anything and everything i've heard throughout my life has influenced me. I listen to everything, and I mean everything. As my mom says, my ears are never closed. I can't possibly list all of my influences. How about just what comes to mind: Renee Fleming, Kiri Te Kanawa, Ella Fitzgerald, John Cameron Mitchell & Stephen Trask (Hedwig rules!), Mozart, Monteverdi, Rossini, Linkin Park, David Bowie, Altan, and so on and so forth...
I am a classically-trained soprano with a strong low/mid register. While I mainly sing classical music (from art songs to opera), I also sing many other kinds of music (jazz, musical theatre, folk, etc.).
I began my musical studies at the age of 4 when I began learning to play classical piano. From an early age, I was drawn to singing, but it wasnt until I completed my Bachelors of Science degree at UCLA that I realized my true passion for singing. I received both my Masters and Bachelors of Music in vocal performance at California State University, Fullerton. My professional choral experience includes several national Holiday tours with the Boston Pops Orchestra and performances with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orange Countys Pacific Symphony. I have sung for several new music performances, including Electro-Acoustic Interactive Opera We Are All Sibyls by Pamela Madsen, as well as early music performances, including the role of Drusilla in The Coronation of Poppea by Monteverdi and with the CSUF Musicum Collegium ensemble. Operatic roles include Cherubino from "The Marriage of Figaro" and Drusilla from "The Coronation of Poppea." UPDATE: I am currently in the Graduate Certificate program at USC specializing in Early Music Voice.
recording project: The CD is done and ready to sell!! This is a recording of very old traditional christmas songs, about half of which are ancient Romanian carols. (The project websites are www.virlouiserecords.com and www.virlouise.com/Christmas_CD.html.) This is a CD that I am very excited about because it is a very unique collection of songs that show the origins and influences of music you hear today. The pieces are sung by me and the versatile R&B singer/songwriter Ryan Wirtz and have been arranged by our outstanding pianist Ana-Maria Fusu. A number tracks also include the phenomenal guitarist Vasil Chekardzhikov.
I am currently director of the CSUF Collegium Musicum, a soprano section leader/soloist at St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Newport Beach, and freelance as a soloist throughout the Southern California area.
Beautiful, indeed! I do enjoy listening to you sing. I hope I will have an opportunity to listen to you sing some more of Andy's songs some time in the future (perhaps live and in person next time).
Hey Bianca, thanks for adding me to your new page! You sounds beautiful, as always. It's been such a great experience working on this project with everyone! I can't wait to hear the finished product to all of our hard work.. lol See you soon!
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