Collaborations

October 2023 E-News

Hello from sunny Southern California!

Yesterday was opening day for Mission Opera (MO)’s west coast premiere of Girondines (an opera featuring music by me and libretto by Kirsten C. Kunkle) as its first 2023-2024 season production! I am extremely proud of the team Kirsten and I assembled with MO to bring this together. The first two performances yesterday were well-received, and we look forward to presenting the show twice more today. Production photographer Wesley Jow took absolutely exquisite photos of both casts which you can explore here:

Girondines is sung in English, accompanied by piano, harp, cello, violin, and electronics. The Girondines story chronicles French Revolution events through timeless, tragic true stories of the lives, deaths, and legacies of six women. This production features supertitles (captions) in English, French, and Spanish. A full list of the MO Girondines team follows – we have two casts, and you have the opportunity to see both groups perform today!

Beryl Acosta: Cellist
Erika Nicole Alatorre: Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Kirstin Ariel: Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Chris Bailey: Assistant Videographer
Ashley Becker: Olympe de Gouges (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Leila Jay Bishop: Harpist
Constanze Bonelli: Costume Coordinator
Mansour Bouziane: French Supertitle Translation Team
Nancy Chancellor: Box Office Team
Jeanette Chelabi: French Supertitle Translation Team
Nelya Coomans: Assistant Stage Manager ● Box Office Team ● Social Media Marketing Captain ● Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Katherine Craig: Costume Assistant
Robert Dunlap: Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Savanna Rae Gonzalez: Dance Soloist
Erica Hardbarger: Box Office Manager
Wesley Jow: Photographer
Laurice Simmons Kennel: Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Dr. Kirsten C. Kunkle: Charlotte Corday (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening) ● Choreographer ● Librettist ● Stage Director
David Oleg Manukyan: Violinist
Arthur Miller: Canyon High School Liaison / Facilities
Erik Alessandro Mondrian: French Supertitle Translation Team ● Spanish Supertitle Translation Team ● Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Caroline Morgan: Stage Manager
Tonya Nelson: Costume Designer
Brian Nielson: Lighting Master
Maiko Okajima: Dance Soloist
Manny Padilla: Videographer
Claire Pegram: Madame Manon Roland (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Kathryn Gleasman Pisaro: Musicologist ● Historical Speaker
Agnese Gallenzi: Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Don Pittman: Associate Technical Director ● Audiovisual Master
Juan Antonio Rivera: Spanish Supertitle Translation Team ● Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Marisa Robinson: Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Dr. Edward Salm: Mail Marketing Coordinator
Catherine Antonia Samartin: Charlotte Corday (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Shawn Taylor: Set Painting & Construction
Kaitlyn Tierney: Madame Germaine de Staël (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman: Olympe de Gouges (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Mariah Van Sciver: French Supertitle Translation Team
Sarah Van Sciver: Composer ● Graphic Designer ● Music Director ● Pianist/Conductor ● Post-Production Audio & Video Engineer ● Production Manager ● Prop Designer ● Projection Designer ● Sound Designer ● Supertitle Translator & Designer ● Technical Director
Jason Vincent: Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Dr. Joshua R. Wentz: Producer
Alexis Wesley: Madame Germaine de Staël (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Leeza Yorke: Madame Manon Roland (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)

Want to see the show? Your final chance to see the MO Girondines production is TODAY Sunday, October 29, 2023 with performances at 3pm and 7:30pm. You can purchase tickets here or at the door. Due to mature themes, this opera is recommended for ages 13+.

Want to bring this show to your opera company, theater company, college, high school, or community? Send me an email if you are interested in learning about opportunities to help facilitate a production championing women, new music, opera, diversity, equity, inclusion, access, education, history, and contemporary art.

You can stream the Wilmington Concert Opera Original Cast Recording album via AmazonMusic, Spotify, AppleMusic, Pandora, YouTubeMusic, and more… Physical CD copies of the album are available, too:

Order Girondines CDs

Album proceeds benefit the opera’s composer-librettist team (myself and Kirsten C. Kunkle) as well as WCO, an exclusively woman- and minority-run company. For those curious to compare outcomes of online vs. physical CD enjoyment: album streaming online results in fraction-of-cent proceeds for artists vs. physical CD purchases generating artist income in whole dollars. (Plus you’d have a beautiful keepsake which features cover art by yours truly 🎶 – there are even some autographed copies available for purchase!)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERA or READ ABOUT the WCO ALBUM RELEASE

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For folks involved with voice, opera, theater, musical theater, or performing arts venues, companies, festivals, or university programs, please send me a message if you’re interested in exploring opportunities to have your own reading, concert, or staging of Girondines. A piano-vocal reduction score will be released soon!

And for those seeking copies of my earlier albums (songwriting EPs Ophelia’s Song and Puzzle Pieces plus instrumental EP Overture to an Adventure or my Canon in D – Harp Trio Single), visit the platforms listed above for streaming and digital downloads, or order physical CDs here.

Seeking a creative collaborator for music, audio, video, web/graphic design, sound, songs, jingles, film, theatre, piano, harp, ukulele, voice, a cappella, mentorship, lessons? I look forward to connecting with you to learn more about how I can help!

Cheers,

Sarah

September 2023 E-News

Hello from sunny Southern California! Thrilled to share exciting news with you:

This October in Santa Clarita, CA, Mission Opera (MO) will present the west coast premiere of Girondines (an opera featuring music by me and libretto by Kirsten C. Kunkle) as its first 2023-2024 season production! Girondines is sung in English, accompanied by piano, harp, cello, violin, and electronics. The Girondines story chronicles the events of the French Revolution through timeless, tragic true stories of the lives, deaths, and legacies of six women. This presentation of the opera will be fully staged with costumes, lights, sets, props, and choreography rather than presenting the music ‘in concert’ as was the case in the east coast premiere presented by Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO) in October 2022. The MO production will feature supertitles (captions) in English, French, and Spanish.

Kirsten will stage direct, choreograph, and reprise her role as Charlotte Corday; Ashley Becker will reprise her role as Olympe de Gouges (with deep thanks to Ashley for encouraging MO to produce this show!); and I will reprise my role as pianist-music director in addition to taking on several other production team roles. Six fabulous folks (Kirsten, Ashley, Laurice Simmons Kennel, Marisa Robinson, Kaitlyn Tierney, and myself) from the WCO production are involved in this Girondines iteration alongside dozens of stellar Southern Californians. Kirsten and I are grateful to MO for assembling a terrific, talented, hard-working group! A full list of the MO Girondines team follows – we have two casts each with two scheduled performances:

Erika Nicole Alatorre: Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Kirstin Ariel: Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Chris Bailey: Assistant Videographer
Ashley Becker: Olympe de Gouges (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Leila Jay Bishop: Harpist
Constanze Bonelli: Costume Coordinator
Mansour Bouziane: French Supertitle Translation Team
Beryl Canale: Cellist
Nancy Chancellor: Box Office Team
Jeanette Chelabi: French Supertitle Translation Team
Nelya Coomans: Assistant Stage Manager ● Box Office Team ● Social Media Marketing Captain ● Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Katherine Craig: Costume Assistant
Robert Dunlap: Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Erica Hardbarger: Box Office Manager
Wesley Jow: Photographer
Laurice Simmons Kennel: Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Dr. Kirsten C. Kunkle: Charlotte Corday (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening) ● Choreographer ● Librettist ● Stage Director
Arthur Miller: Canyon High School Liaison / Facilities
Erik Alessandro Mondrian: French Supertitle Translation Team ● Spanish Supertitle Translation Team ● Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Caroline Morgan: Stage Manager
Tonya Nelson: Costume Designer
Brian Nielson: Lighting Designer
Maiko Okajima: Dance Soloist
Manny Padilla: Videographer
Claire Pegram: Madame Manon Roland (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Kathryn Gleasman Pisaro: Musicologist ● Historical Speaker
Ariel Pisturino: Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Don Pittman: Associate Technical Director ● Audiovisual Engineer
Juan Antonio Rivera: Spanish Supertitle Translation Team ● Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Marisa Robinson: Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Ashley Rose: Violinist
Dr. Edward Salm: Website & Mail Marketing Coordinator & Graphic Artist
Catherine Antonia Samartin: Charlotte Corday (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Shawn Taylor: Set Painting & Construction
Kaitlyn Tierney: Madame Germaine de Staël (Saturday matinee/Sunday evening)
Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman: Olympe de Gouges (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Mariah Van Sciver: French Supertitle Translation Team
Sarah Van Sciver: Composer ● Graphic Designer ● Music Director ● Pianist/Conductor ● Post-Production Audio & Video Engineer ● Production Manager ● Prop Designer ● Projection Designer ● Sound Designer ● Supertitle Translator & Designer ● Technical Director
Jason Vincent: Stagehand ● Supernumerary
Dr. Joshua R. Wentz: Producer
Alexis Wesley: Madame Germaine de Staël (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)
Leeza Yorke: Madame Manon Roland (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee)

Want to see the show? Halloween Weekend (HalloWeekend), you’re invited to visit our Haunted (Opera) House ~ the MO Girondines production runs Saturday and Sunday, October 28 and 29, 2023 with performances at 3pm and 7:30pm each day. You can purchase tickets here. Please note that due to mature themes and content, this opera is recommended for ages 13+.

Want to support the show as a sponsor or donor? Send me an email if you are interested in learning about opportunities to promote your business to a Southern Californian audience and help facilitate a production championing women, new music, opera, diversity, equity, inclusion, access, education, history, and contemporary art.

As I shared previously, you can now stream the WCO Original Cast Recording album via AmazonMusic, Spotify, AppleMusic, Pandora, YouTubeMusic, and more… Physical CD copies of the album are available, too:

Order Girondines CDs

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERA or READ ABOUT the WCO ALBUM RELEASE

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And for those seeking copies of my earlier albums (songwriting EPs Ophelia’s Song and Puzzle Pieces plus instrumental EP Overture to an Adventure), visit the same platforms listed above for streaming and digital downloads, or order physical copies of CDs here.

Cheers,

Sarah

July 2023 E-News

Greetings from sunny Southern California! I am psyched to share exciting opera news with you:

This October in Santa Clarita, CA, Mission Opera will present Girondines (an opera featuring music by me and libretto by Kirsten C. Kunkle) as its first 2023-2024 season production! Girondines is sung in English, accompanied by piano, strings, and electronics. It chronicles the events of the French Revolution through timeless, tragic true stories of lives, deaths, and legacies of six women. Mission Opera plans to present this opera fully staged as opposed to presenting the music ‘in concert’ as was the case with Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO) in October 2022. Kirsten will stage direct and reprise her role as Charlotte Corday, Ashley Becker will reprise her role as Olympe de Gouges, I will reprise my role as pianist-music director, and we anticipate featuring other folks from the original WCO company – stay tuned for announcements!

Want to be in the show? Casting is ongoing; for those interested, please submit an audition via this GoogleForm by July 11th, 2023 at 11:59pm PST. Auditions will take place Sunday, July 16th, 2023 by invitation only:

Here is a list of roles with their accompanying voice parts:

Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun – Full Lyric Soprano
Charlotte Corday – Spinto Soprano
Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze – Soubrette Soprano
Olympe de Gouges – Dramatic Soprano
Madame Manon Roland– Lyric Mezzo-Soprano
Madame Germaine de Staël – Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano/Contralto

Want to see the show? Mark your calendars! The production will run Friday through Sunday, October 27-29, 2023* (*showtimes will be announced soon). When they become available, you will be able to purchase tickets here.

Want to support the show? Send me an email if you are interested in learning about opportunities to promote your business to a Southern Californian audience and help facilitate a production championing women, new music, opera, diversity, equity, inclusion, access, education, history, and contemporary art.

Order Girondines CDs

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERA or READ ABOUT the WCO ALBUM RELEASE

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Cheers,

Sarah

April 2023 E-News

Greetings from sunny Southern California! I am excited to share some opera news with you:

On February 3, 2023, the Wilmington Concert Opera Original Cast Recording album for Girondines was released! [I confess it is a tad amusing to me to have the release date of this opera featuring several waltzes to be “2-3-23.”] You can stream the album via AmazonMusic, Spotify, AppleMusic, Pandora, YouTubeMusic, and more platforms… Physical CD copies of the album are being manufactured presently by DiscMakers and will be available to ship in May! Click the button below for CDs:

Order Girondines CDs

Album proceeds benefit the opera’s composer-librettist team (myself and Kirsten C. Kunkle) as well as Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO), an exclusively woman- and minority-run company founded on principles of diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility. For those curious to compare outcomes of online vs. physical CD enjoyment: album streaming online results in fraction-of-cent proceeds for artists vs. physical CD purchases generating artist income in whole dollars. (Plus you’d have a beautiful keepsake which features cover art by yours truly 🎶 .)

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This album is receiving great reviews, including a write-up on the Operaville blog:

“Composer Sarah Van Sciver and librettist Kirsten C. Kunkle have created a stirring, intriguing concert opera about six prominent women of the French Revolution… Kunkle addresses the imposing morass of French politics by approaching at an intimate level, beginning with the good possibility that these six women conferred with each other on a regular basis. Van Sciver delivers these meetings with propulsive piano parts that convey the tension and terror in the Paris streets, while the addition of cello and violin add the feel of an 18th century salon. Especially in the early pieces, she works these meetings into conversational fugues, imbued with fascinating layers, harmonics and rhythms. The primary subject of these discussions is Charlotte Corday…[who] reveals her plan to murder Jean-Paul Marat, the Montagnards’ leader (“September Massacre.”) Librettist Kunkle sings the piece herself, deploying a powerful soprano and a great sense for emotion and dynamics. Two of the top notes are so forceful and exposed that they will stop the listener cold… Other intriguing pieces in the work are “My Dear Marie-Antoinette,” a musing by the queen’s favorite portraitist, Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun (sung by Tracy Sturgis), and “Bonaparte,” a comic jab at Napoleon by writer Madame De Stael, sung with great wit and enunciation by Raffaella Lo Castro. …a remarkable and stimulating creation.” – Michael J. Vaughn, Operaville

And the music has been enjoyed by industry professionals who were introduced to the album via Groover:

“The lyrics are impressive.” -AFIF

“Listening to this artistic artwork is enjoyable for every audience.” -AK-47

“Such a great sound.” -Behrouz

“Amazing performance with powerful lyrics.” -Best Songs from MH

“La sensibilité et l’intensité sont au rendez-vous… servi avec des arrangements d’une grande richesse musicale. (Sensitivity and intensity rendezvous… served with arrangements of great musical richness.)” -Boulimique de Musique

“I really love the experimentation and mix of genres that you create.” -Gabriele Carone (NewAir Studio)

“The beautiful melody of your music mesmerizes my heart.” -Chaam Sound

“The songwriting is excellent.” -Dust Might

“Bellissimo il vocale molto espressivo (very expressive beautiful vocals).” -Frequenze Musicali

“…a moving release with a gorgeous string arrangement and stunning vocals…” –FV Music Blog

“Melody that transports… voice that pierces the soul. I like the atmosphere. Wonderful bravo.” -Journal d’une tatouée

“Excellent opera performance.” –Last Day Leaf

“Sicuramente potenza vocale e carisma (definitely vocal power and charisma).” -PAKO Music

“The entire composition is a masterpiece.” -PlaylistCamps

“…an emotional and powerful performance, creating a dramatic and intense atmosphere… piano and the strings complement the sound with complex and enveloping harmonies. The composition is capable of provoking a deep reflection on the social issues that still affect women around the world… a manifesto against gender inequalities and violence, demonstrating the strength and resilience of those who fight for justice and equality. The opera is impressive… sure to leave a lasting mark on listeners’ hearts and minds.” -Rádio Armazém

“Quality performance, really skilled vocal delivery.” -Secret Eclectic

“…vocals are truly remarkable… music is calming and uplifting, with a blend of classical and modern elements that create a unique sound… production is top-notch.” -Showland Productions

“This masterpiece is inspiring.” -UTH Sound

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Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO) produced this Live Original Cast Recording of Girondines, a new opera in English by composer Sarah Van Sciver (c’est moi!) and librettist Kirsten C. Kunkle. Kirsten is a voting citizen of the Muscogee (Mvskoke) Nation who has been lauded as the leading Native American soprano in today’s classical music world. And Sarah writes, arranges, records, and produces scores, songs, sounds, images, and video for opera, film/TV, theater, concert, and studio album productions, blending classical, contemporary, experimental, and commercial styles.

Girondines features a vocal sextet accompanied by piano and strings. The opera shares the interconnected stories of six real-life feminist, intellectual, revolutionary, creative French Revolution women. Three are guillotined: radical murderess Charlotte Corday, moderate feminist writer Madame Manon Roland, and radical feminist writer Olympe de Gouges. Three survive political upheaval: prolific portrait-painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun; political theorist Madame Germaine de Staël; and inventive chemist Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze.

Women are still fighting for their voices. Gender disparity pervades opera composer and librettist distribution, and stereotypes dominate lead opera roles. Stories about real women and their personal goals, desires, and relationships with one another shift opera audience perspectives to be more inclusive of women’s lived experiences. The Girondines story epitomizes inequities, turmoil, abuse, and violence with which women continue to wrestle, struggling for autonomy of mind, body, and soul. Women worldwide pursuing science, literature, arts, and activism are still threatened. Opera itself is one of the battlegrounds on which women still fight to be fairly represented and treated in life and art. The Girondines team is proud to harness the power of opera in a fight for a better future. Vive la résistance!

THE GIRONDINES ALBUM FEATURES:

*Kirsten C. Kunkle, soprano (Charlotte Corday) & librettist

*Ashley Becker, soprano (Olympe de Gouges)

*Alyssa Maria Lehman, mezzo soprano (Madame Manon Roland)

*Raffaella Lo Castro, mezzo soprano (Madame Germaine de Staël)

*Marisa Robinson, soprano (Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier)

*Tracy Sturgis, soprano (Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun)

*Melissa Brun, cellist

*Thuy Nguyen, violinist

*Sarah Van Sciver, pianist-conductor & composer

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERA & ARTISTS FEATURED ON THIS ALBUM

And for those seeking copies of my earlier albums (songwriting EPs Ophelia’s Song and Puzzle Pieces plus film-scoring and concert music EP Overture to an Adventure), visit the same platforms listed above for streaming and digital downloads, or order physical copies of CDs here.

Cheers,

Sarah

October E-News

Greetings from the east coast (I’m on the road!) Excited to share several updates with you:

^{_{album art for Canon in D Harp Trio single release}}

I released a new single! Stream or purchase my Pachelbel’s Canon in D Harp Trio via AmazonMusic, Spotify, AppleMusic, iHeartRadio, Pandora, YouTubeMusic, and many more platforms… (*If you cannot find the track on your platform at your storefront of choice, please check back again soon! Often it takes several days or weeks for new releases to publish across all sites.)

For those seeking copies of my earlier albums (songwriting EPs Ophelia’s Song and Puzzle Pieces plus film-scoring and concert music EP Overture to an Adventure), visit the same platforms listed above for streaming and digital downloads, or order physical copies of CDs here.

photo by Julie Smith
Photo by Sarah Van Sciver
Image by Ashley Becker and Alyssa Brode
Photo by Sarah Van Sciver
Photo by Julie Smith
Photo by Julie Smith
Photo by Julie Smith
photo by Julie Smith
photo by Kirsten C. Kunkle
Photo by Raffaella Lo Castro
photo by Raffaella Lo Castro

^{_{Girondines production photos by Julie Smith}}

On Friday October 21st, Girondines began its premiere weekend run with Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO). Girondines, based on historical fact, is a new opera in English which focuses on the story of French Revolutionaries who presumably knew one another, met in secret before the Reign of Terror, and supported one another during the political upheaval. All six of the revolutionaries are women, and of these, three are guillotined and three live. I composed the opera’s score and crafted electronic soundscapes to intertwine with the music; for this concert opera premiere production, I am the pianist, music director, and technical director. Our stellar cast includes Girondines librettist and WCO Artistic Director and co-founder, Kirsten C. Kunkle as well as WCO Executive Director and Co-founder Marisa Robinson. Kirsten and Marisa originated the roles of Charlotte Corday and Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier, respectively; a full Cast list is included below.

To get a preview of the music itself, you can watch short clips from rehearsals on Instagram in the music section of my channel highlights or on my Facebook page. I expect you will particularly enjoy this video from when our librettist (and amazing soprano!) Kirsten rehearsed one of her arias in the role of Charlotte Corday with piano, violin, and cello earlier this week. Finally, Kirsten and I are so grateful that OperaWire interviewed us earlier this week about writing a feminist opera – hope you enjoy reading the interview! For any folks involved with voice, opera, theater, musical theater, or other performing arts venues, companies, festivals, or university programs, please let me know if you are interested in exploring opportunities to have your own reading, concert, or staging of Girondines.

Our final performance is TODAY at 2pm EST (11am PST)! If you will be attending in person, I look forward to seeing you at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant located at 503 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19809. The performance is free and open to the public (no tickets required). Due to historical content, we recommend the opera for ages 13 and up. If you are unable to see attend this opera concert in person today, our production team will have a live stream option for today’s performance which you can watch via YouTube. Shortly before the show begins, you can tune in to watch from any laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Please be advised that livestream disruptions are possible, but it is our team’s hope and expectation that today’s digital presentation will run smoothly.

Who’s Who in our WCO Premiere Cast

Evening Cast: On Friday, October 21st + Saturday, October 22nd at 8pm:

Charlotte Corday……………………………….Kirsten C. Kunkle : instagram * web
Olympe de Gouges…………………………………Ashley Becker : instagram * web
Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier…Marisa Robinson : instagram * web
Madame Manon Roland………………Alyssa Maria Lehman : website
Madame Germaine de Staël……………Raffaella Lo Castro : instagram * web
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun……………….Tracy Sturgis : instagram * web

Matinee Cast: On Sunday, October 23rd at 2pm:

Charlotte Corday………………………Suzannah Waddington : instagram * web
Olympe de Gouges………………..Laurice Simmons Kennel : instagram * web
Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier………Alyssa Brode : instagram * web
Madame Manon Roland…………………………..Allison Deady : instagram * web
Madame Germaine de Staël…………..Kaitlyn Beth Tierney : instagram * web
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun…………………….. Annie Gill : instagram * web

WCO Premiere Also Features

Pianist/Music Director/TD……………………Sarah Van Sciver : instagram * web
Piano understudy……………………………………..Tom Fosnocht : instagram
Cellist………………………………………………………..Melissa Brun : instagram * web
Cello understudy………………………………..César Colmenares : instagram
Violinist…………………………………………………….Thuy Nguyen : instagram
Violin understudy……………………………Caroline Stephenson
Stage Manager……………………………….Johanna Lynn Jones
Photographer……………………………………………….Julie Smith

Wilmington Concert Opera, an exclusively woman- and minority-run company, was founded on principles of diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility.

For anyone seeking a creative collaborator for music, audio, video, web/graphic design, sound, songs, jingles, film, theatre, piano, harp, ukulele, voice, a cappella, mentorship, lessons, etc., I look forward to connecting with you to learn more about how I can help!

September E-News

Greetings from sunny Southern California! Excited to share several updates with you:

October 21-23, 2022, Girondines, a new opera about six women from the French Revolution, will be premiered in Delaware with Wilmington Concert Opera (WCO). WCO Artistic Director and co-founder, Kirsten C. Kunkle, wrote the libretto, and I composed the music (and will be the pianist and music director for this premiere production) and have programmed electronics for soundscapes to intertwine with the music. Our stellar cast includes WCO Executive Director and Co-founder Marisa Robinson originating the role of Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier and Kirsten in the role of Charlotte Corday. I hope you RSVP, follow the project, and learn more via Eventbrite or Facebook. You can RSVP to let us know to look forward to seeing you there *or* you can RSVP that you are Unable to Attend if you want to be kept posted about the project (for instance, if a live-streaming option becomes available for any of the performances, we will be sure to email pertinent information to anyone who has selected the ‘keep me informed’ option.) Kirsten and I were recently interviewed about Girondines for those wondering what to expect at the premiere.

^{_{Girondines production photos by Julie Smith}}

Earlier this month, I began working in a new role at the California Institute of the Arts as a Life and Work Advisor for the Patty Disney Center for Life and Work (a.k.a. CalArts Career Services) within the Institute’s Office of Student Experience. As an artist, educator, and CalArts alumna (MFA Music, Performer-Composer ’16), I am proud to empower fellow CalArtians to bolster and balance creative careers making art, making a living, and making a difference in my new role.

Meanwhile, I continue to write, arrange, record, and produce scores, songs, sound, video, and visuals for film/TV, theatre, dance, concert, opera, studio album, and commercial productions. I perform as a vocalist, pianist, harpist, ukulele player, and conductor/music director and mentor aspiring, emerging, and established artists. It is exciting to build momentum more and more on these fronts in the aftermath of the early days of the ongoing pandemic. For any of you seeking a creative collaborator for music, audio, video, visual/graphic design, sound, songs, jingles, lessons, mentorship, etc., I look forward to connecting with you to learn more about how I can help!

Wishing you and yours an awesome autumn ahead!

Cheers,

Sarah

July Newsletter

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Hey there,

Several exciting projects and events to share… if you’ll be in LA or Philly for them, hope to see you there! Always seeking creative collaborators, so please send them my way! And feel free to drop a line through the link at the bottom of the page. Enjoy the rest of your summer days!

Cheers,

Sarah

SCORE & SOUND:

STRANGE AS ANGELS

It is such a pleasure working with Born Lucky Studios (Emily Gallagher & Austin Elston), whose newest film Strange As Angels features original score and sound by yours truly. The half-hour film, which Emily aptly describes as “David Lynchian,” stars Emilie Krause, Kate Raines, and Alex Bechtel. You’re invited to join me and the creative team behind the film for an evening of screenings at L’Etage in Philadelphia on August 15th– hope to see you there! The event is open to the public, and you can RSVP (free), here. Check out additional score and sound productions on my film page.

MUSIC & LYRICS:

PETER & IONA

Among the musical theatre projects on which I am hard at work is a fantasy adventure, “Peter and Iona,” chock-full of magic, music, mystery, romance, and rebellion. Writers Patrick W. Phillips & Sara Elizabeth Woodard are responsible for its sensational script while I pen its lyrics and music for a charming cast of characters. Below are two live acoustic demo recordings of the show’s songs, with a new song added since the last newsletter. The added track is the show’s “Opening Narration.” Stay tuned for more demos and additional announcements coming soon! They will be posted alongside other theatre projects on my music for the stage page. Learn more about the project and its team, here.

Opening Narration - live acoustic demo

Magic - live acoustic demo

UPCOMING WORKSHOP:

COPYRIGHT FOR CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS

You’re invited to join me for a workshop as copyright is defined, demonstrated, and discussed in the context of creating, protecting, and respecting original works of art in all mediums. Explore step-by-step registration instructions and discover answers to questions like:

how do copyrights work?
can copyrights protect my art and my ideas?
what do I do if my art was created collaboratively?
how much do copyrights cost?
what about “fair use” or mailing my art to myself and leaving it sealed?

I’m thrilled to have this workshop at Thymele Arts, launched by fellow CalArts alumnus John Henningsen. Thymele offers collaborative workspaces for LA artists, designers and arts managers; it is a membership-driven live event community that provides members access to rehearsal rooms, meeting space, private desks, studios, and event space for the development of new work. Refreshments will be provided at the talk. RSVP (free), here.

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May Newsletter

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Hey there!

Many songs, scores, and sounds to share, spanning the screen and stage. Always seeking creative collaborators, so please send them my way! Would love to hear your thoughts – you can click the contact link at the bottom of the page. Hope that you enjoy and have a lovely day.

Cheers,

Sarah

SCORE & SOUND:

TWO NEW SHORT FILMS

It is with great pride and excitement that I unveil two new short film collaborations, “Max” by Minkyu Kwak and “Grim” by Torey Bangi. Minkyu is a current student at the California Institute of the Arts, and Torey graduated last year from the Laguna College of Art and Design. “Max” follows an unexpected afternoon in the life of a humorous horse with handsome hand-drawn animation, and “Grim” trick-or-treats through a haunted Halloween evening in a charming town created with stunning stop-motion. As music composer for both shorts and sound creator for Minkyu’s film, I hope you enjoy watching these and others on my film-scoring page.

MUSIC & LYRICS:

PETER & IONA

Among the musical theatre projects on which I am hard at work is a fantasy adventure, “Peter and Iona,” chock-full of magic, music, mystery, romance, and rebellion. Writers Patrick W. Phillips & Sara Elizabeth Woodard are responsible for its sensational script while I pen its lyrics and music for a charming cast of characters. Below is a live acoustic demo recording of me singing one of the show’s song, “Magic,” as well as our official poster. Stay tuned for more demos and additional announcements coming soon! They will be posted alongside other theatre projects on my music for the stage page. Learn more about the project and its team, here.

CONCERT COLLABORATIONS: BAND, ORCHESTRA, & OPERA

This spring, I was lucky to perform in three concerts by friends at the Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts: Maryam Mirbagheri, Jaron Crespi, and Alysha Aurora. For Maryam’s concert which stitched together songs and stories, I sang backups for Maryama Band as we performed her original jazz music ‘with a hint of Persian spice;’ for Jaron’s interdisciplinary show “Ancient Fire Seed,” a storytelling odyssey traversing multiple genres, moods, and instrumentations, I sang in his chorus among the backing band, a funky world/rock fusion chamber orchestra; for Alysha’s original opera theatre work “the Midnite Theater,” I played harp alongside the program’s composer-pianist Diana Cioffari as singer-narrator Alysha guided the audience through dark reinterpretations of classic fairytales. Watch these and other shows on my performer page.

Maryam Mirbagheri – Recital ~ Begin at 1:00.

Jaron Crespi – Recital ~ Begin at 1:16:00.

Alysha Aurora – Recital ~ Begin at 1:12:00

Connect on Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter ● CDs via Amazon | CDBaby | iTunes ● Contact ● Blog

Fifty Days at Iliam – This Weekend!

This weekend, don’t miss the Philly Fringe production of “Fifty Days at Iliam.”

What is “Fifty Days at Iliam,” you ask?

It is a Philly-based theatre ensemble, devising a play exploring the Trojan War/inspired by Cy Twombly’s “Fifty Days at Iliam.” It is led by my sister, Hannah Van Sciver.

Photos by Dave Garrett Sarrafian

It just opened, last night, to rave reviews. Tickets are sold out, but you can still see the show for $5/each – standing room, at the door!

“Fifty Days at Iliam” incorporates my original music, and the production features a wonderful cast and crew. I am thrilled to have been involved.

Remaining Shows

at the Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA
Sept 4th @ 8pm
Sept 5th @ 7pm, & 9:30pm

Cast
Joseph Ahmed
Elizabeth Audley
Richard Chan
Amanda Jill Robinson
Megan Slater
Hannah Van Sciver

Crew
Director: William Steinberger
Sets, Projections, Costumes & Properties: Sara Outing
Lighting Design: Eric Baker
Movement Coach: Nicole Quenelle
Choreographer: Joseph Ahmed
Composition: Sarah Van Sciver & Amanda Jill Robinson
Music Direction: Amanda Jill Robinson
Stage Management: Kat Kelly

Check out the paintings: http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/85709.html
Check us out in Classicizing Philadelphia: http://classicizingphiladelphia.blogs.brynmawr.edu/2015/07/31/fringe-2015-the-conversation-continues/

…RSVP and Invite Friends on Facebook…

Fifty Days at Iliam on Facebook * **the Philadelphia Fringe Festival * Phindie Review * Phindie Interview * Rep Radio Interview * the Philadelphia Inquirer Pre-Press** * Hannah Van Sciver

…Check out more of my music…

New Film / Score: “Seven Minutes”

Check out this new film,

Emily Johnson’s thesis film at CalArts.

I contributed original music to the movie. Enjoy!

Watch other films made by CalArtians, this year: vimeo.com/channels/calartscharanimfilms2015

PLEASE COMMENT, SHARE, & SUBSCRIBE!

…Check out more music… more films…

Concert Announcement: today! Sonic Boom rock orchestra @ CalArts

Psychedelia:

a concert of psychedelic rock song covers by Ulrich Krieger’s SONIC BOOM ensemble

today, May 9th

CalArts, Roy O. Disney Concert Hall

8PM Pacific/11PM Eastern

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Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? **Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**

~

I am performing harp and/or vocals in all of our pieces…

RSVP and spread the word on Facebook

…Check out more music… more films…

Concert Announcement: today! Michael Skloff recital at CalArts

Michael Skloff MFA Graduation Recital:

a concert of original pieces and arrangements by Michael Skloff

today, May 9th

CalArts, Roy O. Disney Concert Hall

2PM Pacific/5PM Eastern

~

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? **Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**

~

I am performing in four pieces: “After All,” “Face and Grankie,” “Overcome,” and “You Can Leave Your Hat On”

…Check out more music… more films…

New Film / Score: “Insomnibaa”

Check out this new film,

“Insomnibaa”

Michelle Lam’s first-year film at CalArts.

A young girl’s sheep plush comes to life in the middle of the night.

Watch other films made by her classmates: vimeo.com/channels/calartscharanimfilms2015

PLEASE COMMENT, SHARE, & SUBSCRIBE!

…Check out more music… more films…

Concert Announcement: Sarah Van Sciver MFA Performer-Composer Recital – this Sunday @ CalArts

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Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus?

**Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**

~ ~

RSVP and spread the word on Facebook

…Check out more music… more films…

Concert Announcement: TONIGHT! Anne Cleary Recital @ CalArts

Make Music, Not War:

a graduation concert consisting of original songs and personal favorites by/from Anne Cleary.

today, February 24th

CalArts, Roy O. Disney Concert Hall

8PM Pacific/11PM Eastern

~

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? **Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**

…Check out more music… more films…

*Who’s Who in our WCO Premiere Cast*

*WCO Premiere Also Features*

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SCORE & SOUND:

STRANGE AS ANGELS

MUSIC & LYRICS:

PETER & IONA

UPCOMING WORKSHOP:

COPYRIGHT FOR CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS

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SCORE & SOUND:

TWO NEW SHORT FILMS

MUSIC & LYRICS:

PETER & IONA

CONCERT COLLABORATIONS: BAND, ORCHESTRA, & OPERA

This weekend, don’t miss the Philly Fringe production of “Fifty Days at Iliam.”

What is “Fifty Days at Iliam,” you ask?

It is a Philly-based theatre ensemble, devising a play exploring the Trojan War/inspired by Cy Twombly’s “Fifty Days at Iliam.” It is led by my sister, Hannah Van Sciver.

It just opened, last night, to rave reviews. Tickets are sold out, but you can still see the show for $5/each – standing room, at the door!

“Fifty Days at Iliam” incorporates my original music, and the production features a wonderful cast and crew. I am thrilled to have been involved.

Remaining Shows

at the Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA Sept 4th @ 8pm Sept 5th @ 7pm, & 9:30pm

…RSVP and Invite Friends on Facebook…

Fifty Days at Iliam on Facebook * the Philadelphia Fringe Festival * Phindie Review * Phindie Interview * Rep Radio Interview * the Philadelphia Inquirer Pre-Press * Hannah Van Sciver

…Check out more of my music…

Check out this new film,

Emily Johnson’s thesis film at CalArts.

PLEASE COMMENT, SHARE, & SUBSCRIBE!

Psychedelia:

a concert of psychedelic rock song covers by Ulrich Krieger’s SONIC BOOM ensemble

today, May 9th

CalArts, Roy O. Disney Concert Hall

8PM Pacific/11PM Eastern

~

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? Watch the concert *live* on the ROD Webcast.

~

I am performing harp and/or vocals in all of our pieces…

Michael Skloff MFA Graduation Recital:

a concert of original pieces and arrangements by Michael Skloff

today, May 9th

CalArts, Roy O. Disney Concert Hall

2PM Pacific/5PM Eastern

~

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? Watch the concert *live* on the ROD Webcast.

~

I am performing in four pieces: “After All,” “Face and Grankie,” “Overcome,” and “You Can Leave Your Hat On”

Check out this new film,

Michelle Lam’s first-year film at CalArts.

PLEASE COMMENT, SHARE, & SUBSCRIBE!

~

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus?

Watch the concert *live* on the ROD Webcast.

~ ~

Make Music, Not War:

a graduation concert consisting of original songs and personal favorites by/from Anne Cleary.

today, February 24th

CalArts, Roy O. Disney Concert Hall

8PM Pacific/11PM Eastern

~

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? Watch the concert *live* on the ROD Webcast.

Who’s Who in our WCO Premiere Cast

WCO Premiere Also Features

at the Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA
Sept 4th @ 8pm
Sept 5th @ 7pm, & 9:30pm

Fifty Days at Iliam on Facebook * **the Philadelphia Fringe Festival * Phindie Review * Phindie Interview * Rep Radio Interview * the Philadelphia Inquirer Pre-Press** * Hannah Van Sciver

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? **Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? **Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**

**Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**

Out-of-town? Can’t make it to CalArts campus? **Watch the concert live on the ROD Webcast.**