Today’s guest is Allison Vest, a collaborative pianist and music entrepreneur from Rexburg, Idaho. In today’s podcast, we talk about her journey from being a college student to one of the most popular and sought-after collaborative artists in the SE Idaho region, as well as how she works with her performing ensembles to get gigs and sponsors, and a whole lot more. Allison is a graduate of Brigham Young University-Idaho having completed a Bachelor of Science in Music degree in 2009. During her time as a student, Allison was frequently asked to accompany university choirs and voice students. After graduating, she has continued providing her accompaniment services to BYU-Idaho as an employee of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. She works with university choirs, symphonies, bands, students, and other professors as a rehearsal and performance pianist for the Theater and Music departments. Her many experiences with the university have led to an extensive repertoire list that includes every genre from every era of music. She is highly regarded by university faculty as well as performing arts students. Allison’s main passion is opera. She was a featured harpsichordist for the 2011 BYU-Idaho Theatre production of The Marriage of Figaro and has accompanied opera selections from Don Giovanni, Gianni Schicci, Old Maid and a Thief, Madame Butterfly, Hansel and Gretel, The Magic Flute, Tartuffe, Carmen, and numerous other works. As a collaborative pianist Allison has accompanied and played alongside artists such as Alyson Cambridge, Alfie Boe, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Santino Fontana, David Archuleta, Frederica Von Stade. Allison has frequently accompanied and performed with the Idaho Falls Symphony and has earned the praise and respect of Conductor, Dr. Thomas Heuser. She has also collaborated in performances for Opera Idaho, The Playmill Theater, and the Idaho Falls Opera Theater among many other solo and ensemble groups including her latest venture with Trio de Bois. Be sure to check out her website after the podcast at allisonvestaccompanist.com
