Feelings of "Alleluia"

December is off to the races! This first week of December has been a blur of rehearsals and performances, but it isn't over yet. I performed my recital "Alleluia" in Douglasville on Wednesday night. It was quite well attended and the folks there were so kind in welcoming me. Ben and I received a standing ovation and so I got to perform my encore "O Holy Night" which of course is everyone's Christmas favorite.
Last night, I sang at The Festival of the Nativity. What a lovely experience! I appreciated how well organized everything was, but that was nothing compared to how beautiful the nativity sets were. I was moved to tears several times by the beauty of the music and the spirit of Christmas that I felt there. I was also so pleased to see so many friends and family who came to hear me sing. I am always grateful when I am able to share the gifts with which God has so richly blessed me with those around me. It is the reason I love to perform so much!
Tomorrow will be The Michael O'Neal Christmas concert with the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet. I just love a good brass quintet! This concert is really great. And the Poulenc Motets are to die for!
Then, I have one more week to prepare for my recital at Ragamuffin Music. I am looking forward to another opportunity to share this recital. I have put a webpage together so ya'll can see the program, hear me singing a snipet of it, and order tickets (www.ambersalleluia.blogspot.com).
As I was putting together the program, I found myself being drawn to music and carols that had to do with Mary and the Baby Jesus, specifically those that speak of Mary's tender feelings toward her child, her amazement at being the mother of this "man, yet very God". I suppose as a mother of three, I can relate to those feelings. I have always been amazed at the miracle of motherhood and am so grateful to be able to hold my babies, sing to them, and see God in their eyes. What a priviledge it is for me to be able to represent Mary in expressing her feelings through the songs on my recital "Alleluia". I hope that everyone I have told about this recital will make an effort to spend next Saturday night with me. I pray that all in the audience will be touched by the beautiful music and that it will truly set the tone for a Christ-filled Christmas. Music is meant to elevate us to a higher level. We can express emotions through music that cannot be felt using mere words. That is why I sing!

December Performances

It seems I've been neglecting my blog. As there were no performances scheduled in November, I didn't have much to report about my career. But that doesn't mean I'm not working. I was not cast in The Sound of Music at Center Theatre. I was told it was due to my height, or lack of it. Oh well, maybe next time.
Oddly enough, I have just auditioned for The Sound of Music at Blackwell Theatre along with my oldest daughter. It is her first show and I think it would be great fun to perform alongside her in her first musical. She would make a precious Gretel!
I am working hard learning all the music for my upcoming Christmas recitals. It will include the music of Wolf, Kvasnevski, Barber, Mozart, and arrangements of spirituals and carols. I will be performing it 3 times. First, at Douglasville First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, December 3 at 7 PM. There will be a love offering taken at this concert. Second, in part at The Festival of the Nativity (www.festivalofthenativity.com) from 7 - 7:30 PM on Friday, December 5. And lastly, at Ragamuffin Music (www.ragamuffinmusic.com) in Roswell on Saturday, December 13 at 8 PM. I'm most excited about this one as Ragamuffin Music is a lovely little music studio. It is a living room setting that will be beautifully lit with candles. I think it will be a wonderful way to set the tone for your Christmas. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the website or by contacting me. Anyone can always feel free to email me at amber.brooke.soprano@gmail.com for more information about anything we're doing.
Michael O'Neal Singers will be performing their annual Christmas concert with the Atlanta Brass on Sunday, December 7 at 3 PM. The Chamber Singers will be performing a beautiful work, the Poulenc Motets. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through the MOS website (www.mosingers.com). We will also be doing the annual Messiah Sing-a-long on Sunday, December 21 at 3 PM. Tickets are $10 for that.
So, as you can see, we have a lot to look forward to in December!

Coming Soon!

I just got home from auditioning for The Sound of Music. I was invited to audition for the part of Maria at Center Theatre. I'll let you know if I get it!
Next, I'll be preparing for the remainder of the week to sing at The Paulding County Fall Festival this Saturday. I'll be representing The Reminiscents, trying to get our name out, but I'm singing by myself, doing a 45-minute concert. If you really want to see this, check out www.paulding.com for information.
I'm looking forward to a few more concerts this month. MOS has a concert on Oct. 19. We're currently preparing the Shubert Mass in G and several other works to be sung together with 2 local A-class high school choirs and an orchestra. Should be an exciting concert! Check out www.mosingers.com for information and tickets.
I'm excited to do lots of school shows this month. I'll be performing all the school shows I know this month...A Seussome Twosome, Hansel and Gretel, and The Ballad of the Bremen Band.
On Oct. 23, I'll be performing on the first Dinner and a Diva held at Sugo in Roswell. It is $65 for dinner and a concert of Puccini arias. I'll be singing "O mio babbino", "Quando men vo", and "Che il bel sogno di Doretta". Check www.ccityopera.com for more information and to make reservations.
I don't have anything scheduled yet for November. That leaves open time to rehearse for The Sound of Music if I get it. That opens Nov. 28 and runs through Dec. 28. The calendar can be found at www.atlantajcc.com
December will be jam packed. I'll post more on that later!

Singing Away

I ended up singing "O mio babbino caro", "Summertime", and "Quando men vo" at the fundraiser for Capitol City Opera. Then, I was "purchased" for $300. The couple that bought me is entitled to a dinner with me and Franco. A second couple offered to match the $300 and I agreed to spend an evening with them as well. I'm glad we could raise so much for the Opera Company.
I had a wonderful experience singing at the ASIS Convention at the Georgia World Congress Center even though it was at the crack of dawn this morning. That place is huge!
Michael agreed that "Glitter and Be Gay" sounds great so I will be singing that next Sunday at Rabun Gap as well as "The Cat Duet" with Karen Lupton. I love going up to the mountains to sing!

Upcoming in September

I am looking forward to many things this month. First, I'm being auctioned off at a fundraiser for Capitol City Opera. We'll see how much my "O mio babbino caro" is worth? The winner gets to take me to dinner. I hope they realize my husband is coming along and this is not by any means a date. Second, the Michael O'Neal Chamber Singers are returning to the Rabun Gap Music Festival for the second year in a row. I have performed on this music festival almost every year since its inception with one group or another, including one year when they hired me to form my own group. I hired four other singers and put together my "Finales" concert which the audience loved. This year, we're doing our "Laughter is the Best Medicine" concert. I'm trying to decide if I should sing "Simple Joys of Maidenhood" like I did at the concert with the big group in May or if I should try "Glitter and Be Gay". It used to be my best piece but that was before I had a baby 6 months ago. Hopefully, I'll be going up again next year either with The Reminiscents or Chalis. Lastly, The Reminiscents have a terrific gig in Columbus. I'm so excited about getting to really put on our show. We've worked so hard!