chubby Jackson Show where I performed a solo. It felt pretty cool! Fast forward some fifty years and I was a trumpet soloist with the Harvard Summer Pops band at Boston’s Hatch Shell performing Anderson’s “Trumpeter’s Lullaby” with the composer’s widow in attendance. She wrote me a beautiful letter afterwards complimenting my rendition. </p>
<p><em>6. After so much variety, what is the current focus of your creative work?</em> </p>
<p>Current projects: I just completed liner notes for an all Chris Gekker recording to be released on CD shortly, “Trumpet Music of Robert Levy.” Included are several of my compositions: three duos, four solo pieces, a recently completed trio, and the jazz ballad mentioned earlier. </p>
<p>The major project I am involved in right now is the documentary film ALEC WILDER: I’LL BE AROUND. I started interviewing more than 60 friends and associates of Wilder’s some dozen years ago and have outstanding footage from singer Tony Bennett, writer Studs Terkel, jazz pianist Marian McPartland and many others. I included them in a 20 minute pilot/sampler video I produced about 7 years ago. </p>
<p>Endless hours have been spent since August with a grant writing team soliciting grant applications to major granting foundations. If I can get some substantial support there I hope to employ as assistant as a researcher. </p>
<p>I have two ongoing, active fund raising appeals at: </p>
<ul> <li><a contents="Levy/WilderGoFundMe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/alec-wilder-documentary-filmproject" target="_blank">Levy/WilderGoFundMe</a></li> <li>
<a contents="FundMyFilm from the HeartProductions" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://fundmyfilm.org/documentary-films/alec-wilder-ill-be-around" target="_blank">FundMyFilm from the HeartProductions</a> (the latter is a 501c non-profit organization) </li>
</ul>
<p><em>7. Ooooo tell us more about your connection with Alec Wilder and about the Alec Wilder project-</em> </p>
<p>Alec and I met in the mid 1960’s in Ithaca after some correspondence with one another. He became a mentor, lifelong friend, and inspiration. He was a lonely man in many ways full of doubts about his abilities, living a life w/out confidence, having grown up with many fears and lifelong demons haunting him. While he had many friends he lived alone or in hotels or visiting friends, living out of three suitcases ready to travel immediately. He was brilliant, loving books and writers and even wrote a few wonderful books himself. But his greatest reward in life came from composing music and writing crossword puzzles for a friend. </p>
<p>Much of his chamber music (among hundreds) he never heard performed, but he was content moving on to writing the next piece. His music was rejected by critics and not taken seriously enough, often because he used jazz elements in his chamber music. Yet, he kept on writing, mainly for friends and I was thrilled the last seven years of his life to introduce him to a whole new younger generation who would love his music and him. And then, of course he immediately began writing pieces just for them! </p>
<p>Sinatra and Bennett were his heroes for their commitment to the great classic American popular songs—three which Wilder became best known for: I’LL BE AROUND, WHILE WE’RE YOUNG and IT’S SO PEACEFUL IN THE COUNTRY—all recorded extensively by hundreds of vocalists and jazz players, from Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Rosemary Clooney to Chaka Khan and Tierney Sutton. </p>
<p>His chamber music was recorded by members of the NY Philharmonic and Juilliard faculty but they were the ones who made the contact for it to happen. He never spoke out on his own behalf or sought recognition and never ever even submitted his music for publication. What little occurred came about because of his friends and supporters. That was the Alec Wilder I knew and respected! </p>
<p><em>8. COVID has impacted the live experience of the arts. How has it impacted you as a performer and teacher? Have you gotten your vaccine yet? </em></p>
<p>COVID has kept me from going to student’s homes to teach and all lessons have become Virtual teaching. There has been no “live” music to play because all the venues are either closed down or unable to have but small gatherings of people. I wear a mask everywhere and have yet to be able to arrange for a vaccine. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/2832bae23688841e65a24f007c9103411f6700da/original/rl-with-soni.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_thin" alt="" />9. Can you name a few other individuals or mentors that are inspirational to you? </em></p>
<p>Other inspirations: the multi faceted Pulitzer prize winning composer/conductor Gunther Schuller, also an ardent Wilder support. He singlehandedly took over publishing Alec’s chamber music close to the end of Wilder’s life. I had the wonderful opportunity to work closely with Gunther on a number of occasions as he was a guest conductor, lecturer, and became a mentor to me. I experienced the wonderful opportunity of typing three chapters for his 700 page autobiography while living in his home for many weeks. We dined a few times together and I heard unbelievable stories about his life, some quite personal too. </p>
<p>I would be remiss without citing the influence of Glenn Brown, who steered me to Ithaca College, and my professors there: composer Warren Benson and saxophonist Donald Sinta- both of whom shared so much and literally “turned me on” to so many things in music and the arts! </p>
<p>Musically speaking, Miles Davis has been a huge influence and I’ve always admired his yearn to grow and explore. My other heroes have been Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk. Classically, I’ve come to love Chopin and Debussy, and of course the great master: BACH </p>
<p>Finally, my daughter, Randi Levy, teaches middle school music in Germantown, Maryland and is also a wonderful singer and song writer. </p>
<p><em>10. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>CLOSING WORDS????? Never give up on your hopes and dreams. If you see obstacles in your way SEE THEM AS ONLY TEMPORARY and stay strong, believing “YES I CAN!!!" </p>
<p>And…… lastly----always try new things in music and the arts ---if jazz is your thing explore opera, ballet, art museums, and great books! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>Just for fun: </strong></em></p>
<p><em>Do you like to sing? </em></p>
<ul> <li>yes, I like to sing but only when people have been heavily drinking or if I’ve had a few! </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you prefer fiction of non-fiction? Favorite book?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>LOVE MYSTERIES AND BIOGRAPHIES </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<ul> <li>Bad Habit: messy office, too much clutter and saved papers, letters. I have five four drawer file cabinets and probably 75 large boxes in a storage place in town. It’s overwhelming! </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What did your 16-year-old self see yourself doing at this point? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today if not for music? </em></p>
<ul> <li>At age 16 I had little idea about the future other than a desire to play my horn. Wasn’t academically inclined at all. Never had a good trumpet teacher until half way through my senior year of high school. Got a full band scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy where the band was terrific and then transferred to Ithaca where all the magic happened! Second career----possibly a writer as I love words and have written probably about 20 notebooks full of poems. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What are three qualities you seek in a friend? How about three qualities that are “game enders?” </em></p>
<ul> <li>Three qualities I’d seek in a friend: sincerity, loyalty, honesty, and a fourth—compassion. Game enders??? Dishonesty, egotistic know-it-alls, extremely bossy people. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What is your favorite way to chill and restore?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Walk the beach and boardwalk!!! </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Are there any foods you simply can’t eat? (not health-wise but they just gross you out-)</em></p>
<ul> <li>Olives and Lima Beans</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>To learn and hear more from Bob: </strong></em></p>
<ul> <li>
<a contents="YouTube: MAYBE SADNESS" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxPjawIEkvU" target="_blank">YouTube: MAYBE SADNESS</a>: <em>"...reknowned trumpeter Chris Gekker and Pianist Lianna Gekker play a jazz ballad I composed to be released shortly on a new CD on the Tonsehen label..." </em>
</li> <li>
<a contents="YouTube: Alec Wilder: SUITE FOR TRUMPET AND PIANO (Robert Levy et al.)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-RcacSjlro" target="_blank">YouTube: Alec Wilder: SUITE FOR TRUMPET AND PIANO (Robert Levy et al.)</a>: <em>"...a recording from 1968 of yours truly performing Wilder’s “Suite for Trumpet and Piano” which was the first of eight compositions he wrote for me up until his death in 1980..."</em>
</li> <li><a contents="Levy/WilderGoFundMe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/alec-wilder-documentary-filmproject" target="_blank">Levy/WilderGoFundMe</a></li> <li><a contents="FundMyFilm from the HeartProductions:" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://fundmyfilm.org/documentary-films/alec-wilder-ill-be-around" target="_blank">FundMyFilm from the HeartProductions</a></li> <li><a contents="Alecwildermusicandlife.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.alecwildermusicandlife.com" target="_blank">Alecwildermusicandlife.com</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>A few spirited autobiographical paragraphs from Bob:</em></strong> </p>
<p>Originally from Freeport, NY, I was one of five kids all pushed by my Mom to play an instrument and be in the band. That way we would be less likely to be hanging around street corners smoking cigarettes with the wrong type of teens. I’m the only one “who jumped off the deep end of the pool” and made music my life! But what a journey it’s been! </p>
<p>I earned degrees from Ithaca College and University of North Texas and completed course work for a doctorate at University of Iowa but never finished there. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/e0a69db1df94c446cb1dd0652c0be2fd514d9b73/original/2.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpeg" class="size_s justify_left border_thin" alt="" />I have balanced a 40-year college/university teaching career with professional activity and engagement and numerous recording projects -more than 60 on a dozen labels as classical trumpeter, with brass quintets, as conductor of wind bands, with jazz groups, and composing. </p>
<p>I never could decide on one thing and got myself going in a multitude of directions. It used to bother me, say 30 years ago. I thought if I’d only chosen ONE thing, I might have become really, really good at it. It took awhile to see that the various musical directions greatly in influenced my musical totality. </p>
<p>I was with Lawrence University beginning the fall of 1979. For over 25 years I conducted more than one hundred concerts and gave a solo trumpet recital nearly annually. In town, I started and led the 18 member “Big Band Reunion” for 21 years. The band produced two CD recordings and was prominently featured at the Fox Jazz Fest, Trout Art Museum Jazz Series, Fox Cities Stadium and throughout Wisconsin, often for charitable events and fund raisers- more than six hundred performances! Jazz greats including trumpeter Clark Terry, trombonist Bill Watrous, singer Marlena Shaw all were featured guests with the band along with local vocalist Janet Planet and pianist John Harmon. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/ee5a10de356a51ace0e4336b51b1cdd46251d971/original/r-levy.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_right border_thin" alt="" />Along the way my journey has taken me to China, Portugal, Canada, Australia twice, and three summers spent in Haiti. For 40 summers I was a guest faculty member at the Red Lodge, Montana Music Festival and also taught at both Interlochen and Tanglewood along with a dozen or so other summer music festivals and camps. </p>
<p>For ten years I was a trumpet artist/clinician for the Getzen Brass Instrument Company and toured and performed extensively throughout the country, often with internationally known marimbist Gordon Stout while performing as the Wilder Duo in honor of American composer Alec Wilder. A double CD is available of all “live” performances we gave. </p>
<p>Since moving eastward 5 ½ years ago to Long Beach, NY I still teach young students privately, continue playing my horn with local artists, and spend most of my time composing.</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/64943852020-12-10T10:30:00-06:002020-12-11T07:31:34-06:00Meet Multi-Musical Whiz Kent Paulsen 🖤🌟<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/69586e6370193acaedf8e38a1e93be15bfaa4f95/original/img-9678-2.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpeg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>About 20 years ago, we moved from Minneapolis to Green Bay. I was still practicing veterinary medicine, but had also been on a gentle path of finding my musical chops in the Minneapolis community. Making music is so much about relationships, and moving to a new area, I really wondered if I would be able to rebuild musical connections similar to those I was leaving behind. One of the first performers I saw in Green Bay was this dynamic piano maestro, and I immediately thought "I want to perform with him someday!" Well, I guess that thing about setting intentions works, because it wasn't long before I WAS performing with him. </p>
<p>Kent Paulsen is a multi-musical whiz- a conductor, artistic director, teacher, gifted singer and instrumentalist. And he is also hilarious. Kent is a performer in his own right, whether he is rehearsing a 120-voice choir or engaging in conversation. Sometimes witty, sometimes eye-rolling "ughs," he has a stream of consciousness that combines an incredible technical and historical knowledge base with some off-the-cuff comments that make him endearing and successful as both a conductor and a genuinely cool person. And then there is his talent... one of those lucky souls from whom music seem to magically pour. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to work with Kent in many different performing opportunities, always learning something! I love this quote from his interview: "I think as I get older I realize that making music is second in priority to the people you make music with." I couldn't agree more!</p>
<p>To learn more about Kent, read on:</p>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/98fa6ddd602d49c0c2123607d207b1c9cd95484e/original/img-3284.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Interview:</strong></p>
<p>1. <em>What is the current focus of your musical creativity and talent? </em></p>
<p>I find my two jobs at St. Norbert College and Calvary Lutheran Church take most of my focus, creativity and efforts, but I also try to find time for some smaller projects. During COVID most of the focus is on figuring things out and much less time spent on actual music. </p>
<p>2. <em>What is your inspiration behind your music? Do you identify more as a conductor, artistic director, a teacher, a performer? Is the energy similar or different between the roles? </em></p>
<p>I could write pages about what inspires me. Past teachers, past events, past experiences etc. all have contributed to where I am today and where I am today will influence and inspire me in five years. </p>
<p>I think the energy is completely different for all of the jobs which is what I find exciting and thrilling about having multiple jobs. Maybe it’s not a good thing necessarily, but if I do just one thing I tend to get bored. So always working on multiple projects, shows, etc. keeps me energized. I think of myself as all of those things, but most importantly a father and husband first. </p>
<p>3. <em>What in your background has prepared you for your many roles? What value do you give your formal training vs. your years of experience?</em> </p>
<p>My mother would want me to say that her making me take piano lessons when I was five! I give a lot of credence to formal training and also informal training—it’s not just what you learn in school but how that prepares you to continue to learn by observing other people. I think I have always sought out older and more experienced people to learn from. </p>
<p>4. <em>What are three qualities that you possess that have been instrumental to your success?</em> </p>
<p>Stubbornness, empathy and curiosity. </p>
<p>5. <em>What is the greatest barrier to achieving the music you want to create? What do you do to overcome that? Do you ever feel like quitting?</em> </p>
<p>Time, money, and opportunities. To overcome you either create the opportunities or change the expectations and opportunities to match the resources. Do I ever feel like quitting? For many years I was ready to give up music at different points—almost always at certain times of the year when you work like crazy and never have free time. To be honest, musicians usually have to give up more nights, weekends, and holidays than “normal” people. And it still is so frustrating that people make 10-20 times more than musicians and teachers do and they certainly aren’t 10-20 harder workers or 10-20 time more valuable than musicians. One of the great barriers that makes me sometimes want to just find a real job that pays a lot of money is that music and culture are not valued financially in our society. </p>
<p>6. <em>You are both a skilled instrumentalist and a gifted singer. Do you have a preference in which way you perform? Do you find the music or the lyrics more moving in a piece of music?</em> </p>
<p>This is going to be a strange answer. I much more prefer to play than to sing because of so many reasons, but I really want the answer to be the other way around. I am far more critical of myself as a singer and since I have sung less I feel not as capable. I also think some of it is that almost everyone can sing and there is far less rigorous training needed to achieve a moderate amount of success. As a conductor, I am most drawn to the interaction of text with the music. But as a pianist, I am more moved by harmony than melody. </p>
<p>7. <em>Did music play a role in your childhood? How about in your present family life? Do you guys randomly burst into Mary Poppins songs like I do? :) </em></p>
<p>I started taking piano lessons when I was five because, as my mother has told the story way more times than she needed to, she couldn’t take piano lessons when she was a kid. I don’t remember too much about having music around—sometimes mom would hum when she cleaned. We had a lot of music at church—and I became an accompanist at church early in my life. Now for my present life, people may find this shocking but I almost never listen to music unless I have to—if it is just on for background noise I find it distracting and would prefer it be off. When driving and no one else is in the car, I would almost never listen to music. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/b1a30f35a63e36f98324bafba139dafab44673d0/original/img-0094.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />8. <em>COVID has impacted the live experience of music. How has it impacted your performances? Are you dreaming up “post-COVID” plans for you, your choirs and ensembles? </em></p>
<p>The obvious answer is just in the number of things that have been cancelled. For many months during the lockdown my wife Emily and I did house concerts live on Facebook which was fun. I have 87 versions of post-COVID plans but trying to make things work and then cancelling gets more frustrating every time it happens. We had a great plan for the Dudley Birder Chorale to record a Christmas program but the rising cases and the Governor’s order forced us to cancel. We are doing a livestream Christmas show for the Knights on Broadway at St. Norbert College which is the first thing to really feel like a normal show in so many months for me. Of course, the students are wearing masks and our blocking keeps everyone 6 feet apart so it is very different from normal Christmas shows. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em>The Knights on Broadway will be livestream performing nightly December 11-16 at 7:00 pm. </em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><em>Tickets and Information on can be found at <a contents="www.snc.edu/knightsonbroadway/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.snc.edu/knightsonbroadway/" target="_blank">www.snc.edu/knightsonbroadway/</a></em></span></p>
<p>10. <em>Can you recommend any favorite holiday recordings for us to enjoy this year from the coziness of our homes? </em></p>
<p>Hmmmm. I am sure this will probably surprise or offend most people, but there are no Christmas songs I listen to for fun. Every time we get to the Christmas season I am listening to every song with an eye towards "<em>should I add it to a show the next year?"</em> Multiple times a day I will email myself or write notes about songs and then I can look at them the following July as we start preparing Christmas. I don’t have any recordings I just put on for chillin’. </p>
<p>11. <em>Can you name a few individuals or mentors that are inspirational to you? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light?</em> </p>
<p>Yes of course-there have been so many. My biggest fear in making such a list is that if I forget someone, then that person will be mad. So in no particular order except perhaps chronological, these are teachers or musicians who have inspired me personally—either they taught me or took an interest in my career and offered guidance and mentorship. Adele Ganz was my piano teacher from age 5 on—really the only piano teacher I ever had. Jeff Krause was my high school choir teacher and passed away recently. He really inspired me to become a teacher. Several teachers at Lawrence, but most specifically Ken Bozeman (voice teacher), Richard Bjella (choir) and Bridget Reischl (orchestra for conducting) and George Damp (my organ prof). My strongest influence on choral conducting was Sharon Hansen. Once I moved to Green Bay there were several people who early on helped and inspired me beyond words—Jim Pahl, Miro Pansky, Marshall Moss, and, of course, Dudley Birder who started most of the things I’m doing now. As I continue to work and perform I am inspired by the people I meet at work with. </p>
<p>12.<em> Do you have any closing words of inspiration for us during this strange pandemic saturated holiday season? Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>An attitude of thankfulness. I am thankful to my wife above all. If I didn’t have her, I could never do the things I’ve done—she has sacrificed so much for me to be able to do the things I wanted to. </p>
<p>Words of inspiration, hmmmm? I think as I get older I realize that making music is second in priority to the people you make music with. </p>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/29808b2c3de8af3b53ac772a985ab59b7cae0b11/original/img-0095.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Just for Fun: </strong></p>
<p><em>Do you have a nickname?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Maybe—but I will not disclose because they usually come from my students and I in no way want to encourage such behavior. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have a favorite song that you love to belt?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Nessun Dorma by Pavarotti, O Holy Night </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you binge watch any shows??</em></p>
<ul> <li>YES—way more than I should. In fact, I must be a little OCD because I keep track on my phones of every show I watch, what episode I am on and who recommended it to me. I can’t start in the middle of a show or a series. I have to watch all the episodes in order. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you prefer fiction of non-fiction? Favorite book?</em></p>
<ul> <li>I prefer reading non-fiction and watching fiction. I don’t have a favorite book because it keeps changing. However, I find there are certain books that if I am compelled to read more than once in a 6 month period they must be on my favorites list. The pandemic gave me more time to read than I have in awhile. Three books that blew my mind that I read more than once and took notes on were <strong>White Too Long</strong> by Robert P. Jones, <strong>Daring Greatly</strong> by Brene Brown, and <strong>Sapiens</strong> by Yuval Harari. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have any secret talents?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>No. I’m the type if I am good at something I want to make sure everyone knows! </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Clean freak or messy-bessie? </em></p>
<ul> <li>I am at heart a clean freak but I don’t often take the energy to make it happen. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have a bad habit? Do share!!</em></p>
<ul> <li>Horrible habits—I consume WAY more carbs and sugars than I ever should. I can’t resist sweets. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What did your 16-year-old self see yourself doing at this point? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today if not for music? </em></p>
<ul> <li>My 16 year old self was trying to decide between a career as the president, professional athlete or astronaut. The 16-year-old gave little or no thought to reality! </li>
</ul>
<p><em>If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on?</em></p>
<ul> <li>A skill I wish I had (although I am not sure it is a skill but a way of living) is being present enough in a moment to actually remember it. I can’t remember people and events but I remember trivia and facts. I wish I were better at remembering connections. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What is your favorite way to chill and restore?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Hanging out at home, watching TV, listening to sports talk radio, sleeping, </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Are there any foods you simply can’t eat? (not health-wise but they just gross you out-)</em></p>
<ul> <li>Coconut, green beans, peas. I am allergic to chicken, turkey, and fish, so there are already a lot of foods I can’t eat, but some foods I just avoid.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>Kent Paulsen is the Artistic Director of the Dudley Birder Chorale, the Director and Founder of the Knights on Broadway, the Music Director for Summer Music Theatre and the Executive Director of the Youth Orchestra Program, all at St. Norbert College, where Kent is also an adjunct member of the music faculty. Kent is the Worship and Music Coordinator, Senior Choir Director, and Organist at Calvary Lutheran Church. Kent also subs in as a keyboard player for touring Broadway shows at the Fox Valley Performing Arts Center and these subbing gigs have also led him to perform with those touring shows in San Diego and Minneapolis. Kent is married to a wonderful, kind, and amazing singer Emily Paulsen, and has 3 great children-Elli (22), Gretchen (18) and Miles (10). Kent graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton and completed his master's degree program at UW-Milwaukee.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/7da948140655694d9c8de2e3ad7998cba26518f1/original/70429969-10156312290901230-7172436470530048-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/64734262020-11-12T13:52:05-06:002020-11-12T13:52:05-06:00Meet Recording Artist, Songwriter, Musical Theater Bard & Teacher Gail Gallagher 🖤✨ <p><strong><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/3512acdb4e237ba8b9da2221b6caa43dbe4388c3/original/68755283-10104801847670743-7763717836417007616-o.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpeg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“I am a firm believer in the joy that comes from healing. Part of why I have gold in my branding is a reference to that Lenoard Cohen line "there's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." I've always been a joyful person but I think my joy has expanded as I have healed and developed into this more grounded complex thing. The album itself is a journey of joy from a more performative 'everything is fine (but it's not fine)' to a more mature 'everything is and that's beautiful.'" -Gail</em></p>
<p>Gail Gallagher sparkles. This multi-talented songwriter, instrumentalist and improv & musical theater artist simply effervesces! And until I read her answers to our interview, I had no idea that others saw this in her as well. I have never been in her physical presence, but her smile and attitude just jump through cyberspace and grab you. Her excitement was bright and palpable as she prepared to release her album “Power of the Unnamed Passion,” so imagine my surprise when I found out it was an album about grief. How can someone who exudes so much joy be feeling grief under it? I had no idea in our year long acquaintance all that she was going through. Her album is just as darling and authentic as she is- with all the feels, and I mean all of them- in a charming home-spun musical-theater-like style. </p>
<p>Grief is something that can stagnate in our hearts. And this time of year, and THIS year especially, wowza it can hit hard, maybe in the loss of a loved one or maybe in the loss of an opportunity or experience. We have been racking up cancellation after cancellation these days. And with the holidays approaching, a time for gathering and hugs and love, our celebrations may continue, but at a distance which just isn’t the same. Also, many loved ones may have passed this year, from COVID or not, and the holidays become a time of sadness and loneliness in a time that we are already pretty sad and lonely. Seriously, who does NOT need a huge hug right now? </p>
<p>Where am I heading with this? Grief will be no stranger this holiday season, and even bright sparkling people like Gail may be experiencing it. We need to not be afraid to embrace the grief in ourselves, to look for it in people where you least expect it, and to be aware that none of us are alone. The closing lyrics of Gail’s song “2:22” are a haunting repetition of “I believe in you…” as though from beyond… Thank you Gail for wonderful words of comfort that perhaps should be a mantra this holiday season. CARE, SHARE words of kindness and CONNECT however you can. </p>
<p>To learn more about Gail and her new album, read on:</p>
<p><strong><em>Interview:</em></strong></p>
<p><em>1. What is the current focus of your creative efforts? Singer, songwriter, producer, teacher, more- ? Which role comes most naturally to you? </em></p>
<p>I think my most natural role is that of a teacher/coach. Even in my music there is an element of teaching and in all the things I do. I am committed to creating a sense of joy, curiosity, and growth. As far as how I spend my time goes, right now I’m juggling promoting the album, teaching lessons and creating content on songwriting, and working on my production skills. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/05795c7ea3e56453d47a70a821d69dac0895bd6d/original/albumcoverresize.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />2. You just released a new album, “Power of the Unnamed Passion,” filled with so many ideas and emotions! What was your inspiration behind it? What is the “Unnamed Passion?” </em></p>
<p>“Power of the Unnamed Passion” is a culmination of a lot of feelings and growth over the past 4 years. The start of this period was August 2016 to August 2017. In that time my mom died, the 2016 election happened, and I turned 30 and got engaged. Through that eventful year and the years that followed I really dove into songwriting and these songs are all important moments in that journey of healing and reflection. </p>
<p>As far as the “Unnamed Passion” goes- the original phrase comes from a conversation with a former professor of mine, Stan Brown, during my first year out of college. We were catching up and I was in a chaotic state of indecision and he referred to those times where you are trying a lot of things and not sure what to do as “the power of the unnamed passion.” That lived in the back of my brain until I wrote the song seven years later. </p>
<p>If I define “the Unnamed Passion” in the context of this album I think the phrase points to the deep well of complex feelings and wounds that are unearthed when life takes a major turn and you go into a season of transition (and yes as the song goes, at first one might interpret that as a need to get a haircut or go to grad school). How you name the “unnamed passion” is taking time to listen to it and check in with yourself. Which is easier said than done. The album is a journey of listening to all those fears, wounds, dreams and everything else that comes to mind when you take the time to check in with your soul. </p>
<p><em>3. Finishing and releasing and album is a huge commitment. Daunting. What are three qualities that you possess that have been instrumental to your success?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Time Management- I found that treating the album production process like you’re rehearsing a play is helpful. Divide everything into small chunks and treat your recording sessions like a play rehearsal and it helps you show up to do the work. Having a clear deadline or an “opening night” is also helpful. </li> <li>Keeping a spirit of “yes and” in the process- the first rule of improv is “yes and.” It helps you follow your impulses and also experiment with the offerings your collaborators bring to the table. That definitely came into play in the recording process (which was done completely remotely with additional musicians emailing me parts, by the way). </li> <li>Learning to delegate and determine which “hat” I’m wearing- When you are producing something you are also writing and performing it’s important to learn which hat you’re wearing when and when you need another person’s input. I definitely learned a lot about how to distinguish which role I was playing when in this process. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>4. What in your background has prepared you for your work in music and theater? Did you have formal training or have you learned more from experience? </em></p>
<p>I was a theatre major. I have a BA in Theatre with a dual emphasis in Performance and Theatre Management/Directing. I took piano lessons from 3rd grade through my senior year of high school and also played violin from 4th grade to high school but chose to focus on theatre as my major. In college, I spent a lot of time jamming in practice rooms and honing my improv skills. I ran off to the music building and took piano breaks in the same way my peers took smoke breaks. Then when I moved to Chicago, I found the music improv scene and found that these intuitive piano skills I had cultivated in college were something I could develop and plug into the improv scene. </p>
<p><em>5. What have been the greatest barriers to you achieving the work you want to create? What do you do to overcome those? Do you ever feel like quitting? </em></p>
<p>I spent a good portion of my teens and 20's with a fair amount of anxiety around performance. I did good work as a performer but it wasn’t until my sophomore year of college where I started to process that “being in the moment onstage doesn’t mean the obsessive thoughts about your director yelling at you.” </p>
<p>I also found myself facing a lot of rejection as I would audition for different roles and as a result I started to produce my own work and plug in with more community groups. </p>
<p>I think my work in improv has been a huge part of working thru my anxiety and understanding the nature of creativity. The constant exercise of being in the flow and making decisions in the moment and riding the wave of a scene has absolutely built my confidence. </p>
<p>My relationship with my anxiety has gotten much better. I definitely still have moments of anxiety and intense perfectionism. I recognize my fears but they don’t take the front seat as much (using a metaphor from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert). Anxiety is still a passenger in the car but it doesn’t get to drive. It does choose the music sometimes. </p>
<p><em>7. You obviously put your heart into each song on your album- so introspective, from the beautiful vocal/cello duet “Empty Wind” to the snappy “Dog Song” you have covered the gamut. Do you have favorite songs from the project? </em></p>
<p>I’ve been with these songs for so long that it’s hard to say which is my favorite. I do know that when I go back to listen to the album I start from the second half. This is because I’m a musical theatre nerd and I structured the album like a musical therefore there’s a clear Act 2 and all my favorite songs are of course in “act 2” (tracks 7 thru 12). </p>
<p><em>8. Tell us a little about your writing process. Imagery and metaphor play a huge role in your lyric- do you have to work at that?</em> </p>
<p>So first of all, the key to my writing process is I just write a lot. There are 12 songs on the album but I wrote at least 60 over the past 3-4 years. I write best in batches and with the restrictions of a challenge. I do February Album Writing Month (14 songs in 28 days) every year and many of the songs come from that challenge. As far as imagery and metaphor go- it’s a huge part of my writing voice. I tend to make up words and play with phrases in my normal conversation and my husband has to remind me to go back and connect the dots sometimes. </p>
<p>Usually when I have a song idea there’s a specific image or metaphor that comes to mind and I build from there. Many of those metaphors are lifted from books I’ve read or podcast lectures I’ve listened to. (ex Spacesuit Days is based on a concept from a Tara Brach lecture). </p>
<p>Musically I have a bit of a synesthetic thing going on. I don’t see music as colors but I do lock into certain keys as having a personality in a way that makes sense to me. So that plays into my choices and storytelling (and also makes me super stubborn about transposing once a song is written which has made Empty Wind an adventure to perform because that low F has become a sometimes note for me) </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/43d40d97fa6a63ed2079eba3a9672f52848a3c0a/original/78814922-10157080819296491-264827314104172544-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />9. What audience are you hoping to reach with your album? </em></p>
<p>Musical theatre fans with big, open, slightly broken hearts who are most likely going thru their “Saturn return”/that time in your late 20s where all the things happen. But really I think anyone who has been thru a major transitional period and wants music that openly reflects on the emotions involved in those transition seasons will resonate with it. </p>
<p><em>10. COVID has impacted the live experience of the arts. How has it impacted your music and your career?</em> </p>
<p>Before the pandemic hit I was juggling teaching, improv shows, and the start of organizing a staged reading for a musical I co-wrote with friends. When we transitioned into stay-at-home times I had online lessons and a couple online improv gigs but I suddenly had more time to focus on my music and the projects that bring me joy. </p>
<p>I have had a lot of fun leaning into the silver lining of everything being online. I’ve become more involved in the assorted online musician communities I’m a part of (shout out to Female Musician Academy and The Amplify community). At one point I hosted a weekly open mic on Instagram and it was so cool getting to know folks that way. I have musician friends all over the country and the world now. I had my release party online and people from all over were able to tune in. </p>
<p>I’ve also had more time to have weekends where I can genuinely recharge and work on hobbies. I’ve done some ridiculous crochet/knitting projects including making my cat a cat couch. I’m working all the time but my work/life balance is sooooo much better. </p>
<p><em>11. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that are inspirational to you? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>The specific artist I “want to be when I grow up” right now is Rachel Bloom who is the creator/ star of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” My dream is to create something like that. Musical theatre content that tells complex stories in a silly but meaningful way with layers of clever jokes and sharp lyrics. </p>
<p><em>12. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>One of my mantras is “we’re all humans learning how to human” I think in this pandemic it’s important to hold space for each other as we’re collectively working thru a time of grief and transition and fear and all the things. In the personal context I think this mantra is helpful in holding grace for ourselves as we check in and learn and work thru whatever we’re going to work thru. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/bd7daeb2e8aea3d08de3733b2f48dc873cbb1035/original/catcouch.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpeg" class="size_s justify_right border_" />Bonus questions (please answer at least three up to all of them!): </p>
<ul> <li>
<em>Do you have a nickname?</em> “Sparklebard”- coined by a group I was working with because anytime I have a moment of musical inspiration when collaborating I light up in this joyful nerdy way </li> <li>
<em>Do you have a favorite song that you love to belt?</em> “Me and the Sky” from “Come from Away” “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from “Sunset Boulevard.” Both of these songs are sung by characters I’m still too young to play but I’ll just put it out there that I’m totally ready if anyone wants to cast me. </li> <li>
<em>Do you binge watch any shows??-</em> Yes. Just finished “Queens Gambit." </li> <li>
<em>Do you prefer fiction of non-fiction?</em> Favorite book?- I read a mix of fiction/nonfiction. I love biography. When I read fiction I love speculative fiction/dystopian fiction. My favorite book from 4th grade onward continues to be The Giver by Louis Lowry. I was hardcore and had my own copy of the book on tape at one point. </li> <li>
<em>What is your favorite way to chill and restore?</em> Knitting and watching reality TV (“Survivor," “Amazing Race,” “Great British Bakeoff” are my top three)</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Connect with Gail:</em></p>
<ul> <li>www.gailgallaghermusic.com </li> <li>Direct link for album: https://gailgallagher.hearnow.com </li> <li>Gail Mail list- www.gailgallaghermusic.com/gail-mail-list </li> <li>Facebook.com/gailgallaghermusic </li> <li>Instagram @sparklebardgail </li> <li>Twitter @sparklebardgail</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Gail Gallagher is a Chicago-based improv music director, performer, teacher, songwriter, and composer whose lyric-driven songs reflect on the highs and lows of life with a witty and vulnerable twist. Gail has worked as a music director in the improv and theatre scene for nearly a decade, and in these pandemic times has taken her services online teaching piano & songwriting lessons and composing original music. She recently released her debut album “Power of the Unnamed Passion” which is available on Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp and wherever else you stream your music.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Photo Credits: Julie Merica Photography</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/db71ff3bdc3c32ebbb9e2c318140f139fb357873/original/gail-bannerupdate.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/64593702020-10-22T10:30:00-05:002022-04-27T12:30:17-05:00Meet Documentary Film Producer Therese Barry-Tanner 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/a76d28c15431aa71e4be3f9dca13ffa5a7f305d0/original/mke-photo.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Modern medical miracles continue to occur that keep our bodies around for longer and longer. But for many, this longevity is not reflected in their fragile brains’ abilities to stay fully functional. Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related illnesses combine to form a pandemic that has proven harder to fight and longer lasting than what we are experiencing with COVID-19. Widespread, prevalent and pervasive, they comprise an insidious disease process that results in the degradation of critical brain processes beyond just the shattering loss of memory and cognitive skills, impacting the lives of millions around the world. My family felt its destructive wrath in my father’s mother and later in him. He passed from a dementia-related illness in 2013 after a 15 year decline. And Therese-Barry Tanner, film producer of “DETERMINED," is no stranger either. </p>
<p>Therese lost her mother to Alzheimer’s in 2008. Together she and her father had cared for her mother at home, and then she went on to be her mother’s advocate when the time came for nursing care. Through the process, and with the realization that Therese herself was at risk due to the highly genetic nature of transmission, Therese became involved in a research project addressing the potential presence and progression of Alzheimer's in the adult children of its victims. And in 2011, she dove into a challenging new role of film producer, showing incredible determination herself as she followed her passion to create a heart-touching documentary highlighting patients with Alzheimer's and their families, and the long journey combatting the disease, along with the hopeful research into how to minimize and even someday cure this disabling and heart-breaking disease. </p>
<p>"Determined" is set to premiere at the Docutah Film Festival the first weekend of November- no small feat in the highly competitive film industry! Congratulations Therese! I wish it a truly fruitful run! Check out the trailer here: https://docutah.com/showcase/determined/</p>
<p>To learn more about Therese and the story behind “DETERMINED” please read on-</p>
<p><strong>Interview: </strong></p>
<p><em>1. Wow. You are a film producer! What exactly does that mean? </em></p>
<p>When I started this project, I had to look the word up in a dictionary! A producer plans and coordinates various aspects of film production. This includes hiring the director and other staff, scheduling and arranging the film shoots (and the myriad of details that go with them), and spearheading funding to give some of the key examples. Because this film is my brainchild, the director (Melissa Godoy) has involved me in the creative side, and I’ve helped with storytelling and editing as well. </p>
<p><em>2. What was your inspiration behind your project “Determined?” </em></p>
<p>I lost my mother, Helen Paul, to Alzheimer’s disease in 2008. I spent seven years (five with my dad) helping to care for her. Early on in her diagnosis, I became a participant in the Alzheimer’s family history study at UW Madison that the film profiles (called WRAP). I wanted to be a small part of the solution to this devastating disease. A few years after my mother died and during a year when my day-job was particularly challenging, my creative side came up with an idea. Because of my personal experience and the difficulties my family faced in caring for my mother, I thought that there was a need to tell the story of how Alzheimer’s disease affects families in an up close and personal way and to provide a window into the world of research on the disease. </p>
<p><em>3. What are three qualities that you possess that you had to call on to bring this film from concept to release?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Ability to sell a concept (I had to call on this from deep within because I did not really possess it until I started this.) </li> <li>Strong organizational and project management skills. </li> <li>Belief and determination. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>4. What training does a person need to take on film production? Did you have formal training, or have you learned more from experience? </em></p>
<p>Movie producers typically earn a bachelor's degree in film, acting, journalism, communication, or another related field. I did not have formal training- it was all “on the job.” I have been fortunate to be mentored by the film’s director, Melissa Godoy. She has always been patient and kind as a teacher, and I am grateful to her. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/868e2096301d463355486e2daf9a7d9106657c88/original/ktqandtm.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />5. How did you assemble your crew? And your cast? I love the line “Push past fear to find answers.” It had to take great courage and determination to agree to be a part of this biopic! </em></p>
<p>Crew - I was fortunate enough to have a friend introduce me to Green Bay area producer, Eileen Littig. Eileen has produced award-winning shows for Wisconsin Public television as well as several documentaries. Her vast experience has been essential to the team. Eileen introduced me to her daughter Melissa Godoy. Melissa has 30+ years in film producing and directing. Melissa is the director, cinematographer, and editor of the film. We then looked to people we knew or worked with to assemble the rest of the team. </p>
<p>Cast- UW Madison’s legal department required us to send a letter to all the people in the WRAP research study on Alzheimer’s disease asking for volunteers. We received responses from 35 people. I came up with the idea to treat it like a job interview and designed screenings using questions that would help us draw out the best candidates. The first screening was via email. We then selected a group who went through phone interviews. We narrowed it to 6 top candidates and interviewed them at their location and filmed these interviews. We were able to arrive at a consensus on the final three. The research team at UW Madison who are in the film gave their time and expertise graciously but did not want to be in the limelight. </p>
<p><em>6. What have been your greatest barriers to producing “Determined?” (Maybe you already answered this in effect, but a quick revisit!) What did you do to overcome those? Did you ever feel like quitting? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Funding </li> <li>Competition in the documentary film industry </li>
</ul>
<p>The only way to overcome the challenge of fundraising is to just keep at it. We looked at all potential sources at a local, state and even national level over the last eight years and we are not finished with fundraising yet! Raising money for a film is tough because it is not a typical cause – especially here Wisconsin. And we are competing with a lot of other good causes. There are specific funds for films too, but these are extremely competitive. I am grateful for the many foundations and individual contributors across the state and beyond that have made DETERMINED a reality! </p>
<p>We hope that now that we have a finished film, the story will help us get the interest of potential distributors. We will need to knock on many doors and look at all potential avenues for distribution over the next six months or so. </p>
<p><em>7. Do you have defining “aha” moments where you finally felt like you could officially call yourself a filmmaker? It is so easy for creatives to feel that “imposter syndrome,” especially early in your career! </em></p>
<p>Our partner and fiscal sponsor the Center for Independent Documentary, is a wonderful organization and began holding meetings in May to help its filmmakers during the difficult time of the pandemic. Many of the filmmakers on these zoom calls are veterans and some are new like me. Being part of this group, as well as the acceptance of me and a few of the other rookies by everyone has made a difference. When I started providing input in late June was the moment when I finally felt like a filmmaker. </p>
<p><em>8. What audience are you hoping to reach with “Determined” and with what outcome?</em></p>
<p>The intended audience is baby boomers and their families. Boomers are now heavily caregiving for parents and coincidentally, most at-risk for future Alzheimer’s. Their children feel the impact, as well. One in ten Americans age 65+ has the disease. We want to increase awareness and educate people about Alzheimer’s disease beyond those impacted by it. </p>
<p>We also want people seeing the film to care about the disease such that they will take-action. After people see our film, we want them to (do one or more of these): </p>
<ul> <li>Improve lifestyle choices to enhance their own brain health. </li> <li>Support families who are living with Alzheimer’s disease and its aftermath. </li> <li>Support and participate efforts to make communities more dementia friendly (this is a national movement). </li> <li>Enroll in a clinical trial.</li>
</ul>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/126a715341b65ec2094bebefbedaed1920190eb1/original/windsor-and-therese.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />9. Have you noticed changes in yourself while working on “Determined?” </em></p>
<p> </p><ul> <li>Learning not to focus so much on outcomes and keep steady at the tasks at hand. You can only control the latter, so put your energy into what you can control. </li> <li>Don’t be afraid to ask people for help no matter what their credentials are or how high up there they may be. There is little risk. You will get the answer no more often than yes, but you will never get a yes if you don’t ask! </li> <li>I’ve learned that most problems have roots in miscommunication and turn out to not be problems at all. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>10. COVID has impacted the experience and production of the arts. How has it impacted you as a film maker?</em> </p>
<p>Fortunately, we were in post-production when the pandemic hit. However, we were scheduled to premiere the film at the Wisconsin Film Festival in Madison in early April this year and the entire festival was cancelled due to COVID. It seemed like a huge blow and it took me some time to work through the disappointment and get over myself. However, this was tiny compared to what people and many small businesses have suffered. </p>
<p><em>11. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that have been particularly impactful to you? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>As I have arrived at this stage of my life and look back, my mom and dad have been key. My dad was an optimist and instilled in all his five children that we could do anything we set our minds to. He also instilled in us the value of working hard by his own example. My mom was a person who cared deeply about other people less fortunate that our family and gave of her time and money to help with causes. And our household was on a tight budget! She volunteered and the county mental hospital to spend time with patients (and took me and three of my siblings with her). Finally, several high school teachers helped me instill more confidence in myself through their positive feedback, encouragement, and willingness to spend time chatting after school. </p>
<p><em>12. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers?</em> </p>
<p>The pandemic is challenging in many ways, no matter who you are or what you do in life. First, I would say if you have been healthy or recovered from COVID, be grateful every day. As my mother used to say, “health is #1.” Maintain your physical and mental well-being, by doing all the things you know are good for you, even when they are hard to do. Key to that is exercise and getting outside! Finally, while it is harder to connect in person with people, there are many ways to “be” with friends and family in our wonderful age of technology. Use them! </p>
<p><strong>Just for Fun:</strong> </p>
<p><em>Do you like to sing? Do you have a favorite song that you love to belt?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>I love to sing. I was in choir in high school and at some churches I’ve belonged to. I love to belt out any Beatles song! </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you binge watch any shows??</em> </p>
<ul> <li>
<em>My husband and I are into Korean dramas on Netflix with great stories, messages, and humor. Yes, they are in subtitles. We are on our third. Our favorite is “My Mister</em>.” </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you prefer fiction of non-fiction? Favorite book? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Fiction; War and Peace. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have any secret talents?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>My secret talent is discipline. Ha ha! It allows me to stick to the things I start. For example, I started a weight training work out 2.5 years ago at a gym and once COVID came, I adapted it for home and am still doing it. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Clean freak or messy-bessie? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Between those two poles. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<ul> <li>Interrupting. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Patience </li> <li>Learning to be calmer about bad news (whatever it may be) and not to overreact. </li> <li>Suspending judgement until I know the full picture. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What is your favorite way to chill and restore?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Walking in Green Bay area parks and trails. </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Connect with Therese: </strong></p>
<ul> <li>Website: http://determinedmovie.com </li> <li>Facebook: @determined </li> <li>Twitter: @willibenext </li> <li>My email: tbarry-tanner@hotmail.com </li>
</ul>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/8fa5f9833a9368e0111c57c5bac026aa95907bc5/original/fam.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/e542309fce28bde50c80db0bf0982770f1c90ff5/original/grandkids.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>About Therese:</strong> </p>
<p><em>Therese Barry-Tanner is a film producer and an Alzheimer's disease research participant. Her film “Determined” is inspired by her experience with her own mother suffering and ultimately passing from Alzheimer's. Prior to producing, Therese worked in healthcare, with over 30 years in program and project management, most recently specializing in healthcare reform and physician quality assurance at a Fortune 500 company. DETERMINED is her first film.</em></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/64446052020-10-01T10:30:00-05:002020-10-10T13:11:36-05:00Meet International Music Business Entrepreneur and Coach Bree Noble 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/53b7d5374e0d9c4174f5c1eda130b23a8f8fa6ed/original/79894814-10221351899855016-3129059867579383808-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />This is a must read. I admire this woman so much. The music business is honestly terrifying. We who create music are savagely pouring our hearts, our ideas, our experiences into an ethereal, taste-driven format- music- and tragically hoping to connect. That is why we release it, hoping that someone out there says, “YES! That is SOOO me!!” But… what if no one even hears it? Our culture is saturated with an incredible variety of sounds and images, some brilliant and some… well brilliantly tailored to catch your eye, froth rising to the top but without substance. How does an Indie artist who HAS substance and under-the-radar originality gain his or her toe-hold in the shifting attention spans crafted by our cultural obsession with the latest shiny object? Ahhhh… enter world renowned music marketing and business coach, founder of “Women of Substance Radio” and “The Female Entrepreneur Musician,” Bree Noble. </p>
<p>Bree is a dynamic blend of nurtured creativity and disciplined strategy. Music makers may explode with right-brained brilliance, but to employ that left-brain to define their demographic, to hone marketing and booking tactics, to get over “Imposter Syndrome” and treat themselves as true professionals can be as unfathomable as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Bree has gently and fervently taken on the task of motivating, validating and educating Indie artists, in effect “herding creative cats” via providing a platform of valuable and manageable business strategies, a radio station and podcast series to deliver the goods, and a community of support and accountability. Bree is the worldwide go-to resource for Indie artists “of substance” in all genres, and also an all-around amazing human being. To learn more about this awesome woman, read on:</p>
<p>Interview </p>
<p><em><strong>1. What is the current focus of your work in the music industry? Promotion, creation, education- you do so much! </strong></em> </p>
<p>I do like to do a lot of things! I’d say my current focus is education. Putting on free workshops that help musicians, recording podcast episodes and of course working with my Academy members of some of my favorite weekly activities. I wish I had more time to create. I do the occasional demo recording for songwriters and the occasional live performance, but with the hours I put in on my business projects and spending time with my family, I don’t find any songwriting time during this season. I know that will change once my kids are out of the house in a few years. As for promotion, I definitely still promote quality music by female artists through our Women of Substance platform. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>2. What inspired you to take on the world of training musicians to be business savvy? How does this inspiration compare to your songwriting and performing? </strong></em></p>
<p>I started this business helping musicians because I personally lived this struggle back in the early 2000s. Ironically, although I have a dual degree in music performance and business, I had not learned to marry the two for a long time. When I was promoting my music, I took off my business hat and put on my musician hat. It was only once I learned to merge the two that I started to have success as an Indie artist. </p>
<p>So I knew that if even I, a business major and corporate CFO, was struggling with merging the two, there were thousands of musicians out there dealing with the same issue. And I knew I could help. </p>
<p>I was also at a place in my personal life where I didn’t want to be on the road anymore because my kids needed me at home so it was good timing. I had built a large following through my Women of Substance platform and musicians were already reaching out to me for help with their marketing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/f56094c760d298c0efa80301ad1e850466a5ca69/original/43581320-10217694826990480-5686930750268506112-o.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" />3. You are an awesome balance of right and left brain. What in your background has prepared you for your combined artistry and business sense? Did you have formal training or have you learned more from experience? </strong></em></p>
<p>I have always known I wanted to sing and loved music. I also knew I was good at math. Not the complex, heady math like calculus or geometry, but the practical math. While in college studying music and vocal performance, I got an inkling that I should hedge my bets in the job market and focus on something a little more “practical” just in case. I took a Financial Accounting class my sophomore year and loved it. I ended up becoming the TA for the class the next year and deciding to double major in small business Accounting & Management. I planned to go into Arts Management but didn’t get into the Graduate programs I wanted (very small programs that were highly competitive). So I navigated the work force and eventually landed as the CFO of a top 15 Opera Company. This position, more than any, helped me merge the right brain and left brain because I was working with artists all day. Much of my job involved breaking down complex financial systems like budgets, spreadsheets and P&Ls into concepts artists could understand. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>4. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? Are these qualities similar to what you like to see in aspiring musicians? </strong></em></p>
<ul> <li>#1 is perseverance. Growing up with Glaucoma, I have had to work harder than the average student, using adaptive technology to work and learn at the same pace as everyone else. I overcame a lot of stigmas to land my first jobs in the 90s when managers weren’t as “enlightened” as they are today. I think this experience helped me adapt and persevere in my music career and it is an invaluable trait for musicians in this difficult business.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul> <li>#2 is authenticity. I believe people appreciate when public figures are real and don’t try to portray some idealized life and persona. I think this is KEY for musicians. Potential fans want to know you and the stories of your life that are behind the music you create. </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul> <li>#3 is being a productive action-taker. I’m not going to lie and say that I never procrastinate. We all do. But for me, the key has been to put systems into place to mitigate procrastination and encourage me to take action. There are so many talented musicians out there who’s music is amazing but no one has heard it because they don’t have enough will to take action. They are hoping a manager or label will swoop in and do it for them. That is not the way the music industry works now. You have to be proactive and organized as an Indie artist because you have to wear many hats. </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>5. What have been the greatest barriers as you have been building your business? What do you do to overcome those? Do you ever feel like quitting?</strong></em> </p>
<p>Just like most musicians, I probably “feel” like quitting at least once per week or once per month. Running a business is not easy. You are in the public eye and our current social media culture makes it easy to “bash” people with anonymity. It’s amazing how much flack you can get online for just trying to help people (and make a living doing it.) </p>
<p>But when I started this business, I focused on the fact that most businesses fail within the first 2 years. I think the number is like 80% of online businesses don’t survive past the 2 year mark. So my mantra was that if I just kept with it long enough, all those other people would fall off the map but I’d still be left standing. So my goal was to stay in the game and remain one of the last ones standing. </p>
<p>But outlasting the competition wasn’t enough. I had to love what I do. And I do! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>7. Tell us about your currently running “Music with a Conscience” series on your award winning podcast- it is so timely! And a favorite of many! </strong></em> </p>
<p>This series was born about 10 years ago. My goal with the Women of Substance platform was to promote music that was high quality, but that also had something to say to the world that mattered. This series has been a way to focus on songs that tackle important subject matter. The series has grown to be extremely popular and has become a place that socially-conscious artists can share their viewpoints without judgement. </p>
<p>We cover tough subjects like #MeToo, abuse, addiction, depression and suicide, homelessness, immigration, politics, environmental issues, racism and more. This year, different from previous years, we have two full episodes highlighting Black Lives Matter and one episode focused on the unique problems of 2020 like the Pandemic. </p>
<p>The series has grown from a 3 hour show to an entire 9 week series in 2020! The series includes over 30 hours of socially-conscious music, available on-demand once each episode is released, running from September 14 - November 13, 2020. </p>
<p>To find the Women of Substance "Music with a Conscience" podcast series:</p>
<ul> <li><a contents="Apple Podcasts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-of-substance-music-podcast/id939201604" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a></li> <li>
<a contents="Website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://breenoble.libsyn.com" target="_blank">Website</a> </li> <li><a contents="Music with a Conscience Setlists" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://Music%20with%20a%20Conscience%20Setlists%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B" target="_blank">Music with a Conscience Setlists</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>8. What criteria do you look for in a song when considering whether to add it to your podcast? </strong></em></p>
<p>Quality of recording is key. Listeners have come to expect a certain level of professional, radio-ready music on our show. Honestly, no matter the power of the lyrics or the talent of the vocalist and instrumentalists, if the recording quality is sub-part, the listener won’t be able to experience those awesome benefits because they’ll be distracted and turned off. So our review board is pretty strict on judging the quality of recording. If you have the skill to record at home and create a professional-sounding mix, then home recordings are accepted. And we do play the occasional live or acoustic recording, but the quality must be crystal clear and without distracting background noise. </p>
<p>Most of the songs we play have vocals. The vocals must be in tune and sound great. </p>
<p>Songs don’t have to have “deep” lyrics to be chosen, but we always love that kind of composition. But songs can be about love or lighter subjects, even funny. What we don’t accept are songs that in my opinion have no subject matter value - like songs with explicit sexual reference or about drugs, partying, etc. We also have to keep our lyrics pretty clean to maintain our iTunes “non explicit” rating. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>9. What is the biggest mistake you see musicians make when trying to advance their careers? </strong></em> </p>
<p>Comparing themselves to other artists and trying to imitate what those successful artists are doing is the biggest mistake I see artists making. It’s not that imitation is bad. But especially for artists in the early stages of their career, it can be very discouraging. </p>
<p>You can’t expect to copy what another artist is doing which is years ahead of you in career growth and have it yield the same results for you. That artist has laid the foundational groundwork with platforms and fan base that you haven’t yet created. It would be like trying to cook a piece of meat on a dry pan on low heat versus using some oil and high heat. You as an artist must put in the work first to get that “oil” in place (platforms and systems) and then turn up the heat on that pan (grass roots audience-building on social media and growing your email list). </p>
<p>Most artists get frustrated that it will take a lot of focused time and energy to build their platforms and warm up a fan base. They often give up before seeing the results. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/d03af93d59f754470dc541f8fe7e1a6e77577120/original/118087943-10223769336369418-1842088756870428056-n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /> </p>
<p><em><strong>10. TIME MANAGEMENT!! You have a beautiful, active family, and about 17 branches of your business, including performing and songwriting. Any quick tips on how you fit it all in? </strong></em> </p>
<p>I get up early! When my kids were little I started getting up early so I could have focused time before they got up. Back then they got up at 6 AM so I would get up at 5 AM. That allowed me time for “morning pages” which is a songwriting ritual that helped me write my first album. </p>
<p>Even now that my girls are 17 and 11, I get up at 4 or 5 AM. It is my best, focused time. But, I am a morning person. For those reading this, maybe your focus time is in the evening after everyone has gone to bed. It’s not about the time. It’s about carving out alone time when YOU are most productive. </p>
<p>I also fess up that I do work on weekends. I do this because I want to have flexibility on my weekdays to carve out time for exercise and helping kids with homework, etc. I don’t mind working a few hours on Saturday and Sunday if it means I can enjoy everyday of my week more. I still have plenty of time to relax and do fun stuff on the weekend. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>11. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that are inspirational to you? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </strong></em> </p>
<p>My songwriting and performing inspirations are many of the female artists of the 90s and 2000s, the LIlith Fair crowd who blazed a trail for women in the industry, like Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Indigo Girls, Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Ingrid Michelson, Missy Higgins, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tori Amos and so many more. </p>
<p>In business, some of my online mentors have included Jill & Josh Stanton of “Screw the Nine to Five”, Amy Porterfield and Haley Burkhead (who I am proud to work with on a daily basis as head coach of her program Recurring Profit.) </p>
<p>In the music business, I am proud to call so many amazing artist advocates my friends including Rick Barker, Michael Elsner (Master Music Licensing), Kris Bradley (Produce Like A Boss), Michael Walker (Modern Musician), Tara B (Book Like A Boss), Ariel Hyatt (Cyber PR) and many more. They inspire me everyday to strive to serve artists to my highest ability. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>12. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers?</em></strong> </p>
<p>One important thing I always tell musicians, and it’s even more important in this quarantine time, is to find a community of like-minded people to keep you accountable and to share wins and struggles with. This is the biggest reason I created the Female Musician Academy. A community like this is what helped me have the motivation and know-how to get my music career off the ground. And having a safe place to share with other women like you who are serious about building a music career or at least getting their music heard can be a game-changer. </p>
<p>If you don’t yet have a community, you can dip your toe into the water in our free Facebook group at www.woscommunity.com or reach out to me about joining the Female Musician Academy at bree@femusician.com or on Instagram DM @women_in_music </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>Just for fun: </strong></em></p>
<p><em>Do you have a nickname?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Bree Bagel (I ate a bagel everyday for breakfast in college) </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you like to sing? Do you have a favorite song that you love to belt?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Somewhere from West Side Story </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you binge watch any shows??</em></p>
<ul> <li>Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Hip Hop Evolution, Succession </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?</em> <em> Favorite book?</em></p>
<ul> <li>I like both. I recently read “A Woman Is No Man” (fiction). It was riveting. Non-fiction I recently read “Free To Focus” which was great for making my productivity system even better. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have any secret talents?</em></p>
<ul> <li>I am a card shark, but not gambling games. More like Cribbage and Hearts. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Clean freak or messy-bessie?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Neither. I hate clutter but also hate cleaning. I’m big on outsourcing the cleaning to my kids and paying them so they learn to work for their pay and do a good job. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you listen to music in your free time? Who’s on your playlist?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Everyone! I have a ton of Spotify playlists I’ve created for every mood. But I confess to listening to 1980s Top 40 Countdown shows while doing the dishes. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you have a bad habit? Do share!!</em></p>
<ul> <li>I love bread and eat way too much of it. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What did your 16-year-old self see yourself doing at this point? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today?</em></p>
<ul> <li>I assumed I’d be doing something in music, but it wasn’t at all what I’m doing now. I thought I’d be teaching music or working as a studio engineer. I did think I’d be performing but never expected the performing and teaching would look the way they do now and be online (I grew up in the 80s so online business own was not a career!) </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What are three qualities you seek in a friend? How about three qualities that are “game enders?”</em></p>
<ul> <li>Three qualities I seek are integrity, fun and the ability to talk for hours and not notice that time has passed. Game-enders would be lying, gossip-mongering and talking too much about their kids and their problems. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on?</em></p>
<ul> <li>I’d love to play the guitar. I can play a few chords but I may start working on this in earnest once the kids are out of the house. I always had trouble because I didn’t like how my fingers felt numb from calluses when playing the piano. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What is your favorite way to chill and restore?</em></p>
<ul> <li>Playing word games. Sitting in the backyard in the sun reading a book. Walking several miles listening to an audio book. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Are there any foods you simply can’t eat? (not health-wise but they just gross you out-)</em></p>
<ul> <li>Hot Dogs! </li>
</ul>
<p>to connect with Bree:</p>
<ul> <li>http://www.breenoble.com </li> <li>http://www.facebook.com/breenoblemusic </li> <li>http://www.twitter.com/breenoble </li> <li>http://www.wosradio.com </li> <li>http://www.facebook.com/wosradio </li> <li>http://www.twitter.com/wosradio<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/4278ed7392e0002a027cd5d15ef9e26cbf693d20/original/110236936-10223442031306996-6010123965608103216-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></li>
</ul>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/64296622020-09-09T22:13:24-05:002020-09-10T10:41:20-05:00Meet Filmmaker and Photographer Jocelyne Berumen 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/b76295a8bb6f1308b53fc8b3f2ff14ea3860b87a/original/botanical-gardens-photos-of-jocelyne-berumen-2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>One year ago today, a film crew and I were scrambling across three counties to film our ambitious music video “Lone Wolf.” We had to move the schedule up because we were dodging non-stop torrential rain storms for the week ahead, and we had a window of only about six hours to accomplish filming at three distinct outdoor sites. How were we made aware of this narrow window? Because our incredible director had a mainline to a local meteorologist and was getting minute by minute updates. How cool is that? So we gathered and texted and called and carpooled and somehow pulled together to make it happen, with about 45 minutes to spare. In addition, our incredible director was in pretty significant discomfort recovering from a recent leg injury. She should have been icing and elevating, but no, she was tramping through weeds and forests, working her tail off in the field directing what was to become our beautiful, epic music video “Lone Wolf.” </p>
<p>This amazing director is Jocelyne Berumen, a creative talent with a mysterious depth and artistic aura reminiscent of Frida. I met Jocelyne while I was researching the creation of our video “Supernatural.” She came to our first meeting prepared with forethought and originality on how to capture our unusual song in film and a clear vision of how to make it happen. And did she ever make it happen! She also has always been on budget and on time- WOW- for anyone in the artistic world you know that is an incredible feat. She has been a catalyst for me- a collaborator with gentle understanding and an old soul energy, bringing out the best in all who work with her. </p>
<p>Young, beautiful, positive and so capable! You must read on to learn more about this up and coming filmmaker from Northeastern Wisconsin.</p>
<p><strong>Interview: </strong></p>
<p><em>1. What is the current focus of your creative work? </em></p>
<p>Currently, or maybe always, I am all over the place. During summer all I did was take photographs of models in vintage clothes I had bought before the pandemic hit. Now, I have been working on script doctoring and line producing for feature films. I have always been split between being a photographer and capturing stills, or telling stories through video. In everything I have worked on though, I see myself as a director. I direct models to produce a certain feeling or mood as much as I direct characters in films. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>2. What is your inspiration behind your creativity? Do you identify more as film producer or still photographer? Is the inspiration similar or different between the roles? </em></p>
<p>Imagine being five years old and telling all your school mates that the reason the wind is blowing so hard is because the devil is angry and is whistling their names. Then you all stare off at the wildly blowing sweeping willows, hear the whistling and run off like your life depended on it. The next day, your school mates come back to you for another story. I was raised with my superstitious family members in Mexico before moving back to the United States. Back in Mexico, all of my mother’s family members are creatives. They write, they sing, they dance, they film, they draw, but most importantly, they tell stories. The stories they filled me with were wild, free, crazy, and unforgettable. I brought this love for storytelling and art to America. </p>
<p>I think my inspiration comes from wanting to tell a good, meaningful story that evokes a strong feeling. I want others to feel as excited as I felt as a child in Mexico. To me, if a project of mine does not have substance behind it, the project is not at its full potential. I have recently been taking portraits for fun because I love being able to create a mini scene. I get to choose the outfit, the location and the mood. Maybe it is just me trying to put a reason and purpose to everything I do. I am definitely more of a film producer, but portrait photography has been really fun during these times of isolation. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/b8a10ad01f145bca235507d62735d2b8e2751480/original/photo-by-alexia-castro-dirty-martinis-music-video.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />3. What in your background has prepared you for your combined artistry and business sense? Did you have formal training or have you learned more from experience? </em></p>
<p>I already spoke on my mother’s side, my father’s on the other hand… They are all small business owners. Even in the small villages in Mexico, all of them owned a business. My father started his own lawn care business when I was in middle school. I watched him grow from struggling to find clients to now having his own employees do the work for him. I didn’t learn specific techniques from him; I think I just have that passion in my blood. I go out and use resources, people, books or online to help me learn the business side. I enjoy it. </p>
<p>I did not go to college to learn or train formally on filmmaking. Most of it was from working hands on with mentors and other professionals in the industry. Every job I’ve taken, if I show enough interest, someone will take me under his or her wing and teach me everything they know. I’m always so grateful for the people I’ve met, and projects we work on. For example, after working at the news station without a degree, I showed interest in news photography. Although I did not get the job right away (due to having no formal experience), I was given a chance to shadow under other photographers. Soon, I would be out there driving news cars by myself and shooting for stories. I was able to learn a lot about lighting from Tony Reale of Creative Edge Productions. Screenwriting from the long calls with Tom Mccurrie in L.A. I read many, many books as well. </p>
<p>Portrait photography was easy to pick up after learning videography. To improve, I just took more photos, and went to conferences to meet other photographers such as Promoting Passion by Brooke Shaden. Collaboration is huge when it comes to the creative world and improving your craft. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>4. What are three qualities that you possess that have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<ul> <li>People Person - I really care about those I interact with. Contrary to introverted stereotypes, I truly want to see others happy and successful. </li> <li>Passionate - Everything I do, I want to do very well. I am very hard on myself when something does not come out as I planned it to. </li> <li>Optimistic - Under every circumstance I see the bright side. Many tell me I am way too optimistic for my own good, but when you have projects that rely on your quick thinking, last minute decisions, you have to be. </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/150d44075194357a267568dbd412af6b81883341/original/photo-by-laura-anne-henderson-bts-of-lone-wolf.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />5. What have been the greatest barriers to you achieving the work you want to create? What do you do to overcome those? Do you ever feel like quitting? </em></p>
<p>The greatest barrier has been myself. Constantly fighting the imposter syndrome, and telling myself that I CAN do these things is a struggle. I have moments where I back out of a project out of fear that I am not good enough for it. I’m also truly an introvert. It can be so difficult sometimes leaving my house and talking to a possible client- a stranger. There is such a tough inner battle to show the world who I am in person, and not just online. </p>
<p>On another note, I am in my mid twenties. I don’t go out and party on the weekends, I don’t even drink at bars with friends. I don’t have a partner to take me to the movies or to the musicals. Sometimes I wish to be able to experience these things instead of sitting at home figuring out what my next business move is. “I should just leave that stuff aside and work a 9-5, and marry a nice guy before I turn 30.” </p>
<p>I overcome all this by talking to trusted mentors or friends. People who understand this path. They motivate me, and even join me. After all, the biggest reason for my success are these connections I make with others. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>6. Has being a woman, being young or being of Mexican descent been an obstacle to you? Have you ever felt that you were disregarded professionally because of any of these qualities? </em></p>
<p>This field, or industry, has always been male dominated. Even in high school, I took the video and editing class four years in a row, and all four years I was the only girl. Was it hard? Sort of. Did it change me? Not one bit. I made sure to stay feminine, and true to myself. It was a bit awkward at times. I remember clearly how some groups of men didn’t know how to interact with me around. There were times when some of my mentors felt the need to say, “We probably shouldn't say this around a girl.” In both my production jobs and news jobs, I would wear a dress or skirt and someone would always freak out. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, these same men taught me everything I know, have opened many doors for me, and always have their arms open to help. </p>
<p>What truly was an obstacle is my quiet, shy demeanor. If I were to have been more talkative, more expressive, I know I could avoid so many awkward situations. If I were more willing to go out to social events, maybe I would have made more connections. It was never because someone heard me speak Spanish and said, “Oh my gosh you aren’t White??” it was always, “We thought you hated us and didn’t like parties, so we didn’t invite you to this super cool event where you could have made nice connections.” </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>7. Do you have defining “aha” moments where you finally felt like you could officially call yourself a filmmaker? It is so easy for creatives to feel that “imposter syndrome!” </em></p>
<p>I have two of those moments! The first time was when I won my first film festival award in high school. It was for a short three minute film that I made with my friend for fun. We sat at the event room and watched all these awesome films by people in the industry. Then those same filmmakers had a segment where they talked to us, “Future Filmmakers” and made all of us repeat back to them that we are already filmmakers. My parents, always skeptical of what I was doing, were proudly holding the award my friend and I won. </p>
<p>The second time was after “Supernatural” played at the Wildwood Film Festival, and I found out we won first place. As I was going home that night because I was too awkward to stay at the after party, Greg stopped me to congratulate me. I felt that I did belong there. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>8. Do you have favorite memories of your childhood? Does your childhood play a role in your artistic vision? </em></p>
<p>All of my adventures in Huitzila, Zacatecas, Mexico are my favorite. There is no doubt in my mind that those memories play a role in my artistic vision. Taking trips up the mountains and having a picnic, or picking guavas next to a flowing river. Seeing the turtles wash up on your yard, or the giant snakes curl up in the streets during the rainy season. All of these in combination with the stories from my family and mother, really helped keep my vision fresh.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>9. Do you consider your films and photos empowering? To those who see them, to those who are in them, and/or to you who creates them? </em></p>
<p>I want people on the other side of the lens to feel empowered and beautiful. It is a future goal to create more powerful work. I am grateful for the clients I have had and their willingness to let me express it. I don’t think I am there yet, but it is certainly a goal. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/a9e92b4280437cbe9a6cbabd5e22c81c4c599948/original/portrait-of-jocelyne-berumen-by-pearl-llc.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />10. You have recently delved into self-portraiture and modeling. How does it feel to be on the other side of the lens? </em></p>
<p>I would have never imagined myself in front of the lens as much as I have been doing. I blame COVID. I have always been extremely self-critical and hated seeing myself in photos, but because others have been so kind and supportive I have been nicer to myself. It feels empowering. I picked up how to pose because of how much I direct others, but it also helped me fine tune my directing. </p>
<p>At this point, so many people have asked me, “Are you a model or a photographer?” I reply, “A director!” It’s pretty comical. I also had a photographer once invite me to a collaboration with her. I assumed I was a photographer, but comes the day she asks what I will be wearing and I go, “OH. I am the MODEL??” </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>11. COVID has impacted the creation and experience of the arts in so many ways. How has it impacted you as a photographer and film maker? </em></p>
<p>The Pandemic has unfortunately caused the cancellation and delay of many projects. This year I had so many music videos, and art films planned. I was also forced to stay in my house for a few weeks, and created a lot of self-portraits. Even as an introvert, this was breaking me. The optimistic in me fought through it though. I sat down and wrote a lot. I was able to master taking portraits using only my 90mm to stay far from models. I made many friends online within the creative community. Still, I long for the days I get to do large productions for musicians and artists. Hopefully soon. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>12. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that are inspirational to you? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>My friends think this is weird, but Catherine the Great is a huge inspiration. I read a book on how people use seduction to gain power, The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene, and her story was one that stuck out to me the most. I really recommend looking up the history of how she became queen of Russia without even being Russian. </p>
<p>The Mexican film director Guillermo Del Torro is another inspiration. His work and his story make me so proud to be Mexican. I would love to be able to meet him and have a conversation with him about the vivid stories he writes. </p>
<p>There are so many people I work with personally that it is so hard to choose. Everyone I have met on this path is worthy of a shout out! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>13. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>Everyone is having a hard time right now. Reach out, through text, through a call. It really does help. Collaboration is huge, make good lasting friendships with those you work with. Be genuine with them. It goes a long way. Also, something I had to learn during this time: Be patient with yourself. I became so eager to do creative work again that I overbooked myself to the point of not being able to wrestle all the projects in time. Taking a break is a good thing. It is okay to stand back and breathe. There is no doubt that good things come to those who are patient. Wish I could extend a hug out to everyone! </p>
<p> <strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Just for fun :</strong> </p>
<p><em>Do you have a nickname? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Everyone calls me Jocy, my close friends call me Ocy. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you like to sing? Do you have a favorite song that you love to belt? </em></p>
<ul> <li>I LOVE singing. Can I sing well? No. I love belting out to songs by Natalia Lafourcade. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you binge watch any shows</em>?? </p>
<ul> <li>I try really hard not to, but recently I have been sucked in by Outlander! I also binged The Witcher, and The Mandalorian. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Do you prefer fiction of non-fiction? Favorite book? </em></p>
<ul> <li>I prefer to read non-fiction books such as The Power of Seduction by Robert Greene, and Shooting to Kill by indie film producer Christine Vachon </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Clean freak or messy-bessie? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Both… When I stress out, I clean non-stop. When I am busy… Everything’s a mess. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What did your 16-year-old self see yourself doing at this point? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today if not for writing? </em></p>
<ul> <li>I always wanted to be a director, since I was in 5th grade. I would tell all my teachers that my dream job was being a director. When I got older though, an interest for world history grew. I think a close second career would have been some sort of anthropology study. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>What is your favorite way to chill and restore? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Sitting down and watching a good show with some hot chocolate, or going out to a cafe and writing in my planner. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>Are there any foods you simply can’t eat? (not health-wise but they just gross you out-) </em></p>
<ul> <li>Pickles. I can not with Pickles. </li>
</ul>
<p>Connect with Jocelyne:</p>
<ul> <li>Website: https://www.cyclopsgirl.com</li> <li>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cyclopsgirl</li> <li>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelyne.berumen, https://www.instagram.com/cyclops.girl</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/8a4eded654fae87756731471a953d5a96f99c7b8/original/cle-4501-210untitled.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Jocelyne Berumen is a born American raised Mexican creative professional who is split evenly between a business mindset and an artistic portfolio. Carrying a shy demeanor has yet to stop her from producing and directing award-winning projects in the Green Bay, WI, area. Most recently, the music video, "Lone Wolf", by Rändi Fay, was submitted and accepted at many film festivals around the globe, collecting a few awards along the way. Occasionally, she'll take on event projects, such as a local fashion show, as a means to help the growing creative community. Jocelyne was mentored by accomplished local company Creative Edge Productions, and L.A. based screenwriter Tom Mccurrie. Now, she spends her free time line producing and script doctoring, while maintaining a full-time job and a part-time photography business. Jocelyne believes that every project and task handed to her deserves full passion and commitment, and the only time for a break is when it is time to reflect on all that has been accomplished as a result. She hopes to continue being a part of the filmmaking community, and to one day produce her own features to share her dedication for storytelling with the world. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Photo credit: Irma Varela, Alexia Castro & Laura Anne Henderson, </p>4:59Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/64161642020-08-27T10:35:00-05:002020-08-27T10:40:09-05:00Meet Pianist and Composer Kayla Peeters 🖤 🌟<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/df888923a2b263ba6484197327b82fc9be2126b8/original/100478863-3832170163521245-5653952354987278336-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Building relationships is critical to success in the music business. Heck, it’s critical to success in any business, including “the business of life.” I often hear references to cronyism or nepotism, and sure they exist, but the practice of relying on someone regardless of their skills just because he’s someone’s brother-in-law is antithetical to what I am saying. That approach often backfires, getting you stuck working with under-qualified, unreliable, grumpy individuals. I can handle under-qualified if they are willing to learn, but unreliable and grumpy are right out. Life is toooooo short. For me, it’s not so much about who you KNOW, it’s more about who you TRUST- trust to work hard, to be honest, to be prepared, to value your efforts and skills as much as you do theirs, to be a fun, positive and reliable influence in your work together. </p>
<p>I met Kayla Peeters right after she released her first single “Brynlee’s Theme” in May, and I immediately knew she would rock this business, simply by her natural expression of those aforementioned qualities. She balances graciousness and ambition, gratitude and grit. I would work with her any day. Although she was a brand new recording artist, she already had an avid and engaged social presence, no doubt due to her beautiful commitment to performing her enchanting piano pieces on “Facebook Lives” starting during the COVID quarantine. She was already building a relationship of trust among her fans. How cool is that? And how strong and brave as well. Performing on those live streams is terrifying… um… says one who is to chicken to even give it a try! </p>
<p>Kayla recently posted on her Facebook page this Helen Hayes quote: “The expert in anything was once a beginner.” This is “can-do” attitude elucidates Kayla’s approach to her piano students and to her own career as a classical-crossover composer, performer and now recording artist. She is bubbling with creativity and a willingness to learn from the greats every step of the way. She has released three more singles this summer and has an upcoming album release this fall. To learn more about Kayla and her music, read on: </p>
<p>Interview: </p>
<p><em>1. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community? </em></p>
<p>My current focus in the creative community would be imprinting all I have learned and know into my students. I have a wonderful group of talented students of all ages and skill levels. I find that being creative and guiding them with a student lead approach helps keep everyone happy and striving to learn more. We really have fun with composition and improvisation. That is where we get to highlight our true selves at our instrument. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/da5587c8a891ecca1e0c0857276352c097a5c56c/original/image4.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />2. What is your inspiration behind your music? Do you identify more as a writer, a performer or a teacher? Is the inspiration similar or different between the roles?</em> </p>
<p>The inspiration behind the music first would be as a performer. I love to perform! Though I have to say in the end these are pretty evenly matched! I enjoy composing-writing just as much as performing. Seeing the piano as an open canvas is pretty exciting! Teaching is so special to me. I 100% invest all I am into each individual lesson. There is so much joy in seeing a student have beautiful learning moments at the piano. I have a lot of composers and performers in my pack and I feel lucky to guide the light </p>
<p><em>3. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<p>When I started playing the piano, my parents were always very supportive of my playing and were dedicated from the start. They gifted me an acoustic piano as a child just starting lessons. Having an instrument to call my own as a beginner was very instrumental to my success. <br>I always listened to so many varieties of music. I feel learning through listening was very essential to my success. I followed every step of those artists I was inspired by. George Winston always inspired me to be the best I could be. <br>I have always played by ear and understanding I can pick up the tone easily and read music made me advance and strive to become efficient at both. </p>
<p><em>4. Tell us about your upcoming CD- And what is the inspiration behind the songs and a little about your writing process?</em> </p>
<p>The entire album has been postponed to release in fall! I decided to remaster a few songs I wrote and they will be added! I have been so tuned in this past year and writing like crazy. I am really excited to share all of the tracks on the album. It is a little bit of everything and I cannot wait to release the finished product! The inspiration came from rediscovering myself. This has been a big year off change and all things are going in the right direction. </p>
<p><em>5. You have a beautiful young daughter. Has becoming a mother impacted your playing and writing? How do you fit it all in? </em></p>
<p>Becoming a Mother has been the BEST! I love being a mom. I have tried to balance all of the things and it does get hard. Typically when I am at the piano, Bryn wants to be at the piano. When I turn on the microphone, Bryn wants the microphone. You get the trend! A lot of my work is done after 11pm when everyone is asleep. That is when my mind is open and writing comes natural and organic in the night hours. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/376e1af8e81cada91e86c5b910f38eaca7b43f86/original/image3.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />6. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career as a musician? </em></p>
<p>Taking on gigs were big turning points in my career. Becoming comfortable as a performer takes a lot of bravery and confidence. I didn’t always have that but overcame it. I reached out to a lot of professionals who I idolize and asked so many questions about this field. It was amazing that I had so many honest responses. This has helped open a lot of doors for me and has also educated me a lot in the growing process. Another turning point was understanding the new music world. Reading books, learning how to record and use all of the equipment to do so. I once said, I just wanna play piano- haha! If you have that mindset, you will not get anywhere. Understanding the business side of this market as well as the engineering has helped me drastically this past year. </p>
<p><em>7. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Obstacles… We all have felt this I’m sure at one point in either early learning or our professional career. The more I have put myself out there in the music world, it has exposed me A LOT! That intimidated me at first. I am pretty reserved and shy… I am still adjusting if a song gets (turned down) for a big Pandora or Spotify playlist for minuscule reasons. Example: “The music was too heavy on the arpeggiated chords in measure 38…” I have heard it all and have felt like quitting, BUT, I also tell myself if I quit, they win. I am not in competition with anyone else but myself so If I do feel like I am failing or need to work harder, I do. No excuses. </p>
<p><em>8. Do you feel empowered by your writing or do you prefer to use it to empower others? </em></p>
<p>I definitely write from my soul. I have never sat down and wrote a song in hopes people will “buy it.” I write passionately and directly from my heart hoping my fans enjoy it! </p>
<p><em>9. What in your background has prepared you for your piano teaching and performing? Did you have formal training or have you learned more from experience? </em></p>
<p>I started training in professional lessons at the age of four. I was in group lessons and individual lessons. I was classically trained and was involved in competitions throughout my early years. I was guided by some of the best teachers and professors in the area. I am a member of MTNA and WMEA chapters and strive to continue my education yearly to be the best teacher, performer and composer I can be. </p>
<p><em>10. COVID has impacted the live experience of the arts. How has it impacted you as a teacher and performer?</em> </p>
<p>Covid… I cringe at the word itself. I, like many amazing teachers, have seen a positive impact in the virtual world. I actually took on more students and really gained a fan base during this period. There is a site on Facebook I jumped on immediately called “Socially Distant Fest.” I would play live and was getting tipped virtually! It was awesome! I think Covid is terrible but it’s how people approach it that makes a difference. I told myself, “Teach online or lose my studio. Play virtual gigs or lose your name.” I just went for it and it worked out in my favor. </p>
<p><em>11. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that are inspirational to you? Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>I have a lot of people that have guided me on this journey. My parents, Kim and Brad have been extremely inspirational and supportive to me. My Dad would carry all of my equipment from gig to gig. I remember I played on the Foxy Lady for years and he would set up my gear with me and hang on the boat for 3 hours! It was pretty rad. My mom was always a very dedicated listener. She is my biggest fan and likes to be crowned for my success since she is my Mom. She is probably right- haha! My husband and my extended family and friends have been so supportive of my work and I am very lucky to have people that have always believed in me. </p>
<p>I have also been influenced by George Winston and got to meet him twice in my life! I was a fan girl for years (still am)! I grew up listening to his music. My parents would have his album playing a few times a week and I just fell in love with it! My music is shared on the same playlists his music is on now and it’s CRAZY! Beethoven inspired me, Hanz Zimmer, Yiruma, Jim Brickman, Lori Line, Jennifer Thomas, The Piano Guys, Coldplay, The Fray, Weezer, Metallica and The Beatles inspire me. I am a lover of music and love to hold on to something that can be put back into my music. </p>
<p>I have a few professional music colleagues that have guided me on my journey. I would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment to me as an artist. </p>
<p><em>12. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>Closing statement: Don’t give up! Life is hard but if you are a musician you are meant to share music with the world. Whatever the purpose is, it’s supposed to happen. Music brings such joy to people and it’s important that we stay dedicated to what we love. </p>
<p>Bonus questions: </p>
<ul> <li>Do you like to sing? Do you have a favorite song that you love to belt? </li>
</ul>
<p>I LOVE to sing! My favorite song to belt would be Bohemian Rhapsody! </p>
<ul> <li>Do you binge watch any shows?? </li>
</ul>
<p>I like to binge watch shows. I typically watch shows like Game of Thrones or shows similar in nature. </p>
<ul> <li>Do you prefer fiction of non-fiction? Favorite book? </li>
</ul>
<p>I also LOVE to read. Harry Potter is my favorite book of all time. </p>
<ul> <li>Clean freak or messy-bessie? </li>
</ul>
<p>I am a clean freak! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Connect with Kayla- you can view all of her links here: </p>
<p>https://linktr.ee/KaylaPeeters </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/bb2feb8b4c640f4a91cfbd4983c865b46da43ea8/original/image5.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/f3f8e9504b12ce00cd067deef405a7a939186709/original/image2.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>Kayla Peeters is best known for her solo piano performances, compositions and teaching. Kayla runs a successful studio in Green Bay, Wisconsin where she teaches with a student lead approach which includes everything from pop music training to classical training. </p>
<p>Kayla has been playing the piano since age four. She has performed all over Northeastern Wisconsin. Kayla's music can be found on many of today's most popular platforms including, Pandora, Spotify, iTunes and Amazon. Her music is popular in the Contemporary-Crossover genre. In March 2020, Kayla released her first single Brynlee’s Theme and it hit the top 20 charts with One World Music in England. She recently released 3 singles. Redemption, Approaching Dawn and Rose Lane.</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/64085592020-08-13T09:58:18-05:002020-08-14T16:28:49-05:00Meet Entertainers Darren and Shelly Johnson 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/2fa542f9ee89687aabe47934e245f7ed90311784/original/dj-shelly-5.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Wayyyyy back when I was in college, I loved reading Glamour magazine. I guess I should’ve read more thoroughly the fashion and healthy eating tips- I still need a lot of help there! But my attention was much more focused on one of my favorite features: “I Knew I Made It When…” Successful women would highlight the moment in their careers when they finally felt they had “made it!” Well, for this singer in Northeastern Wisconsin, I would have to say that one of those moments for me was being invited in 2012 by Darren Johnson to be in his “Salute to Veterans” Daddy D show. What an honor that was, and what a trip to be involved in what is touted as “Wisconsin’s premier Dinner & Variety Show!” I was head-over-heels ecstatic to be included! </p>
<p>Spontaneous, hysterical, musically limitless Darren Johnson and his equally talented and sparkling wife Shelly have been the headliners for Daddy D since Darren created it back in 2006. They bring in a variety of local talent to produce shows that are reminiscent of the “good old days,” with down-home, family friendly entertainment full of belly laughs, soaring music and warm memories. On top of that, they have co-created the combo “American Honey” that has toured across the country playing many of our favorite tunes. Prior to COVID, they were arguably one of the hardest working couples in the Wisconsin entertainment scene. To find out more about what powers this dynamic duo :), read on!</p>
<p><strong><em>Interview:</em></strong></p>
<p><em>1. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community?</em> </p>
<p>Darren: Right now we are just looking for opportunities to be creative and perform. We've put together a Drive-Up Dinner Show at the Riverside Ballroom and it really seems to be going over well. The weather, schedules and demand need to align so it is a bunch to worry about before we actually set a date for a show. We won't bring the performance indoors at this particular time. </p>
<p><em>2. What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your music and your shows? Do you identify more as music theater performers, cover artists, show producers? Is the inspiration similar or different between the roles? </em></p>
<p>Darren: I think over the past 20 years of writing and performing the constant has been music reviews. Don't get me wrong it was an amazing undertaking productions like “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “A Christmas Carol” and writing my own musical “White Tales” but I have learned to stay in my lane. I stick with what I know best and the formula just seems to work. </p>
<p><em>3. What is your background that has prepared you for your current work? How does your formal education fit in with your experience?</em> </p>
<p>Shelly: My love for music started with having two very involved and supportive parents. My first experience was Annie Oakley (“Annie Get Your Gun”) and I was hooked after that. I spent weekends singing in church, wedding and sporting events. I was originally going to be an English teacher but my love of music and the Music Department at St. Norbert College changed all that. My education provided me with the foundation that I continue to use in my professional career. </p>
<p><em>4. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your musical careers? </em></p>
<p>Shelly: The Ashwaubenon High School musical and The St. Norbert Swinging Knights were definite milestones. More recently, Daddy D's has performed for corporate clients throughout the Midwest. Darren and I entertained for two months throughout the Rio Grande Valley, South Padre Island and things are looking hopeful for a stint in Branson MO. </p>
<p><em>5. What are three qualities that you two possess that have been instrumental to your success? Do your strengths compliment each other or do they ever clash?</em> </p>
<p>Shelly: The only clash that we have is that I like to take my time and be prepared and Darren jumps head over heals into a situation. We balance each other out. We both enjoy making a difference in the community and seeing what joy music brings people. </p>
<p><em>6. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Darren: There have definitely been some setbacks but the good outweighs any of the bad. Entertainment is luxury for many folks and when times are tight it can be one of the first things to go. All it takes is a kind word, phone call or a decent review to put the wind back in a persons sails. If I did this to get rich I would have quit a long time ago. </p>
<p><em>7. Do you feel empowered by your performing or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples? </em></p>
<p>Shelly: I don't always feel as confident as I'd like to but seeing how music effects people gives me courage. </p>
<p><em>8. Before COVID, you were two of the hardest working and creative entertainers in our area. Now COVID has devastated live music productions. How has this impacted you? What are you doing to stay active in the music community? What is coming up for Daddy D? </em></p>
<p>Darren: COVID has made things really difficult for everyone out there. I think in total we have cancelled about 50 gigs or shows. We've definitely had to live within our means and buckle down financially. Creative types always seem to find a way though. We started the “Drive-Up Dinner Shows”* at the Riverside Ballroom where folks are socially distanced, outdoors or even enjoying a show from their own vehicle. It is not the income we had before the pandemic but it helps a ton. </p>
<p><em>*editors note: next drive-up dinner show is Wednesday August 19! Call (920) 544-4244 or visit Daddy D's website below for info and tix! </em></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/979c8d8726ada0d518c39010b7c4d6fb7f255c74/original/shelly-darren-engaged.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />9. A question for Darren- single guy to a family of six- wow! Can you give us three words to describe your new normal? </em></p>
<p>Nothing But Love! </p>
<p><em>10. A question for Shelly- does Darren wake up hilarious? What are three words to describe a day with Darren? </em> </p>
<p>Shelly: He likes to tease me relentlessly. We have an agreement that no teasing takes place before 11:11 because morning is not my favorite time. </p>
<p>Three Words - Kindness, laughter and snuggles. I know, puke right? </p>
<p><em>11. What are your favorite shows you have performed in? You have performed so many- You are both so versatile! Swing, pop, opera, novelty? Where are you most at home? </em></p>
<p>Darren: Guys & Dolls (Nicely Johnson) was a ton of fun, sang back up for the band Poison at the Brown County Arena and every Christmas Show with Daddy D's is a tie. Shelly and I have a trio with Cody Borley called American Honey. We play out most of the stuff we listen to at home. </p>
<p><em>12. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>Darren & Shelly: We both have so many we thought we would compile a short list. We know we surely have left a few out and we apologize in advance. Dudley Birder, Marshall Moss, Michael Rosewall, Barney Johnson, Dave Fitzpatrick, Dennis Buehler, Mary Eisenrich, Dave Pufall, Jeff Staffaroni, Parker Drew, Peggy Anderson, Stu Smith, Doug Dachelet, Terry & Barb Hinnendael, Phil Boileau, Dr. John Parlow, Kent & Emily Paulsen, Chris Salerno, my cousin Jeana Menzemer and all the talented individuals who have blessed us with their talents including you Rändi Fay. </p>
<p><em>14. Do you have any closing words of inspiration for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers?</em> </p>
<p>Darren & Shelly: When the smoke clears and it's ok to spend time with each other closely, let's not forget how it felt to be apart. It may not be a vaccine but the music/art does heal. When we can... Act bigger, Sing louder, hug longer and tip like there is no tomorrow! </p>
<p><em><strong>Bonus questions, just for fun:</strong></em></p>
<ul> <li>
<em>Who cooks? Who cleans?</em> We share the cooking and the cleaning. </li> <li>
<em>What is a dream vacation for you?</em> Shelly says anywhere warm with live music. We've been a ton of places. </li> <li>
<em>Are there any foods you simply cant eat?</em> <em> (not health-wise but they just gross you out-)</em> Shelly - Blue Cheese </li> <li>
<em>Is there a show you could see again and again? </em> Shelly- Les Miserables Darren- Did they make Rudy into a musical yet? </li> <li>
<em>If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal?</em> Or what skill are you working on? Shelly - Baking, I am a terrible baker. </li> <li>
<em>Do you listen to music in your free time? Whos on your playlist?</em> Shelly- 70's or pop fitness, country or Christian contemporary. Darren- Right now I am listening to... Billy Strings, Colter Wall, Chris Stapleton, Chicago and whatever else pops up. </li>
</ul>
<p>Social links- website etc- where we can find you? </p>
<p>Daddyds.com or daddydproductions.com </p>
<p>DARREN JOHNSON created Daddy D Productions in 2006. Daddy D’s is Wisconsin’s premier Dinner & Variety Show and consistently receives rave reviews. Mr. Johnson has performed with groups or solo at Six Flags Great America, Bush Gardens FL, The Weidner Center WI, Medinah IL, Sailfish Point FL, Sun City Fl and other amazing stages throughout the Midwest. and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. His most proud moment was singing for the Military's Medal of Honor recipients and their families. Mr. Johnson served his country and was honorably discharged from the Army. </p>
<p>SHELLY was named Miss Green Bay Area 1995, a top 5 finalist and Miss Congeniality at the Miss Wisconsin pageant. Shelly graduated from St. Norbert College with a Bachelor of Music degree and was a member of several vocal groups including the colleges’ premier performing group the Swinging Knights. She uses her Vocal Performance degree as a Praise and Worship Leader and entertains thousands annually throughout the Midwest. Shelly has sung the National Anthem for over 30 years at different area sporting events to include sports venues, corporate outings and many events honoring our Veterans. Her greatest accomplishment and gift is being a mom to four beautiful children – Nathan, Jaclyn, Max & Lauren.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/06bc506571a77c29a1be0d8920f510f0453f064a/original/shelly-darren-guitar.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/63966432020-07-30T07:35:00-05:002020-07-30T07:40:04-05:00Meet Producer and Composer Aaron Zinsmeister 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/c1525d7b05501420b0e7ff44485ddeed0e280e36/original/img-6674.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I walked into White Raven Audio in January of 2016 at a very vulnerable time in my career as an artist. I was burnt out, certain I sucked and pretty sure it was time to quit. But I had these ideas… these “out-of-the box,” multi-genre songs that wouldn’t stop germinating in my head. One of these songs was a reggae tune that I had shared with “Unity the Band” bassist Tim Perkins. He urged me to talk with his producer friend at White Raven Audio who was recording original reggae tunes with his band. I already knew “said producer friend” Aaron Zinsmeister by reputation- his incredible talent behind the Symphony on the Rocks, his gifts performing with the band Vic Ferarri. He was a whole lot younger and way cooler than I was. We were a completely unlikely pair. I figured Aaron would have no interest whatsoever in my music, thinking my fledgling songs would be trivial and just BAD compared to those he was accustomed to working with. But when I met him, he gave me exactly the opposite response. I still think my songs may have been trivial and bad, but Aaron did not dismiss them at all, and was in fact super positive and very willing to work with them, and with me- </p>
<p>Sooooooo fast forward 4 1/2 years, and my ensuing collaboration with Aaron has been exponentially beyond anything I imagined: 29 songs with multiple finalist and semi-finalist placements in international songwriting contests, including being awarded “Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting” by the Great American Song Contest for “Supernatural,” a bunch of awesome music videos (thank you producer Jocelyne Berumen!), a really intense and crazy 11 song concept album and the inspiration of Symphonic Electronica. I can’t say enough about Aaron’s explosive talent in inventive production and sound creation. I would liken his songwriting process to brain-twisting, awe-inspiring sonic and rhythmic stoichiometry. Haha- what in the heck does that even mean? Trust me- just know he’s brilliant. We work well together because we are both relentless perfectionists, super demanding of ourselves and both willing to experiment musically, to take chances, to be anything but boring. During these four years our friendship has also grown, laced with trust, honesty and f-bombs. A LOT of f-bombs :). Music is hard! And unlikely friendships are the best!</p>
<p>Aaron works from his studio White Raven Audio with a variety of artists at many stages in their songwriting and recording careers. With his artists he fosters, coaches and creates a fantastic and florid bouquet of songs in a variety of genre and style. To learn more about Aaron, read on: </p>
<p><em>1. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community?</em> </p>
<p>My focus for the last few years has been on working with songwriters and performers to grow and develop their ideas as they record. So many of the decisions that make a memorable and evocative recording are made during the initial songwriting and instrumental composition phases. I come to these projects as an outsider without having heard the material before, so I’m prepared to offer a fresh take on what’s working and what new possibilities exist to take a project even further. That involves proposing changes to song form, lyric ideas, and performance coaching- ways to get from where they are to where they want to be. Artists often have questions on this; namely, why don’t my songs sound like the music that I listen to? There are a variety of answers to this question and I do my best in guiding them on the path to getting closer to their goals. This also spills over into the actual recording and post-production work, of course, but sometimes it’s difficult to know what part of the process produces what effect. Often, it’s earlier than people realize. I also add keyboard instrumentation or even the full music track to many songs that come through my studio, sometimes with the help of some talented session players from the area. </p>
<p><em>2. What is your inspiration behind your creativity in music? Is it more topical or emotional? Do you identify more as a composer, producer, sound engineer or performer? Is the inspiration similar or different between the roles and the music you make in each? </em></p>
<p>I find inspiration in construction and excellence in that construction. I don’t tend to place a lot of faith in momentary inspiration and instead look to repeatable and dependable procedures to offer consistency and reproducibility in whatever role I’m playing. If I’m writing, I tend to sketch out large form ideas first and then build substructure in layers, utilizing symmetric meters appropriate to the genre. I find that there will typically be interesting, unplanned moments of connection interspersed within all of that intentionality- so much the better- but I find that my best work comes from careful revision and iterating on my decision loop until I’ve found the combination of pieces that communicate what I’m looking for. I identify as a producer probably the most, with composer being a close second. I enjoy writing from scratch, particularly when I can indulge some of my own aesthetic values, but I find great satisfaction taking a piece of material that is ok on its own and working and refining the edges until it is something that really showcases what the original was trying to achieve. Regardless of my role, I find myself to be focused on these aspects of construction and refinement. </p>
<p><em>3. What is your background/education that has equipped you with the collection of skills you bring to your role as a producer?</em> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/34e29b13d46fd35e529111954ce04653e8a1983b/original/aaron-full-shot-copy-4.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>I’ve been somewhat grudgingly pulled along into music during various points in my life. From my parents’ strong-arming me into taking piano lessons when I was 12 to being convinced by a friend to make a call that led to a 15-year stint in live music, I’ve needed some prodding to continue down the path from time to time. Often though, that came in the form of discovering another layer in the relationship between music and technology </p>
<p>I wasn’t really very invested in music until, during the summer after 6th grade, I attended a summer school program called “Synthesizer Band” at UW-Eau Claire-Barron County. I was transformed by the idea of using electronic keyboards in conjunction with computers to craft music. After my family moved to southern Wisconsin, I insisted that we find a piano instructor who would teach synthesizer technique and electronic music creation. This was a tall order, but we found a man by the name of Dave Yerke who made a deal with me: “Continue to study the classical material and you can use my synth rig when you like.” He was instrumental in providing me the tools to explore my young love of all things music technology. This was really when I began to seek out every opportunity to practice and learn about music creation. I wrote a rudimentary Christmas musical and created a “solo album” of compositions and covers solely on this synthesizer rig. It was when I entered high school and began playing in an obligatory basement band or two that I got a chance to record an album at a local studio in Madison, now gone, called Sleepless Nights. I was now 16 and still unsure of where I wanted to go with my life. Music was all-consuming, but you couldn’t do that for a career, could you? It was in that studio that I discovered a vocation that I didn’t know existed - producer and recording engineer. I would spend as much time down there as I could afford that summer, spending some nights outside in my van so that I could come in early and mess around with the gear for a little while before our session for the day was set to start. </p>
<p>I enrolled at UW-Oshkosh to learn the ways of recording and spent many nights in the studio there trying to figure out this most integrated of fusions between, while still playing in an original band or two. It was a month away from my senior recital when a friend of mine stopped by and told me that local cover group Vic Ferrari was advertising for a keyboard position on posters in a variety of locations. He insisted that this was a great opportunity and that I needed to call the number and try out for it. I had never played in a cover band before and wasn’t very sure about this, but he was a bit persistent about it. I eventually made the call and spent the next 15 years playing live in most every corner of Wisconsin and Iowa. During this tenure, I discovered that learning to play the music that someone else crafted was a lot like the music construction process I loved in reverse. While the music being performed was rarely to my taste, the process of accurately piecing together the formula of a piece of music put together by the best producers and artists of the 70s and 80s gave me a solid foundation in songwriting and production technique in addition to what I had learned at school. </p>
<p>In addition, a few years into my stint, I was approached by bandleader Mike Bailey with his idea to create a symphonically-accompanied stage show for the band to perform with the question “Can you handle doing the arrangements?” I’d soon discover the similarities (and definitely differences) between all of the electronic orchestration I had previously done and the creation of music for live orchestral players. This project, Symphony on the Rocks, was the bright light of my tenure with the band; not only did I create the arrangements for the show, I also produced and recorded two full-length CDs of the project. I had the opportunity to work with a number of great instrumentalists that played in this show and became very familiar with large project management. </p>
<p>During this time, I was always working on recording in the background. I finally, 8.5 years ago, had the courage or insanity to try to make a go of a business and started White Raven Audio, my recording and music production studio. In the years I had been in the band, I had been exposed to many small business owners and, after seeing how many people actually did this on a daily basis, I felt that this was a goal in reach. Business is not my strong suit and it’s certainly been challenging at times, but it’s been quite an education. I have worked with a wide variety of artists and genres over the years; in fact, that very variety is what’s kept me engaged with the work the most over this time. </p>
<p><em>4. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your music career? </em></p>
<p>The most important milestones for me were my choice to go to music school, the Symphony on the Rocks project, and the opening of White Raven Audio. I went into the specifics of those previously. </p>
<p><em>5. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success as a creative? </em></p>
<p>First, I have always had a pretty good memory. That allows me to be able to keep track of the crazy amount of info one needs at one’s command to have any success as a wearer-of-many-hats. Second, I have a reasonable ability to shift focus and balance between the big picture of a project and the details. It’s easy to get caught up in either of those places with any process and having flexibility there allows me to more easily cover all of my bases when working solo. Third, I have a well of internal motivation to draw on that usually refills pretty quickly. I usually am able to go to bed frustrated and wake up determined to push on, which is pretty important in any creative industry. </p>
<p><em>6. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting music?</em> </p>
<p>I have traditionally had questionable interpersonal skills. Growing up, I was pretty bad at relating with groups of people and only slightly better one-on-one. This has been an obstacle to just about everything I’ve done, but was especially hard starting off in an industry so built on relationships and connection. Working in the live music industry and then the studio business has greatly improved these aspects of myself, but I doubt they will ever be a strong suit. I’ve also struggled to express my opinions and tastes publicly, most often out of concern that they wouldn’t be well received. That one I’m still working on. Have I felt like quitting music? All the time. For some reason, I keep getting pulled back into it. I guess there’s always another interesting puzzle to solve; there’s always another mystery to figure out. </p>
<p><em>7. Do you feel empowered by producing and songwriting or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples? </em></p>
<p>I’m not sure I find songwriting empowering as much as I find it interesting. I do tend to try to use what skills I have to empower and enable those I work with to create things they didn’t previously think were possible. One of my favorite things is when I or someone I’m working with finally “cracks the code” to a particular thing. Maybe someone has been looking for a way to get a particular sound. Maybe someone wants their song to be impactful, but doesn’t understand the mechanics of dynamics or transitions. Maybe I’m discovering new examples of how the progression of symmetries is the heart of the division between music genres. Enabling people to swing for the fences is the thing that keeps me coming back for more. </p>
<p><em>8. COVID and its impact on gatherings and events has further devastated the struggling music industry. How has it impacted your business and role? What accommodations have you made in your studio to be able to safely stay open? </em></p>
<p>I can’t complain about COVID as much as many in the music industry. I was shut down for a couple of months, but I’ve managed to make some “COVID-conscious” modifications at the studio and have been open since the beginning of May. I wear masks and encourage those who come to do the same until recording begins. I have been leveraging online tools more to work on projects that require customer feedback over the internet, so as to keep people in the control room to a minimum. My space is luckily set up with multiple entrances, so I can have clients come in a separate entrance and never have to interact face-to-face inside. And of course, trying to sterilize common surfaces afterwards. Gotta keep those headphones clean. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/8cacdde6eaca6c6f73e516e134d52209028da6eb/original/91099659-2918739628146935-9219067264148439040-o.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />9. Each recording studio has a personality of its own. Just as there are many genre of music, there are many approaches to recording. What are the hallmarks of your role as a producer? What do you feel are White Raven’s strengths? What type of artist benefits from your approach? </em></p>
<p>White Raven is a studio for people who prefer to work with intentionality and maximize the quality of their performances. So much of a high quality recording starts with curated performances. Whipping through a song in one take and seeing what happens has little interest to me. I want to help people see the limit of what’s possible, given where they are at musically. Most people want to listen to themselves perform and feel the way they do when they listen to their musical idols. I use a variety of production techniques to help people put their best musical face forward and am willing to spend as much or as little time as it takes to coach them closer to that performance goal. If someone comes away from a recording sounding better than they imagined they could, I’ve succeeded. I also invest a lot of myself into many of the projects I am a part of, usually by performing keyboard work or arranging sample instrumentation. I am attracted to large soundscapes and always enjoy helping people to achieve that type of sound. As far as who benefits? In my opinion, everyone I would think, but particularly artists who are trying to reach for more technical, precise music would benefit the most. Even loose, ambient compositions can benefit from a little care and attention to detail though. Many types of music that seem simple and spontaneous have more planning and structure than people first realize. </p>
<p><em>10. You have worked on a huge variety of projects! Can you share a few that are particularly interesting or unusual? </em></p>
<p>I’ve worked on music in almost all genres - rap, r&b, country, rock, metal, pop, symphonic/classical, and even a bit of jazz. At the risk of leaving out some really interesting projects, I’ll try to name a small number. Decivilize’s self-titled album(metal) was my first full-length album where I did the keyboard arranging for while not being in the band. It was a months long process tracking and putting that whole project together and it really was a blast working with the guys from that group. Unity the Band’s Sunset Seven was a project where I really got to start stretching my wings as a songwriter. I co-wrote most of the songs and played keyboard on the album. Working on Jared Randall’s pop catalog was an interesting challenge - while they weren’t the first songs I had written lyrics for, they were the first ones where I had to write all or most of the lyrics for pop style material. Finally, working on the Intuition project with Rändi Fay was my opportunity to let loose and write music that felt close to my heart. I was able to compose music with the fewest restrictions on genre and really write things that were as close to my personal aesthetic taste in music as I’ve had the opportunity to work on. </p>
<p><em>11. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>People who impacted me personally: I mentioned Dave Yerke in a previous question - he was essential in my formative years in giving me both instruction and a space/equipment to begin to learn my craft. My high school band director Mike Tentis, for always letting us band kids duck out of study halls and spend our time in the band room exploring music. Mark Whitcomb, an engineer that recorded me at Sleepless Nights in Madison who has his own successful studio, for encouraging me to get into the business(though maybe I should be more upset with him.) My recording professor at Oshkosh Wally Messner for letting me hang onto a key to the studio to come in so often and work on what I wanted. </p>
<p><em>12. What is on the horizon for you? Any upcoming projects or adventures? </em></p>
<p>Well, COVID has made this an interesting time to be sure. Right now, my adventures mostly involve the day-to-day. Who can say what the future holds, though? I’m always eager to see what things will look like in a year’s time - my most interesting projects always have come from places I was least expecting. </p>
<p><em>13. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers?</em> </p>
<p>While COVID times have really battered many musicians’ spirits, there has never been a better time to create. People who are working from home and who are isolated need quality creative works to uplift them and give them a place to escape to. There has also never been a time when the tools to get started all on your own are more accessible. You don’t necessarily need a studio, an expensive instrument or years of training either. If you’ve been putting off writing the thing you’ve always wanted or performing that piece that you thought was too difficult, now is the best time to dig in. Because at some point, you will get too busy to make these things happen. Do it while you have the chance. </p>
<p><em><strong>Bonus Questions: </strong></em></p>
<ol> <li>
<em>Fiction or non-fiction?</em> It depends where I’m at in life. Lately, it’s been non-fiction - artificial intelligence is a fascinating field. However, for fiction, Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles and Liu Cixin’s Three Body Problem trilogy have been interesting reads. </li> <li>
<em>Morning or night?</em>:Traditionally night. However, in the two years since I’ve been out of the live music circuit (or perhaps just because I’m getting older), I’ve found myself moving more in the morning direction. Perhaps in another decade I’ll be one of those 5am people. </li> <li>
<em>Do you listen to music in my freetime?</em> From when I started my studio until recently, no. I’ve needed most of my free time to get away from music. Lately, I’ve found some joy in listening again, mostly to instrumental fusion from, for example, Owane, Sithu Aye, Arch Echo, Plini, The Omnific and Intervals. </li> <li>
<em>Do you have a bad habit?</em> Self-deprecation. A daily dose keeps the laziness away after all. </li> <li>
<i>If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal?</i> I would have learned more about sales and marketing earlier in life. Not that I would have been any good at it then either, but it would have made life less confusing. </li> <li>
<em>How do you chill? </em>I like to learn more about what makes the universe tick (physics and other sciences). I also like gaming, video or otherwise. Solving a problem that’s meant to be solved is a great boost to the ego and can be cathartic after a day of not-solving. </li> <li>
<i>Food that gross you out</i>: sour cream, brussel sprouts, cream cheese (unless it’s really well hidden), ranch dressing. </li>
</ol>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/f00b6d37ce4f2a3f0e508ac32350cc31830849d0/original/64491811-10219941115986811-2033329988572282880-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><em><strong>Connect with Aaron:</strong></em></p>
<p>Email: aaron@whiteravenaudio.com</p>
<p>Website: https://whiteravenaudio.com</p>
<p>Facebook : https://facebook.com/WhiteRavenAudio</p>
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<p>Photo taken during a planning session for "Intuition" promo with videographer and music video producer Jocelyne Berumen of Cyclops Girl Productions. The professional shots of Aaron are Jocelyne's work as well.</p>
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<p> </p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/63860422020-07-16T10:41:14-05:002020-07-17T13:03:41-05:00Meet Author and Theater Critic Warren Gerds 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/e3b6a573a5b0956fc9fe7a9b59c91acc1edf993d/original/warren-gerds-in-white-tie.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />I find this sort of adorable: In 1977 the roots of my performing career were starting to form- in the auspicious Preble High School Swing Choir :). At the same time, Wisconsin legend Warren Gerds was just taking on the role of "Critic at Large" at the Green Bay Press Gazette, a role he would continue for the next 35+ years. His reach was so wide that YES indeed, he reviewed some of our Swing Choir shows, with an appropriate perspective but never with condescension. And YES indeed, we waited with bated breath to see that byline in the afternoon edition. Though the source of media has changed, the anticipation of a “Warren Gerds Review” has not, as probably just about every actor and director in Northeastern Wisconsin will attest to today! </p>
<p>I don't know how to sum up his career, other that to say he is the consummate creator, a person who has been able to utilize his craft in a multitude of arenas, from journalist to theater critic to successful fiction author, keeping his inspiration alive with a focus on variety and a deep seated passion- truly an inner directive- for writing. </p>
<p>To learn more about Warren read on: </p>
<p><em>1. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community? </em></p>
<p>Writing is my thing. On one level, I get paid by WFRV-TV to write about the arts and a bit more in Northeastern Wisconsin. For the station’s website, wearegreenbay.com, I write something every day of the year. Also, for on-air segments Sunday mornings on Channel 5, I write my script and gather 14 or so photos for a presentation on an arts-related topic or for a review of a performance that I have seen in Northeastern Wisconsin. On another level, writing is – though I hate to admit it – a hobby. I keep a variety journals, compile original jokes and write books, the eighth of which is fresh off the press. </p>
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<p><em>2. What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your writing? Do you identify more as a critic/journalist or author? Is the inspiration similar or different between the roles? </em></p>
<p>My second oldest brother fired up my imagination when he told me stories in bed to try to get me to fall asleep. One story was about us flying in an airplane, opening the door and walking on clouds. I wanted to write stuff like that. I identify more as a critic/journalist because that’s where I spend most of my time. My greatest pride is as an author. My books are all original, sometimes nonfiction and sometimes marvelous fiction. </p>
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<p><em>3. What is your background/education that has prepared you for your current role as a theater critic? </em></p>
<p>From the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In other words, I was trained to be a professional. As a senior, I was a paid undergraduate teaching assistant, grading the journalism writing assignments of undergraduates (30 students a semester). At the Green Bay Press-Gazette daily newspaper, I was hired as an editor, a step above the reporter level. By happenstance, I wrote my first review within my first month there. The review was for the movie “Hawaii,” which was a big release film. For 10 years, my main focus was editing. Every third weekend, I was the-buck-stops-here person for putting out the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning editions. Yes, I did phone the press room more than once to order, “Stop the press.” As an editor, I learned words and their myriad nuances. Editing for the newspaper’s A and B sections was my morning responsibility. In the afternoon, I would prepare the next day’s entertainment pages and the Sunday magazine that included all the arts and TV. And I’d write reviews or columns – humor, movies, books, records, TV, nightclubs. Nightclubs? At one time, Green Bay had 30 nightclubs offering six-nights-a-week live entertainment with acts from near and far. Those columns put me in the wheelhouse of live performance. Eventually, I would write theater reviews. Being in charge of the Sunday magazine, I wanted local stories, so I would interview movers and shakers, getting into their head about processes. After 10 years, I was made Critic at Large by editor in chief Robert Gallagher. After the words “Critic at Large” came out of his mouth at the all-staff meeting announcement, he followed a hush in the crowd with “because he is.” So that Critic at Large dog wagged my tail for 35 years until I retired in 2012 from the Press-Gazette – writing 9,000 byline stories along the way. Six months after retiring from the paper and while finishing writing a book with a Great Lakes captain, I attended a Green Bay Symphony concert at the Weidner Center; at intermission, Joe Denk, the general manager of WFRV-TV, asked if I would like to write reviews for the station. The aim was to feed the web with local material, which I do with reviews and advances and features seven days a week, plus Sunday morning appearances on air. “Local” is the 75-mile radius of the station’s signal, which includes somewhere around 50 theatrical entities, plus other performance/arts organizations. In a typical year, I see 155 performances for review. Along the way, I have interviewed and climbed into the heads of stars and creators to help in understanding the field. There are many types of critics, depending on for whom they write. I have always been paid by a mass-market medium, so I write for a general audience. The two companies I worked for have paid for my tickets as a matter of ethics. The object is to avoid something like this: A local show-maker once said to me, “I would love to give you tickets so you would owe me.” Real reviewers don't accept or ask for freebies. </p>
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<p><em>4. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your writing career? </em> </p>
<p>My father wanted me to be an engineer like he was, running the power plant at Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee and producing a million barrels of beer a year. I tried but did not have the aptitude to be an engineer. Fine points of differential equations and organic chemistry were beyond my grasp. Who wants a mediocre engineer? I wanted to be a writer. My naïve idea imagined me as an engineer by day and a writer by night. After two years, I switched horses and went after a degree that was the closest thing to making a living at writing – journalism. Switching majors was a turning point. The journalism degree gave me a path. So at the paper I wrote facts – black-and-white, who-what-when-where-why stuff. Late in my career at the Press-Gazette, I wrote two factual/autobiographical books. I was so ingrained by factual work, couldn’t imagine myself writing fiction. Another turning point: A fire in Minnesota brought smoke into Wisconsin. I had a cough that I couldn’t shake that I thought the smoke caused. At a checkup, the doctor said, “You have a rattle,” and sent me to a specialist, who said I had a tumor. Along with the tumor, one of my lung lobes was removed. We all get five lobes. I have four now. While recovering over the course of seven weeks, I found a website that included a 1920 plat map for a once-populated area where my wife and I have a getaway. The map says, “school” where today there is deep forest and no people. “School?” I thought, “How could that be?” I imagined a boy in 1914 attending that school and keeping a journal – and began writing. His life and all around him are in that journal. My lung surgery changed my life, and I found I could write fiction and enjoy, too. The other milestone was attending the Green Bay Symphony concert and jumping back into the Critic at Large fray, so speak. </p>
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<p><em>5. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success?</em> </p>
<p>One. “How have you lasted so long?” one of my colleagues at the Press-Gazette asked me one time. “I put one foot in front of the other,” I said. Two. Walking from the parking lot into the office every day coming to the Press-Gazette, I would repeat silently every step of the way, “Discipline and commitment, discipline and commitment, discipline and commitment.” Three. Working in the news business and the arts, I have been exposed to tremendous arrays of knowledge and thought, and I have felt a responsibility to write about what I have seen and experience and follow an order from my father: “Get it right.” </p>
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<p><em>6. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting writing? </em> </p>
<p>Shyness. I had a front tooth knocked out playing a game when I was 10. I had no confidence to smile. As a child and youth, I was sickly because of allergies, with eczema on my hands making me self-conscious. I walked around with my hands in my pockets. When I first interviewed people first-hand for the Press-Gazette, I had panic attacks going in to them. It was a terrible experience. Because I had to speak to the strangers to get material to write about, I forced myself to do the deed, and I eventually lost the fear. The eczema I outgrew, and I believe my summer college jobs working outdoors was part of that. As for quitting writing, I have discovered writers never quit. I have a “job” forever! Writers write. I retired from the Press-Gazette because I didn’t like what the paper had become, but I immediately began writing the book with the Great Lakes captain and by fluke became un-retired to write for WFRV. While working for WFRV, I have written three books. More are in mind. </p>
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<p><em>7. Do you feel empowered by your writing or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples? </em> </p>
<p>When I finish writing a review or something for a book, I always read it to my wife at the dining room table. She is an English teacher, and she listens for mistakes or awkwardness or anything that causes her to question. Sometimes we discuss grammar. We both know grammar very well, but even so, there are fine points we explore – and sometimes wonder about. My wife also is very familiar with theater and with newspapers, having been coordinator of the Pulaski News, which has the distinction of being – I know this line by heart from being around my wife in public – “the only community newspaper in the United States produced by high school students year around.” One morning, I was reading a review which I thought contained nothing stupendously special, and she was crying. “Why are you crying?” I asked. “You write so well,” she said. That was empowering for me. Other times, after I read something from one of my books, she cries because of the content. Do I empower others? Occasionally, someone will comment in person or by correspondence about the importance of what my writing has meant to them. People like to be acknowledged and recognized, and thus my writing has empowering moments. </p>
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<p><em>8. COVID has devastated theaters and live music productions. How has it impacted your role? What are you doing to stay active in the theater and artistic community? </em></p>
<p>For 119 days, I did not attend a live, in-person performance for review. Possibilities are beginning to surface for reviews again. I still have continued to write to post something every day. Many stories have been about postponements or cancellations. Some have been holiday or mood pieces. My weekly column on performances coming in the week ahead has become a list of shows that would have been during the week at hand. My Sunday combination of on-air/online pieces have featured notable people in the arts in the region, and they have been long-form web stories exploring the subjects’ careers and brains. Very interesting. The coronavirus forced me to be inventive. I regularly scour the Internet to see what the performance organizations are up to, with a goal to write about their plans and situations for WFRV. </p>
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<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/b2f2b54741cb9a19d915f9e5407cddab04a2f8bc/original/the-lost-legend-of-taylor-rapids-front-cover-061320.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />9. I understand you have a book that is soon to be published as well. Can you tell us a little about it? </em></p>
<p>“The Lost Legend of Taylor Rapids” is cosmic and comic. It is set in a real place – Taylor Rapids in remote Wisconsin – and all the characters and happenings are fictional. The setup: For Christmas 1914, a 12-year-old boy is given a blank journal and told to fill it. Caleb writes what he sees in the lumberjack/railroad era. Because Caleb is so smart – a boy like no other – adults also give Caleb things to put in his journal because they want to be remembered, too. Some offerings are stories, some are wild poetry – called poe-ems by the writer, Emil, a railroad locomotive engineer. Adventures abound for Caleb, real and imaginary. All around are colorful characters, including James the Great, who spouts words of wisdom in the form of jokes; the blankety-blank roughneck orphan Fly, who teaches Caleb how to smoke; and the smelly Schwartz Grobschmidt, who Caleb hates but has to like. Caleb also has an alter ego, the daring Acbel the Arab, who Caleb writes escapades for. Along the way, Caleb’s journal goes missing. He continues writing in another journal, which also goes missing at the time that he finds the first journal, which he then continues to write in. Got that? The book is two books in one, like an Oreo – the first journal the cookie and the second journal (in a different color paper) as the crème center. It’s totally original fun and humor and humanity. Pardon me, but “The Lost Legend of Taylor Rapids” is subtly great. It’s going into the Library of Congress along with my seven other books. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>10. You have reviewed thousands of shows, from high school productions to touring Broadway shows. Wow! Are there any that really stick out in your memory? This could be a loaded question! :) </em></p>
<p>Best production? Knight Theatre of St. Norbert College’s “The Drowsy Chaperone,” February 2012. The start of my review: “A narrator who’s giddy about old musicals invites the audience back to a heyday of silliness and fun when a 1928 show comes to life in his living room. Really? Yes, it’s theater. The cast captures the mystique of the era and creates a mystique of its own as it – a bunch of students in 2012 – shows it cares about entertainment of the past. In scene after scene, performers light up comically radiant characters.” The rest of the story: It was the first show I reviewed after coming off of the lung surgery. Included were six days in intensive care and a Saturday night trip to the hospital for emergency surgery for a collapsed lung during which the surgeon stoked me with morphine and asked me a question and was surprised I could answer. “Are you a good writer?” “Absolutely.” I remember enjoying the show so much as part of feeling good to be alive. The best show? It’s “The Music Man.” It’s an all original musical by Meredith Willson. Clever all over the place. Among my favorite yarns from it: I see Music Theatre do the song “Wells Fargo Wagon,” which includes a line about a guy in the 1800s who is eager to get raisins from Fresno in a delivery by Wells Fargo wagon. I tell my daughter how the line has new meaning for us, now that she lives in Fresno, California. That day, she goes to the Fresno County Fair and sends me photos of tables filled with all manner of the prize-winning raisins. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>11. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>One. Norman Gavin read, “When he was nearly 13, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.” He continued reading to our advanced English class the opening paragraph of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which had just been published. Brand new! He had to share with us what he discovered. Mr. Gavin said that was the best opening to a novel – ever. He read and spoke in such an enthusiastic and involving way that he was revealing his soul to our class. It was wonderful to see a teacher so impassioned. I could see what an author’s words meant to him. The author was a stranger but not. Two. At the Green Bay Press-Gazette, for many years I sat across from John R. Connor, who was a genius of sorts. He was the news editor. My boss. Along with knowing oh so much about language, he could recite from memory long passages of poetry from the likes of Chaucer with gusto. So much of life and so many words and their meanings passed under our pencils as we edited, and John R. Connor had a knack of bringing appreciation to language. Our bond was such that I could pull his leg, too. One day, I created a stunt involving one of “his” authors. On teletype paper, I mocked up a news story like it was from The Associated Press: “MOSCOW (AP) – Anton Chekhov was found dead today, as usual.” Three. My wife, Kathleen, and I are on the same wavelength. She had an association with theater/performance and with newspapers, so she has a clue to what makes me tick. Especially, she knows the fine points of English. She’s one of the few people who can parse a sentence. (Look it up but don’t try it, you’ll hurt yourself). She recites rhymes that are clues to grammar. On trips back from performances in Door County, we analyze the plays, performers, authors, status of the world at the time of the play, symbolism, philosophies, sets, costumes, audience reception and what the director might have had for breakfast. Somewhere along the way I will say, “Funny way to make a living,” for the umpteenth time. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>12. With all you are doing this summer, how can we find you and your book during this time of quarantine and social distancing? </em></p>
<p>“The Lost Legend of Taylor Rapids” is printed. I just pick up the book Monday, July 13, from the printer. I have copies, but that’s it for now except for five I dropped off at Bosse’s. The book is stuck in COVID-19 ether for now. No public appearances are in sight. The beauty of this book is it’s good forever, so I’m not wringing my hands and wailing. My other books are in Neville Public Museum’s gift shop and Bosse’s News & Tobacco in Green Bay. In sequence, the books are “My Father Lives in the Drawer”(non-fiction stories) “Tales of a Newspaperman: Ice Bowl and Lombardi Through Time” (non-fiction stories), “The Legend of Taylor Rapids” (the Oreo of “The Lost Legend of Taylor Rapids”), “Real, Honest Sailing/With a Great Lakes Captain” (award-winning non-fiction in the voice of Captain Gary W. Schmidt with me as the interviewer, organizer, editor and writer; in its eighth printing), “Three Miles Past Lost and in the Pickers” (autobiographical fiction), “I Fell Out of a Tree in Fresno” (non-fiction) and “Nickolaus and Olive – a naïve opera (in words)” (fiction). </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>13. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>Put one foot in front of the other. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bonus questions: </p>
<ul> <li>
<em>What is a dream vacation for you?</em> </li>
</ul>
<p>My wife and I would like to return to Paris but can’t at present. Sigh. </p>
<p> </p>
<ul> <li><em>Is there a show you could see again and again? </em></li>
</ul>
<p>“The Music Man,” which is headed for another revival on Broadway in 2021. Another story about the musical: Jerry was in my fourth-grade class. One memory of him is bragging, “I stuck my tongue in a socket,” and going AHHHHHH as he showed his tongue with a huge groove in the middle. The other memory is him talking with tremendous joy about this great show he saw with the song “Seventy-Six Trombones” in it. He was ecstatic. At the time, the movie had not come out. The show had not gone on national tour. The only way Jerry could have seen “The Music Man” was on Broadway. Our school was in a heavy-duty factory part of the south side of Milwaukee, and Broadway was a million miles away for most kids. Jerry With the Groove in His Tongue got to see a show on Broadway! Holy cow! Funny thing is, it took me until this year to put that two and two together. </p>
<p> </p>
<ul> <li><em>Do you have any secret talents? </em></li>
</ul>
<p>Not secret to a few, I was a basketball whiz. In one league game, I scored 30 points, and this was in the day before the three-point shot. </p>
<p> </p>
<ul> <li><em>Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></li>
</ul>
<p>Sweets. </p>
<p> </p>
<ul> <li>
<em>What did your 16-year-old self see yourself doing at this point? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today if not for writing?</em> </li>
</ul>
<p>At 16, I was thinking of engineering for a future because of the wake of my father, though people like Mr. Gavin and his joy for books and language tripped my trigger. One of the mysteries in my life is how the hand of fate reached down and plucked me out of my “regular” homeroom and placed me in the school’s main office to be my homeroom. It was very interesting – seeing all the bad kids having their feet put to the coals, being a telephone operator with a plug-and-tug operational system and carrying packages to teachers. Teachers would order books and supplies, and I would deliver them after they arrived in the office. I would walk in their room, and the teachers would smile. All the teachers liked me. I would make their day in some small way. In the main office, I also would file stuff in the school vault. One day, I looked up my personal file on the sly: Mr. Gavin wrote nice things and added, “Should not be an English teacher.” I took that advice but did not leave English behind.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Book Artwork is a pencil drawing by Green Bay artist Brent Crabb</em></p>
<p>To connect with Warren:</p>
<p>https://www.wearegreenbay.com/critic-at-large/</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/63575722020-06-18T07:33:37-05:002020-06-19T06:38:10-05:00Meet Singer/Songwriter and Artist Jeanne Kuhns 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/061120fb3c2b9c74bb7068f0069fc38b3dc2660e/original/jeanne-kuhns-2020.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Until this year (COVID… grrrr), a highlight of summer travels in Wisconsin’s beautiful Door Peninsula has been its live music. Drive through its quaint towns any evening and you would hear open air concerts of Door County artists creating their eclectic blend of Indie, Americana, Singer/Songwriter and Folk. And on the top of everyone’s list of performers is the clear melodic voice and gentle guitar vibes of artist and songwriter Jeanne Kuhns. </p>
<p>I have been a fan of Jeanne’s long before we met. Living a good portion of my time in Door County I couldn’t miss her dynamic presence! I connected with her pretty early in my gigging and recording career in 2010 as my roots are in Door County as well, and we immediately discovered we shared many things- the challenges of starting our music careers at an age a bit over twenty (I won’t define “a bit’), insecurities, motherhood, shared dreams, gossip over musicians we both worked with (hahaha- I’ll let you figure that one out!). I had been a long-time fan of Jeanne’s art as well- she creates the most beautiful paintings of polar bears, birds, foxes and more! On top of that she has directed a concert series out of Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor for 17 years, which sadly has been suspended this summer. Alongside such an impressive resume, Jeanne maintains her approachability, her humility, her work ethic and her integrity. </p>
<p>To learn more about Jeanne read on: </p>
<p><em>1. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community? </em></p>
<p>I am focusing on my solo career currently, so I am working on writing songs for a new solo CD due out Summer of 2021. Trying to find safe ways to share my music at outside venues this summer and make collaborative music videos. </p>
<p><em>2. What feeds your enthusiasm for your work? You have so many avenues of expression: songwriter, performer, visual artist. Do you identify more specifically with any of these roles? Is the inspiration similar or different between the roles? </em></p>
<p>I think the visual art world often triggers lyrical ideas which then invite musical phrasing. Sometime I hear a bit of melody in my head first or when I’m practicing guitar. My music doesn’t inform my fine art as much as the visual world sparks my music. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/0a5f204a23877e364eb56367272ecb61354f2284/original/87447560-10157937506349800-1200970012416802816-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" />3. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Recording my second CD “Lost Moth Found” with Hans Christian funded by a grant from Peninsula Arts Association. This really upped my game, putting me in the professional musical arena.</li> <li>Starting the “Woodwalk Concert Series." Seventeen years ago I started this concert series at the Town Hall Bakery, then moved it to the Woodwalk (Gallery) as it grew. This was a wonderful way to connect with and start friendships with many nationally and internationally touring singer/songwriters. I learned something from every act I listened to and became aware of musical possibilities I never would have known about. </li> <li>Singing in a variety of bands: a duo with Roger Kuhns, a trio with Dan Mayhew and Ben Larsen, Lost Moth (Pat Palmer, George Sawyn and Lynn Gudmundsen), Small Forest (Marybeth Mattson and Pat Palmer) and Buckets of Rain Band (Eric Lewis, Katie Dahl, Rich Higdon, Pat Palmer and Chris Irwin) and participating in the Steel Bridge Songfest, writing with so many excellent musicians. Performing with other musicians really heightens the bar and this very much changed me and opened my world. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>4. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Being a self starter. I will not wait for opportunities, I make them and I happily embrace the surprising interactions that come my way. </li> <li>Observational skills and a love of storytelling help me notice details in the world from interesting angles of perception, that helps write songs and melodies that connect to people. </li> <li>My voice, my harmonies my love of singing. My musical intuition. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>5. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting?</em> </p>
<p>Sure, I have felt like quitting, but I already tried that years ago. Living without making music was empty, so I’m back at it for good. Funding for projects is always a huge obstacle. Self doubt, setting unrealistic goals, comparing myself to performers I could never be like. I found I had to accept my gifts and work on making me the best me! Instead of saying “I wish I could do that,” learn to do that! Also realistic goals for what I can accomplish at my age helped. I just don’t have the energy of a thirty year old! But I have the drive to keep learning and creating and the wisdom to know what I do and don’t know. Still planning to write my best song. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/868acb111f2bd7d3e4e93e8bcbad2e976df7ebca/original/37838213-2275403289142894-9080748671309447168-n.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />6. Do you feel empowered by your creativity or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples?</em> </p>
<p>Definitely feel empowered by creativity, not sure how I would function without a musical avenue to express the impact of the world on me, the joys, the appreciation of beauty, the anguish of worry, the state of the world and specific issues. But I often feel my music is an extension of my nursing career in that I’m caring for people, only with music and lyrics to help them make sense of what they are going through. I really started my solo music career again when I was asked to sing for the “Women in Shadows and Light” project in 2003. This was a photographic exhibit by Jan La Fontaine focusing on the healing of Door County women who had suffered domestic violence or physical and sexual abuse. It felt good to sing to them words of understanding and healing. </p>
<p><em>7. How has the experience of COVID and quarantine impacted your creative side and your performing?</em> </p>
<p>Well it instantly cut me off from performing live of course, lost many gigs and no chance of real time accompaniment while performing online. So I have had to rely on myself more. I have been doing a show Weekdays at 5:00 (CT) on Facebook called “Singing For My Supper.” I’m in my twelfth week of that. Just a 20 minute show everyday, but I have gained a bit of confidence and tech-savvy while doing shows online. So encouraged by wonderful viewers. Also trying to get familiar with iMovie, as music videos is what it’s all about. So I think Covid has forced creativity in a new direction. I’m also involved with several online collaborative projects. </p>
<p><em>8. One other huge role you have is that of a mother of three incredibly talented kids. What did you do to foster their creativity? </em></p>
<p>I just always tried to give my kids as much exposure to the arts as possible, African drumming classes, music lessons, musical theater experiences, live music of all kinds, art shows etc. Took them to see the Blues in Chicago and “Miss Saigon,” “Phantom of the Opera” and more at the Weidner, Steel Drum Concerts at Birch Creek. If they were interested I tried to make musical instruments available. We did a lot of fun stuff together, I home schooled them for a while. </p>
<p><em>9. Do you have a favorite concert experience to share?</em> </p>
<p>I have loved listening to the Singer/Songwriter Concerts at Woodwalk every Friday in the summers. Learned so much from watching a diverse group of high level professional singer/songwriters. Specifically Krista Detor’s shows have really changed me as a person, also hearing and getting to know Michael Smith. As far as other transformative concerts elsewhere, Joan Baez when I was 16 and Brandi Carlile just a few years ago sparked that creative fire in my heart. </p>
<p><em>10. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>I saw Sue Demel in her band Sons of The Never Wrong many many years ago at the old Town School of Folk music in Chicago. I had not been performing, singing or writing since I had kids. My youngest was probably 12 then. When I heard her, her amazing voice and presence opened up a place that had been locked tight for all those years. I spoke to her after the show. Then I went home, found a guitar and started singing again. I have been honored to have her band at Woodwalk many times and count her as a friend now. Still learning from her- I’ve been taking Songwriting classes from her this spring. Singing in Small Forest with my daughter has been incredible. I really feel that the whole community of Door County musicians has inspired me. Any show can teach me something! </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/ba877a4d28acd0105d9b06d202a0836e5b3f88f8/original/87031442-10157937563169800-5591890811999485952-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />11. What is coming up for you this summer? How can music and art lovers find you and support you??</em> </p>
<p>I’ll be singing at MacReady’s Artisan Bread Company in Egg Harbor Sundays from 11:30-1:30 outside, socially distanced under the Gazebo. <br>George Sawyn and I have a very few outdoor gigs. They will be listed on my website www.jeannekuhns.net. <br>Also will do a couple of “Singing For my Supper Shows” weekly on Facebook. (editor note: Jeanne gets 100-200 views a day in her 12th week of doing five 20 minutes shows a week.! THAT is impressive!) <br>On July 21 I will be live streaming from Woodwalk Gallery our annual Wise Women Show <br>Financial support can be given at paypal.me/jeannekuhns and Venmo: @jeanne-kuhns </p>
<p><em>12. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>Times are hard but eye opening and full of opportunities for a better future. Do the work and keep creating. Vote. Look deep inside and be the best you can be. Don’t quit piano lessons! </p>
<p>Bonus questions: </p>
<p><em>A. What is a dream vacation for you? Anywhere but Door County?</em> </p>
<p>I’d like to drive across the country and visit as many national Parks as possible with my girlfriend from high school! </p>
<p><em>B. What has been your most inspiring object to paint or draw?</em> </p>
<p>I love painting animals, especially foxes and crows. Love painting landscapes just to marry all those cool shapes together. </p>
<p><em>C. Do you have any secret talents? </em></p>
<p>I can pick objects up with my toes! </p>
<p><em>D. Are there any foods you simply can’t eat? (not health-wise but they just gross you out-) </em></p>
<p>Pigs feet, ewww. My Dad loved them. E. If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on? </p>
<p>I would have worked on my guitar skills much earlier. I am working on my technical guitar playing and music theory. I would not have quit piano lessons when I was ten if I’d known I’d be doing this!! </p>
<p><em>F. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<p>Chocolate. </p>
<p><em>G. What is your favorite way to chill and restore? </em></p>
<p>Read science fiction/fantasy books. </p>
<p><em>H. Do you listen to music in your free time? Who’s on your playlist? </em></p>
<p>I actually don’t listen to a lot of music as I’m usually writing in my head. But when I’m painting I do: Sons of the Never Wrong, Krista Detor, Mandy Fer and Dave McGraw, Dayna Kurtz, Patty Griffin, Kathleen Edwards, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Etta James, Brandi Carlile, Ella Fitzgerald, Bonnie Raitt, Beatles and many many more. </p>
<p><em>I. What did your 16-year-old self see yourself doing at this point? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today if not for music and art?</em> </p>
<p>I did become a registered nurse, but really wanted to become a zoologist/animal behaviorist and study animals in their natural habitats to help preserve our wild ones. I finished a couple of years of Zoology at University of Montana, but never finished. </p>
<p>Connect with Jeanne: </p>
<ul> <li>https://www.jeannekuhns.net </li> <li>https://www.facebook.com/jeanne.kuhns </li> <li>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisG04rWplNjjR_HKlN3RzA </li> <li>https://www.reverbnation.com/jeannekuhns </li> <li>https://www.instagram.com/jeannekuhnsmusic/?hl=en </li> <li>Booking : jeannekuhns53@gmail.com </li>
</ul>
<p>Bio: </p>
<p>Jeanne Kuhns creator and director of the Woodwalk Concert Series has been living and performing music regularly in Door County since 2000. Brought up on folk festivals and hanging around the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago as a kid, it was natural for her to start playing guitar and writing songs. She performed in coffee houses and festivals during her college years and then went on to be a painter and RN and raised three children. Kuhns moved to Door County in 2000 to step back into her songwriting/performing shoes and has recorded seven CDs since, including solo CDs with a variety of guest musicians and CDs with her bands Lost Mothra, Small Forest and George Sawyn. She loves to bring music people together and started her own concert series bringing in national touring singer/songwriters to Door County Wisconsin, starting 17 years ago. This became the successful Woodwalk Concert Series. She performs solo, and in a duo with George Sawyn and is in the duo Small Forest with her daughter Marybeth Mattson. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/2d4e23db1cbe4c864ff1ea58355fecca1651b2e6/original/93995828-3511921098824434-990537823461310464-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Photo credit: Jeanne Kuhns, Monica Sawyn</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/63386422020-06-04T07:38:51-05:002022-04-27T12:30:45-05:00Meet Actress, Songwriter and Student Emily Holland 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/d9ae92c14afd8c3a4659145898463c67178ce4af/original/img-9338.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />I have known Emily Holland for almost 20 years, since she took her first breath… literally. This proud Tanta (Scandinavian for “auntie”) had the great honor of being present at Emily's birth and has been along for the ride on so many ensuing life events since then. I am pretty sure Emily was singing into her sippy cup before she could even talk! Her mom (my sister) Wendy has an incredible voice, and there was never a shortage of singing in their home. I seem to remember a particular Veggie Tales song about a hairbrush that was a favorite… oh boy… That song wended its way into my kids’ ( her cousins’) vernacular, and is still a part of our family repertoire! Oh Lord… cousins… </p>
<p>In our extended family, Emily is the “baby” of all of us, with all of the crazy family antics that go along with it. We have all enjoyed watching her grow not only into a talent but also into a well spoken, energetic, ambitious and gracious young woman! Some of her credits include “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Henry V” (Door Shakespeare), “Clown Bar” and “Mamma Mia” (UWSP), “Jekyll and Hyde” (Next Stage) and “Les Mis” (Green Bay Southwest). Emily is currently working on her first album to be released by the end of Summer 2020. Wowza. Do not fear Gen Z- I couldn’t be more proud! And if you are wondering if there is any talent of hers I may have contributed to, check out bonus question #v. Oh boy... 🤬</p>
<p>Read on for more: </p>
<p>Interview: </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/6b94147205a170b93f552e129269530f16e05e4b/original/img-9340.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><em>I. What is the current focus of your work as a creative, i.e. what are you doing most- a triple threat student at University of Wisconsin-Steven Point :), a performer, a songwriter, etc.? </em></p>
<p>Right now, due to it being COVID season and most summer shows being cancelled, I have been putting all my focus into writing my first album. This is such an exciting time for me as I have never written before, and I have found such joy and passion in it. It is being orchestrated and produced by my dear friend Luke Brotherhood, and we hope to have it debuted by late August. I have been continuing to audition for local shows, feature films, and have recently done voiceover work for a local commercial! </p>
<p><em>II. What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your work? What drives you to be a performer? </em></p>
<p>Wow, so many things. I think my love for acting comes from a desire to understand people. No matter what role you play, you must approach them with zero judgement, no matter who they are or what they have done. It can be a really difficult process, but it has allowed me to grow into a much more empathic person. I love discovering who people are and why they do what they do. It is so gratifying when I feel like I’ve finally cracked a complex character and begin to embody that. </p>
<p>Something that also drives me to perform is watching the beauty that other performers create. I see a good performance and see the impact it has on others, and all I can think is “I want to do that. I need to do that.” So, I do it. </p>
<p><em>III. Getting into the Theater Program at UWSP is quite an accomplishment, but continuing in such a challenging program is another huge accomplishment. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<p>Awe, thank you. Yes, being in a rigorous program is certainly not for the faint of heart. Over my two years at Point, I have developed an incredibly thick skin, undying passion for the work, and the desire to always keep improving. Those three things keep me moving forward. </p>
<p><em>IV. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points and have brought you where you are today? </em></p>
<p>My first major milestone in my performing career was the summer after my freshman year of high school. I auditioned for an “All Star High School Musical Program” called Next Stage, with the expectation I would not get in. However, I made it and gained the confidence I needed to continue working through high school. This experience helped me learn that I am capable of this dream. </p>
<p>My second major milestone was, of course, being admitted to University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point’s Musical Theatre program. I was one of nine girls admitted and it has proven to be the greatest blessing in my life thus far. Then, my sophomore year I was one of two students in my program to be admitted to the Dance Minor program which has completely changed the course of my collegiate career. I am so grateful that my life has led me here! </p>
<p>My third major milestone that has gotten me where I am was booking my first professional gig the summer after my freshman year of college at Door Shakespeare in Baileys Harbor, WI. My life was completely changed that summer. I met so many people that I will look up to for the rest of my life, and made some lifelong friends along the way. (It was also my first experience with Shakespeare, so that was crazy!) It sparked a deep love for The Bard. </p>
<p><em>V. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Oh my gosh, so many. I faced a lot of difficult circumstances in high school that at first disheartened me, but then eventually turned into a thick skin and a gratefulness for the good things in my life. </p>
<p>I unfortunately have faced a lot of vocal problems (which are almost all gone thanks to my awesome professors at UWSP). I came into college with a complete lack of understanding for how the voice works, and I never knew until I was thrown into a pool of some of the most talented singers I have ever met at school. I just couldn’t keep up. I was scoped twice down in Chicago because I was afraid I had some sort of vocal damage from singing incorrectly for years. I FORTUNATELY did not! But, I was diagnosed with MTD, Muscle Tension Dysphonia. Long story short, when I would sing or speak, my vocal chords wouldn’t function properly which caused vocal swelling and fatigue. This made it nearly impossible to achieve vocal resonance without a great amount of tension. This is a very common problem, but mine was severe. It has taken me two of my years of college and my very patient vocal instructor to get me out of the rut I was in. I still work on this everyday, but I am finally seeing some amazing progress. The amount of times I would cry after voice lessons or call my mom telling her I just “don’t think I am meant to sing” was too many to count. I always felt like quitting. I am so glad I didn’t. </p>
<p><em>VI. How did the COVID closure of campus affect you? How did you feel when you heard the news? What has been hardest, and what if anything has been positive about the experience? </em></p>
<p>The COVID closure of campus was a real tragedy. I was in "Mamma Mia" and we had only been able to run our full show once. Our next rehearsal was going to be the first in the theatre, and then we got the news. I was heartbroken. This also meant leaving my friends for five months instead of three. I was in shock for a few weeks until it really set in. The hardest part by far was losing two months of classes with my peers. I will admit my professors did an incredible job at moving the curriculum online, but I know I speak for my whole class when I say we were just dying to get back into the Fine Arts Center. But, we did what we could and I still felt like I made progress which is what matters. </p>
<p>I think I am one of the lucky few that can say I have had plenty of positive experiences in quarantine. I began a workout regime that I surprisingly stuck to, which included daily dog walks, online dance classes/barre classes, and rollerblading. I also joined a virtual book club to read the Harry Potter series (currently on book four and I am obsessed), took on online class through Yale University, and of course began the journey of writing my album. I now had the time to do so many things I normally wouldn’t be able to with my packed schedule, and that was a blessing. </p>
<p><em>VII. Do you feel empowered by your audience when you perform, or do you prefer to use your energy to empower your audience? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples? </em></p>
<p>Absolutely both, but I think more frequently I aim to empower my audience. That is what theatre to me achieves. I want people to walk away and have more courage, think a little deeper, be more open minded, and to love harder. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/93c3f1b73b651c41092a8d4d986c16d3a0791ff0/original/img-9337.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><em>VIII. Do you have a favorite role so far or stage experience so far? What is your dream role? </em></p>
<p>100% my favorite role I have ever played was Lucy Harris in Jekyll and Hyde. It was so demanding in every way, and it was the first role that I truly felt like an actress . I was making bold choices, creating things to make the character my own, and had a specific pre show ritual. It was the perfect experience to lead me into college. </p>
<p>I have a few dream roles (as you might have expected :) ) </p>
<ul> <li>Jenna in Waitress </li> <li>Amelie in Amelie </li> <li>Persephone in Hadestown </li> <li>Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar </li> <li>I NEED to play Lucy from Jekyll and Hyde again (now that I know how to sing, haha) </li>
</ul>
<p><em>IX. How are you keeping your skills up this summer? Have you heard yet whether school will resume in the fall? Any news on performances? </em></p>
<p>I have been doing all I can, while also taking this time to rest and recuperate. My main goals have been to remain physically active and stretched, warm up my voice at least four times a week, build up my vocal and monologue repertoire, and continue to apply/audition for films, plays, and musicals. I have also been watching as many critically acclaimed movies and productions as my schedule allows to stay inspired. </p>
<p>UWSP has purposely not released their season for the second semester for the very reason that we may not return in the fall. If that is the case, our productions of Guys and Dolls, The Wolves, and Unruly Women & Unfinished Business: The Fight for the Vote! will be pushed to the second semester. Fingers crossed that we head back. I believe a decision must be made by July 1st, so we will know then. </p>
<p><em>X. What are your hopes and plans for after graduation in 2022? Has the COVID situation in live theater impacted your dreams? </em></p>
<p>I have some different routes I am considering taking after graduation. I might move right to a big city like NYC or Chicago, or I might move to another major theatre city like Washington D.C., Atlanta, GA, or Boston, MA. However, since my positive experience at Door Shakespeare, I have been toying around with the idea of getting my Masters Degree in Classical Theatre to further broaden my horizons. Only time will tell what my future holds, but those are my current ideas. </p>
<p>It’s so hard to tell right now how COVID is going to impact the theatre industry, especially because I will be graduating in two years and hopefully things will be “normal” again. But right now, things have absolutely been altered. Shows nationwide are cancelled, Broadway is dark, and rehearsals are not allowed to begin. I can only pray that this pandemic ends soon, not only for the safety of the people and economy, but for the jobs that rely on audiences. </p>
<p><em>XI. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that you find inspirational and empowering in the theater, music or in any of the arts? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>Well, number one, you! Rändi Fay! It has been a unique experience to have a Tanta that is a singer/songwriter... you have inspired me to do the same and have taught me so much useful information about writing and about the industry. It’s really a special thing. </p>
<p>Theresa Schmidt and Andrea Hearden of Next Stage have my heart. They have supported me and allowed me opportunities to grow not only as an artist, but as a conscientious member of the theatre community. Their kindness. generosity, and wisdom is something that I will carry with my forever. My four years with Next Stage were some of the most impactful and instrumental in my life. I love them dearly. <3 </p>
<p>My UWSP professors are brilliant. Wow, do I owe them a lot. Their high expectations mixed with a true desire for their students to succeed is the perfect recipe for well-developed artists and good people. Special shoutout to Sarah Wussow and Tyler Marchant. They both have changed the game for me. They have showered me with endless support and wisdom. I love them. :) </p>
<p><em>XII. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>A quote I have in my room is “One day or day one? You decide.” Make today the day to reach your goal. You have to start sometime. </p>
<p>But, don’t push yourself past your breaking point... stress levels are high right now. Just because we have more time on our hands, doesn’t mean things are easy. Take care of yourself, but also, continue working. This is a great chance to learn about new artists, watch new movies, turn your single pirouette into a double... anything. </p>
<p><strong>Bonus q's: </strong></p>
<p><em>i. Cats, dogs or both?</em> </p>
<p>Both!! I have two cats named Rosie and Mr. Jinx, and a golden retriever named Lola. All three of them have my heart. </p>
<p><em>ii. Do you have a nickname? Do you like it?</em></p>
<p>So many people call me Em (and a few of my closest pals call me Emmy). Also, everyone at UWSP calls me Tweeg. It’s a long story, but that is how I am known. I honestly do love my nicknames. It makes me feel closer to those I love. </p>
<p><em>iii. What did you want to be when you grew up back when you were a ten-year-old?</em> </p>
<p>Even though I always loved being on the stage, when I was ten I wanted to be a meteorologist. I used to watch the weather channel and take notes. It was such an odd obsession. To this day, I am fascinated by weather. My family used to joke that I would be the world’s first “singing meteorologist”. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/a5943592797cf704dca6487e38b80dce93e5c471/original/img-1678.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></em></p>
<p><em><----- a TBT photo of family antics with cousin and brother not buying the act... </em></p>
<p><em>v. What are three qualities you seek in a friend? How about three qualities that are “game enders”? </em></p>
<p>Hands down loyalty, sense of humor, and kindness. Game enders??? Well, let’s see. I would say being ingenuine, being selfish, and being conceited. </p>
<p><em>v. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<p>Oh boy, do I! I swear like a sailor.... Hahahaha. </p>
<p><em>vi. What is your favorite way to chill?</em> </p>
<p>My favorite way to chill as of recently is either reading Harry Potter, watching Schitt’s Creek, or writing music. </p>
<p><em>vii. Do you listen to music in your free time? Who’s on your playlist? </em></p>
<p>Absolutely! My favorite artists include... </p>
<ul> <li>Sammy Rae </li> <li>Lake Street Dive </li> <li>Queen</li> <li>Emily King</li> <li>Brandi Carlile</li> <li>Billie Eilish</li> <li>Rändi Fay... you ever heard of her? </li>
</ul>
<p><em>viii.If not an actress, what would you want to be? </em></p>
<p>I would love to do something to help others, whether that be a social worker, something in the medical field, or something else! Honestly, I haven't thought much about that since I began college... </p>
<p><em>ix. Where do you picture yourself in 30 years? </em></p>
<p>In 30 years, I picture myself still working professionally, with a lovely husband and a bunch of lovely kids and pets. :) </p>
<p><em>x. Are there any foods you simply can’t eat? (not health-wise but they just gross you out-) </em></p>
<p>Olives and mushrooms... yucky. </p>
<p><em>xi. Who’s your favorite Tanta</em> 🖤? </p>
<p>You trickster. I love all my tantas so much, but you sure are pretty special! </p>
<p>Follow this link to check out Emily rocking the song "Valarie:" https://youtu.be/9eMnskMQ-iM</p>
<p>Connect with Emily:</p>
<p>Instagram: @emily_holland01<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/8e38048e81d21e384e3563de25cd62a073f55205/original/img-9339.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>photo credit: Mark Jackson (Jekyll and Hyde), portrait by Hannah Wierzbinski</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/63235952020-05-21T11:25:00-05:002020-05-23T03:25:37-05:00Meet Violinist, Conductor and Teacher Audrey Nowak 🖤🌟<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/97970a2cd63f0984726c4d146e92ed1b1b6004b0/original/73016121-10162552106015584-192661190537641984-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“ ...music is just the tool with which we connect. Connection is all about the heart, and we all still have beating hearts. I’m still here for each and every one of my students and musicians, and I am confident they know that... The important thing is I know they are all learning - whether life lessons or music lessons - and I’ll meet them right where they are when this whole thing is over."</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>-Audrey Nowak</em></p>
<p>I feel particularly sensitive to the complete tidal wave of disruption that students, families and teachers have undergone with the COVID school closures. SO much hard work goes into education, from those learning and from those educating them. It must be heartbreaking to miss the experience of learning together (who knew kids would miss school?) and celebrating the milestone and achievement of graduation. I have also witnessed, both to my delight and my sadness, the beautiful connection teachers have for their students, their professionalism and the loss they are experiencing as well. Violinist Audrey Nowak is an incredible example of one of those teachers. Add in her deep sensitivity and compassion as an accomplished musician and you have a “perfect storm” of a woman who has dedicated her life to bringing extraordinary music to all generations, from childhood to end of life.</p>
<p>We can all learn a little more about what it is to be truly selfless in striving to make better the human experience from a shining star like Audrey. </p>
<p>Please click on the link to get to know more about Audrey's work and inspiration:</p>
<p>Interview:</p>
<p><em>I. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community?</em> </p>
<p>I have always had trouble containing my passion, and I used to fight it. The truth is many might consider me unfocused. I tend to have my hands in a bit of everything. I used to feel I had to apologize for it, but as I’ve gotten older I have learned to embrace this about myself. I realize it keeps me energized. I teach orchestra at Bay Port High School, which brings me tremendous joy! I play violin in the Civic Symphony of Green Bay, the Fox Valley Symphony, and the Oshkosh Symphony. That keeps me centered. I am the founder and director of a harp choir called Audrey’s Angels (formerly the HSSD Harp Choir) - that’s my “play time”. I am the youth orchestra manager and an adjunct professor at St. Norbert College, which keeps me in-check with my time management skills. And, perhaps most importantly, I am a Hospital-Certified Master Harp Therapist with Aurora BayCare Medical Center, which brings me peace and helps me keep life in perspective. </p>
<p><em>II. What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your work? Do you identify more as a performer or as a teacher? Is the inspiration similar or different between the roles? </em></p>
<p>I had to think about this for a while. When I am teaching, I identify as a teacher. When I am performing, I identify as a performer. That sounds simplistic, but it’s actually fairly complex. It took me years to realize that, as a performer, it is not about “me” and what I am doing, but about the person or people receiving the music. With this knowledge, I simply identify with the person or people receiving what I am offering. The inspiration is easy. Throughout my life I have experienced every gamut of emotion that music can bring, and I want to share that with others. Whether that be teaching them to create it or giving them an opportunity to experience it. I am passionate about both! </p>
<p><em>III. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career?</em> </p>
<p>Thinking back, any “milestone” I’ve had has been the result of one thing: me being willing to take a chance. That’s the necessary ingredient in all milestones. And for any success I’ve had, there are at least double the amount of failures behind it. I think the first milestone happened in 1990 when I moved to Appleton from Michigan. I was 23 years old and I came for my first public school teaching job. I was always insecure about my violin playing, but I knew I needed to keep playing in order to be happy. The first thing I did when I came to town - literally - was call the Fox Valley Symphony to arrange an audition. I used a payphone in a McDonald’s parking lot! I hadn’t even checked into a hotel yet. </p>
<p>Another significant milestone was taking the risk to enroll at Bedside Harps to become a Hospital-Certified Master Harp Therapist. It involved four years of work, a lot of travel, and countless hours. But studying and learning the field of harp therapy has significantly impacted every area of my life. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/4e856fe3c5a2c6835adef505bafdcc5115283b76/original/img-1620.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />IV. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success?</em> </p>
<p>First, I have a curious mind, and it has served me well. This has led me to being very open to new experiences, which have quite often carried me right to new opportunities. </p>
<p>Next I would say being resilient. To me, this means I accept when things don’t work out, and I try to find a new way to accomplish the same thing. Or, if that doesn’t work - a different thing. Something even better! </p>
<p>And lastly, but equally important, is a desire to make others happy. Please understand, that is very different from a desire to please people (I went through my people-pleasing phase in my 20’s and 30’s, and that is LONG gone, thank goodness!). I possess a sincere desire to make other people happy. That can be sharing my music, offering a genuine smile, buying a stranger a cup of coffee, chatting with a neighbor when I don’t have time…..however it looks, the result is the same. I walk away feeling I made a small difference in someone’s day, and that fulfills me. </p>
<p><em>V. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>I could write an entire novel on the obstacles I’ve encountered in my path, so this is pretty difficult to answer. I’ll speak in general terms in the interest of being succinct. So far in life, I have overcome every obstacle in one way or another, because I’m still here and still doing what I love. And it’s as simple and as complicated as that. Life IS the “obstacle”. Without it we are not living. Realizing that and reminding myself of what I’ve overcome keeps me going on days when I feel discouraged. Have I felt like quitting? Sure, for an hour or two. Maybe a day or two. But never forever. </p>
<p><em>VI. Do you feel empowered by your creativity or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples?</em> </p>
<p>How do I explain this? What flows through me goes to you and comes back to me stronger. It’s impossible for me to separate these two things in my mind. I am both empowered by my creativity, and blessed to share it with you - and even more blessed when it comes back to me through you. </p>
<p><em>VII. How have you managed with COVID in teaching or performing, or even your personal experience of quarantine? Is there something you really miss? Has anything good come from quarantine for you? </em></p>
<p>This has been so difficult for me. I miss my students tremendously. I miss making music with them every day, seeing their smiling faces, and just talking with them in person. I have had to learn a lot of new technology and get very creative with my lesson plans, so that has been a positive. As for performing, I miss that too. I’ve resorted to using the Acapella app so I can play with me, myself and I. :-) </p>
<p><em>VIII. Have you been able to maintain a relationship with your students and those you conducted? How do you feel they are handling this time away from the rigors and discipline of school and each other? </em></p>
<p>Absolutely. Because music is just the tool with which we connect. Connection is all about the heart, and we all still have beating hearts. I’m still here for each and every one of my students and musicians, and I am confident they know that. They are all learning and growing during this time. Some are making great musical strides, and some are not, and that’s okay. The important thing is I know they are all learning - whether life lessons or music lessons - and I’ll meet them right where they are when this whole thing is over. We’ll pick it up from there! </p>
<p><em>IX. Do you have a favorite concert experience to share? </em></p>
<p>Hands down, not a question, conducting 99 students in Carnegie Hall. It was spectacular! </p>
<p><em>X. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>My high school orchestra teacher, Mr. Dievendorf. He was the first adult in my life to take my passion for music seriously, despite my lack of ability to play the violin at the time. I told him I was comfortable being last chair, that I had come to accept it and I was just happy making music. He told me I should expect more out of myself, and that he expected more of me. It blew my mind at the time. I thought I was accepting my place in the world, and he taught me to fight for more. </p>
<p>The late, great Maury Laws. When I was about 25 years old, he selected me as the solo violinist in a piece he arranged for the Fox Valley Symphony. I thought it was a mistake, but Harvey Felder (our conductor at the time) assured me it was not. I was confused because section violinists do not get solos. So at the first rehearsal, which was just Maury and I in his home, I asked him why he picked me. He said the piece needed a lot of heart, and he could see I had that. That helped me realize that you don’t have to be the “best” to be appreciated and to have value. He worked with me, and he helped me put that “heart” he saw into the music. The piece was Ashokan Farewell, and I never play it without thinking of him. </p>
<p><em>XI. What is coming up for you this summer? How can music lovers and students find you and support you during this time of quarantine and social distancing?? </em></p>
<p>My summer looks probably like everyone else’s at this time: a blank slate. While there are no gigs and no performances to speak of (as of now) - I am enjoying virtual teaching through a site called VirtuLessons.com. It’s a great platform and I’ve enjoyed private teaching violin, viola and harp! (I welcome all students - even beginners!) I am more rested than I have probably ever been in my entire life. I feel great! I’m reading, learning how to sketch, exploring new things in music technology, practicing just for fun, and enjoying swinging on my porch swing when the mood hits me. </p>
<p><em>XII. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for your students or for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>I would say, take the time that is given to you. Don’t waste it away. Go for walks. Drink tea. Get lost in your thoughts. Learn something new. Explore your creative side. And most of all, think about what you want to tell your children or grandchildren about this time. When this is over, I hope you walk away with something new. New knowledge, a new skill, new insight, even new friends (yes, it’s possible to make new friends, or deepen friendships, during a pandemic!). </p>
<p>Bonus questions (please answer at least three up to all of them!): </p>
<p><em>i. What is a dream vacation for you? </em></p>
<p>Going to a performance in every major concert hall in the world! I would start with the Western Hemisphere and go from there. </p>
<p><em>ii. What about genre- if not classical, do you have another you love to play?</em> </p>
<p>I love fiddle music! Especially around a campfire. </p>
<p><em>iii. What are three qualities you seek in a friend? How about three qualities that are “game enders?” </em></p>
<p>I really value trustworthiness, wisdom, and humor. In order to really grow a friendship, there has to be a mutual sense of trust. That is number one. And I love a wise friend - someone who helps me see myself or the world a different way. And of course, if we can't laugh together, forget about it! </p>
<p>As for game-enders - a lack of integrity, treating others unkindly, and lack of compassion. It would be pretty hard to be friends with someone if those things were in the room.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bio:</p>
<p>BA of Music, Michigan State University <br>HCHP (Hospital-Certified Harp Therapist) Bedside Harp, Bensalem PA <br>MHCHP (Master Hospital-Certified Harp Therapist) Bedside Harp, Bensalem PA </p>
<p>Audrey Nowak is the conductor of the String Ensemble at St. Norbert College. She is also the Program Manager of the Youth Orchestra Program at St. Norbert College, as well as conductor of that organization’s string orchestra. </p>
<p>Ms. Nowak has taught in Northeast Wisconsin since 1990. She is currently the Director of Orchestras at Bay Port High School in the Howard-Suamico School District (HSSD). In her tenure there Ms. Nowak has been the 2014 recipient of the Golden Apple Award; received the 2015 Wisconsin State Teacher of the Year award from the American String Teacher Association (ASTA); and in 2016 received a Herb Kohl Fellowship Award. She has received special honors by the HSSD Board of Directors for her outstanding teaching and contribution to the community, both in 2014 and in 2018. The Bay Port High School Orchestra has recently performed at Symphony Center in Chicago; the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.; at Carnegie Hall in New York City; and in 2020 will perform at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. </p>
<p>Passionate about sharing music with everyone, Ms. Nowak is the Founding Director of the HSSD Harp Choir (est. 2016). The Harp Choir is a multi-generational learning community utilizing the harp as a catalyst for personal growth and community service. In this realm, Ms. Nowak also works as a Hospital - Certified Master Harp Therapist, completing her mastery level certification in 2018 at Bedside Harps in Bensalem, PA. Ms. Nowak has special training in hospice, oncology, and pain management and works at Aurora BayCare Medical Center. </p>
<p>Still active as a performer, Audrey is the concertmaster of the Civic Symphony of Green Bay, and has been a member of both the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra since 1990.</p>
<p>Connect with Audrey:</p>
<ul> <li>VirtuLessons: https://virtulessons.com/dashboard </li> <li>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audrey.n.nowak</li> <li>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreynowak </li> <li>Email: audreynowak@gmail.com</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/76423b4ed86281185c3fa2ae8e820f783997c82d/original/75398156-10206784848817699-2055304269619265536-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/63162542020-05-14T10:09:31-05:002020-05-17T16:20:17-05:00Meet Opera Tenor Scott Ramsay 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/db52960a15e5b64031ac8cef4c38f6213d6c41f5/original/31100fe6-677a-47a2-8662-07aa940294da.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“ 'Empowered' is a word that is a bit triggering for me when it comes to music. I see music as a gift, an absolute treasure. So, for me to take something from it for myself I find is selfish. I would rather my talents be a vessel for the power of the message of the music and lyrics to lift someone else up. That sounds so passive, but if I infuse my will on it, I ruin it. I have to serve the music; it doesn’t serve me. In that, the music can then serve the listener. " </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>~Scott Ramsay~</em></p>
<p>Wow. </p>
<p>There is so much I love about this interview with the renowned Chicago-based opera tenor and DePaul University-School of Music ’s Professor of Voice and Opera, Scott Ramsey. Maybe it’s his home-town, midwestern roots that show through (he is a native of my fair city, Green Bay, Wisconsin) in his down-to-earth humility, his dedication and work ethic, his respect for the talent and gifts he is surrounded by but also possesses. Or maybe his is simply a super cool person. On a personal note, I really relate to his version of empowerment. As a performer I share the core of his philosophy- music moves through me, I am merely the vehicle. I may be a ’67 VW Bug and he a fully loaded Jaguar XE, but that is beside the point :). Scott has so much to share about the rigors and joys of being an opera performer and teacher. Please read on for more, and be sure to check out the end of the interview for his extensive resume! </p>
<p><strong>INTERVIEW:</strong></p>
<p><em>I. What is the current focus of your work in the creative and musical community? </em></p>
<p>As a classical artist, I have to find the works or composers that inspire me. For much of my career I have been told what to sing by people who knew what was best for me, and I followed their advice because they were great conductors and managers that helped guide my career. Now that I am a bit more experienced, I have the luxury to choose what it is that speaks to me. Whether it be recital material or a new Operatic Role, I have to feel It would be good for me and I would fit the role both vocally and mentally. Whether it’s Wagner or Britten, it has to excite me. When I was younger, it was more of the opportunity to perform that excited me, no matter what the role or piece. Now, performing is a little bit more work than it once was as I venture into more dramatic tenor repertoire, so the work has to excite me. </p>
<p><em>II. What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your work? What drives you to be an artist and teacher?</em> </p>
<p>I think you have to fall in love with what you do. It needs to be a passion. When it comes to Opera, it’s the action of singing that is the addiction. I would rather be singing in an opera than watching it. Opera is such a heightened level of intensity; emotion is bigger, sound is bigger, and the stakes are always bigger dramatically. Even the stakes of each performance are bigger. It’s like theatrical Olympics. At most you may get 12 performances to make the role your own, but at the regional level, maybe 2-3 performances. As artists we will never achieve perfection, but we will never stop trying, we have to try to get it as perfect as the composer intended. </p>
<p>This is why I think teaching has been so successful for me, because of my passion for the craft. I know how it makes me feel to singing to the best of my ability and I want that for my students. In the same way I try to bring to the audience, the feeling of what my character is going through during and opera, I want my students to feel the joy of being free of their inhibitions, both vocal and personal, to achieve their career goals. </p>
<p><em>III. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career? </em></p>
<p>As I look back, I realize how incredibly lucky I was to have the opportunities that I had in some very prestigious Young Artist Programs and the mentors that I had there. Florida Grand Opera in Miami was my first big career bump and an opportunity to work alongside some “A List” singers and Operatic Legends. After 2 years in Miami, I went to the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, which is the most coveted training program in the US. It was there that I made my debut in Verdi’s Otello with a handful of some of the best singers in the world, Ben Heppner, Renée Fleming and Jonas Kaufmann. </p>
<p>My time at Lyric is what really changed me. I was a really small fish in a very big pond, and I had to make a way for myself. I did so by being as prepared as I could be for all opportunities. A few opportunities came my way when as an understudy, I had to jump into a production at a moment’s notice, with little to no rehearsal. One afternoon I was told to learn the tenor solo in Verdi’s Requiem, (easily the hardest and most challenging oratorio in the tenor repertoire) because the music director at Lyric Opera, Sir Andrew Davis, needed me to begin rehearsals with him and the Symphony in Toronto a day later for a performance 2 days later. These are the moments you have to trust your technique, musicality and God to help you get through it. </p>
<p>My final season at Lyric in the Opera Center, soprano Natalie Dessay was singing her first title role in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR. I was engaged to understudy the role of her lover, Edgardo and to perform the role of her Suitor, Arturo, whom she ends up murdering on their wedding bed. For some reason the tenor engaged to sing the lead wasn’t available to be in Chicago for the first 2 weeks of rehearsal, so I was on! I rehearsed the entire opera with this amazing artist and famed Opera director Sir John Copley and under the baton of the late Jesus Lopez Cobos. The original slated leading tenor showed up for the last three rehearsals and sang the entire production. He had also let it be known to the leading lady he would be missing the final performance as it was his birthday and he wanted to be with his family in Spain. When the administration found out, they attempted to find another tenor with a big name to do the final performance, but Ms. Dessay protested and demanded that I was ready, and she was comfortable with me. </p>
<p>The press release went out, the critics were notified, and I went on in the biggest role of my life. William Murray, New York Times writer and author of FORTISSIMO: Backstage at the Opera with Sacred Giants and Young Singers wrote in his novel that even though I had had a triumph in the role that night at Lyric, he didn’t think I would go on to sing the role again. To this date I have performed that role in almost a dozen productions of Lucia because of what happened that one night. </p>
<p><em>IV. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<p>Like any other career, you must first have the <strong>Talent</strong> to succeed at your chosen trade. I can’t take credit for it, but I must have the <strong>Humility</strong> to devote myself to it, to nurture and refine it. Lots of people have talent, but you must devote your life to it. Some people struggle with whether or not they can, but others don’t have a choice, they have to. It’s their calling, and they have to humble themselves to that calling. Without humility, we don’t grow. I have to be able to take criticism, accept my shortcomings and be honest about my limitations in order to be the best that I can. </p>
<p>It may sound strange to say <strong>Ego</strong> right after I just said humility, but an artist has to know their worth and stand up for it, otherwise we will be taken advantage of. My job as a classical singer is to make it look easy. It’s not, it’s anything but easy. The downfall of making it look easy, is that people think you don’t deserve the fee. Our artistry is not the moment we show up at the gig to the time we leave. Our artistry is the countless hours we work on one passage to get it as close to perfect as we can. </p>
<p>I also like to have the humility to check my ego. To not take myself too seriously. To laugh when I crack a high note, to start over if I forget the words. Our <strong>Humanity</strong> is in the moments of imperfection. </p>
<p><em>V. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Motivation is a big obstacle for me. If it’s practicing, working out, or preparing, I have to really work at making myself do it. Some days are easier than others, but most days I have to make a schedule and stick to it. </p>
<p>I don’t think I have actually ever thought about quitting the business, no. I’ve slowed down a little, just for personal reasons. The road is hard. Being away from my family and partner got old. </p>
<p>I also got to a point where I couldn’t sing the same repertoire as I used to. My voice was changing, getting larger and I had to change my technique, which took a few years. But I feel I have learned more during that time than I ever had previously about my voice. I feel like I finally accepted what I was vocally. </p>
<p><em>VI. How do you keep motivated to stay in vocal shape when not performing? Do you have daily rituals? </em></p>
<p>HYDRATION, which is also an obstacle for me sometimes. Because I teach almost every day now, I am constantly singing and warming up, so that keeps me on my toes. I also devote one day to my own personal study, unless I’m learning a new role, then a little every day, but usually I have a day of little to no teaching to give it a rest and only work on my music. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/6c67008d0f8a372a760d61c68dfadd926de3d4f9/original/b3998186-fefd-4eae-ad5d-799316581ab3-1-105-c.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />VII. Do you feel empowered by your music or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples?</em> </p>
<p>“Empowered” is a word that is a bit triggering for me when it comes to music. I see music as a gift, an absolute treasure. So, for me to take something from it for myself I find is selfish. I would rather my talents be a vessel for the power of the message of the music and lyrics to lift someone else up. That sounds so passive, but if I infuse my will on it, I ruin it. I have to serve the music; it doesn’t serve me. In that, the music can then serve the listener. </p>
<p>I sang a Verdi Requiem at the Concentration Camp in Terezín, Czechoslovakia, a camp where many artists and children were sent. It was a special telling of a story of prisoners of the camp who would in secret, meet and learn the Verdi from one copy of the score. When the Nazi’s found out about what they were doing, they forced them to perform the piece in public where they laughed at the Jews singing a Christian Mass. The choir was forced to perform a few other times. The final time was after the camp was “staged” for propaganda films that were made to show they had really created a “Spa for the Jews”. On this day, members of the Red Cross who were at the camp to dispel rumors about the camps being used for torture and death. Members of the Red Cross started to question when they saw members of the chorus weeping as they sang “libera me!” (liberate me). Immediately following the concert, the choir was marched single file to the train station and sent to Auschwitz. </p>
<p>We were performing for the town commemoration of that event with a handful of actual survivors in the audience, in the front row, watching us, as we stood in the very same horse stable the Nazi’s deemed appropriate for the Jew’s Mass. This was an out of body experience. This had nothing to do with me, it was all about them, those who were watching from above and on earth that day. After the concert, I met a woman who told me in very broken English that her big sister was in that choir and sang a solo. This woman hid in a bush outside the stable and listened not realizing that would be the last time she ever heard her sister’s voice again. But she wasn’t sad that day, she was thrilled that American’s had come there to honor her sister in that way. The music we made empowered her and gave her hope that this world can be better. But it wasn’t because of me, it was in spite of me. Music is a responsibility. </p>
<p><em>VIII. How has COVID impacted your music, in teaching and performing? Has there been anything that has been BETTER? </em></p>
<p>Unfortunately, it is hard to find the positive in this situation. COVID-19 is going to have a long-lasting negative effect of the fine arts. All of my performances have been postponed at least a year. Luckily, I have some flexibility with my teaching position as a faculty member at DePaul University School of Music in Chicago that allows me to now teach from anywhere. It’s not an ideal situation for the students, but it’s better than nothing. For teaching, it’s keeping the students motivated and keeping them connected to their school community for now. </p>
<p>As a solo artist, its more about keep in front of your audience and using social media in short videos and in-home concerts, for now. I think this time has freed us up as artists to not seek perfection in our product online, but to show our heart and humanity. In national tragedies like this, society turns to music and the arts for comfort. I hope that after this, the arts may gain a greater respect for all that we give to society. </p>
<p><em>IX. From your extensive repertoire, do you have a favorite role, performance or venue? </em></p>
<p>I always say my favorite role is the one I am preparing to do. But in this time, I’m not preparing anything in particular. I like a role I can sink my teeth into. Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor will always be my guy. I love him as a character, and I adore his music. I think the role I am really suited for was Harold Mitchell in Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire. The music is so complex and almost cinematic, and his character is so well rounded from beginning to end. I just get his situation and his heart. </p>
<p>That role is also special because it was the last role I performed at Lyric Opera in 2013. </p>
<p><em>X. What is coming up for you this summer? How can music lovers find you and support you during this time of quarantine and social distancing? </em></p>
<p>Due to this Pandemic, all of my concerts have been postponed. I am going to focus on a venture with a couple other colleagues that have roots here in Wisconsin that will help bring Opera back to NE Wisconsin. I am working with a dear friend and colleague, Candace Evans, who is a native of Madison and a world Renown opera and theater director and choreographer. We are working to develop the Door County Opera Festival, a summer opera festival that will aim to feature and develop the careers of the talented singers we have in our home state. Depending on what lies in store for us this summer when it comes to performance venues and crowd sizes, we might be able to do some smaller concerts and presentations. But for now, it is in the very embryonic stages, especially with our limitations. If we cannot do live presentations, we will try to launch some virtual concerts that the public can view and donate to. </p>
<p><em>XI. Can you name a few individuals or mentors that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Current and past, acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>There are a handful of mentors that had a profound impact on me professionally. Sir Andrew Davis, Stephen Lord and Stewart Robinson are all amazing conductors and musicians that helped guide me and infliuenced me. French-Canadian director Bernard Uzan and his wife, the great soprano, Diana Soviero gave me my start and brought me to Miami. But I would never have found Opera if it weren’t for Marshall Moss from St. Norbert College and Miroslav Pansky, the former music director of the Green Bay Symphony and Pamiro Opera. Dudley Birder, James Birder and Alicia Birder cast me in various roles in the summer Music Theater projects at St. Norbert, which really helped me find my theater tribe. </p>
<p>But my vocal development is what got me where I am and I will always be grateful to my college professor Dr. William Lavonis, at UWSP & UWM. Gianna Rolandi was very central to my vocal achievements at Lyric Opera of Chicago. My current teacher and dear friend Scott Flaherty has changed my life by helping me find the final product of my vocal technique. </p>
<p><em>XII. Do you have any closing words of inspiration for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>I think during this time, we need to look at what matters to us, what we treasure. I most cases we will see that the defining moments of our lives revolve around the Arts in some way. Weddings, Funerals, Anniversaries; these types of Celebrations all involve music, food, flowers, fashion, etc. All of these moments are enhanced and become more meaningful when we include the beauty of the fine arts. Without Arts education we would not have many of the vital things we have and use on a day to day basis. Interior/Furniture Design, Architecture, Fashion Design, Film Making, Music Composition, Lighting Design, Creative Writing, Poetry, Landscape Design, and the list goes on and on. The Fine Arts bring make the world a more beautiful place to live in. Immerse yourself in it and don’t take it for granted, donate to your local non-profit fine arts organizations; symphony orchestras, dance companies, opera, choral groups, or children’s arts education. Help create a better world for the future. We need that right now more than ever. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>BONUS Q'S:</strong></p>
<p><em>i. Do you have a hidden talent? </em></p>
<p>I am a pretty good cook! </p>
<p><em>ii. What did your 16-year-old self see yourself doing at this point? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today if not for music? If not Opera, what other genre? </em></p>
<p>I wanted to either be a choir director in a high school or a Contemporary Christian Music Artist. </p>
<p><em>iii. What are three qualities you seek in a friend?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Sense of Humor </li> <li>Loyalty </li> <li>Big Heart </li>
</ul>
<p><em>iv. How about three qualities that are “game enders?” </em></p>
<ul> <li>Entitlement </li> <li>Rudeness </li> <li>Closed Mindedness </li>
</ul>
<p><em>v. If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on?</em> </p>
<p>I’d love to play the guitar. Maybe it’s time to pick one up?! </p>
<p><em>vi. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<p>Procrastination. But one that drives people crazy is that I have a pretty severe oral fixation and I chew on pens and straws more than I should. </p>
<p><em>vii. What is your favorite way to chill and restore? </em></p>
<p>I love to sit on the terrace of my condo in Chicago, or the deck of our Door County place with a good cocktail and good conversation. One of my favorite places to do this is on my parent’s porch overlooking the bay of Green Bay at their home in Dykesville. </p>
<p><em>viii. Do you listen to music while you cook, clean or drive? Who’s on your playlist? </em></p>
<p>Oh yes..my playlist varies right now. It can be anything from an audiobook or music. Artists on my playlist right now include Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, a local Jazz Artist - Aubrey Johnson, New York Voices and of course Rändi Fay! </p>
<p>i<em>x. What is your dream vacation?</em> </p>
<p>A river cruise throughout Europe or a hut on the water in Bali! </p>
<p><strong>MORE ABOUT SCOTT:</strong> </p>
<p>A Wisconsin native, Scott Ramsay is a graduate of the Lyric Opera of Chicago-Ryan Opera Center, performing over a dozen principal roles from 2001-2013. He has also performed with many Opera companies in the US and abroad, including the San Francisco Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Madison Opera, Arizona Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Virginia Opera, Florentine Opera, Portland Opera, New Orleans Opera, New Jersey Opera, Dublin International Opera Festival and MusicArtes in Manila, Philippines. </p>
<p>Mr. Ramsay's featured soloist symphonic engagements have included performances with the Chicago Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Louisville Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Nashville Symphony, and the Kaohsiung Symphony in Taiwan. </p>
<p>Mr. Ramsay recently joined the voice faculty of DePaul University-School of Music in Chicago as a professor of voice and Opera. </p>
<p><strong>CONNECT WITH SCOTT:</strong></p>
<ul> <li>Website: http://scottramsay.net </li> <li>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottRamsayTenor </li> <li>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottr10r</li>
</ul>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/63071512020-05-07T11:14:17-05:002020-05-14T10:10:05-05:00Meet Visual Artist Katrin Schroeder 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/00503904c6eaf64fb5ee598f14f99c26f13bbde7/original/74360203-10157718530093582-7932788064382877696-o.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Katrin Schroeder is an extraordinarily talented emerging visual artist and designer from Minnesota-Italy-Colorado- and soon to be back in Italy! She is engaging, vivacious, professional and ambitious- all of the ingredients that simply top-dress her skill and put her on the path for great success in such a challenging field. Katrin bases her inspiration in her curiosity: “Simply put, I view the world with a childlike curiosity and am allured by details that are often over looked.” When she puts her paintbrush to canvas, the outcome is enchanting! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/6b30f79d685e5a9c22c0b6711521b1f004a918d9/original/37183210-1920879154623799-6453375137482801152-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_right border_" />I have had the extreme pleasure of working with Katrin over the past few years as she designed the cover work for my most recent releases, “Supernatural” and “Intuition.” Despite being a skilled graphic designer, Katrin has turned her intentions to focusing almost solely on painting. Katrin was forced to leave Florence in February as the spread of COVID was overtaking Italy, but will be returning this fall to study oil painting the Charles H Cecil Studios, where her work will shift towards capturing the figure in an impressionist technique using the sight-size method. </p>
<p>Please read on to learn more about this wonderful spirit! </p>
<p><strong>INTERVIEW:</strong></p>
<p><em>I. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community? </em></p>
<p>I'm currently in between series and am primarily focusing on learning a new technique. For the past few years I've been researching and exploring different directions I want to take my work and while backpacking through Europe last fall I stumbled upon a studio in Florence, Italy which approaches portraiture and the figure in an impressionist method developed by Sargent. I was immediately enamored by their dreamy, soft style and was fortunately accepted into their program which I dabbled in a bit early this year before the virus took off, and will be returning this fall to further my studies there, at the Charles H. Cecil Studios. </p>
<p><em>II. What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your work? What drives you to be an artist? </em></p>
<p>Ultimately I really enjoy sharing stories, especially ones that have brought healing to my life, with the hope it brings light to others too. I think portraiture serves this purpose especially well - each face is a unique poem; a seemingly visually simple subject can communicate complex ideas eloquently. </p>
<p><em>III. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider to be turning points in your career? </em></p>
<p>1. In 2016 I was working full-time as a graphic designer. I was offered a promotion to lead designer, and wasn't excited at the prospect of it. This really bothered me, so I sat with those feelings to see what was there. It didn't take long to realize I wasn't excited about it for a lot of reasons - mainly because I didn't want to be a full-time designer, I wanted to be an artist! </p>
<p>2. I was very fortunate and instead of accepting the promotion they allowed me to go part-time. For the following year I worked there three days a week and the rest of my time I spent figuring out how the fruit loops to be self-employed and get a loose grasp on how to run a business! In August of 2017 I finally reached a point where doing both was too much and I had enough sorted so I made the leap to being self-employed full-time. </p>
<p>3. As I mentioned earlier, I've been trying out a lot of different visual directions over the past seven years and finally figured out a definite direction I want to take my work in just recently! I'm ecstatic at the opportunity to join the Charles H Cecil Studios and to live in Florence, and how transformative the whole experience will be. </p>
<p><em>IV. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success?</em> </p>
<p>1. Moxie - for better or for worse I really enjoy rolling the dice and saying 'yes' to risks most people have the sanity not to take lol. I figure if you dream something it floated into your mind for a reason! Plus, we only live each lifetime once, might as well have some fun and squeeze the most sparkle out of it while we're here. </p>
<p>2. Curiosity - 'What if..?' and 'Why?' are a couple of my favorite thoughts, as they lead my mind to wonderful new places. </p>
<p>3. Empathy - I feel like this is the biggest x factor in my work, especially when it comes to portraiture. Empathy allows me to not only paint how the subject physically appears to me, but how they feel energetically as well. I think on some level (wether consciously or not) viewers pick up on this and it resonates with them. Empathy also allows me to communicate stories more deeply to my audience. </p>
<p><em>V. All of us experience obstacles in our paths - can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome these? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Whew, boy! I can definitely think of a few. A few years ago it become apparent to me I needed to seek treatment for an eating disorder, I couldn't be who I wanted to be for others, myself, or in front of the canvas without addressing it. After a few months of debating I gathered the courage and admitted myself to an outpatient program through the Emily Program, which I eventually graduated from a year and a half later (which was last August - just before I left to travel Europe!). I imagine it will be the hardest thing I'll ever go through in my entire life - saying 'yes' to recovery and confronting my addiction through every meal every day and saying 'no' to the diet culture messages we are constantly bombarded with. It was so difficult, there were plenty of times I considered quitting, I just knew the person who I wanted to be would keep at it so I did. Slowly, it got easier and easier. It still can be hard to resist the illusions diet culture promises. </p>
<p>I've also had a pretty slim wallet a few times, making the promise of a constant paycheck more appealing. Fortunately, I've had some lucky breaks, especially over the past year (like selling almost all of my paintings in 24 hours to raise money for my tuition!) that's given me a bit of cushion. If I could do it all over again I would have saved at least twice as much before quitting my job - you live and you learn! </p>
<p><em>VI. How has COVID impacted your art? In content, creation or business?</em> </p>
<p> Oh man, how has it not? At the start of the year I had been hoping to be living in Florence beginning my studies, and currently I find myself sheltering in place at my parents home! Quite the drastic change of pace from traveling Europe by myself for over four months, it has taken some getting used to. I'm grateful I was able to get a proper set of studio materials while I'm here, and have been working at a smaller scale to be respectful of their space. I also have been doing more one off studies rather than a series during this time. </p>
<p><em>VII. Do you feel empowered by your creativity or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Any stories or examples?</em> </p>
<p>What a fantastic question! A little of both I suppose. When I'm in front of the canvas and in flow I feel the most empowered. I's an ethereal feeling really. That's such a small part of a painting's life though, and ultimately I enjoy what it brings to others once it's off the easel. Really I intend each to be a commentary people can then contemplate for themselves and with others, and walk away slightly changed (hopefully for the better!). I remember a couple of women coming up to me at one of my shows and telling me how they had read the thoughts behind my 'Nostalgia' series together and then had spent the rest of the evening running away with that topic, I really love that they did that. </p>
<p><em>VIII. Can you tell us about your flight from COVID stricken Italy and your plans to go back? </em></p>
<p>Oh yes, that was wild! I was in Florence throughout February and had already been planning to come back to the States between trimesters to sort out a hiccup with my visa. Things escalated pretty quickly while I was there - only a few weeks after my arrival northern Italy went into lockdown, and the first case appeared in Florence. I knew it was only a matter of time before the same happened there, so I promptly changed my flight to one of the last remaining tickets (flights were booking up like crazy because all the study abroad programs were being cancelled and all the students we're being forced to return home) and was headed back home a few days later! It all happened so quickly I threw most of my belongings in a few boxes and left them with a very kind friend who offered to hold onto them for me until I can return. It took 30+hrs of traveling to get back home, but I finally made it safe and sound (and my suitcase did too a day later lol!). </p>
<p>Fortunately the studio is holding my spot for me, and I actually just booked a one way ticket back to Florence departing in September! Fingers crossed the borders are back open by then, the school is optimistic we'll be able to start on time. </p>
<p><em>IX. Is there anything else coming up before you leave? How can art lovers find you and support you during this time of quarantine and social distancing? </em></p>
<p>Thankfully I don't have anything too major coming up before I return to Florence (which is perfectly fine, I kind of need a moment to catch my breathe!) - mainly working on design projects for some of my clients (I'm the Creative and Social Director for my parents startup - MoonlightBeverage.com) and spending afternoons in front of a canvas. I'll be creating studies while I'm here for the summer and intend to do another big auction before I head back - if people are interested in investing in a piece for themselves or would like to follow along on my journey the best place to connect with me is on instagram, my handle is katrin_schroeder. I also have a limited number of pieces available on my website, k-schroeder.com if they are interested in securing a piece more immediately. </p>
<p><em>X. Do you have any closing "words of inspiration" for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>Well, I've seen a lot of memes and jokes going around online about gaining weight as we wether this pandemic (so it's pretty clear there is a lot of anxiety around this) and I would encourage people to sit with and look at those thoughts and feelings. I could say a lot on this topic, but I'll just say this: health and weight are not as intertwined as diet culture would have us believe (reading about set point theory is a good place to start for those of you interested in diving in more). Our bodies are far smarter than we give them credit for and have evolved to survive events like this. If you find yourself gaining weight and/or eating more - trust and find comfort in knowing your body is doing what it needs to do to get through this. Ultimately, be gentle with yourself during this time. It's ok to rest. 🤗🌼✨ </p>
<p>If that's all a bit too much feel free to shorten it to 'In case no one has said this to you yet - it's ok to rest. 🤗🌼✨' </p>
<p><strong>BONUS Q'S!!! </strong></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/9d6861a282cc6562bf867711068eb06bfffc22b7/original/18920796-10155340092858582-132234692848981491-o.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />i. Do you have a nickname? If so is that a good or bad thing? </em></p>
<p>I have quite a few - so I guess it depends on which one we're talking about LOL! My family has started calling me 'Colorado Kate' since we started quarantining together out here, and a new Italian friend has recently dubbed me 'gelato bandit' - both of these nicknames I'm rather fond of. </p>
<p><em>ii. Is there a 'close second career' you would do today if not for art? </em></p>
<p>I mean, technically I currently have a dual career - as an artist/painter and graphic designer! If I didn't persue either of those I think it would have been quite fun to pursue the life of a pastry chef or florist. </p>
<p><em>iii. What are three qualities you seek for in a friend? </em></p>
<p>A compatible sense of humor, kindness, respect. </p>
<p><em>iv. How about three qualities that are 'game enders'?</em> </p>
<p>Pretty much the opposite of the previous answer I guess lol! Lack of respect for my boundaries, no sense of humor, indifference. </p>
<p><em>v. If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on?</em> </p>
<p>I'm currently working on that new painting approach, as well as studying Italian. :) </p>
<p><em>vi. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<p>I care too much, I work too hard, I.... haha just kidding! :) I'm a huge procrastinator and am constantly late to everything (slowly getting better!). I also tend to juggle too many balls at once, and, again, am learning it's ok not to do everything at once. </p>
<p><em>vii. What is your favorite way to chill and restore? </em></p>
<p>I looooooooove taking walks in nature and am very fortunate to be currently living on the side of a mountain where I can wander about without worrying about violating social distancing rules! Lately I've been drawing a steaming hot bath with lavender salts, lighting a candle that smells like the Mediterranean sea and reading a book to close the day. </p>
<p><em>viii. Do you listen to music while you create? Who's on your playlist?</em> </p>
<p>Oh man... my taste in music is truly all over the place, but primarily tunes that make me want to dance! I'll listen to anything from Abba, to Fleetwood Mac, to Blitzen Trapper, to Doja Cat. </p>
<p><em>x. Can you name a few individuals that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<p>Samantha Louise Marett (samanthalouisedesigns) - We found each other through instagram, she is such a bright light! I really admire her ability to discuss hard to touch topics, especially on mental health. </p>
<p>Colleen Elizabeth jumps out to me as well (colleenelizabeth_art) - this chick kicks some serious arse all around! </p>
<p>I recently befriended an Italian photographer - Andres Escalante (escalante_fotografia). His ability to take stunning photos without editing is astounding!! I've never seen anyone so skilled at doing that before. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Social links: </p>
<ul> <li>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrin_schroeder/ </li> <li>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrinschroederart </li> <li>Katrin Schroeder Artist + Designer: https://www.k-schroeder.com</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/b56a87a27e6defbf48a06e629b30a0e6118c4887/original/nostalgia-print-5x7-gallery-2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/62998592020-04-30T09:38:34-05:002020-04-30T12:12:45-05:00Meet Jon & Amelie of 7000apart 🖤✨<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/518edb9ccebaca54f970092769cf6403a066eb76/original/img-9316.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>photo credit: Patience Eiting</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>“2019 has all the makings to put 7000apart firmly on the musical map as performers of quality, honest, and straight from the heart music.” <br>— Belter Radio United Kingdom</em></p>
<p>I met Jon Kresin for coffee a few years ago, as the Swedish/American pop duo 7000apart he and his equally charming wife Amelie Eiding created was in its early stages. What a dynamic, ambitious (not cut throat, but smart and goal driven), talented, organized individual he was! And what a fascinating history I learned was behind the newlyweds’ music: </p>
<p>Swedish born Amelie left Stockholm to attend high school in the USA as a foreign exchange student. Fate brought her to Jon's alma mater, Preble High School in Green Bay, WI, where the couple met and fell in love. As Amelie’s exchange year ended and a return to Sweden was imminent, they created 7000apart to keep their relationship strong while literally living 7000 kilometers apart. After three years of "collaborating" across the ocean, they were reunited and got married. In the meantime, their mutual creation 7000apart had grown from a common interest to a shared, passionate career pursuit, including songwriting, recording and performing.</p>
<p>In 2019, Jon and Amelie began to see their hard work and dedication pay off. 7000K’s debut album “We Are More” amassed over 65,000 international streams on Spotify reaching over 14,000 people. Their touring has taken them from a local to regional act in the U.S.A., having now performed over 60 shows in 2019 including numerous Sofar Sounds shows, and has also brought them to Europe on Sweden's Got Talent!</p>
<p>2020 has Jon and Amelie finishing a heartland tour right before COVID struck, and tomorrow, officially releasing “Until I Found You,” the song that wowed those judges in Sweden TOMORROW, May 1. To learn more, read on!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Interview: </strong></p>
<p><em>I. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community? What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your work? </em></p>
<p>Our current focus for our work in the creative community was primarily touring. Now due to COVID-19 we have begun to focus more on our online presence including YouTube videos and streaming live concerts from home. We challenged ourselves to film and record 30 songs in 30 days and put them on YouTube, which helped us to get in a flow and to work on producing high-quality content in a short amount of time. </p>
<p>In the middle of our 30-day challenge we bought a tabletop looping station the Boss RC-505, inspired by Marc Rebillet, which has helped to give us more flexibility with creating live music. The loop station has helped us to show off our musicality and has allowed us to expand what we do musically. It has been very inspiring to work with! </p>
<p><em>II. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career thus far?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>The first milestone was that we were actually able to be in the same country and start a business from the beginning. We started treated music as a profession from the time we started working with it in 2017. This allowed us to really focus on doing shows and being able to get some credibility </li> <li>Our second milestone was the successful crowd-funding and release of our debut album in May of 2019. It was a huge milestone because it was something that we were really proud of which gave us a lot of motivation to market it and push the songs harder than we had in the past. People also responded well to the music and venues started considering booking us where they hadn’t in the past as much. </li> <li>The third milestone would be January-March of 2020 with our We Are More release tour. This was nearly 20 shows in 1½ months and brought us to 14 cities and 8 states around the U.S. Also, during this time we aired on an episode of Sweden’s Got Talent which has helped to open more doors for us. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>III. You have such an interesting story! Can you share some of the obstacles you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Thanks! We were in a long-distance relationship for 3 years, which was the biggest obstacle that we had to overcome. Since we have been together in person no other obstacle has been that bad in comparison. Having to overcome something that difficult really puts everything else in perspective. Of course, there have been other challenges we’ve faced and of course, music is a hard business to be involved in, but we decided pretty early on that we were going to take music seriously and enjoy it. We know we don’t have to be famous to enjoy and work with music full time. We have never really felt like quitting because our music is us expressing who we are, it is in our blood to create. </p>
<p><em>IV. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Perseverance. Whether or not things have gone well or been super challenging over the years, we keep on making music. If you try enough different things eventually something clicks. </li> <li>Social. We are both very social people and love to meet and learn from other humans and specifically music-related people. Everyone knows something you don’t, so you can always learn. We meet with people everywhere we go on a regular basis and try to maintain relationships and connect others to each other, as well. </li> <li>Organized. We try to stay organized about what we are doing and where we are going. We set goals and we try to not let things slip through the cracks by working on aspects of our music and business that need help. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>V. Can you tell us about the single “Until I Found You” you have coming out- the story behind the song? </em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/f2ded1eb7f4bcb701bce94fb3e3e096b55135f78/original/uifu-cover-final.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Our new single, “Until I Found You,” is by far the most honest and personal song that we’ve worked on for release. It really expresses how we felt about relationships when we first met. It’s about our love story and we’ve loved to see that other people can relate to it too. Our journey with this song started in 2018 with us both crying on the floor talking about how sad, yet profound, the lyrics were. In 2019, friends of ours asked us to play “Until I Found You” as the first dance at their wedding. In 2020, the song has brought us onto "Sweden’s Got Talent’s" stage and helped us to meet some amazing people. </p>
<p>When we met our friend Ethan, the song’s producer, the song was reworked and we spent months doing pre-production work to go to the studio. While we were on tour, we worked late nights at Jonathan Cain’s (from Journey) studio in Nashville with Ethan and the recorded version really began to take shape. Ethan really helped us turn the song into what it is today. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>VI. As a couple you are multitalented, performing, managing, songwriting, teaching and producing. You share some incredible talent!! How do you split your time? Of the above, what do you identify with most strongly? </em> </p>
<p>First and foremost we are artists, songwriters, and performers. We want to write music that means a lot to us, resonates with our audience, and that we can perform live. We try to spend all of our time on that, but the reality is that we have had to do other jobs related to music while we've worked on building 7000apart. We've started to collaborate with other producers, music business people, and songwriters more and more and have found a lot of value in that. </p>
<p>The balance is something we still are working on and can be hard quite often to keep that many different topics in your head. Right before the COVID-19 crisis, we were moving towards doing exclusively 7000apart, so we are very thankful that we've kept our other jobs up to this point. Otherwise, we would be struggling more like many of our other artist friends. </p>
<p><em>VII. Do you feel empowered by your creativity or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? </em></p>
<p>Our whole goal of music is primarily to empower others, but depending on our mood when doing a session we can also be empowered by our creativity. Sometimes we write because we have to deal with emotions in our personal lives, but other times we write because we have something we want to say to others. We think the combination of both of those things is necessary to create good music. </p>
<p><em>VIII. Do you have a dream co-write, a dream band to open for, a dream gig? </em></p>
<p>Opening up for anyone or doing co-writes with anyone who has had more success than we have would, of course, be an honor, but we've also really enjoyed collaborating with the people we have, so far. </p>
<p>We would love to open up for people we are inspired by, but that is definitely a lot of people. A few examples would be Sara Bareilles, Ben Platt, Dua Lipa, Julia Michaels, Shawn Mendes. </p>
<p><em>IX. In addition to your release, what else is coming up? How can fans and students find you during this time of quarantine and social distancing?</em> </p>
<p>People can find us on all social media platforms at <em><strong>@7000apart</strong></em>, we put out content most regularly on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. </p>
<p>We have a few more singles potentially coming out in the next few months, as well, so people can keep an eye out for that on our social media pages. </p>
<p><em>X. Do you have any closing words of inspiration for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>All of us tend to get pretty overwhelmed in life, especially now with the pandemic. It's so important to be kind to yourself and to take things day-by-day. The world is crazy right now so focusing on your own mental health or a project to help others can be super helpful. Including sewing a mask, giving blood, or helping your older neighbor to get groceries. </p>
<p>Be kind to yourself and others and find the joy in the little things. </p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/e09a3ccad75563df32c4d6ad95f611c72d73e8e9/original/84618905-3445894195484460-6348288862686543872-o.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bonus questions:</strong> </p>
<p><em>i. Do you have a nickname for each other? </em></p>
<p>We are pretty boring and call each other by our names, but sometimes we call each other “alskling,” which means “loved-one” or "honey" in Swedish. </p>
<p><em>ii. Who does the cooking? What is your favorite thing to have for dinner?</em></p>
<p>Amelie is definitely the better cook, but Jon cooks too. Our favorite thing to have for dinner is sushi, although we primarily eat vegetarian food. </p>
<p><em>iii. What are three qualities you seek in a friend? </em></p>
<p>Kindness, honesty, easy to talk with. </p>
<p><em>iv. How about three qualities that are game enders? </em></p>
<p>Racism, homophobia, sexism. </p>
<p><em>v. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<p>Using phones too much. </p>
<p><em>vi. Any travel hints for getting through long flights? </em></p>
<p>Get noise-canceling headphones, watch a lot of movies, and drink a lot of water, otherwise, we get headaches. Also, there is a motion sickness gum that we take before landing, it helps especially when planes are super turbulent. </p>
<p><em>vii. What is your favorite way to chill and restore? </em></p>
<p>We enjoy walks, watching movies/tv shows, and seeing friends. </p>
<p><em>viii. Do you have a favorite song to sing? </em></p>
<p>Amelie's favorite song to sing: Saint Honesty or any musical theater song. </p>
<p>Jon's favorite song to sing: Whatever song is newly written by us. </p>
<p><em>ix. Can you name a few individuals that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? </em></p>
<p>Lately, Dua Lipa has been absolutely killing it. Also, all of the modern 80's music that has been coming out by The Weeknd and others has been super inspiring. Ian Kirkpatric absolutely kills it as a producer and Ross Golan is an incredible songwriter. Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter are both incredible writers, as well. Billie Eilish and Finneas have been really shaking up the pop world with both writing and production, which has been cool to see. Lastly, Max Martin is absolutely a pop genius and it's empowering to think that an individual can be that influential on music as a whole. </p>
<p><em><strong>Connect with Jon & Amelie:</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Social links: </strong></p>
<ul> <li><a contents="facebook.com/7000apart&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/7000apart" target="_blank">facebook.com/7000apart </a></li> <li><a contents="instagram.com/7000apart&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/7000apart/" target="_blank">instagram.com/7000apart </a></li> <li>
<a contents="youtube.com/7000apart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/7000apart" target="_blank">youtube.com/7000apart</a> </li> <li>
<a contents="twitter.com/7000apart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/7000apart" target="_blank">twitter.com/7000apart</a> </li> <li>
<a contents="patreon.com/7000apart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.patreon.com/7000apart" target="_blank">patreon.com/7000apart</a> </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Music links: </strong></p>
<ul> <li><a contents="7000apart.hearnow.com&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://7000apart.hearnow.com" target="_blank">7000apart.hearnow.com </a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Pre-save for "Until I Found You:" </strong></p>
<ul> <li><a contents="Spotify Pre-save" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://show.co/xjJsvYt" target="_blank">Spotify Pre-save</a></li>
</ul>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/cca2c985d9869df48888ebbf58707a4a2e64ef4e/original/7000shoot-16.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">photo credit: Alex Eclavea</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/62917892020-04-23T10:30:00-05:002020-05-14T10:10:18-05:00Meet Director Alicia Birder 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/4864b379cc600074491bd45513ab8779c82b7baf/original/alicia-cropped.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Can I say that I have known Alicia Birder forever and ever? We have been family friends from way, way back! Even in our "younger days" I remember her as being energetic, beautiful, charismatic and so talented! Alicia has effortlessly capitalized on her natural inclinations and built a successful career in the performing arts. </p>
<p>Along with having a long resume of roles and spotlights (see below!), Alicia established The Performers Workshop 39 years ago. In 2010 the Birder Studio for Performing Arts, as it is known today, was launched as a 501(c)3 foundation of the arts, establishing the mission to Educate, Inspire, Create and Achieve serving all youth in our community. Through this vehicle, Alicia has created training programs to foster self-confidence through performance skills including dance, acting, voice, piano, guitar, stage management and musical theatre for both children and adults. The theater productions under her watchful eye have been repeatedly among the area’s finest. </p>
<p><em><strong>Interview: </strong></em></p>
<p><em>I. What is the current focus of your work in the creative community and what is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for your work? </em></p>
<p>My current focus is on educating the youth in our community through interactive arts education classes and live performance opportunities. I am inspired daily, witnessing the skills they attain, their growth in confidence and improved social maturity. </p>
<p><em>II. You are a producer, director, community activist and head of a non-profit, a teacher, actor, singer, dancer. WOW!! Do you most strongly identify with one or two of these roles right now, or an amalgamation? </em></p>
<p>Definitely an amalgamation. In the theatre world, as one might say, each day presents which role I must play and often it requires several. The skill set of which I have developed (some stronger than others) over my six decades in the business, allows me the diversification necessary to be effective in this creative field. You must be a project manager in all areas.....some easier than others. This pandemic has definitely drawn upon creative implementation of many of them...and this time, without that desired dress rehearsal. </p>
<p><em>III. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career? </em></p>
<ul> <li>1975: I was an All Around National Competitive Gymnast. I lived and breathed the sport. I had a serious injury that took me out for good. My father, Dudley Birder, thought it may be a good idea to find a new passion. He had Marshall Moss listen to me sing. Marshall believed in my potential talent and that changed my life long direction. </li> <li>1980: Auditions were held for one of our Music Theatre productions. The show required children and those who auditioned were not educated in what this creative process required. I suggested I run a workshop introducing the kids to how it is done......and that was the beginning of Birder Studio of Performing Arts as it is known today. </li> <li>2008: In September 2008, the last time I was with my mother before her death, we had a very special conversation. First of all, my mom was one of my biggest fans. In this conversation, she encouraged me to take the business to a new level. “Why don’t you consider becoming a non-profit in order to provide this immeasurable experience for all the kids in town!” She was always such a wise woman. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>IV. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </em></p>
<p>Creative, resilient, hard-working, motivated, passionate...oops that was five! </p>
<p><em>V. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </em></p>
<p>Good question and a difficult one. First of all, no, I have never felt like quitting. I wake up every day and cannot wait to go to work. How lucky am I! Sure, I have had obstacles nearly daily, some more challenging than others, but it is those obstacles that makes us tick, create and problem solve.......that is the nature of this business. This current situation, I must say, is certainly a test! </p>
<p><em>VI. For some creatives, their involvement in their pursuit is a source of empowerment while for others it is a vehicle to extend empowerment to others. Do you find yourself in group A or B or a little of both? Any stories or examples? </em></p>
<p>I am certainly empowered by a little of both but more so my extending that power. Yes, most performers, myself included, get a surge of empowerment when we perform. It fulfills our spirit in a way difficult to explain. For me, in the big picture, it is watching that empowerment that has been extended to others, that is the best reward of all. I find no greater joy in watching a student or adult player thrive sharing their passion and talent. </p>
<p><em>VII. What is coming up? How can fans and students find you during this time of quarantine and social distancing? </em></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>CABARET FUNDRAISERS: </strong></span></p>
<ul> <li>
<span class="font_regular"><strong>Friday, April 24, 6:30pm: Birder Players Virtual Cabaret Fundraiser: </strong></span>
<ul> <li><span class="font_regular"><em>Find the show on “Birder Players” Facebook Page and join the “Watch Party” </em></span></li> </ul> </li> <li>
<span class="font_regular"><strong>Saturday, April 25, 6:30pm: Birder Studio of Performing Arts Virtual Cabaret Fundraiser</strong>:</span> <ul> <li><span class="font_regular"><em>Find the show on “Birder Studio of Performing Arts” Facebook Page and join the “Watch Party” </em></span></li> </ul> </li> <li>
<span class="font_regular"><strong>Upcoming performances that are being postponed </strong></span> <ul> <li><span class="font_regular">Check out for latest information: birderonbroadway.org or 920-445-5669</span></li> </ul> </li>
</ul>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>COMING SOON:</strong></span> </p>
<ul> <li>We are about to announce our upcoming <strong>"Local Performing Artists Series Supporting Broadway Theatre" </strong>to aid in sustaining our mission during this crisis.
<ul> <li>Tickets and dates will be posted very soon on our website: birderonbroadway.org or 920-445-5669 </li> <li>This series will include performances by Let Me Be Frank Productions and DADDY D’s Productions, to name a few. </li> </ul> </li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em><span class="font_large">To support any of these fundraisers, please donate at birderonbroadway.org/donate </span></em></strong></p>
<p><em>VIII. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>Shakespeare comes to mind: “If Music be the food of love, play on” </p>
<p><strong><em>Bonus Questions:</em></strong></p>
<p><em><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/066703c844fcfd19274357e2ee2bb8d3c8d5bb03/original/img-8566.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />i. Do you have a nickname? If so, is that a good or bad thing? </em></p>
<p>Yes. My childhood nickname is Lissa. I love when I hear it as it is usually heard from those from my childhood. </p>
<p><em>ii. What did your 16-year-old self want to be when she grew up? Is there a “close second'' career you would do today? </em></p>
<p>At 16, I was just a 16-year-old! And I would enjoy being a chef! </p>
<p><em>iii. What are three qualities you seek in a friend? </em></p>
<p>Integrity, sense of humor, loyalty. </p>
<p><em>iv. If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on? </em></p>
<p>I wish I would have taken my piano more seriously. </p>
<p><em>v. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </em></p>
<p>I ring my table bell whenever I get a puzzle piece in, just to remind my husband that I am still there. (I have 2: I can change the note!) </p>
<p><em>vi. What is your favorite way to chill and restore? </em></p>
<p>Sitting at a campfire in silence. </p>
<p><em>vii. Do you have a favorite song to sing? </em></p>
<p>“Prima Donna” from Phantom of the Opera </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>Connect with Alicia:</strong></em> </p>
<ul> <li>Website: birderonbroadway.org </li> <li>Facebook: @Birderplayers @Birderstudio </li> <li>Instagram: @birderonbroadway </li>
</ul>
<p>Past Credits:A 1980 graduate of St. Norbert College, she studied at the Milpitas School of Performing Arts in San Francisco and performed with the San Jose Civic Light Opera, served as choreographer with the Naples Dinner Theatre, Naples FL and Director for the Maltz Jupiter Theatre and Craig Wich Studio of Performing Arts, Jupiter, FL.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/1d393ff4d5f6939eac31bba3974003d16ff79ae0/original/39258914-1360415900757736-8136557217169014784-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/62822182020-04-16T10:04:54-05:002020-05-14T10:10:35-05:00Meet Guitarist Bob Balsley 🖤✨<p><i><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/6152464cbe3f54220e89f0c0d7224754ff1573d3/original/58381329-10218821783036233-5966453187601760256-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>photo credit: Mike Riley</em></p>
<p>I remember my first encounter with Bob Balsley. We had just moved to Green Bay from Minneapolis in 1998 and were unsure of the quality of live music in this smaller market. We went to a dinner theater and were completely wowed- by the singing, the band, and OMG by the guitar player! He was one of the best I had heard anywhere! Over the ensuing years, we ran into Bob playing in many different venues and became huge fans. Fast forward to 2012 when I was looking for a guitarist with whom to gig, and Bob's name came up. I never in a million years thought that he would be interested or available. I nervously made the call, and well, yes indeed Bob WAS interested! After that, Bob became a cornerstone of my performances for the following five years, leading my band Limited Edition, shepherding me through my first song-writing attempts, and a critical talent in my first original album “Falling” recorded in 2014.</p>
<p>Bob’s credits are long; A respected musician and author, he plays every style from classical to country to rock and jazz. His international tours have included the UK, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. In 2007 he toured the world with “Semester at Sea” and special guest Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He has shared the stage with Chuck Berry, Bobby Vinton, Mickey Gilley, the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and Spyro Gyra to name a few. He performs at all Green Bay Packer home games with the official band. His best selling guitar books are published by Mel Bay. In 1999 his song "The Sad Fact was a #1 hit on the contemporary jazz charts in France. </p>
<p>Here is a chance to see what Bob is up to in 2020:</p>
<p><i>What is the current focus of your work in the creative community? </i></p>
<p>I work with students at my studio encouraging creativity and a better understanding of the role music plays in all our lives. I try to teach in depth understanding of the guitar rather than songs or genres. </p>
<p><em>II. Can you share 3 milestones that you consider turning points in your music career </em></p>
<p>I was born into a musical family. Piano, violin and choir from toddler times, guitar at ten. <br>My guitar teacher gave me the tools and beginning students to teach while my brother showed me how to perform. <br>Teaching at UW Green Bay I made many friends and contacts. It focused me on education and performance and gave me the credibility to publish my Mel Bay guitar books. </p>
<p><em>III. Have obstacles to success in the music industry shifted in the years spanning your career? If so, how? Is there anything you miss from the early days? </em></p>
<p>It depends on your definition of success. Mine is doing what you love and getting paid for it. Never had a rock star moment but plenty of gigs, performing and teaching. </p>
<p>Musician is always a difficult career choice. The internet gives greater access to audience but less monetary reward. I don't miss a thing from the old days except some dear departed friends. </p>
<p><em>IV. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to overcoming these obstacles? </em></p>
<p>Me: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? </p>
<p>Uber driver: Practice, practice, practice. </p>
<p><em>V. You don’t seem to hesitate to work with performers who have much less experience than you. That is awesome! I am especially appreciative because I was one of them. Do you identity more strongly with yourself as a teacher or performer, or both? And where does writing and producing fit in? </em></p>
<p>All these things are part of the big picture. When I play with less experienced musicians I often learn as much as I teach. My golden rule for live music is make everyone sound better. I have some recording, mixing and mastering skills from my years teaching and writing Audio Engineering curriculum at NWTC but that has never been my passion. Writing songs is more like getting hit by lighting. It either happens or not. </p>
<p><em>VI. Have you ever quit music or felt like quitting? If so, what did you do to stay in the game? </em></p>
<p>Music chose me. Quitting is not an option. When my son was young I worked many jobs for $$$ but always played. </p>
<p><em>VII. Do you feel empowered by your creativity or do you prefer to use it to empower others? Or a little of both? Please share examples! </em></p>
<p>It’s both. Performing for me is addictive especially when my improv juices are flowing. On the other hand, I am so honored when a former student tells me I changed their life. Creativity comes and goes, changing a life lasts forever. </p>
<p><em>VII. What is coming up? How can fans and students find you during this time of quarantine and social distancing? </em></p>
<p>I have a pretty extensive online presence, including four recent albums streaming on most platforms. I am also giving online lessons. Stream my songs people. Amazon music pays best lol. </p>
<p><em>VIII. Do you have any closing words of inspiration for us during the pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </em></p>
<p>Patience, generosity and tolerance will prevail. Sharing your energy and skills with others is a form of paying it forward. </p>
<p>Bonus questions: </p>
<p><em>i. Where were you in the 70’s?</em> </p>
<p>Marin County CA, Breckinridge CO, Door County WI </p>
<p><em>ii. How many states and countries have you played in, and did you have a favorite? How about how many have you skied in?</em> </p>
<p>30 states -it’s a little blurry? 23 countries and only th US and Canada for skiing </p>
<p><em>iii. Do you have a favorite gig story? </em></p>
<p>Two stories: </p>
<ul> <li>1970 Chuck Berry gave me a 24 bar solo in Jonny B. Good after duck walking over to me. </li> <li>2012 I played at the eg conference in Monterey CA with astronauts Cady Coleman and Chris Hadfield while Chris was aboard the International Space Station. (Here is a link to the performance: https://youtu.be/JE0XK82EbUY) </li>
</ul>
<p><em>iv. How about your most embarrassing moment on stage? </em></p>
<p>One time in the early 70.s I was rocking out and broke the headstock off my guitar, a Gibson SG. Alcohol was involved. </p>
<p><em>v. If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on? </em></p>
<p>I would have worked harder on my vocal technique. Always good at harmonies and copying others but never developed my own voice fully. </p>
<p><em>vi. What are three qualities you seek in a friend?</em> </p>
<p>Loyalty, generosity, intelligence </p>
<p><em>vii. How about three qualities that are “game enders?”</em> </p>
<p>Opposites of above </p>
<p><em>viii. What is your favorite way to chill and restore?</em> </p>
<ul> <li>Sounds dumb but learning a new tune always works. </li> <li>A good book is nice too. </li> <li>Making whoopee ain’t bad either. </li>
</ul>
<p><em>ix. Can you name a few individuals that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </em></p>
<ul> <li>Spent four months on a ship with Desmond Tutu. Wow! </li> <li>All the guys in the Packer Band </li> <li>Django </li> <li>S. Drummond Wolfe: Baroque Music Theory, College of Marin, 1971 </li> <li>All of my former band mates </li> <li>All of my students over the years especially those that are better than me. You know who you are.</li>
</ul>
<p>To connect with Bob:</p>
<ul> <li><a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/bob.balsley.1" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li> <li><a contents="Reverbnation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.reverbnation.com/bobbalsley" target="_blank">Reverbnation</a></li> <li><a contents="Amazon Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.amazon.com/artists/B009SGRDJI?ref=dm_sh_ac40-4c35-dmcp-6909-0e7da&musicTerritory=US&marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER" target="_blank">Amazon Music</a></li> <li>
<a contents="Spotify:" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1aY2LOd3LhmLuBQ99Gx71l?si=uaJRIyYBQQCCvr-feADMKw" target="_blank">Spotify</a> </li> <li><a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/bob-balsley/571291653" target="_blank">Apple Music</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/00fd7a6c40c8808a5688109260ed236c8d804789/original/82858117-2891560987562350-1159909038440316928-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/62774322020-04-09T13:34:07-05:002020-05-14T10:10:55-05:00Meet Motivational Singer April Strom-Johnson 🖤✨<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/39a898220403d65e74c29909655d09e0dd251406/original/img-3392.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I first ran into April Strom-Johnson about ten years ago when I heard her incredible power at a worship service. She made an impression on me because of her spirit, but also because we hare the same maiden name! Our paths have since crossed many times, and I am always engaged by her courage, her energy, her talent, her smile. I am excited to share more, so you can get to know her as well! </p>
<p>April was raised by her grandparents who heard her sing for the first time when she was three. By the age of five she was singing everywhere from church and schools, to nursing homes and later in musicals. April began teaching privately in 2007, working with young people interested in public speaking and all forms of vocal music from musical theatre to worship leading. Currently, April has partnered with Studio 12 in Green Bay as a vocal teacher and coach. She continues to share her magnetic spirit and talent both locally and across the globe in theaters, public speaking engagements and as a corporate communication coach as well as leading worship at church, in missions and at music venues. </p>
<p>Here is the interview:</p>
<p><strong><em>I. What is the current focus of your involvement in the arts community?</em> </strong></p>
<p>When it comes to what I'm currently focused on, it's a bit of a mixed bag! You see, I have always loved music and the arts. From a very early age I was taught that my gifts and talents in this area are like tools in the toolbox. So I find myself involved primarily in ministry, teaching and performing, and in the midst of that I use my singing voice, acting skills as well as speaking to reach people who are struggling with hurts… people struggling in letting go and finding true healing within themselves. </p>
<p>I am wonderfully busy in the area of teaching, something that I find true joy and happiness doing. I have partnered with Studio 12 to teach privately in the areas of vocal performance, acting, personal speaking and personal life-skills. I've always seen my teaching style to be more like a mentor or coach. I've often said that not every young person I teach will be the next big Broadway star or win the next Grammy or Oscar, but they will all be something and my goal is that, through the arts, I can help them become the best of whatever they will be. </p>
<p><strong><em>II. What is your inspiration behind your enthusiasm for the arts?</em> </strong></p>
<p>Sounds silly, but everything does! I started singing when I was like three and it always gave me such peace. I was raised by my grandparents and I sang before I spoke. I have always considered it my secret weapon. In middle school my choir teacher recognized my talent in a different way and made every effort to make sure I got lessons, was involved in extra-curricular music and, most-importantly, was treated well by others. I am forever grateful for her belief in me, not just as a performer, but as an individual. </p>
<p>Growing up I was victim to racism, abandonment, and had great loss to overcome. My enthusiasm for the arts is what kept me from going down paths that would have lead me to my demise for sure. I still made lots of mistakes, but when singing a piece of music I could pour my deep hurts, my confusion, my good moments into it and watch my days turn into joy. Singing was exactly what I needed. </p>
<p><strong><em>III. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career?</em> </strong></p>
<p>Sure. One milestone came in my acceptance that I did not have to try to be someone I wasn’t in order to get work, and if I needed too, then it was not worth having. I was passed up for many roles. Frankly, I played the maid, the bum, or the “girl-in-the-room” three more than anything else in my career. I used to think it meant I was not enough… I know better now. </p>
<p>Another milestone was when I made my first CD “Unashamed.” It was my first attempt and there were so many things to achieve through this project. I learned that musicians LOVE to collaborate! Two o’clock am sessions are a blast with people who love music! I also learned that any project is just a snapshot of where I am at that time so I did not have weigh the future of my career on it. </p>
<p>The third was when I started speaking at women’s events, luncheons and mission-type events. I learned that you can share thousands of words to people with little impact, or you can sing a song and touch their hearts in ways you didn’t dream of. </p>
<p><strong><em>IV. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </em></strong></p>
<p>The three qualities I think have been instrumental in my success are: </p>
<p>1) An authentic approach to life. I’m not perfect and I do not have to be to be okay so I prefer to just show people the authentic me. </p>
<p>2) Faith. It’s simple without my faith… I got nothing. </p>
<p>3) Finding the funny in things… I used to not want to listen to myself singing or speaking because I was afraid it would not be perfect and guess what… it wasn’t. Now, I hear so many funny moments in my concerts and speeches and it is just me. If something does not work out the way I thought it would, I have learned to look for the funny or positive in it all! </p>
<p><em><strong>V. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </strong></em></p>
<p>There was a season in my life when I made poor choice after poor choice. After many wrong turns I found myself with a very large drinking problem, only propelled by being in the bars and nightclubs performing on such a regular basis. I stopped being paid with checks and started accepting payments of bar tabs if you get my drift. I was a single mom and being a single parent was beyond difficult. </p>
<p>I was a singer who faked that I was okay and drank my deep hurts away. I think for a period of time I forgot about everything and everyone in my life and all the things they had done for me because they saw more in me then I could see in myself; oh yeah I wanted to quit music many times. So grateful I didn’t! </p>
<p><em><strong>VI. For some creatives, their involvement in the arts is a source of empowerment while for others it is a vehicle to extend empowerment to others. Do you find yourself in group A or B or a little of both? Any stories or examples? </strong></em></p>
<p>I am more like group B. I really believe that my musical gifts are the keys to the hearts of others. I see this in my mission work, like teaching music in Uganda, Honduras, and Jamaica over the years. Singing a simple song or making sound on your first instrument (Kazoos) gives the children in these countries such a joy! My hope is that the young people I teach here or in other countries will grab on to music in a way that will give them a way to express themselves, a way to tell their stories and know that they have value. </p>
<p>Locally, I have became the Ministry Leader for a recovery program for teens under the umbrella of “Celebrate Recovery” called “The Landing.” My team meets 52 weeks a year to help kids in 7th-12th grade students find healing from their very real hurts, hang-ups, and habits. I remembers how difficult it was to find healing from many childhood wounds and I want to help others with boldness and enthusiasm! We use a great deal of music and art in mentoring these young people. </p>
<p><em><strong>VII.What is coming up? How can fans and students find you during this time of quarantine and social distancing?</strong></em> </p>
<p>WOO, that is a tricky question these days… Unfortunately I have had all my gigs, concerts, and speaking engagements cancel through May so I am hopeful to be performing and making public appearances by June. I am staying busy on Facebook and finding it to be very helpful during this time. I am still teaching privately and you can reach out if you are interested in vocal, speaking, or coaching. </p>
<p><em><strong>VIII. Do you have any closing “words of inspiration” for us during this pandemic or anything else you would like to share with our readers? </strong></em></p>
<p>My faith and positive attitude has been a life saver for me during this time. My encouragement to you comes from a statement my grandmother always said to me when times were tough: “When times get tough, take care of others. God will talk care of you while you are caring for them.” Always loved that! </p>
<p>Be sure to note the ways you have changed for the better so you can be reminded when this goes away and you are tempted to just go back to business as usual, you may not want too. </p>
<p>Bonus questions: </p>
<p><em><strong>i. What did your 16-year-old self want to be when she grew up? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today? </strong></em></p>
<p>Oh the 16 year-old April wanted to be a Broadway star and have a Tony Award by the time I was 30! What I am doing now is actually the best version of my Tony award. If I could be doing something else I would be an author and own a jazz club! </p>
<p><em><strong>ii. What are three qualities you seek in a friend? </strong></em></p>
<p>Good listener, funny as can be, willing to tell me what I need to hear; basically all the qualities my best friend of 19 years has; Dawn Amacher :) </p>
<p><em><strong>iii. How about three qualities that are “game enders?” </strong></em></p>
<p>Using people, being two-faced, a "one-upper" </p>
<p><em><strong>iv. If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on? </strong></em></p>
<p>I would have kept taking piano lessons and it is what I am also working on right now to improve. </p>
<p><em><strong>v. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </strong></em></p>
<p>SPENDING!!! Oh God help me on payday :) </p>
<p><em><strong>vi. What is your favorite way to chill and restore?</strong></em> </p>
<p>Water! Just sitting or singing by it. </p>
<p><em><strong>vii. Do you have a favorite song to sing?</strong></em> </p>
<p>Oh my… gospel- “Blessed”, Musical Theatre - “I’m Here”, Traditional - "How Great Thou Art” </p>
<p><em><strong>viii. Can you name a few individuals that you find inspirational and empowering in the arts? Acquaintances or public persona are all fair game! Who else shares the light? </strong></em></p>
<p>YES! </p>
<ul> <li>My grandmother and grandfather, Marjorie and Maynard Colson, there is not enough space to write all they taught me about being the best of myself. </li> <li>Darlene Dornor, my choir teacher who believed in me when no-one else, including myself, did not. </li> <li>Dawn Amacher, my best friend who brings out the best in m ! </li> <li>Ruth, Director of Another Hope Children’s Ministry Center in Uganda, her commitment to caring for God’s children that have been forgotten is beyond reproach. </li> <li>Billie Holiday and so many African American singers of that era who paved the path early on for me!</li>
</ul>
<p>You can connect with April via email at: aprilrosiej@gmail.com </p>
<p>You also can find "April Strom-Johnson" on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook</p>Rändi Fay Musictag:www.randifay.com,2005:Post/62695592020-04-02T12:22:56-05:002020-05-14T10:11:07-05:00Meet Jazz Artist Janet Planet 🖤✨<p><span class="font_regular"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/198970/bacec37b734cadbaf9923df717ad913f58b6616a/original/graham-images-trout-print-042.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Janet Planet is an icon of performing and recording artists in Wisconsin. Spanning a 35 year career and known mostly for her incredible jazz performances, she is truly a multi-dimensional creative force in music. Her website calls her “spirited and vivacious,” and indeed, she is! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Janet has been a dear friend, a vocal coach and an all around mentor to me. One of the things that struck me in our interview is her humility and how strongly she values her relationships. She is bold and beautiful and I am thrilled to have her be my first artist featured on “Independent, Inspired and Empowered.” </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Here is our interview: </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">I. Can you share 1-3 milestones that you consider turning points in your career? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">1. Working with musicians like Tom Theabo, John Harmon, Chris Swansen, Gene Bertoncini, Fred Sturm and of course my husband, Tom Washatka: </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>Tom Theabo</strong> really got me up and running in the world of jazz singers and turned me on to so many greats when I was young and singing more blues. Tom has been involved with just about ALL of my musical arrangements and charts over all the years. He's unique and has a gentle voice. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>John Harmon</strong> is an icon and his dedication and artistry are inexhaustible. We still work together and he is still writing. Like many "neighborhoods" of musicians around the world, we're lucky to have him as our mentor and example of what it means to never give up. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>Chris Swansen</strong> came in to the picture in the mid eighties and he wrote some stunning songs for me. Difficult to sing to this day! We recorded an album called "Sweet Thunder" and it was released on a jazz label out of L.A. called Seabreeze. The album caught the attention of "Steve Allen". He heard my voice and wrote me many letters throughout the years, encouraging me as a singer. I finally met him when he performed in Milwaukee at a jazz club called "Red Mill East.” I had a regular gig there and when Mr. Allen performed (along with Ella's pianist, Paul Smith), Mr. Allen asked me to come up and sing a song. It was the song that sparked his interest in me off of the album “Sweet Thunder,” "For All We Know". I guess you could say that experience was a milestone. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>Gene Bertoncini</strong> has a list of credentials longer than this answer! We are dear friends and he's recorded on a couple of albums with me. most notably "Just Above A Whisper.” When I performed in New York, he was kind enough to come out and sit in on some songs. One of my favorite musical experiences (you can find on my youtube channel JanetPlanetSings) is when he accompanied me on the beautiful Peggy Lee lyric and Johnny Mandel song, "The Shining Sea.” Gene is a monster jazz guitarist and is revered as the "Segovia of Jazz.” </span></p>
<ul> <li><span class="font_regular">Hear “<a contents="The Shining Sea" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/oyToISyxXU4" target="_blank">The Shining Sea</a>” </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>Fred Sturm</strong> was the force that inspired me to teach the way I do today. His energy was incomparable. I first met him when I was a frequent guest artist with a group called The Fox Valley Jazz Orchestra. I remember how he sat at the head of rehearsals. It was like he wrapped his arms around every individual “kneading” the best out of all of us. His eyes were on fire and his laugh was like thunderous applause. He’s the reason I’m teaching at Tritone Jazz Camp and Lawrence University. He passed after a ten year fight with cancer and you would never have known the stress that engulfed him and his family during those years. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">My husband, <strong>Tom Washatka</strong> is simply amazing. We "trenched it" together (pre marriage), and continued to work after the late gigs, working on a way to capture our music via recordings. I remember stringing up my apartments with rented gear and making our own recordings. This is before digital. We'd sit for hours figuring out the placement of mics, getting levels and then the MIXING! Yikes! It was hard at times but we kept doing it. </span></p>
<ul> <li><span class="font_regular">Eventually, we put a label on the work and it became <strong>"Stellar Records.”</strong> You can find the website at <a contents="http://www.stellarsound.net" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.stellarsound.net" target="_blank"><strong>http://www.stellarsound.net</strong></a>. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span class="font_regular">We were married in 1997 and we're still working together in and out of the studio. I really lucked out and got myself an honest, curious, talented and hard-working partner. Of all the "milestones" I can list, he pretty much covers it all. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">2. Another "milestone" is the formation of <strong>J.P.E. Janet Planet Enterprises</strong> in the late eighties. A group of amazing people from the area approached me and wanted to help me establish myself as a business. It was hard at the time because all I knew was late night singing in smoky bars and recording. This group of people headed by <strong>Richard Stiles</strong> put their time and efforts in to helping me: <strong>Jim Putman, Cathy St. Claire, Jean Filut, Bob Lowe, Bob Coglianese, Nancy Rice </strong>are among them. I'm eternally thankful for their believing in me. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Another person I'm thankful for is <strong>Kyle Knoke</strong>. He had been in my life for many years as fan of our music. His parents brought him in to this world and brought him to me! Kyle put his artistry, time and efforts in to Janet Planet and was instrumental in bringing me to New York City to perform at some of the best rooms NY has to offer, "Feinstein's" on Park Avenue and "The Metropolitan Room.” He also produced two albums "Of Thee I Sing" and "Janet Planet Sings The Bob Dylan Songbook vol. 1.” The last time we were in New York doing a 6 night engagement at "The Metropolitan Room" he arranged for us to record in the famous "Sear Sound Studio.” Sear Sound used to be called "The Hit Factory,” a place where Yoko Ono and John Lennon made music together. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">3. Performing abroad is another significant change to my development as a musician but also a person. My trips to Japan, Russia and South Africa were the most memorable. When we came back, I was ignited with gratitude. We have it good here! If we pay attention, life is a series of milestones that continue to reveal themselves even if it's in the way we perceive music and each other. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">II. What are three qualities that you possess that you feel have been instrumental to your success? </span></strong></em></p>
<ul> <li><span class="font_regular">Creativity. </span></li> <li><span class="font_regular">The feeling of needing to know more. </span></li> <li><span class="font_regular">Gumption </span></li>
</ul>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">III. All of us experience obstacles in our paths- can you share a few of those you have overcome? What did you do to overcome those? Have you ever felt like quitting? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">My personal story goes like this...As early as 1st grade, I just knew that this was going to be my path. I certainly didn't take the traditional route as there were so many obstacles financially and emotionally as a kid but my creative being became my sanctuary and eventually, my career. There are too many obstacles to even list but I think the main ingredient is that we get over ourselves and work our hardest to be better musicians and people so we can add to the collective. I used to think of giving up and I'd shake my fist at sky and ask "Why?" Now, I just do the best I can with what I have. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">IV. You are incredibly natural when you perform. Your approach is very similar to when you teach, authentic and personal. What is the inspiration behind all of that energy? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">When you get over the various humps of insecurity, which can happen any day or any minute, the energy comes from honesty. This is who I am. I'm not perfect but if I can show someone my imperfections, I believe they are allowed to be their imperfect selves as well. Too much judgement on ourselves and on others kills our creativity. My passion in teaching comes from the honest truth that I care and I try, so I want to help others to do the same. Many of the brilliant musicians I know feel the same. After a while you realize "there's always someone on a higher rung of the ladder than you, but we're all on the same ladder.” That quote comes from John Harmon. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">V. For some creatives, their involvement in the arts is a source of empowerment while for others it is a vehicle to extend empowerment to others. Do you find yourself in group A or B or a little of both? Any stories or examples? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">I'm empowered by the pursuit of learning and sharing. Music is still the boss and as I stumble through the process of understanding it, I feel empowered. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><em><strong>VI. Do you have any closing “words of wisdom” or anything else you would like to share w</strong></em>ith our readers? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Words of wisdom at this time… stay creative, connected and concerned. </span></p>
<p><em><span class="font_regular"><strong>VII. What is coming up? Performing musicians have been hit very hard with the COVID crisis. How can fans find your music during this time?</strong> </span></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Like most we're going virtual. I've been giving and receiving voice lessons on line. If someone's interested in that, they can email me <strong>info@janetplanet.com </strong>and put in the subject voice lessons. My youtube channel will become an outlet. My website is always a good place for a one stop link to what I have available. I'll be doing some facebook live sessions. For now, I'm working on a facebook group for students to post their creatives selves. I'll also be posting some of my videos on technique. I teach jazz vocal technique at Lawrence University in Appleton and this will be set up for that purpose and beyond. As far as live performances… we'll keep holding tight and hope for better days ahead. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Bonus questions: </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">i<em><strong>. What did your 16-year-old self want to be when she grew up? Is there a “close second’ career you would do today if you weren’t in music? </strong></em></span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Singer.....visual artist </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">ii. What are three qualities you seek in a friend? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Honesty, authenticity and humor! </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">iii. You have had some very long-term performing relationships that are uncommon in the music industry. To what do you attribute that success? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The like-mindedness of putting music and people first. You don't become a millionaire but your wealth manifests in longterm meaningful relationships. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">iv. If you could turn back time, what skill would you add to your arsenal? Or what skill are you working on? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Piano lessons as a youngster. Unfortunately, that was never an option growing up as there were always financial issues. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">v. Do you have a bad habit? Do share!! </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Bouts of self doubt. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">vi. What is your favorite way to chill and restore? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Yoga. Boat trips with my husband in the summer. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">vii. Do you have a favorite gig story? </span></strong></em></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">I think there were some examples earlier in interview. There are many, so many that I can't really choose. But the next gig, will have its own story, I'm sure. </span></p>
<p><em><strong><span class="font_regular">Connect with Janet: </span></strong></em></p>
<ul> <li><span class="font_regular">Website: <a contents="http://www.janetplanet.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.janetplanet.com" target="_blank">http://www.janetplanet.com</a> </span></li> <li><span class="font_regular">Facebook: <a contents="https://www.facebook.com/Janet-Planet" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/Janet-Planet-242861782954/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/Janet-Planet</a> </span></li> <li><span class="font_regular">YouTube, JanetPlanetSings: <a contents="https://www.youtube.com/user/JanetPlanetSings&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JanetPlanetSings" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/user/JanetPlanetSings </a></span></li> <li><span class="font_regular">Contact: info@janetplanet.com </span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>Rändi Fay Music