Interview with Julie Souin of Virtual Choir 3.0

When I wrote for Suite101, I had the opportunity to interview Julie Souin from Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 3.0 to discuss Eric Whitacre, DCINY's Sing with Eric and Virtual Choir.

Julie Souin of Rhode Island, USA, recorded four voice parts to Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 3 project: “Water Night”. A total of 3,746 videos were submitted by singers from around the world. Souin sat down with Suite101 on April 25, 2012 via Skype to talk about Eric Whitacre's music, Virtual Choir and Sing With Eric.

Julie Souin on Recording Virtual Choir 2 and 3

“I obsessed over my recording with Sleep,” she recalled. “It wasn't good enough. No, I could do better.” She recorded 50 times before submitting her final video for VC2.

“I knew that it wasn't great and I could probably do even better; but it was the best I could do at the time, with the equipment that I had.” With a triumphant voice, followed by a hearty chuckle, she added, “I just felt like I conquered the world when I pressed 'Submit.' ”

Julie felt more relaxed while preparing for VC3, but had other challenges to contend with. “I had all the external issues, like my dogs making noises.” In another take, it was someone else. “My kids came home right as we're holding that last note. I'm holding one hand up to the door as they got the key in the door making a chick-chick-chick...I still submitted it!

“I think with Sleep, I would have never done that. I would have said, 'I wrecked it at the end.' With this, it was 'No, it's an OK recording'. I think I was much more forgiving with those kinds of things the second time around, knowing that a lot the little tiny things don't matter.” Turning reflective, she said, “But you do want to bring honour to the whole project and you want to bring honour to yourself in submitting the best possible production.”

Julie Souin on DCINY's Sing with Eric

In 2011, Julie's daughter auditioned and was selected to sing at Sing with Eric. This annual workshop is presented by Distinguished Concerts International – New York. “At the parent meeting,” she recalled, “I kind of jokingly said, 'Do you take parent singers?' The guy said, 'See me afterwards. I actually have a spot for you.' ” With a laugh, she added, “I was freaking out. Not only do I get to go hear this music live but now, my daughter's participating; and now I'm participating. It was a dream come true.”

Julie enjoyed herself so much that she participated again in Sing with Eric 2012, which was held March 30 – April 1, 2012 in New York, NY. Three days of intensive rehearsals with Eric Whitacre culminated with a performance at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. “To sing with the composer and to sing the music as closely as it's intended to be sung – to the best of your ability – is really a dream come true.”

Julie Souin on The Virtual Choir's Online Community

“So much of this is hard to put into words,” Julie said. After some thought, she elaborated, “The relationships that have blossomed out of this are, I feel, as real as the people I have met in real life. The people that I haven't – that I only know virtually, whether it's Google Hangouts or Skype or typing – they're like, real friendships and I would have never expected that. It was a very unexpected perk.”

Julie is full of admiration for her Virtual Choir friends. “These friends are artistic, very open people. Open to share of themselves. To give of themselves...They're very loving people.”

In addition to singing in Virtual Choir, Julie is a member of the Virtual Choir Army, a small group of singers who helped fellow VC members as they prepared their submissions. “My son is on his first deployment in Afghanistan,” she shared. “Helping people gather the courage to learn “Water Night” for VC 3.0, record and upload videos was extra rewarding. I really needed a healthy distraction from thinking about my son and his safety. Reaching out to others as well as learning and memorizing the music for our Carnegie Hall concert was just the thing. I am so grateful.”

The Water Night Premiere and Meeting Virtual Choir Members in New York

The world premiere of Virtual Choir 3.0: “Water Night” took place on Monday, April 2, 2012. It was fast on the heels behind Sing with Eric as well as the release of Eric Whitacre's latest CD, also entitled Water Night. Julie Souin attended both events.

“I'm sitting with all these people who have this vested interest,” she recalled. “A lot of them sang in the Virtual Choir. Everybody is heavily anticipating this moment and to watch it in the same room with all of them was really special.”

Another highlight for Julie was the opportunity to meet fellow Virtual Choir members in person. “Oh my gosh!” she gushed. “That was a cool thing itself. I spent a lot of time with Jack [Rowland] because we're really good friends. I picked him up at the airport. It was like we have known each other our whole lives from the get-go. From the second I saw him, there was this comfort level like a brother and sister.

“It wasn't until after the concert at Carnegie Hall and there was the rest of the gang all waiting. I met up with them and that moment was completely unreal. I saw Jack, Lynna [Schaefer] and Kevin [Callahan] and Jen [Christensen]. Then Dennis [Scannell] and Maria [Petrova].

“There were other people that joined us that I didn't know as well or I haven't known as long. The entire gang, no matter who showed up, whenever we went out or we were together, everybody was like one big happy family. It was almost like we had known each other since high school and we were having a high school reunion.”

Julie Souin on Meeting and Working with Grammy Winning Composer Eric Whitacre

When Suite101 asked “What is Eric like in person?” Julie quickly replied, “Special. Really, he's special. Not just the music he creates, but as a person. He really is super-grounded, down-to-earth, very genuine. Everything that you see in interviews? It's real.

“He's very respectful to each person he meets. He gives each person as much time as he can possibly give, in whatever situation they are approaching him.”

Julie firmly believes that Eric Whitacre's personal qualities come through in his music. “You feel that sincerity when you hear his music.”

Julie Souin on Eric Whitacre's CD Water Night

One of Julie's favourite tracks is “When David Heard”. “I can't imagine that you can make a piece that long out of so few words and it remains interesting; and you feel what the parent would feel if you were in that situation. It makes you feel something deep down. It really reaches the soul.”

When asked about the CD, Julie answered in revered tones. “I love it. It's everything I hoped it would be and thought it would be. Probably more.”

Originally published on Suite101.com on May 26, 2012. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

The Piano Guys Just Want to Have Fun

A fun post for today. With almost 700,000 views on their Youtube Channel, The Piano Guys are a bona fide Internet sensation.

Check out their new interview on their YT Channel about how they got started, how they have inspired each other and in turn, the rest of us, to just have fun with music. They each talk a bit about how music has impacted their lives.

By far, Cello Wars remains a favourite among my students:

Check out The Piano Guys' first album on Amazon:

Want more Piano Guys? Visit their website.

Calgary Wind Symphony Presents Music of Mysteries, Legends & Ritual

Mystery, legends and rituals are on tap when the Calgary Wind Symphony  performs on Sunday March 3 at 2:30 PM. 

"Music of Mysteries, Legends and Ritual" will showcase the Canadian première of Concerto for Saxophone composed by Kenneth Fuchs. Featured soloists for this concert include Dr. Jeremy Brown (saxophone) and Terri Shouldice (flute). Wendy Freeman will take to the podium as the guest conductor. The programme will also feature La Fiesta Mexicanais and Poem by Charles Griffes.

The Calgary concert will be held at  Eckhardt-Gramatte Hall, Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary. Tickets are $15/adult and $/students & senior. You can buy concert tickets on the Calgary Wind Symphony's website and Eventbrite.

The Calgary Wind Symphony is a 60-member ensemble, directed by Dr. Jeremy Brown of the University of Calgary. Formerly known as the Calgary Concert Band, the ensemble has been active in Calgary’s musical community since 1947. The band went on a European tour in 2011, performing to enthusiastic audiences in Italy and Austria.

In the summer of 2012, the CCC changed its name to the “Calgary Wind Symphony”. The CWS operates under the Calgary Concert Band Society.

Earlier this season, the Calgary Wind Symphony presented "Hilarious Holidays". This was a highly entertaining and festive concert. Click here for my concert review.

Fingering is Important

One of my students is learning the Piano Guys' arrangement of "All of Me". We thought this warning was pretty hilarious, not to mention true.

Here's the piece. See you if can find the "fingering or die" part:

Want to hear more? Click on the Piano Guys CD to check out their CD's:

Concert Review of CJO's Romance Concert

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra performed a selection of popular love songs on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at River Park Church. Calgary, Alberta. The programme featured t

he music of Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Michael Buble, Diana

Krall and more.

Special guests included Johanna Sillanpaa and members of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

The E.P. Scarlett Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Jonathan Bell, kicked things off with a Duke Ellington classic, "Moon over Cuba." This lively number featured the clarinet, piano and trombone. This was followed by "Jitterbug Waltz" by Fats Waller, which featured the vibraphone, piano and drums.

Members of the Calgary Philharmonic Join the CJO for an Evening of Romance

"The music is all over the map," said Calgary Jazz Orchestra Director Johnny Summers at the start of the first set. This was the first CJO concert that included a string octet, comprised of members from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

The first song performed was the love theme from Superman, "Can You Read My Mind", composed by John Williams. A cymbal roll swelled dramatically until the rest of the ensemble came in. The strings played the head, while the piano, flutes and clarinets added flourishes here and there. Al Muirhead's trumpet solo was melodic and motivic.

Another highlight was "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green. Drummer Greg Baker sung this classic R & B hit. Dr. Jeremy Brown's saxophone solo looped and climbed, leading us higher and higher still, until Johnny Summers' trumpet solo came in, played in the high register. This gave way to Rich Harding's sax solo, which weaved around, leading us back to the final verse. This number garnered several whoops and cheers from the audience.

Before performing the final number in the first set, the CJO did a quick plug for the May concert, which will feature pop hits and favourites arranged by members of the Calgary Jazz Orchestra. Johnny Summers encouraged patrons to email, Facebook or Tweet the CJO with song requests.

Vocalist Johanna Sillanpaa joined Johnny Summers to sing "Exactly Like You" to close the set. This light-hearted number is one of the tracks on Johnny Summer's new CD, Piano Sessions Volume 1. The strings augmented the playful lines the duo weaved. This number featured impressive solos by Johnny Summers on trumpet and Egor Ukoloff on piano.

Two more songs were performed in the first set, including Paul McCartney's "My Valentine". Johanna Sillanpaa was featured in Gus Kahn's "Dream a Little Dream of Me".

The CJO Performs Classic Love Songs and Logs in Some FaceTime to Maui

Johnny Summers shared with the audience what a learning experience it was to write for strings at the concert's second half. He reminisced with CPO Concertmaster  Donovan Seidle about their student days at the University of Calgary.

Then, he tried to introduce the first number. However, various members of the CJO heckled him, describing it as "Great...slow...awful." On the other hand, Johnny described Jimmy McHugh's "It Had to Be You" as "one of the most romantic songs of all time."

The strings opened with a mysterious tremolos before the clarinets joined them. This number features solos by Kodi Hutchinson on bass and Shane Statz on sax. Despite Johnny's complaints over his cold, I'd have to say that it really injected more "oomph" to his lower vocal range.

One memorable moment from the second half was "You are So Beautiful", which featured Brian Walley on trombone. Several bars in, Johnny Summers stopped the performance to inquire where Brian's sweetheart was. When Brian replied, "In Maui," Johnny reached for an iPad and said, "Let's FaceTime her!"

Yours truly held the iPad in the front row so that Brian's fiancée could be serenaded. Special thanks to the gentleman who sat beside me who assisted me in positioning the iPad to give Karen a good view of Brian and the stage.

The CJO's Chet Baker cover of "My Funny Valentine" was dedicated to a couple in the audience who recently got engaged. This year's arrangement opened with a solo piano introduction. The rest of the ensemble came in layers. This lovely arrangement featured Johnny on vocals and trumpet as well as Egor Ukoloff on piano:

The second half of CJO's concert featured three more romantic songs, including Victor Young's "Beautiful Love" and Michael Buble's "Everything" (an audience member's request). Johanna Sillanpaa returned to the stage to sing Whiting & Moret's "He's Funny that Way".

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra is a 17 piece big band founded by Johnny Summers in 2004. This performance included Rich Harding, Keith O'Rourke, Dr. Jeremy Brown, Shane Statz and Sarah Matheson on saxophone. Johnny Summers, Jay Michalak, Gord Wilhelm and Al Muirhead comprise the trumpet section. Brian Walley, Dean Yeats, Tim Embree and Dave Reid from the trombone section.

The string section was comprised of Donovan Seidle, Diane Lane, Jeremy Gabbery and Melanie Leonard on violin; Carl Boychuk and Megan Singer on viola; while Andrea Case and David Morrisey filled out the octet on cello. Arrangements for "Romance" were written by Greg Baker and Johnny Summers.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra and guests presented a delightful jazz concert on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at the River Park Church in Calgary, Alberta. The supportive audience began applauding even before the final song drew to a close and quickly stood up to give a standing ovation as soon as the last note was played. The addition of a string section welcome addition for audience members and CJO members, adding a refreshing spin on these classic love songs. All in all, a successful Calgary event.