Hours after winning Grand Rapids Bach Festival's $10,000 Keller Award, singer makes unexpected debut at 12th biennial festival
Grand Rapids Symphony
3/22/19 11:45am
Soprano Nola Richardson not only won the Grand Rapids Bach Festival's inaugural $10,000 Keller Award, she unexpectedly performed hours later at the festival
Singers competing for the Linn Maxwell Keller Distinguished Bach Musician Award were promised not only a $10,000 prize to encourage and promote their careers, but also the possibility of a future engagement with the Grand Rapids Bach Festival.
For soprano Nola Richardson, winner of the inaugural Keller Award, the wait wasn't long. Just hours after she was declared winner of the prize named for the founder of the Grand Rapids Bach Festival, she was on stage Thursday evening, singing Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in A Major with The Choir of Trinity Wall Street and the Grand Rapids Symphony under Artistic Director Julian Wachner.
“Upon her winning the award at 4:30 p.m., I said to Nola, ‘You have a gig tonight,’” said Wachner, who also is Director of Music and Arts at New York City’s famous Trinity Church Wall Street.
In presenting the Keller Award on Thursday afternoon at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Grand Rapids, countertenor Daniel Taylor, chairman of the jury, said that Richardson had performed “with a sense of undeniable joy.”
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the soprano previously engaged to perform Thursday evening with the Grand Rapids Symphony had to cancel her appearance in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in A Majoras part of the Grand Rapids Bach Festival.
Richardson, however, had sung the soprano aria, “Qui tollis peccata mundi,” from the Bach Mass as one of her three competition selections, and Wachner, who had served as master of ceremonies at both the competition’s semifinal round on Tuesday and at its final round on Thursday knew what she could do.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Richardson joined three other soloists, The Choir of Trinity Wall Street from New York City, and the Grand Rapids Symphony in a concert before a full house in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in downtown Grand Rapids.
Praised by the New York Times for her “beautiful tone” and the Washington Post for her “astonishing balance and accuracy,” “crystalline diction” and “natural sounding ease,” soprano Nola Richardson has sung Bach’s Cantata No. 51 and Scarlatti's Su le Sponde del Tebro with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; “Simply Sondheim” with the Boston Pops; and Handel's Messiah with the Colorado Symphony.
Richardson participated in the premiere of Michael Gandolfi’s Carroll in Numberland alongside soprano Dawn Upshaw at Tanglewood, and she made her Kennedy Center debut in Handel’s Radamisto with Opera Lafayette. With Yale Schola Cantorum, she’s performed Arvo Part’s Passio on tour to Russia, Estonia and Latvia.
The native of Australia was a top prizewinner in the Audrey Rooney Bach, the Bethlehem Bach, and the Handel Aria Competitions, and she as appeared with the American Bach Soloists, Seraphic Fire, Clarion, the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, the American Classical Orchestra, the Colorado Bach Ensemble, and the Blue Hill Bach Festival.
Mezzo soprano Linn Maxwell Keller, who graced international concert halls and opera houses in her career, sang at major Bach festival throughout the United States including the Oregon Bach Festivalunder Helmuth Rilling. In 1997, she founded the biennial Grand Rapids Bach Festival as a week-long, community celebration of the music of J.S. Bach.
In memory of Keller, who died in 2016, the Grand Rapids Bach Festival established the $10,000 Keller Distinguished Bach Musician Award. The inaugural competition, to encourage and support gifted, young singers in pursuit of professional careers in music, made its debut at the 2019 Grand Rapids Bach Festival, running March 17 through March 24 in Grand Rapids.
Six singers, all between age 18 and 34, performed in two rounds of competition in the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. The jury of countertenor Daniel Taylor, baritone Stephen Salters, and Lori Lee Curly, president of the Grand Rapids Bach Festival’s Board of Directors, unanimously chose Richardson as the winner of the inaugural Keller Award.
The $10,000 Keller Award for a rising young singer was presented on Thursday, March 21, at the 2019 Grand Rapids Bach Festival. /Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
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Nola Richardson sings with the Grand Rapids Symphony and Trinity Wall Street Choir at the 2019 Grand Rapids Bach Festival. /Terry Johnston | Grand Rapids Symphony
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Spring/Summer 2019 Update
Hello dear friends!
This spring has been a very exciting one for me, and I’m happy to share some highlights with you all. 2019 started off in a great way with my Kennedy Center debut as Fraarte in Radamisto with Opera Lafayette. Following that, I had a blast singing “Favorite Bach Cantatas” with the American Bach Soloists.
In March, I performed as a soloist in the wonderful BWV 147 at the Lincoln Center with the American Classical Orchestra and I got to add a new language to the list I’ve sung while performing “Korean Choral Treasures” with Seraphic Fire.
The next week, I was thrilled to be selected for the First Prize and Audience Favorite award in the inaugural Grand Rapids Bach Festival Linn Maxwell Keller Competition. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I also made a surprise debut that evening with the Grand Rapids Symphony!
After a short time at home, I was on the road again for an international tour of Handel’s Semele with Clarion and the English Concert. It was a hugely inspiring experience and performing at Carnegie Hall was a big highlight!
For Holy Week, in between services at St. John the Divine and St. Vincent Ferrar, I performed in a beautiful St. John Passion at Saint Peter’s Lutheran with many friends. And the next weekend I performed a wonderful all-Guerrero concert at the Met Cloisters with Clarion. I’m very grateful for all of these wonderful musical experiences, my fantastic colleagues, and the support of my family and friends.
I am excited to announce that I recently joined Athlone Artists led by Miguel Rogriguez! I’m honored to be included on a such a talented roster, and thrilled to be collaborating with Miguel on building my career.
As always, thank you for your support!
Nola
This spring has been a very exciting one for me, and I’m happy to share some highlights with you all. 2019 started off in a great way with my Kennedy Center debut as Fraarte in Radamisto with Opera Lafayette. Following that, I had a blast singing “Favorite Bach Cantatas” with the American Bach Soloists.
In March, I performed as a soloist in the wonderful BWV 147 at the Lincoln Center with the American Classical Orchestra and I got to add a new language to the list I’ve sung while performing “Korean Choral Treasures” with Seraphic Fire.
The next week, I was thrilled to be selected for the First Prize and Audience Favorite award in the inaugural Grand Rapids Bach Festival Linn Maxwell Keller Competition. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I also made a surprise debut that evening with the Grand Rapids Symphony!
After a short time at home, I was on the road again for an international tour of Handel’s Semele with Clarion and the English Concert. It was a hugely inspiring experience and performing at Carnegie Hall was a big highlight!
For Holy Week, in between services at St. John the Divine and St. Vincent Ferrar, I performed in a beautiful St. John Passion at Saint Peter’s Lutheran with many friends. And the next weekend I performed a wonderful all-Guerrero concert at the Met Cloisters with Clarion. I’m very grateful for all of these wonderful musical experiences, my fantastic colleagues, and the support of my family and friends.
I am excited to announce that I recently joined Athlone Artists led by Miguel Rogriguez! I’m honored to be included on a such a talented roster, and thrilled to be collaborating with Miguel on building my career.
As always, thank you for your support!
Nola
Spring 2018 Update
Dear Friends,
I’m honored to announce that I recently took home the first prize in the 2018 Audrey Rooney Bach Competition! As part of my prize, I’ll be returning next season to sing with the Kentucky Bach Choir.
On Saturday, I’ll be singing the B Minor Mass with a chorus of Yale Schola Cantorum alumni and Juilliard415 led by the brilliant Masaaki Suzuki. These are some of the finest early music soloists from around the country (including many dear friends). It will be a truly spectacular performance- even if you are not in the area, you can still catch the live Stream! Saturday, April 28th at 7:30 PM in Yale’s Woolsey Hall.
Live stream link: https://ism.yale.edu/event/js-bach-mass-b-minor-masaaki-suzuki-conductor-live-stream
Coming up next:
”For Whom the Trumpet Tolls”
Recital at the National Cathedral with trumpeter Josh Cohen and Baroque string ensemble ACRONYM.
Thursday, May 10th at 7:30 PM.
More info
”Clarion at 60”
Haydn’s Harmoniemesse and Te Deum conducted by Steven Fox
Wednesday May 23rd at 7:30 PM.
More info
Blue Hill Bach Festival
Bach’s “B Minor Mass” and Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”
July 26th-29th
More info
Pictured below from left to right:
Audrey Rooney, Miguel Ángel Ortega Bañales (Tenor, honorable mention), Tanyaradzwa A. Tawenga (Soprano, honorable mention), Nola Richardson, Marlon Hurst (Director of the Kentucky Bach Choir)
I’m honored to announce that I recently took home the first prize in the 2018 Audrey Rooney Bach Competition! As part of my prize, I’ll be returning next season to sing with the Kentucky Bach Choir.
On Saturday, I’ll be singing the B Minor Mass with a chorus of Yale Schola Cantorum alumni and Juilliard415 led by the brilliant Masaaki Suzuki. These are some of the finest early music soloists from around the country (including many dear friends). It will be a truly spectacular performance- even if you are not in the area, you can still catch the live Stream! Saturday, April 28th at 7:30 PM in Yale’s Woolsey Hall.
Live stream link: https://ism.yale.edu/event/js-bach-mass-b-minor-masaaki-suzuki-conductor-live-stream
Coming up next:
”For Whom the Trumpet Tolls”
Recital at the National Cathedral with trumpeter Josh Cohen and Baroque string ensemble ACRONYM.
Thursday, May 10th at 7:30 PM.
More info
”Clarion at 60”
Haydn’s Harmoniemesse and Te Deum conducted by Steven Fox
Wednesday May 23rd at 7:30 PM.
More info
Blue Hill Bach Festival
Bach’s “B Minor Mass” and Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”
July 26th-29th
More info
Pictured below from left to right:
Audrey Rooney, Miguel Ángel Ortega Bañales (Tenor, honorable mention), Tanyaradzwa A. Tawenga (Soprano, honorable mention), Nola Richardson, Marlon Hurst (Director of the Kentucky Bach Choir)
Some other highlights since my last update:
- My debut with the American Classical Orchestra in C.P.E. Bach’s “Magnificat”.
- A surprise debut (on less than 18 hours notice!) with the Colorado Symphony to replace an ill singer in “Messiah”.
- A New Year’s Eve concert and recording project with Clarionof Kastalsky’s “Memory Eternal”.
- Recitals with Paul Sullivan, composer and pianist, in Maine and with Yevgeny Yontov and the Second Movement Series in Connecticut.
- Two more recording releases: Palestrina with the Yale Schola Cantorum and David Hill through Hyperion, and Statements (music of Lang, Hearn, and Lash) with the Yale Choral Artists and Jeffrey Douma through Naxos.
- My debut with Seraphic Fire singing the “St. Matthew Passion”.
- A semi-staged performance of Bach’s “Coffee Cantata” and Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” with the Madison Bach Musicians.
- Another performance of the “St. Matthew Passion” as part of the Good Friday liturgy with the Bach Collegium at Saint Peter’s.
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Colorado Bach Ensemble Messiah From left to right: Gene Stenger (Tenor), Leah Creek Biesterfeld (Mezzo soprano), Nola Richardson (Soprano), Andrew Garland (Bass), James Kim (Conductor) |
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Madison Bach Musicians Coffee Cantata In our contemporary staging of Bach’s hilarious Coffee Cantata, I took a lot of selfies onstage. I think some of them turned out pretty well! Gene Stenger was the Narrator, and Elijah Blaisdell was my grumpy dad, Schlendrian! |
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Boettcher Concert Hall Colorado Symphony Messiah I got the call to jump in for the Saturday night Messiah performance well after midnight on Friday! I hopped on a plane the next morning from NY to CO, had a very brief piano rehearsal with Maestro Brett Mitchell, and performed that evening! It was a whirlwind, but a thrill to make my debut with one of my “hometown” orchestras and very special to have my parents in attendance too! |
October 23rd, 2017 Newsletter: A Cd Release and a Baltimore Concert!
Dear Friends,
I haven't updated you all for quite awhile as this last year just flew by! If you'd like to see what I've been up to, please take at look at my website, professional facebook page, or instagram. I've also put some photos and reviews from the past year below.
As for what's next, I'm really excited to be returning to sing with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society under their new director, Anthony Blake Clark. I always love having a reason to return to Baltimore and I'm looking forward to singing Handel's virtuosic "Dixit Dominus" and Bach's cantata 14. You can check out the details for the concert on Saturday, October 28th, or purchase tickets through the Baltimore Choral Arts Society Website.
My other big news is that I am featured on Yale's recording of Fauré's "Requiem and other sacred music" which is being released on October 27th through Hyperion records! I'm the soloist for the beautiful "Messe Basse" for treble voices. You can pick up a copy through Amazon, iTunes, or Barnes and Noble.
Coming up later this fall, I'll be singing with the choir of Trinity Wall Street in collaboration with the Tallis Scholars, Nederlands Kammerchor, and Det Norske Solistkor for the White Nights Festival at the Lincoln Center. In December, I'm looking forward to singing with the American Classical Orchestra for the first time as the soloist in C.P.E. Bach's Magnificat and returning for a Messiah with the Colorado Bach Ensemble.
As always, thank you for your support!
Best wishes,
Nola
I haven't updated you all for quite awhile as this last year just flew by! If you'd like to see what I've been up to, please take at look at my website, professional facebook page, or instagram. I've also put some photos and reviews from the past year below.
As for what's next, I'm really excited to be returning to sing with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society under their new director, Anthony Blake Clark. I always love having a reason to return to Baltimore and I'm looking forward to singing Handel's virtuosic "Dixit Dominus" and Bach's cantata 14. You can check out the details for the concert on Saturday, October 28th, or purchase tickets through the Baltimore Choral Arts Society Website.
My other big news is that I am featured on Yale's recording of Fauré's "Requiem and other sacred music" which is being released on October 27th through Hyperion records! I'm the soloist for the beautiful "Messe Basse" for treble voices. You can pick up a copy through Amazon, iTunes, or Barnes and Noble.
Coming up later this fall, I'll be singing with the choir of Trinity Wall Street in collaboration with the Tallis Scholars, Nederlands Kammerchor, and Det Norske Solistkor for the White Nights Festival at the Lincoln Center. In December, I'm looking forward to singing with the American Classical Orchestra for the first time as the soloist in C.P.E. Bach's Magnificat and returning for a Messiah with the Colorado Bach Ensemble.
As always, thank you for your support!
Best wishes,
Nola
June 8th, 2016 Newsletter: Competitions, Yale, and the Baltics!
Dear Friends,
I'm writing this note from St. Petersburg, Russia in the midst of my third week of touring! I had an amazing time visiting Estonia, Finland, and Russia for the Yale ISM study tour and now the Yale Schola Cantorum members are gearing up for three performances of Arvo Pärt's Passio in St. Petersburg, Tallinn, and Riga. I'll be singing in the Evangelist quartet and Pärt himself will be attending our performance in Estonia!
In other news, I was recently honored to win a shared first place in the Bethlehem Bach Biennial Competition in late May! Two years ago I received an honorable mention and it was very nice to return and sing again. I was also selected to be one of seven finalists in the Madison Handel Competition in July! Please wish me good luck as I prepare for this next event.
I am very happy to announce that I have successfully completed the residency period of my degree at Yale. This year was a tough one for me as I had to complete many doctoral requirements on top of my performances and coursework. I spent most of the year researching and completing my thesis on French Baroque soprano, Marie Le Rochois, and passed comprehensive written and oral exams. It's a huge relief to have all that behind me! Now I am looking forward to having the next few years more free for performing and setting my own path and I'm excited to see what will happen.
All the best,
Nola
I'm writing this note from St. Petersburg, Russia in the midst of my third week of touring! I had an amazing time visiting Estonia, Finland, and Russia for the Yale ISM study tour and now the Yale Schola Cantorum members are gearing up for three performances of Arvo Pärt's Passio in St. Petersburg, Tallinn, and Riga. I'll be singing in the Evangelist quartet and Pärt himself will be attending our performance in Estonia!
In other news, I was recently honored to win a shared first place in the Bethlehem Bach Biennial Competition in late May! Two years ago I received an honorable mention and it was very nice to return and sing again. I was also selected to be one of seven finalists in the Madison Handel Competition in July! Please wish me good luck as I prepare for this next event.
I am very happy to announce that I have successfully completed the residency period of my degree at Yale. This year was a tough one for me as I had to complete many doctoral requirements on top of my performances and coursework. I spent most of the year researching and completing my thesis on French Baroque soprano, Marie Le Rochois, and passed comprehensive written and oral exams. It's a huge relief to have all that behind me! Now I am looking forward to having the next few years more free for performing and setting my own path and I'm excited to see what will happen.
All the best,
Nola
Me with Arvo Pärt after performing the soprano part in the Evangelist quartet for his Passio!
October 16th, 2015 Newsletter : New York Debut!
Dear Friends,
I'll be performing two concerts this weekend in New Haven and New York with the brilliant Masaaki Suzuki, Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415. We will be presenting two of Bach's Lutheran Masses (BWV 234 and 235). Both of these masses incorporate some of the greatest music from many of Bach's cantatas. These pieces are not frequently performed, so it's a wonderful chance to hear them with an excellent historically informed performance ensemble!
I'll be performing two concerts this weekend in New Haven and New York with the brilliant Masaaki Suzuki, Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard415. We will be presenting two of Bach's Lutheran Masses (BWV 234 and 235). Both of these masses incorporate some of the greatest music from many of Bach's cantatas. These pieces are not frequently performed, so it's a wonderful chance to hear them with an excellent historically informed performance ensemble!
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I've had a very busy start to my second year at Yale. This past week my fellow voxtet singers and I had the opportunity to work with Dame Emma Kirky and lutenist Jakob Lindberg. We each prepared songs to perform in recital with Jakob, and were also coached on the 4-part settings of several Dowland songs. Here's a picture of me and my fellow second-year singers reading from facsimiles of the original printing of Dowland's "Second Book of Songes or Ayres" from 1600. These books were published with the alto, tenor and bass parts facing out in different directions so four singers could sit around a table reading from the same book and make music together!
Singing John Blow's "Lovely Selina" with Jakob Lindberg
in Yale's beautiful 16th century Swiss Room. Photo courtesy of Melanie Ross. |
This past weekend I was also thrilled to perform Samuel Barber's Knoxville, Summer of 1915 with orchestra for my friend Sarah Paquet's MM conducting recital. This is a piece that I have loved for years, so I felt very fortunate to perform it for the first time with my very talented colleague. I also had the opportunity to coach this piece with Dawn Upshaw at Tanglewood this summer, which was very helpful and inspiring. If you haven't heard her beautiful recording of Knoxville, I highly recommend it!
Coming up in the next few months I'll be singing Handel with the Schola Cantorum and David Hill in New Haven and Portland, OR for the National Collegiate Choral Organization and Bach with the Yale Camerata. As always, please check my website calendar or facebook page for updates! Best wishes, Nola |
June 13th, 2015 newsletter
Dear Friends,
My summer has been off to a busy start! In May I toured England and France with the Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard 415 under David Hill. We performed concerts and Evensongs in venues such as Westminster Abbey and Cambridge Trinity College. Upon returning I spent two weeks in Boston culminating in performances of "Simply Sondheim" with the Boston Pops under Keith Lockhart! Both sets of concerts are being broadcast on the radio so be sure to check out the details below and take a listen! Next up I'll be headed to the Tanglewood Festival for two months as a Vocal Fellow. I'm very excited to perform in several concerts and premiere new works by David Lang and Michael Gandolfi (alongside soprano Dawn Upshaw!)
My summer has been off to a busy start! In May I toured England and France with the Yale Schola Cantorum and Juilliard 415 under David Hill. We performed concerts and Evensongs in venues such as Westminster Abbey and Cambridge Trinity College. Upon returning I spent two weeks in Boston culminating in performances of "Simply Sondheim" with the Boston Pops under Keith Lockhart! Both sets of concerts are being broadcast on the radio so be sure to check out the details below and take a listen! Next up I'll be headed to the Tanglewood Festival for two months as a Vocal Fellow. I'm very excited to perform in several concerts and premiere new works by David Lang and Michael Gandolfi (alongside soprano Dawn Upshaw!)
Catch the radio broadcast of our Boston Pops concert on WGBH today (Saturday, June 13th) or Monday June 22nd at 8 PM. Details here: http://www.wgbh.org/995/bso.cfm Jason Danieley and Kate Baldwin were amazing and it was so fun to sing Sondheim!
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You can listen online to our BBC3 Radio Broadcast of our concert at Cambridge for 16 more days. I'm featured as a soloist in Roderick William's "O Brother Man" and I'm also briefly interviewed in the first half! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05wyjrg
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My spring was filled with wonderful performances and people this year. From top right: As Galatea with American Bach Soloists in SF; Performances with Les Delices in Cleveland; a solo recital for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa at Yale; and with my teacher, James Taylor after my first Doctoral recital. As always, please check my website for an updated performance calendar, news and reviews or follow my facebook page.
Best wishes,
Nola
Best wishes,
Nola
October 23rd, 2014 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
I've been having an amazing time so far at Yale but I'm very excited to return to Baltimore this weekend to sing lots of Bach with some of my favorite musicians in a program with the Baltimore Choral Arts! The details are below- I hope you can make it!
THE CLASSICAL MASTERS
SATURDAY, 25 OCTOBER
4:00 PM
Kraushaar Auditorium
Tom Hall leads the full Chorus and Orchestra in Beethoven's "Elegiac Song," Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus," and Bach's "Magnificat." Baltimore Symphony Principal Trumpet Andrew Balio and soprano Nola Richardson open the program with Bach's Cantata No. 51. A varied program showcasing some of the greatest classical composers.
For more info please visit: www.Baltimorechoralarts.org
I've been having an amazing time so far at Yale but I'm very excited to return to Baltimore this weekend to sing lots of Bach with some of my favorite musicians in a program with the Baltimore Choral Arts! The details are below- I hope you can make it!
THE CLASSICAL MASTERS
SATURDAY, 25 OCTOBER
4:00 PM
Kraushaar Auditorium
Tom Hall leads the full Chorus and Orchestra in Beethoven's "Elegiac Song," Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus," and Bach's "Magnificat." Baltimore Symphony Principal Trumpet Andrew Balio and soprano Nola Richardson open the program with Bach's Cantata No. 51. A varied program showcasing some of the greatest classical composers.
For more info please visit: www.Baltimorechoralarts.org
In other news, I've already had several concerts with the amazing Yale Schola Cantorum. The picture above is from last weekend's performances of Zelenka's Missa Dei Patris led by Masaaki Suzuki. We performed at NEC's Jordan Hall (pictured above), at St. Mary's in New Haven, and at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater in New York. We got a great New York Times Review, and my soprano solo was described as "serenely crystalline" in the Boston Musical Intelligencer! Make sure to check out some of my other upcoming performances on the right! Thanks for your support!
Best wishes,
Nola
Best wishes,
Nola
July 7th, 2014 BALTIMORE SYMPHONY DEBUT!
Dear Friends,
I'm thrilled to be making my debut as a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony this Thursday and Friday. I'll be performing two cantatas for solo soprano and trumpet composed by Bach and Scarlatti. The details are below, so I hope to see you there!
I'm thrilled to be making my debut as a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony this Thursday and Friday. I'll be performing two cantatas for solo soprano and trumpet composed by Bach and Scarlatti. The details are below, so I hope to see you there!
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ALL-BAROQUE
Jonathan Carney, leader and violin Nola Richardson, soprano Igor Yuzefovich, violin Dariusz Skoraczewski, cello Andrew Balio, trumpet J. S. Bach: Cantata BWV 51 Corelli: Concerto grosso in G minor, Op.6, No.8 Scarlatti: “Su le sponde del Tebro” J. S. Bach: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043 |
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THU, JUL 10, 2014
8:00 PM STRATHMORE BUY TICKETS CELEBRATE IN STYLE WITH A PARTY ON THE PATIO! A-LA-CARTE APPETIZERS AND COCKTAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BEFORE THE JULY 10 SHOW AT STRATHMORE. |
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FRI, JUL 11, 2014
7:30 PM MEYERHOFF BUY TICKETS IT'S HAPPY HOUR AT THE MEYERHOFF! ARRIVE AT 5:30 PM ON JULY 11 TO ENJOY FOOD TRUCKS, LIVE MUSIC FROM LETITIA VANSANT AND DELIGHTFUL WINE TASTINGS AND HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS BY BOORDY VINEYARDS! |
May 4th, 2014: Prizewinner in the Bethlehem Bach Competition
Winner and Honorable Mentioned Singers in the 2014 Young American Singer Competition held on May 4, 2014, pictured with Greg Funfgeld
Gene Stenger, tenor - Honorable Mention
Janna Critz, mezzo-soprano - Winner
Augusta Caso, mezzo-soprano - Honorable Mention
Nola Richardson, soprano - Honorable Mention
Gene Stenger, tenor - Honorable Mention
Janna Critz, mezzo-soprano - Winner
Augusta Caso, mezzo-soprano - Honorable Mention
Nola Richardson, soprano - Honorable Mention
March 21st, 2014 Newsletter (Subscribe here)
Dear Friends,
I received some very exciting news this week: I have been accepted into the prestigious Yale ISM program! As the soprano in a quartet of singers, I will have lots of amazing opportunities to work with leading conductors, be coached by expert musicians, and perform in a variety of excellent venues. Not only that, but I have also been accepted into the DMA program at Yale, so I will be able to complete coursework towards a Doctorate in Music over the next two years. I'm incredibly thrilled to have this opportunity, and I feel very indebted to many people for the help and support I have received along the way! I am looking forward to growing and improving my skills in a new environment, but I will definitely miss all of my wonderful friends, colleagues and mentors in Baltimore and DC. I hope to visit often!
I am also thrilled to announce that I will be making my debut with the Baltimore Symphony this summer. I'll be performing a program of Baroque music with a small ensemble of principal players led by concert master Jonathan Carney. More details will be forthcoming, but I'm very excited for this event!
I've also been keeping very busy with lots of performances. Coming up this weekend are two concerts with the District Eight, an outstanding vocal group based in DC and Virginia. There will be two performances on Saturday and Sunday in Annandale, Virginia. For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit the event page or the District Eight website. The program is entitled, "From the Crucifixion to the Resurrection" and we'll be performing works by Byrd, Tallis, Purcell, Taverner and Poulenc among others.
The following weekend, I'll be performing "An Evening of French and English Lute Song" with John Armato at Old St. Paul's in Baltimore. We've really enjoyed putting this repertoire together and we are excited to perform for so many friends in Baltimore. The concert will be Friday, March 28th at 7:30 and is free.
In April, I'll be singing my first St. John's Passion as the soprano soloist for the Bach in Baltimore Concert Series. There will be a Saturday performance on April 5th in Harrisburg, PA and a Sunday performance on April 6th in Baltimore at Christ Lutheran Church.
The rest of April will continue to be busy so I'll be sure to send an update. As always, please check out my website for more details on my concerts or like my professional facebook page.
Thanks for you support!
Nola
I received some very exciting news this week: I have been accepted into the prestigious Yale ISM program! As the soprano in a quartet of singers, I will have lots of amazing opportunities to work with leading conductors, be coached by expert musicians, and perform in a variety of excellent venues. Not only that, but I have also been accepted into the DMA program at Yale, so I will be able to complete coursework towards a Doctorate in Music over the next two years. I'm incredibly thrilled to have this opportunity, and I feel very indebted to many people for the help and support I have received along the way! I am looking forward to growing and improving my skills in a new environment, but I will definitely miss all of my wonderful friends, colleagues and mentors in Baltimore and DC. I hope to visit often!
I am also thrilled to announce that I will be making my debut with the Baltimore Symphony this summer. I'll be performing a program of Baroque music with a small ensemble of principal players led by concert master Jonathan Carney. More details will be forthcoming, but I'm very excited for this event!
I've also been keeping very busy with lots of performances. Coming up this weekend are two concerts with the District Eight, an outstanding vocal group based in DC and Virginia. There will be two performances on Saturday and Sunday in Annandale, Virginia. For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit the event page or the District Eight website. The program is entitled, "From the Crucifixion to the Resurrection" and we'll be performing works by Byrd, Tallis, Purcell, Taverner and Poulenc among others.
The following weekend, I'll be performing "An Evening of French and English Lute Song" with John Armato at Old St. Paul's in Baltimore. We've really enjoyed putting this repertoire together and we are excited to perform for so many friends in Baltimore. The concert will be Friday, March 28th at 7:30 and is free.
In April, I'll be singing my first St. John's Passion as the soprano soloist for the Bach in Baltimore Concert Series. There will be a Saturday performance on April 5th in Harrisburg, PA and a Sunday performance on April 6th in Baltimore at Christ Lutheran Church.
The rest of April will continue to be busy so I'll be sure to send an update. As always, please check out my website for more details on my concerts or like my professional facebook page.
Thanks for you support!
Nola
December 13th, 2013 Newsletter (Subscribe here!)
Dear Friends,
I am thrilled to be performing A Baroque Holiday Festival tomorrow with the Bach Sinfonia! I'll be singing Bach's Cantata 51: Jauchzett Gott in Allen Landen and other works by Handel, and Vivaldi, as well as leading an audience sing along of carols. The concert will be at 8 PM at the Arts Center at Silver Spring, Montgomery College. You can find more details and purchase tickets here. As a preview for the concert you can watch a short video from our rehearsal on Wednesday of "Let the Bright Seraphim" with trumpeter Stanley Curtis.
I am thrilled to be performing A Baroque Holiday Festival tomorrow with the Bach Sinfonia! I'll be singing Bach's Cantata 51: Jauchzett Gott in Allen Landen and other works by Handel, and Vivaldi, as well as leading an audience sing along of carols. The concert will be at 8 PM at the Arts Center at Silver Spring, Montgomery College. You can find more details and purchase tickets here. As a preview for the concert you can watch a short video from our rehearsal on Wednesday of "Let the Bright Seraphim" with trumpeter Stanley Curtis.
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My other very exciting news is that my album with John Armato is finally available for sale online! You can purchase the cd through my website or buy a digital version on itunes for $9.99. I hope you will enjoy the music we put together! I learned a lot from making this first album and I'm very grateful for all of the support we had!
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I'm also happy to announce that Eya's debut CD, Stella Serena, will be coming out soon! We'll have the CDs available for sale at our December 21st Christmas Concert, "Natus est Rex" at the Church of the Redeemer. You can also pre-order a copy onEya's website and get free shipping for pre-orders.
I've also been busy with many beautiful choral performances this month. The Baltimore Choral Arts Society presented their annual "Christmas with the Choral Arts" this past Tuesday. If you missed it, you can watch it on WMAR TV, ABC 2 on Christmas Eve at 11:35 PM or on Christmas Day at noon. We will also be performing "Christmas for Kids" on Saturday, December 21st at 11 AM and a sing-along Messiah on Friday December 20th at 7:30 PM, in which I will be singing "Rejoice". Details for all of these performance can be found at the Baltimore Choral Arts website.
I've also been busy with many beautiful choral performances this month. The Baltimore Choral Arts Society presented their annual "Christmas with the Choral Arts" this past Tuesday. If you missed it, you can watch it on WMAR TV, ABC 2 on Christmas Eve at 11:35 PM or on Christmas Day at noon. We will also be performing "Christmas for Kids" on Saturday, December 21st at 11 AM and a sing-along Messiah on Friday December 20th at 7:30 PM, in which I will be singing "Rejoice". Details for all of these performance can be found at the Baltimore Choral Arts website.
Last, but not least, I will be performing a very fun program on January 4th with some great friends and musicians. We'll be presenting "A Colonial Christmas: A Passably Authentic Collection of 17th and 18th Century Christmas Music". I'll be singing AND playing violin and you'll also get to hear John Armato on cittern, Tyler St. Clare on flute and Michael Jancarek on dulcimer. The concert will be at Old Otterbein church and they will even be hosting a colonial style dinner before the event! Visit their website for tickets and more details. It should be a lot of fun and a great way to wrap up the holiday season!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
Nola
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
Nola
October 7th, 2013 Newletter*
Dear Friends,
You are all invited to the official release party for my first cd, "How Sweet the Torment." Lutenist John Armato and I will be performing some short sets and our new cd will be available for purchase. There will also be free appetizers and our host, Victoria Schassler, will select wine pairings that can be purchased by the glass. I hope you can make it!
Date and time: Wednesday, Oct. 9th from 6:30-8 (stop by whenever!)
Location: Spirits of Mt. Vernon, 900 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD
You are all invited to the official release party for my first cd, "How Sweet the Torment." Lutenist John Armato and I will be performing some short sets and our new cd will be available for purchase. There will also be free appetizers and our host, Victoria Schassler, will select wine pairings that can be purchased by the glass. I hope you can make it!
Date and time: Wednesday, Oct. 9th from 6:30-8 (stop by whenever!)
Location: Spirits of Mt. Vernon, 900 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD
The picture above is from my recent performance in San Francisco for the Silver Soiree Gala of the American Bach Soloists. Tenor Kyle Stegall and I sang "Happy We" from Acis and Galatea accompanied by the amazing musicians of ABS. I also sang the cantata, "L'impatience" by Rameau, who has become one of my favorite composers!
I had an amazing time both at the Boston Early Music Festival and in San Francisco this summer soaking up as much musical knowledge as possible from many incredible world-class musicians! BEMF's production of Almira, received rave reviews from the New York Times, the Boston Globe and dozens of other sources. I was honored to be a part of the production. With ABS in July, I sang many amazing works including the B Minor Mass, Biber's Missa Salisburgensis, and Handel's Esther. I received a nice review in Classical Sonoma for my part in the oratorio: "Nola Richardson, the soprano playing the Second Israelite, delivered a charming aria, “Tune your harps to songs of praise!,” and her coloratura part was echoed by flute and harp in an intricate obbligato melody. Although powerful, Ms. Richardson’s voice was also flexible enough to negotiate the fluid passages."
I had an amazing time both at the Boston Early Music Festival and in San Francisco this summer soaking up as much musical knowledge as possible from many incredible world-class musicians! BEMF's production of Almira, received rave reviews from the New York Times, the Boston Globe and dozens of other sources. I was honored to be a part of the production. With ABS in July, I sang many amazing works including the B Minor Mass, Biber's Missa Salisburgensis, and Handel's Esther. I received a nice review in Classical Sonoma for my part in the oratorio: "Nola Richardson, the soprano playing the Second Israelite, delivered a charming aria, “Tune your harps to songs of praise!,” and her coloratura part was echoed by flute and harp in an intricate obbligato melody. Although powerful, Ms. Richardson’s voice was also flexible enough to negotiate the fluid passages."
Up next is a performance of the B Minor Mass with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. I am thrilled to be one of the soprano soloists along with great singers such as Marietta Simpson and Hyunah Yu. The performance will take place on Sunday, October 27th at 3 PM in Kraushaar Auditorium. For more details, please check out the Baltimore Choral Arts Society Website. Thanks for all your support!
Best wishes,
Nola
*if you would like to receive these newsletter updates by email, please sign up on my contact page!
Best wishes,
Nola
*if you would like to receive these newsletter updates by email, please sign up on my contact page!
April 2nd, 2013 Newsletter*
Dear Friends,
I wanted to update you all on some of my recent and upcoming concerts and projects!
Most importantly, I wanted to officially announce that John Armato and I will be recording our first album of lute songs! We are hoping to release it by the end of this month and have created a Kickstarter to raise funds and gather pre-orders. Please be sure to check it out to watch a brief video and spread the word! We very much appreciate your help and support!
January and February included several concerts with Chantry and the Baltimore Choral Arts. I also had a blast working with Julianne Baird and Richard Stone at the Amherst Early Music Weekend in Philly and singing in Carissimi's cantata Jephte. In February I sang in two of the noontime concerts at Emmanuel Episcopal for their A Joyful Noise concert series.
More recently, in March I got to sing in the beautiful sculpture court of the Walters Art Gallery with Andrew Balio and several other members of the Baltimore Symphony. We performed Baroque repertoire for trumpet and soprano and received a very favorable review from Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun: "Richardson did her most effective singing in Scarlatti's cantata "Su le sponde del Tebro," negotiating the florid lines with clarity (as clear as the acoustics would allow) and vibrancy." I've put up a video of my performance of "Su le sponde del Tebro" on my website so I hope you will check it out!
The following weekend I was in Philly again singing a short recital of duets with my friend and fellow soprano, Sara Mackimmie and Lutenist Richard Stone before Tempesta di Mare's performance of Messiah. These pieces were written by Handel about a month before he composed Messiah and they contain many of the same melodic themes so it was very interesting to learn them! Tempesta di Mare posted a brief video of our performance on their facebook page along with other clips of the amazing soloists, choir and orchestra.
The rest of March was busy with recording sessions, rehearsals and several beautiful church services during Holy week. I sang twice at the National Cathedral for Evensong and then got to perform the soprano solos in Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ for Good Friday at the Cathedral of the Incarnation where I am the cantor and soprano section leader. April will continue to be busy! This weekend I am the soprano soloist in Bach's B Minor Mass with the Bach Concert Series of Baltimore. The performance will take place on April 7th at 4 PM at Christ Lutheran Church. The following weekend, I am excited to return to Hood College as their soloist for Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G Major on April 14th. John Armato and I will also be performing a recital of lute songs on Wednesday, April 10th at the Village Learning Place. After that, John and I are off to California for a brief concert tour in the Pasadena/LA area. Please check out my website or "like" my facebook page for more info about these performances.
In May I will be singing again with Eya before leaving Baltimore for most of the summer. I was thrilled to be selected as one of the young artists for the Boston Early Music Festival this year. I will be singing in the chorus and covering a major role in Handel's Almira from mid-May through June. In July I will be returning to the American Bach Soloist Academy in San Francisco. I am very much looking forward to working with such wonderful artists, colleagues and mentors!
Thanks for all your support!
Best wishes,
Nola
*if you would like to receive these newsletter updates by email, please sign up on my contact page!
I wanted to update you all on some of my recent and upcoming concerts and projects!
Most importantly, I wanted to officially announce that John Armato and I will be recording our first album of lute songs! We are hoping to release it by the end of this month and have created a Kickstarter to raise funds and gather pre-orders. Please be sure to check it out to watch a brief video and spread the word! We very much appreciate your help and support!
January and February included several concerts with Chantry and the Baltimore Choral Arts. I also had a blast working with Julianne Baird and Richard Stone at the Amherst Early Music Weekend in Philly and singing in Carissimi's cantata Jephte. In February I sang in two of the noontime concerts at Emmanuel Episcopal for their A Joyful Noise concert series.
More recently, in March I got to sing in the beautiful sculpture court of the Walters Art Gallery with Andrew Balio and several other members of the Baltimore Symphony. We performed Baroque repertoire for trumpet and soprano and received a very favorable review from Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun: "Richardson did her most effective singing in Scarlatti's cantata "Su le sponde del Tebro," negotiating the florid lines with clarity (as clear as the acoustics would allow) and vibrancy." I've put up a video of my performance of "Su le sponde del Tebro" on my website so I hope you will check it out!
The following weekend I was in Philly again singing a short recital of duets with my friend and fellow soprano, Sara Mackimmie and Lutenist Richard Stone before Tempesta di Mare's performance of Messiah. These pieces were written by Handel about a month before he composed Messiah and they contain many of the same melodic themes so it was very interesting to learn them! Tempesta di Mare posted a brief video of our performance on their facebook page along with other clips of the amazing soloists, choir and orchestra.
The rest of March was busy with recording sessions, rehearsals and several beautiful church services during Holy week. I sang twice at the National Cathedral for Evensong and then got to perform the soprano solos in Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ for Good Friday at the Cathedral of the Incarnation where I am the cantor and soprano section leader. April will continue to be busy! This weekend I am the soprano soloist in Bach's B Minor Mass with the Bach Concert Series of Baltimore. The performance will take place on April 7th at 4 PM at Christ Lutheran Church. The following weekend, I am excited to return to Hood College as their soloist for Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G Major on April 14th. John Armato and I will also be performing a recital of lute songs on Wednesday, April 10th at the Village Learning Place. After that, John and I are off to California for a brief concert tour in the Pasadena/LA area. Please check out my website or "like" my facebook page for more info about these performances.
In May I will be singing again with Eya before leaving Baltimore for most of the summer. I was thrilled to be selected as one of the young artists for the Boston Early Music Festival this year. I will be singing in the chorus and covering a major role in Handel's Almira from mid-May through June. In July I will be returning to the American Bach Soloist Academy in San Francisco. I am very much looking forward to working with such wonderful artists, colleagues and mentors!
Thanks for all your support!
Best wishes,
Nola
*if you would like to receive these newsletter updates by email, please sign up on my contact page!