43 Results for : auditioned

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    Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service , Hörbuch, Digital, ungekürzt, 733min
    New York Times best seller: The moving, entertaining, never-before-told story of how one man found his calling: to see that those who defend this country and its freedoms are never forgotten."The book is called Grateful American, and I promise you after you read it you will be grateful for what Gary has accomplished and contributed to our country." (Clint Eastwood)As a kid in suburban Chicago, Gary Sinise was more interested in sports and rock 'n' roll than reading or schoolwork. But when he impulsively auditioned for a school production of West Side Story, he found his purpose - or so it seemed. Within a few years, Gary and a handful of friends created what became one of the most exciting and important new theater companies in America. From its humble beginnings in a suburban Chicago church basement and eventual move into the city, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company launched a series of groundbreaking productions, igniting Gary's career along with those of John Malkovich, Joan Allen, Gary Cole, Laurie Metcalf, Jeff Perry, John Mahoney, and others. Television and film came calling soon after, and Gary starred in Of Mice and Men (which he also directed) and The Stand before taking the role that would change his life in unforeseeable ways: Lieutenant Dan in the Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump.The military community's embrace of the character of the disabled veteran was matched only by the depth of Gary's realization that America's defenders had not received all the honor, respect, and gratitude their sacrifices deserve. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, this became Gary's mission. While starring in hits like Apollo 13, Ransom, Truman, George Wallace, CSI:NY, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Gary has worked tirelessly on behalf of those who serve this country...entertaining more than a half-million troop ungekürzt. Language: English. Narrator: Gary Sinise. Audio sample: https://samples.audible.de/bk/tnwd/001419/bk_tnwd_001419_sample.mp3. Digital audiobook in aax.
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    Klavierkonzert op.54/Klavierkonzert KV 271
    Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz - Radoslaw Szulc (Dir) // In 2010 Pacini auditioned for Martha Argerich and, after the Liszt Sonata, Argerich approached her, kissed her on the cheek and said: "You are very good. Do you know that?" Since then their friendship has grown.
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    Believe
    The Sterbrooke Ensemble™: Cassie White, Flute and Mark Lutton, Piano. Cassie White began playing the flute in 4th grade in Holmdel N.J. under John Carr. In high school she studied privately under Mardee Reed-Ulmer. Cassie was principal flutist of the Holmdel High School band from spring of her freshman year through graduation and successfully auditioned for the NJ All Shore and All State bands. She continued her flute studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), studying under Carl Adams. After her junior year sports took her out of university and into competitive cycling where she competed with the North Jersey Women's Cycling Team, the world's largest and best known team of that time. She is a District, National, Pan American and World Cycling Champion. She was ranked number one Master's Criterium rider and won the Category 3 and Master's Women's North Atlantic and New England Series. She returned to IUP and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and a minor in music. Later, she attended New Hampshire Community Technical College and graduated Phi Theta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude with an Associates degree in Physical Therapy. Currently Cassie plays with the Nashua and Monadnock Flute Choirs in New Hampshire and has substituted with the New Hampshire Philharmonic and Windham Orchestras. She performs at local venues in New Hampshire and currently studies with Alison Hale. Mark Lutton is a distinguished pianist and a passionate ragtime fan. He started the piano at age six, his early teachers included Betty Weir and Marjorie Stocklinski. At Boston University he studied under Karin Gutberg and Anthony di Bonaventura, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Piano, Magna Cum Laude. He currently studies with George Lopez in Manchester, New Hampshire. Mark is a four-time finalist in the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest in Decatur, Illinois, and won second place in 1994. He has competed three times in the Boston International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs. Mark has appeared at numerous First Night events and other festivals in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Music and the piano are Mark's passions and his quiet performance of a Beethoven adagio can be easily followed by a boisterous ragtime piece. He also holds a master's degree in Computer Science and in the 1980's combined the two interests as President of the New England Computer Music Association (NEWCOMP), working with founders Otto Laske and Curtis Roads to produce several concerts of computer music each year in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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    Love Songs & Arias
    Mr. Giuseppe Taormina has performed in Italy, Europe, and the United States, as well as a worldwide tour of the Middle and Far East with the 'Ambassadors of Opera'. He was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. He started voice training at a very early age and began performing in Sicily. When he arrived in America, he immediately auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera Company, where he was accepted into the Young Artist Program. He received two scholarships as primo tenore while at Hunter College. He won the leading roles in La Traviata, Tosca, and Cavalleria Rusticana, which are now all favorites among his repertoire.Most notably, Mr. Taormina has received the very prestigious honor of Necklace Knight,'Cavaliere di Collona.' The noble title of Saint George in Carinzia Supreme Military Order bestowed upon Mr. Taormina is the only one in the United States. Mr. Taormina's operatic appearances include performances with the Philadelphia Opera, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (under the direction of Maestro Alfredo Silipigni), The Metropolitan Repertory Ballet's 'An Evening with Verdi, The Tribecca Performing Arts Center, The Merkin Concert Hall, The Waldoff Astoria Hotel in New York, The Garden State Arts Center, and at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall. Mr. Taormina has given command performances for Kings of both Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, also Imelda Marcus, the former First Lady of the Philippines. He recently traveled to St. Croix, in the Virgin Islands, where he sang in concert in a Castle, hosted by Countess Nadia De Navarro. Mr. Taormina remembering his roots has given a command performance at Carini Castle, his hometown on the outskirts of Palermo Sicily. Mr. Taormina has performed in concert, and at cultural, civic, and charity events across the USA. Among these were performances at: The Hotel Plaza, Milford Plaza, Westchester Theater, several Atlantic City Resorts & Casinos, the Wisconsin Arts Festival in the Park, The Asbury Park Convention Hall, The 15th Annual Juniper Park Concert Series, Shea Stadium, The Lakewood Theatre, and Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo Theatre. He was honored to sing for the Mario Lanza Society, The Beniamino Gigli Memorial Concert, and two events marking the 100 years anniversary of Enrico Caruso's Metropolitan Opera House debut. Mr. Taormina was honored to sing for The Italian Heritage and Culture Council Chamber at City Hall, in NYC, for the Italian-American State Legislators, and the American Parkinson's Disease Association. Recently, Mr. Taormina sang at masses that were celebratedby Cardinal Egan in cathedrals throughout the Vatican and Rome. Mr. Taormina sang at a memorial ceremony in Washington D.C. for Constantine Brumidi, who was known as 'The Artist of the U.S. Capital'. He has also sung at the Casa Italiana in Washington D.C.. Mr. Taormina was honored to sing in commemoration of 100 years of Order Sons of Italy in America. Mr. Taormina's powerful voice expresses his passion for music, while his talent, warmth and joy of performing are evident to live audiences. He has recorded three albums and most recently a CD, 'King of High C' and Verissimo Tenore, on which he sings his favorite operatic arias and beloved, classical Neapolitan and American love songs. Mr. Taormina's powerful voice expresses his passion for music, while his talent, warmth and joy of performing are evident to live audiences. Mr. Giuseppe Taormina can do a program with piano and accompanist, up to full orchestra. Mr. Taormina provides an entertaining program of great music filled with the deeply emotional songs and arias of his Italian heritage. For engagement availability of Mr. Giuseppe Taormina: Call: (718) 981-9429.
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    • Price: 34.98 EUR excl. shipping
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    Drive Me the Funk Home
    Newest release from popular smooth jazz saxophonist Jimmie Highsmith, Jr. is an all live perfromance rendition of great tunes by masters John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and more. Funky bass and driving percussions - the Wurltizer/Horner keyboard keeps things moving right along! James Earl "Jimmie" Highsmith, Jr. Born September 18,1967 in "Flower City" Rochester NY, The Birthplace of Jazz luminaries Cab Calloway, PeeWee Ellis, Chuck Mangione and many others. James, or as his friends call him "Jimmie" is a seasoned Jazz musician who began his musical incipiency at the mere age of 7. Jimmie began studying piano, which created an early basis for his song writing in his later years. A music teacher introduced him to the harmonious sound of the saxophone. He began playing the saxophone, shortly thereafter. Recognizing Jimmies promising potential, he was guided to study music at the Hochstein School of Music where he honed his ability to musically shine and stand out from his peers. Jimmie brought that same focus and thirst for music to the High School for Performing Arts where he walked the halls with and befriended other standouts like Motion Picture Actor/TV Star Scott "Taye" Diggs, R&B Singer Charlene "Tweet" Keys and Opera Diva Regina Zona. At School of the Arts, Jimmie was exposed to a musically competitive environment of band competitions, jazz combo performances, composition classes and other competitive solo scenarios. In Jimmies senior year, he auditioned for and was accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he played Baritone sax in the Eastman School of Music Jazz Ensemble. After graduating from High School, Jimmie enlisted in the US Air Force. While stationed in New Jersey, Jimmie found himself in the ideal location to access the New York and Philadelphia jazz scenes. During this time, Jimmie formed a jazz band consisting of musicians from both the US Air Force and Army. The band played at many military events and performed in various countries as part of the entertainment for the International USO Tour and Tops in Blue. In 1992 Jimmie returned to Rochester where he launched his professional music career. Jimmie has formed many bands, which have been recognized as top regional jazz bands playing in big music festivals and clubs. He has shared the stage with multiple Grammy Award winners, including Alicia Keys and Wynton Marsalis. His sax work represents some of the best in the Smooth Jazz and Contemporary Jazz Genre. Jimmie has also performed with many notables such as: Chris Beard, Paul Boutte, Joe Beard, Carl Thomas, Grey Mayfield, Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Reed, Johnny O'Neal and Yolanda Adams. He and his band have also opened for many big named artist, such as: Natalie Cole, Little Richard, Najee, 'Papa John' DeFrancesco, Robert Cray Blues Band, Joyce Cooling, Montell Jordan, Shameika Copeland, Neville Brothers, Me'chelle Ndegeocello, Jodie Watley, Temptations and The Isley Brothers. Discography: "WGMC Meet The Artist" 10/98 WGMC Jazz Radio 90.1 "103.9 WDKX Christmas Celebration" 12/01 Roc Music LLC "Passive Thoughts" 9/02 Variance Records "Another Ring On The Tree" 7/04 Professor Lift Band "Jacquin" 9/04 Variance Records "Why" 3/06 Roc Music LLC "Intimate Passions Intimate Thoughts" 10/06 Variance Records "Everything" 3/07 Black August "It is what it Is" 4/07 Variance Records December of 2006 Jimmie was inducted into The Prestigious FCD Duke Ellington Hall of Fame for Musical Genius. Board Member for: NEAD "North East Area Development" April 2005 - Present RFRI "Rochester Fatherhood Resource Initiative" Jan 2006 - Present Rochester A.B.O.V.E. 'Vice President' May 2005 - President Member of BMI Broadcast Music, Inc The Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester The Rotary Club of Greater Rochester Howard Coles Society Rochester A.B.O.V.E. "Honorary Chair 2007" Unified Tae Kwon do "Black Belt Candidate"
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    • Price: 19.86 EUR excl. shipping
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    Voice & Spirit
    The Towne Singers capture the spirit of music in all it varieties on this CD, from the plaintive, yet clear sounds of 'Bright Morning Star' to the interweaving sounds of jazz in 'I'm Beginning To See The Light.' The Towne Singers touch and interpret the choral polyphony of 'The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee,' the bold sounds of the spiritual 'Jesus is All the World To Me' and the haunting loss that is in 'Highland Mary.' 'The Argument' let's the Towne Singers express a frustration of that intimate institution, marriage, with humor, allowing us to the see the serious with eyes opened by hyperbolae. They also take us through tender and moving emotions through their interpretations of 'And So It Goes', and 'My Heart Will Go On' as well as others. 'Voice and Spirit' shows the diversity and range of the Towne Singers and the power of music to touch our lives in every way. The 100+ member Towne Singers was founded by Phyllis Winnaman in 1987 in La Canada, California. This non-auditioned community chorus has grown to become a well loved member of the surrounding communities of the Southern California Area. It's ever-growing popularity draws members from as far away as Lancaster, Valencia, Long Beach, Lake Forrest, and Anaheim. The Towne Singers has a wide variety of repertoire that includes great Classical Literature as well as Patriotic, Spirituals, Gospel, Folk, Broadway and even Popular music from today's spectrum. While preparing two main concerts each year, Towne Singers also maintains a busy appearance schedule in the La Canada-Pasadena area. Notable examples are the Coronation of the Rose Queen for the Tournament of Roses Association, and an appearance with The Pasadena Symphony. Town Singers has also been honored with citations of artistic excellence by the City of La Canada-Flintridge and the State of California. Extending beyond their home territory, Towne Singers traveled to New York City in 2004 to perform John Rutter's 'Requiem' conducted by the composer at Carnegie Hall. They have been invited to many select invitational festivals and will be touring Great Britain in 2005! The Towne Singers is a non-profit community chorus that is open to people of all ages and backgrounds. They provide a place for people to sing and grow artistically as well as providing excellent choral entertainment for surrounding communities. Recent additions to the Towne Singers include an educational outreach chamber choir and a children's chorus featured in many of the Towne Singers concert events. Sean Boulware is a sought after conductor, adjudicator and clinician all over the United States. He has conducted several State and Nation wide honor choirs such as The Cal-West Association Honor Choir and the Honor Choir for the National Convention for the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. Sean has lead several clinics about the history of church music and the evolution of choirs in the 21st Century in the area of Church Music. Sean has studied at Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, The University of Southern California and Westminster Choir College. In 1995, while studying at Westminster Choir College, Sean appeared as a vocal soloist with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. As a performer, Sean has been featured as a soloist with premier orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Los Angeles Renaissance Consort. He has toured nationally with productions of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' and 'Les Miserables.' Currently, Sean conducts the La Canada Towne Singers, and is Director of Music at Fullerton First United Methodist Church. He has prepared choirs for John Alexander, Keith Lockhart and recently prepared 2 choruses for a performance of the Rutter Requiem conducted by John Rutter at Carnegie Hall in January 2004. Sean has studied with such notable conductors as Dr. Lynn Bielefelt, Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, James Levine, Dr. James Jordan, Rodney Eichenberger, John Alexander, Paul Mayo and Shirley Nute.
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    • Price: 28.91 EUR excl. shipping
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    Embellish the Season
    Embellish Handbell Ensemble Grand Rapids, Michigan Embellish was founded in May of 1995 and has been ringing as an ensemble since the Fall of 1995. Originally under the direction of Carl Wiltse and now under the direction of Stephanie Wiltse, the auditioned ensemble rings on 6 1/2 octaves of bronze Malmark handbells and 5 1/2 octaves of Malmark Choirchimes.
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    • Price: 28.91 EUR excl. shipping
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    King of High-C
    Mr. Giuseppe Taormina has performed in Italy, Europe, and the United States, as well as a worldwide tour of the Middle and Far East with the 'Ambassadors of Opera'. He was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. He started voice training at a very early age and began performing in Sicily. When he arrived in America, he immediately auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera Company, where he was accepted into the Young Artist Program. He received two scholarships as primo tenore while at Hunter College. He won the leading roles in La Traviata, Tosca, and Cavalleria Rusticana, which are now all favorites among his repertoire.Most notably, Mr. Taormina has received the very prestigious honor of Necklace Knight,'Cavaliere di Collona.' The noble title of Saint George in Carinzia Supreme Military Order bestowed upon Mr. Taormina is the only one in the United States. Mr. Taormina's operatic appearances include performances with the Philadelphia Opera, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (under the direction of Maestro Alfredo Silipigni), The Metropolitan Repertory Ballet's 'An Evening with Verdi, The Tribecca Performing Arts Center, The Merkin Concert Hall, The Waldoff Astoria Hotel in New York, The Garden State Arts Center, and at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall. Mr. Taormina has given command performances for Kings of both Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, also Imelda Marcus, the former First Lady of the Philippines. He recently traveled to St. Croix, in the Virgin Islands, where he sang in concert in a Castle, hosted by Countess Nadia De Navarro. Mr. Taormina remembering his roots has given a command performance at Carini Castle, his hometown on the outskirts of Palermo Sicily. Mr. Taormina has performed in concert, and at cultural, civic, and charity events across the USA. Among these were performances at: The Hotel Plaza, Milford Plaza, Westchester Theater, several Atlantic City Resorts & Casinos, the Wisconsin Arts Festival in the Park, The Asbury Park Convention Hall, The 15th Annual Juniper Park Concert Series, Shea Stadium, The Lakewood Theatre, and Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo Theatre. He was honored to sing for the Mario Lanza Society, The Beniamino Gigli Memorial Concert, and two events marking the 100 years anniversary of Enrico Caruso's Metropolitan Opera House debut. Mr. Taormina was honored to sing for The Italian Heritage and Culture Council Chamber at City Hall, in NYC, for the Italian-American State Legislators, and the American Parkinson's Disease Association. Recently, Mr. Taormina sang at masses that were celebratedby Cardinal Egan in cathedrals throughout the Vatican and Rome. Mr. Taormina sang at a memorial ceremony in Washington D.C. for Constantine Brumidi, who was known as 'The Artist of the U.S. Capital'. He has also sung at the Casa Italiana in Washington D.C.. Mr. Taormina was honored to sing in commemoration of 100 years of Order Sons of Italy in America. Mr. Taormina's powerful voice expresses his passion for music, while his talent, warmth and joy of performing are evident to live audiences. He has recorded three albums and most recently a CD, 'King of High C' and Verissimo Tenore, on which he sings his favorite operatic arias and beloved, classical Neapolitan and American love songs. Mr. Taormina's powerful voice expresses his passion for music, while his talent, warmth and joy of performing are evident to live audiences. Mr. Giuseppe Taormina can do a program with piano and accompanist, up to full orchestra. Mr. Taormina provides an entertaining program of great music filled with the deeply emotional songs and arias of his Italian heritage. For engagement availability of Mr. Giuseppe Taormina: Call: (718) 981-9429.
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    • Price: 34.98 EUR excl. shipping
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    Pigeonholed
    A singer/songwriter born of a jazz degree, sideman vocal work, and life. This debut solo album deliciously blends her emotional intuition, skill as a professional vocalist, smart but catchy music and arrangements, and lyrics that reveal her depth. THE SHORT VERSION: Calley Bliss, New York City-based recording and performing artist, is one singer/songwriter you'll want to keep on your radar. After going into the studio in December of this year, plans to release her debut solo album are set for March 2010. The album, entitled 'Pigeonholed', will consist of several flavors of Calley's writing, which fluctuates between jazz, soul, and pop, with occasional elements of folk mixed in, incorporating her versatile voice which gives each individual song it's own unique flavor. As a vocalist, she's been compared to the likes of Feist, Peggy Lee, and Joss Stone, with an even, velvet tone frequently accented by sensitive uses of breathiness, vibrato, and a keen sense for lyric inflection. After growing up around Minneapolis, Minnesota, Calley acquired her training in jazz voice from the acclaimed University of North Texas jazz program, before coming to New York. After five years of study and performance around Dallas/Fort Worth, Calley said goodbye to her comfortable steady gigs and freelance work, and hello to the Big Apple. As a working musician she's done everything from studio work to wedding bands and back-up vocals, sung top 40's, pop, swing, jazz, rock, and soul. In addition to freelance jobs singing for corporate and private parties in New York, recently she's worked with Maryland-based Severn Records as a resident back-up vocalist, playing various blues festivals around the United States, and recording on four of their artists' albums. Calley plays with her own band around New York City, as well as occasional national and international venues. Click the 'live' tab for show listings. THE LONG VERSION I grew up in the burbs of Minneapolis. From a very young age I took an immediate interest in music - my mother tells a story of me as an infant in my crib rocking myself to sleep in time with the music in the tape player. At the age of three, I was often caught practicing my smile and posing in front of the mirror. This is how mom said she knew she was raising a future performer, 'ham' is the endearing term my older sister still prefers to call me. It started innocent enough. I idolized singers like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion, the regular suspect pop stars of the day in the late 80's and early 90's. I was (and still am to some degree) an impulsive child, and in an attempt to ground me, my parents encouraged that I think of other, more stable professions that I might be interested in. So at the young age of seven, I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian, animals having been another passion of mine. This idea stuck with me until a fateful day in the fourth grade. I had just finished a performance in the school musical. I'd been cast the lead in the children's production of, 'Bach to the Future: the Life Story of Johann Sebastian Bach' as Bach himself. An unassuming audience member (probably someone's grand-mother or aunt) congratulated me on my performance, and asked if I planned to pursue singing when I grew up. I, with my ten years of wisdom, responded that of course I would love to, but it wasn't very practical and so I planned to become a veterinarian. To this she replied, 'Oh honey, you are too young to give up on your dreams! If what you want is to become a singer, then that's what you should do!' I decided she was right. It sealed the deal, and ever after I've accepted my fate. The life of a musician can be unstable and unpredictable, and I believe happiness lies in the choice to love these factors instead of seeing them as casualties of the profession. I have no idea who that woman was, but without trying to be melodramatic, she changed my life from that moment on, and for that I am ever grateful. I was fortunate to not have the typical theater mother and father to shove me into talent agencies and headshots, and cart me around the city for auditions. They felt childhood was too important to miss out on, and told me if I really wanted to be a singer, I would have to find out how to do it on my own. Of course, if I'd had the know-how to find the talent agencies and auditions, I know my parents would have taken and supported me. But being the slightly 'concentration-challenged' and social child that I was, there were too many other things in the moment to focus on like boys, and sports, and dances. So I did all the classic school-related music activities-- I was active in school choirs, band, and musicals all through junior high and high school. I gave up dance after fourth grade to join a Minneapolis girl's choir called Bel Canto Voices. Took up the alto sax in sixth grade, after being denied the right to study drums, due to my lack of prior piano study. (Okay, I'm still a tad bitter about this, but one day I WILL conquer the drum set!) In high school I was one of three drum majors to a 330-piece show style marching band, a member of the concert chorale, and also auditioned into an extra jazz choir class that met every morning at 6:55 to rehearse for 50 minutes, before the normal school day commenced. Yup, I was a band geek AND a choir nerd. I also took music theory as a senior, by which time I was both determined and scared to death to go to college as a music major. At the urging of my high school band director, Nathan Earp, I applied to the University of North Texas Jazz Department. I had no interest in becoming an opera singer, though I did want my college degree. Jazz, I knew, would kick my booty into shape. I was ready to commit to music, and figure out what I needed to do to create a career out of it. I no longer wanted to be a pop-idol. I wanted to really learn music and acquire the knowledge to be a respected musician. Well, I definitely got the booty-kicking I'd wanted that first year of college. My parents, I later found out, were nervously waiting for the day when I would call home, proclaiming I'd given up on college and was going to try to make it 'on my own'. I can't blame them, but I'm proud to say I didn't drop out. Over the next five years I would come to learn more than I ever anticipated about music, about other instruments, about writing, about musicians and their lifestyles and quirks, but mostly, about myself. Each year felt completely different from the last, and I quickly learned what it was to be not only an adult who is responsible for her own actions, but a musician who is responsible for her own growth. I worked whenever and wherever I possibly could. The college was in Denton, on the outskirts of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex, and I started singing trio gigs with a bass player in town, who hired me to do cocktail hour gigs for the University. I was then referred by a friend for a gig in a variety cover band, singing backup vocals. This lead to other cover band gigs. My own gigs. Duo gigs with a piano player, a guitar player. Eventually some studio work. Pop gigs, jazz gigs, show tunes, lead vocals, back-up vocals, studio vocals where I covered all parts, etc. I did it all and loved it all. Was fortunate enough to always have a steady gig, and then freelance as a supplement. There were quite a few styles to be covered, and I really had fun trying to manipulate my voice to imitate each of the original singers as closely as I could. This taught me as much as, if not more than, any of the classes I took in music school. I loved trying to sing like Stevie Wonder, and then Michael Jackson a few minutes later, and then Patti Labelle, and then Christina Aguilera, etc. At the end of this five-year marathon, I cultivated an even deeper love for music. I still have a deep love for performance and love to be on stage (all singers have a little diva in them - I can say that, as I AM one), but I've also really gr
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    • Price: 23.13 EUR excl. shipping
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    It Is What It Is
    Born September 18, 1967 in Rochester, New York, James, or as his friends call him 'Jimmie' is a seasoned Jazz musician who began his musical incipiency at the mere age of 7. Jimmie began studying piano, which created an early basis for his music writing in his later years. His music teacher introduced him to and he began playing the saxophone, shortly thereafter. Recognizing Jimmie's promising potential, he was guided to study music at the Hochstein School of Music where he honed his ability to musically shine and stand out from his peers. Jimmie brought that same focus and thirst for music playing to the High School for Performing Arts. At the High School for the Performing Arts, Jimmie was exposed to a musically competitive environment of band competitions, jazz combo performances, and other competitive solo scenarios. In Jimmie's senior year of high school, he auditioned for and was accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he played Baritone sax in the Eastman School Jazz Band. After graduating from High School, Jimmie enlisted in the US Air Force. While stationed in New Jersey, Jimmie found himself in the ideal location to access the New York and Philadelphia jazz scenes. In the service, Jimmie formed a jazz band consisting of musicians from both the US Air Force and Army. The band played at many military events and performed in various countries as part of the entertainment for the International USO Tour. In 1992 Jimmie returned to Rochester where he launched his professional music career and the rest is history. Jimmie has formed many jazz bands, which have been recognized as top regional jazz bands playing in big music festivals and clubs. Jimmie Highsmith, Jr. has performed with many notables such as: Paul Boutte, Chris Beard, Joe Beard, Wynton Marselis, Wessell Anderson, Carl Thomas, Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Reed, Wynton Marsalis and Yolanda Adams. He and his band have also opened for many greats, like: Alicia Keys, Natalie Cole, Little Richard, Najee, 'Papa John' DeFrancesco, Robert Cray Blues Band, Joyce Cooling, Montell Jordan, Shameika Copeland, Neville Brothers, Temptations, and the Isley Brothers.
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    • Price: 17.60 EUR excl. shipping

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