Blog: Open Intervals

In choral singing, voice parts are normally listed as soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. A four-part, mixed voice choir is frequently referred to as an 'SATB choir,' where SATB is short for soprano-alto-tenor-bass. So if SATB is for a chorus of women and men, what do you think an all-women's chorus would be? Take a guess--and read on! It's an 'SA choir,' or an 'SSAA choir.' However, since all of these women's voices are notated on the treble cleff, a women's chorus is most often referred to as a Tr…

There are times in life when I am absolutely certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that music, singing, movement and dancing, are how we heal ourselves. Most times it's so enjoyable to sing in a concert or to take in a performance that it's not conscious, it's not a conscious choice that you or I would go to a concert or trot off to a gig with the idea in mind, "Today I will heal people. I sing so that I may heal others." Sometimes, sure, when I know that a person who is having a hard time is att…

YES! Just like the organist at your wedding, your child's piano teacher and your high school choir teacher, singers get paid for singing.

Singers add a special emotional, spiritual element to many occasions and they may already be working in music positions you're not aware of. Did you know that many church choirs have section leaders in the different voice parts? And that many private parties hire singers and other musicians for cocktail hours and general entertainment?

Here's a sampler list of…

This is the #1 question I get asked by concert audience members and people I meet on the street.

Let's start with choir voice types. In a choir, people sit in sections:  sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. You’ll probably recognize the names soprano and alto from choir in school. This is different from an actual voice classification, as there are more of those than there are choir voice types.

There are three voice classifications for women:

• a soprano (the highest)
• a mezzo-soprano (in the midd…

So you're 18, fantastic at music, everybody loves what you perform, and they all want to know if you're going to study music. 'Yes!,' you say, and you head off for 4 years (or more) of higher education, maybe take another 2 years for graduate school, and you hit the real world as a freelancer. But your teacher (or teachers) never told you this: that you're an entrepreneur. And you need valuable skills that no one taught you in college or grad school--one of the most important ones being: money m…

SOLD OUT - Call the box office to be put on the waiting list.

May 12, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Nobuyoshi Yasuda, conductor

Chippewa Valley Symphony, Eau Claire, WI

Karin Wolverton, soprano

Nicole Warner, mezzo-soprano

Check the Chippewa Valley Symphony site and LIKE them on Facebook, too!

From the press release:

Just like your instrument, The Savvy Musician: Building a Career, Earning a Living & Making a Difference is a tool for your toolbox. And if there's one thing I've seen that more musicians need, it's business skills.

In college and grad school, no one pulled me aside and said, "Hey, did you know that you'll be an entrepreneur for the rest of your life and everything that goes into your career you'll have to generate yourself?" If they had, well, we'd all be reading a different blog entry right …

Now Available at iTunes and CDBaby.com!

O

"Fly Wtih Me," "Maybe So," and "Siana," all composed by Catherine Dalton, are available for download on iTunes and CDBaby.com. For more, please click on the links above or take a look in the Listening Room!

O

This is our and my first digital release and Catherine and I are proud and excited to share our work with you.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Third Coast Digest reviewed last weekend's concertof Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" with Soprano Amy Conn and the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Hynson. Reviewer Barbara Castonguay had the following to say:  "Warner’s hearty mezzo brims with caramel and chocolate richness." Thank you, Ms. Castonguay!

Be sure to check out the post-concert picture in the Picture Gallery.

In May, soprano Amy Conn and mezzo-soprano Nicole Warner were named co-winners of the Bel Canto Chorus Regional Artists Competition in Milwaukee, WI.

From the press release:

Both Conn and Warner will be performing Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra on September 19, 2010.

The Bel Canto Regional Artists Competition was established to encourage and support singers who reside in or originate from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio.  Previous winne…