SPRING 2014

L A R E E S I M O N N E W S L E T T E R : I N A U G U R A L I S S U E

VOL. 1.1

Yeah...its me, Tonya. Since my initial outreach to you and many others regarding fundraising efforts for

summer study in Europe through the AIMS program, I have been relatively quiet about whats going on (and not...), my continued efforts and new goals.

Well, the time for an update has come, and Im happy to share some news with you!

As briefly, but as interestingly as possible, I will share what Ive experienced since you sent me to

Europe and what I have seen come to pass in the time after. Ill tell you now, its been a rough and sobering enterprise trying to discern exactly how

to carve out my personal road to success (whatever that really means), in order to fulfill my calling, if you will.

Nonetheless, God has graciously shared this peculiar gift with me. Through faithful persistence, I will do my best to

share the journey and this special endowment with you!

Warmly,

Tonya aka Laree

I think I know that girl...what is she doing now?

PICTURES FROM GRAZ, AUSTRIA (SCHLOSSBERG-ABOVE;

DEVON CASS PHOTOGRAPHY-LEFT)

REBIRTH & ASPIRATIONS CONCERTS DEBUTS

LAREE S INGS!

Around March of last year, I reached out to

you to let you know that I had received a

scholarship, the Nora Sands Memorial

Scholarship to be exact, to facilitate my

attendance in a comprehensive and highly

intensive international study program for

classical musicians in Graz, Austria. I wrote

extensively about my daily life and brief

travel there in my churchs newsletter.

(Please request one! :-)) What I didnt

report, however, was how the actual study

of the voice, the technical work I did with

my now current teacher, Elizabeth

Hagedorn, polished my sound and renewed

my singing mind. You see, life interrupted

my personal and musical growth many

times in a most inconvenient way; the

effect on my singing and career progress

was damaging. Sure. I had recouped much

of my ability via old lesson recordings and

work with local coach, Michael Crabill.

However, your willingness to dig into your

pockets helped introduce me to a woman,

who was not only a positive person, but

who quickly diagnosed the minute

hinderances to acquiring a more

professional, polished classical sound.

Therefore, I now boast engagements in this

newsletter which, include a contract with

the Washington National Opera Chorus!

(Come to find out, my making the chorus

master smile in an audition was as rare as a

solar eclipse. Ha! Naturally, I feel honored

by the invitation to perform with them

next season.) Since last summer at AIMS, I

have made three wonderful debuts and

have connected with performing resources

in both DC and NYC. I feel re-born in a

way... My new sound, colleagues and

opportunities all come with a new sense of

hope -and a new name, by the way. Well,

actually not; my mother gave the name to

me at birth. But the other stuff, I have the

good Lord and YOU to thank for that!

Rebirth at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria by Laree Simon

A PEEK AT GRAZ!

GRAZ OPERA HOUSE (OR OPERN

HAUS) , DESIGNED IN THE BAROQUE

STYLE, WAS INAUGURATED IN 1899

ELIZABETH HAGEDORN, TEACHER,

WHO PRESCRIBED MY NEW VOCAL

EXERCISES (BELOW, LEFT)

SEXY & I KNOW IT URBAN ART

SEEN ON CITY WELCOME TOUR

HISTORIC RED CLAY TILES AS SEEN

FROM ATOP THE FAMOUS K& DEPT.

STORE OFF THE MAIN SQUARE

YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DIG INTO YOUR POCKETS HELPED INTRODUCE ME TO...A PROFESSIONAL POLISHED CLASSICAL SOUND.

Christmas and the Gift of Making Debuts by Laree Simon

Singing for a Season St. Marys Episcopal Church at Foggy Bottom generously provided a concert space for friends

and I to share traditional and not so traditional songs in celebration of Advent and Christmas. Not even a bomb threat in nearby Georgetown

could hold back the entire audience. Soprano, Angeli Ferrette, Organ Master, Julius Tilghman and I presented to a healthy crowd, who joined us afterward for refreshments and

conversation. The free will offering collected was applied to my February audition fees in NYC.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: NEW THEATER ROLE & CREDIT; NEW OPERA ROLES; NOTABLE VENUE & NEW OPERA COMPANY

Watch out, kids! She can sing AND act!Tom Minter, playwright, has been active on the

national theater scene for over twenty years. The fact that he pegged me to create his version of a young Ethel Waters still humbles me, even now. I had the distinct honor of

debuting along side exceptional professional actors in BLUES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH, a poignant commentary on entertainment, social

and inner-cultural relationships of Black history through the eyes of Jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Ella Fitzgerald and

Ethel Waters. This commissioned work by the Stanford School in Washington was presented as a closed event in January, but will be reprised at the National Portrait Gallery of Art this fall.

Carnegie Hall & Company DebutAlthough more about this exciting milestone in my life and artistic journey will be expounded upon in the next church newsletter -yes, I am

loyal to St. Marys readership!- I must at least say that performing on such an historic and prestigious stage gave me a rush Ive never

known! My role debuts as Konstanza and Countess Almaviva in my NY Lyric Opera Theater debut for their opera showcase was invigorating to say the least. I had a blast!

SONGS OF CHRISTMASTIDE

December 19, 2014

ACTION SHOT INDICA HARVEY, CAPTURED MY PARTICIPATION IN A CONGREGATIONAL HYMN/CAROL DURING THAT EVENINGS PERFORMANCE. SHES GOT A GOOD EYE AND GREAT INSTINCTS. YOULL BE SEEING MORE OF HER WORK IN THE FUTURE!

BLUES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH

January, 25 2014 & September 22, 2014

BEHIND THE SCENES ACTRESS, JOY JONES, HAS BEEN ON TV AND THE WEB, BUT SAYS SHE LOVES THE THEATER. HERE WE ARE BACK STAGE DURING A DRESS REHEARSAL OF BLUES. SHE WAS A MESMERIZING ELLA FITZGERALD-- YOU SIMPLY BELIEVED EVERYTHING SHE SAID AND DID.

C ARNEGIE HALL

May 3, 2014

HOW DO YOU GET TO CARNEGIE HALL?... PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, OF COURSE! UPON ENGAGEMENT, I HAD JUST UNDER THREE WEEKS TO BE COACHED AND MEMORIZE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ARIAS MOZART EVER WROTE, MARTERN ALLER ARTEN. YOUTUBE IT (EVA MEI VERSION) SOMETIME...THE PRACTICE CAME IN VERY, VERY HANDY!!!

SNAPSHOTS FROM THIS YEAR

The peacock pictured above was one of many prancing around the grounds of a castle we AIMSers visited. It is said that

the peacock is symbolic of integrity, immortality, nobility and beauty when a person walks in the truth of themselves. And walk about this earth before each of

you, while under the eye of my Savior in those attractive ways, is what I intend to do. Yes. Ive had some really outstanding

reasons to strut this year, but they do not amount to much in the scheme of things. In a very practical sense, Ive yet to earn

enough compensation from all this singing stuff to just break even! Its hard to see your mate (my Cedric) working

their buns off to help make a dream

come true when all you can do is try follow leads and stay prepared. (Getting back into a day job is imminent, unless I

find some profitable side hustles- or a group of benefactors. Pshh! I am so not holding my breath.) Ultimately, I focus on consistency and must employ no little

amount of grit to actively live out this life, which by the way, I dont quite understand. All I know is God put this

passion in me. His way is perfect. It never dies, never fades. Therefore, my duty is to pursue this dream with great intent and

abandon. The ensuing ups and downs, even plateaus that will accompany me are nothing more than the colorful plumes I fan before you and all of heaven as I sing!

Reflections on a Peacock and Divine Drive by Laree SimonUPCOMING

& RECENT GIGS...1. BLUES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH,

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY OF ART, SEPT22ND

2. CAAPA 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA EVENT, BUSBOYS & POETS (U STREET LOCATION), APR 2013

3. COLORED FOLKS SONGS: BLACK COMPOSITIONS & POEMS, ST. MARYS CHURCH, FEB 2014

4. LAUNCHING SOON!! @LAREESINGS/TWITTER @LAREESINGS/INSTAGRAM

Mariatrost Kirche

Peacock of Eggenberg Kastle

Jackie Armstrong Photography (Upper R; Lower L); Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall (Below)