Classical Voice Canada Kira Braun

Jennifer Taverner is a Toronto born and raised Soprano who comes from a family of musicians.   She was educated at Laurier University and also at the Glenn Gould School, in addition to which she has become a Registered Holistic Nutrition Practitioner.    Jennifer enjoys a wonderful career as a singer, and also works as a consultant who can help other singers (and anyone who would like to work with her!) with issues arising from digestion that may cause problems with vocal delivery.  We chat today about her musical beginnings, and a few of her mentors and teachers ~ Ann Cooper Gay, Victor Martens, and Stephanie Bogle, to name a few!   Jennifer also takes time to speak to us about the many concerns of a singer when it comes to diet and performance, and we hope that some of her pointers may be of help to you.  You can reach out to Jennifer at High Note Health (www.highnotehealth.ca) and also, please do follow her on Instagram and Facebook!   Her posts are informative and delightful!

Jennifer has also graciously shared a free booklet with Recipes that will reduce Acid Reflux... something every singer should have in their pocket!  https://highnotehealth.ca/refluxrecipes/?fbclid=IwAR1AqNP4da3roue_nndJU0jyvtF_yBKgcxx4cwzQNNMo0xfd9UnnxmGeQqw

As with all of our guests, Jennifer has a piece she would like to share with us ~ join us today ...and you will be glad you did, as you'll have a chance to hear her sing Musetta's Aria "Quando M'en Vo" from Puccini's "La Bohème".    She was born for this role!

For the second episode in our Wellness Series, I am so pleased to introduce Madison Ryley Arsenault to you!  A classically trained Mezzo-Soprano, Madison is also a certified Yoga instructor, and she has found a way to tie together her knowledge of singing and the physiology of the voice, with that of the movement, stretching, and focus that yoga can bring us.

Join us today as we chat about Madison's education at Western University, her musical background and some of her performances, as well as her journey toward becoming a Yogi.   This Virgo likes structure, and she certainly found it when she visited a school in India where Yoga first began.    

Through the 10 Principles of Yogic philosophy, Madison shares her knowledge with kindness and support, when she coaches her clients toward Vocal Empowerment.

We hope you will enjoy this episode and that it will perhaps inspire you to explore yourself more deeply, and to let out a liberating, soulful sound.  You have permission!

Welcome to our 14th Episode!  This is the first in our Wellness Series and I am delighted to introduce you to Alison Jane Taylor, an Alexander Technique expert and a Supervised Student of Gestalt Therapy, as well as a wonderful singer and artist!   

We get into some details about what it means to understand what is happening inside and outside of our bodies when we sing, (or play our instruments) maintaining a healthy posture, and mindset!   Alison is a very gentle soul, her presence is soothing and encouraging.  She is a wonderful example of a singer finding ways to help other singers, with absolute purity of heart.

Alison is able to find supportive words and ways to help us ~ "My tools are my own compassion and experience".  We talk about the demands of being a musician, that expectation of perfection and what we can do with it, and ways in which she has helped people move from a place of fear or anxiety to a place of confidence.  After all, if we have such wonderful gifts to share, what are we so afraid of?!  

Join us today on this first step into the journey of exploring our inner selves and finding ways to associate our essence with our artistry.

This short podcast is an introduction to the upcoming series of discussions that I will be having with various experts and practitioners in the area of vocal health.  I'll speak to an Alexander Technique expert and someone who is studying Gestalt Therapy, (Alison Jane Taylor) to a yoga enthusiast who built a business around Yoga for Singers, (Madison Ryley Arsenault/Yogapella), a Nutrition expert  (Jennifer Taverner), and a Life Coach and Counsellor, (Paula Wickberg)   What do they have in common?  They are ALL singers.   They have all found a way to become educated in specific ways and to share with other singers, for our health and well-being.

I hope you will join us as we embark on this journey of discovery and help for any singer who may need it.  

Lyndsay Promane is from the Town of Aurora, just a bit North of the big city.  A High Lyric Mezzo Soprano, she grew up in a very musical family and found her way quite circuitously to the world of classical voice ~ but once she did, she fit in perfectly!   After graduating from U of T with a Bachelor's Degree in Music and then attending Opera School, Lyndsay has been very busy with her craft, and is an established performer of Art Song, Contemporary Music, Oratorio, and Opera.   She takes us through her early days as a student, shares some tidbits about wonderful Masterclasses & Workshops she's attended, tells us about mentors who have influenced her, and describes her own path toward teaching and mentorship.   Having performed in two operas now, with the COC Chorus, Lyndsay shares a few of those highlights with us as well.
She knows that 'life is not going to stop and wait for you' and is excited to be undertaking something new in a mentoring role, speaking to & workshopping with young singers this coming year with her suggestions for bringing variety to one's professional profile.  In addition to this, she is a mentor with Opera in Reach, a group that is striving to make a difference in the opera world, in terms of inclusivity and accessibility.   Lyndsay feels it is so important to be able to "speak about racial and civic justice in way that is eloquent and respectful, and accurate", and Opera in Reach is certainly achieving this.
Her favourite book?  Well, you'll have to listen to find out... and you'll just have to agree that she is not bossy at all, but rather, a very articulate and intelligent person!   And when you hear her warm voice singing a heavenly Mahler piece, you will agree, that her voice certainly matches her thoughtful and engaging personality.   Lyndsay has brought us Mahler's "Urlicht", accompanied by pianist Rachael Kerr. 
Lyndsay will be performing with The Linden Project on October 24th, a collaboration with Jeremy Ludwig, along with pianist Erica Reiman.     Don't miss SPIRITS, HAGS and HEXES at 8:15pm on the 24th.   You can find it on Facebook on the Linden Project's page!  Boo!

Tenor Fabián Arciniegas joins us today from Cobourg ON, where he makes his home with his wife and two children.   Fabián is a charming and animated person and his joie de vivre shines through in speaking with him!  

Fabián tells us about his journey from Cali, Colombia to Canada, where he continued his voice studies at U of T in their Opera Performance program.   It's interesting to know that he started out wanting to sing Rock & Pop music!   He went from a Baritone to a Tenor and this in itself was a journey as well.    Fabián has a voice studio in Cobourg, where he says he absolutely loves teaching.  

When asked whether he sings to live, or lives to sing, his reply is not surprising ~ "Even if I cannot sing for people, I would have to make noise for the rest of my life!"    Rest assured, he is making that noise every day, even if his children might think it's too loud!  A Tenor with the Canadian Opera Company chorus, Fabián is waiting like many others to return to the stage when it is safe to do so.

Fabián has recently collaborated with Iranian-Canadian composer Saman Shahi, bringing the song cycle "Orbit" to life, as part of the CD "Breathing in the Shadows".  Today we share the 2nd piece of this song cycle, entitled "Another Coffee".    While we discussed sharing all three pieces, I decided at the last minute to only share this one... because you really need to get this CD and hear it all for yourself.