October Updates!

It's FINALLY here!

http://stephaniesabin.weebly.com/

It's been a long while in the making

but the launch of the new website is here!

Please click on the above link to see my new website!

I'm very excited to have it finally up and running!

Since my last entry in May, it has been go, go, go!

I had a small lull in June, but things picked right back up again with San Diego Opera's Words and Music Program as well as my education outreach work with San Diego's The Monarch School  - a school for homeless kids grades K-12.  

And don't forget about Villa Musica - they keep me busy with Singing Classes and Private students and Master Classes!

The summer was very special as I was happy to continue working with my private students who had graduated high school.  

They kept up with their vocal studies all the way up until they left for college.

It's been a treat watching them grow - 

one student I have worked with since she was in the 7th grade!  

It's exciting and an honor as a teacher/mentor to see everyone grow a little bit more, being a part of their self discovery.

San Diego Opera's Words and Music program is underway!

My colleague, Stage Director, Cynthia Stokes and I (Composer in Residence/Music Director) are up and at it with the kids of Roosevelt Middle School, Eastlake High School, Chula Vista High School and Wilson Middle School.  

Over the summer, we got to work with the Barrio Logan College Institute - a wide range of kids - and they wrote their opera on the famous book,  

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid

I'm also happy to share that a new CD is in the works as well as a new concert....

More information on those two items will be coming - 

my goal is to have these two projects on the calendar after the New Year!

Thank you to all who follow my modest blog!

Please don't be shy in saying hi or leaving a message!

Keep humming your favorite tune!

Best wishes,

Stephanie

The Day After Project Cabaret 2012!

What an exciting 10 weeks with San Diego's Villa Musica and the Project Cabaret 2012 program.  We had our performances this past Friday and Saturday nights with sold out audiences both nights!  These performances were in support of raising funds for the Villa Musica Scholarship program.

For this project, I got to wear the hats of Music Director AND Stage Director, as well as set designer, props mistress, costume director, lighting director, etc... Thankfully, this production was on a small scale compared to the massive show, Kiss Me Kate, at Canyon Crest Academy this past February (Music Director/Conductor).

Aspiring to build a performance company in a dismal economy, this was a fantastic platform to try out my skills as an artistic director.  As I have compiled my list of "Make SURE to do X, Y, & Z differently next time...." I'm pleased with how A, B & C went!

As a performer, I'm looking for new ways to communicate.  As a music director, I love challenging performers to find the boundaries of their abilities, and then daring them to take a step beyond those boundaries.  Often, it's a thrilling journey!

Kudos go out to Aislinn, Barbara, Catherine, Dwayne, Mylene, and Sherry!

We had a fantastic trio: Wayla - Piano, Scott - Standup Bass, and Steve - Percussion.

A huge thank you to Dr Fiona Chatwin, Exec. Director of Villa Musica, for offering me this opportunity.  Thank you for challenging me and daring me to step outside of my own boundaries!  I'm already excited for Project Cabaret 2013.  

In the meantime, the summer brings the Singing I class at Villa Musica.  It's an 8 week adult singing class that I hope to inspire singers to explore what their voices can do, stretching the comfort zones, and working together in their learning and exploring.  OF COURSE there will be a performance at the end of the 8 weeks!  Not as involved as Project Cabaret, but definitely an entertaining time to be had.

Check out Villa Musica's website.  It's a fantastic non-profit music community center filled with great music, music lessons, incredible teachers and colleagues.  

Villa Musica has also made it possible for me to bring an education outreach residency to The Monarch School - San Diego's K-12 school for homeless kids.  For 12 weeks, kids, grades 9 - 12, have been participating in a Vocal Performance Class.  It has been SUCH an exciting residency!  These kids are amazing and eager and brilliant.  We've been studying how to read music, how to sing with a healthful technique, and how to learn to sing a song - THREE as a matter of fact!  We have a performance coming up in 2 weeks!  I can't sing the praises of these kids enough.  This has been such an amazing group to work with.  The Monarch School and I are looking at ways to continue to fund a music program for the students, and the kids are already asking if there will be another 12 week program...fingers crossed!

Thanks to those of you who are following my modest blog!  Your support is appreciated!

What's next??

What a magnificent handful of months that have passed and what exciting new challenges await!

Thank you to those who were able to come to the encore performance of Les Chemins de L'Amour!  It was one of the best performances yet.  It's exciting to experience a collection of music grow and expand as a living being.

The last handful of months, I had the great opportunity to build on music skills I haven't truly had to put to use until recently.  Composing and Conducting!  As Composer in Residence with the San Diego Opera's Words and Music Education Outreach program, I was challenged in new ways to communicate how to write music to reflect what the lyrics were saying as well as how to create moods and emotions through musical colors.  This challenge was met working with the kids from Chula Vista High School and Freese Elementary.  The high school especially turned out some amazing work that caused the listeners to lean in and be still.  It was an honor for me to be a part of that experience and to get to work with the marvelous talents of Cynthia Stokes!

The other challenge I faced (as Universe was likely having a hearty chuckle) was stepping in as Conductor a week and half before opening night for the musical Kiss Me Kate which ran at Canyon Crest Academy.  I have informally conducted over the years with groups and individual students, and have sung under many conductors.  Apparently, it made sense that I step in knowing the score from working on it with the singers since November.  I knew it better than even perhaps I consciously knew.  What a thrilling experience!  And the exercise!  And the instrumentalists!  This orchestra was comprised of all high school kids.  The sound they created was marvelous and like no sound I've ever heard come from a high school group.  It was a pleasure to work side by side with Brian Shay, Nancy Coker, Jeremy Sewell, Kim Walsh, Nicole O'Shea, Amy Villanova, Anne Whatoff and again, Cynthia Stokes!

Just a few days before Valentine's Day, I performed, for the 6th time, my cherished Les Chemins de L'Amour.  During this particular performance, some "fun" issues occurred with my props and I hadn't put things where they should have been as well as things deciding to drop of tables and be just out of reach.  In hind sight, those experiences made it a touch more real - allowing a more human experience - a more human moment.  Clips from the concert will be posted soon as I get the hang of uploading and such to YouTube  - (of course it is likely easier than I think...)  Big thank yous go to Mary Barranger who collaborated with me on piano and Dr. Fiona Chatwin, founder and Executive Director of Villa Musica.

Now that all of those projects have wrapped up, what's next?  I have begun work as Director for Project Cabaret at Villa Musica's Community Music Center. That performance will be in 10 weeks,  April 11 and 12th!  Be sure to keep your eye on Villa Musica's Website for ticket and performance info - http://www.villamusica.org/

Also, Villa Musica has so graciously assisted in funding an education outreach residency through my private studio.  For 12 weeks, I am working with 9 students at the Monarch School, downtown, in group voice.  http://www.monarchschools.org/   I've met with the kids already and they are a fantastic and amazing little group made up of Juniors and Seniors.  We've been exploring our voices and how to make different kinds of sounds as well as discovering how words have rhythm and songs have a beat, much like a person's pulse. 

My Private Vocal Studio is still going strong.  Everyone I work with has some personal goal and it's an honor to work with each of them reaching those goals whether it be graduating, going on to college and finding the right music program, achieving better breath support so a lead singer of a band can last longer while screaming, as well as discovering how to tap into the emotions of words and their meanings.

Marvelous discoveries await!  Thanks for checking in and come back again soon for more updates!

Very best wishes to you,
Stephanie Sabin

YES!  You HAVE reached the correct website!

For those of you who are familiar with StephanieSabin.com,
it is undergoing some updates and remodeling.
In the mean time,
Les Chemins de L'Amour blogspot is helping out during the interim.

NEXT MONTH!

DON'T MISS THE ENCORE PERFORMANCE!

Les Chemins de L'Amour 

February 12, 2012
5p
Villa Musica Music Center
10373 Roselle Street, Suite 170
San Diego, CA 92121
858-550-8100
Call for advanced tickets!

$15 for adults, $10 for students/seniors/service

Tickets at the door: $20 for adults, $15 for students/seniors/service

Les Chemins de L'Amour CD,
is available for sale...more info on how to order to come!

Feb 16, 2011 – Flight from L.A. To Paris, Part 1

So often I think about my next blog entry, yet, I have yet to truly write my first! What better time than while in the air en route to doux Paris? With juice and pretzles in hand, my seat mate sound asleep, I'm finally setting pencil to paper.

As soon as I walked through the security checkpoint (a bit after TSA had an unannounced security drill!) I was twirling in circles, tossing my hat up into the air, just like Mary Tyler Moore (all in my head, of course, but so close to in reality!) so pleased I was on my way AGAIN to Paris, this time, to sing and see good friends.

Sitting in my seat, just within my first hour of a 9 and a half hour flight, I've had such delight in my heart and on my face. I couldn't really read anything or conduct my usual business because I am so thrilled to be back on a flight to Paris, this time definitely a different woman.

Sixteen months ago, I was talked into going to Europe to sing and explore.  It was a big time of change so the idea was of huge appeal. I had some acquaintances in Paris – why not head there? When I boarded, my body was so vibrant with energy – flying to Europe – Paris! - ALONE!  I was sure this was how my life was going to end, my plane in a fiery blaze, plunging into the Atlantic...I just knew it!  I'd excuse myself to the bathroom and cry a bit, pull myself back together, and plop back in my seat wondering what the 5 weeks ahead of me held.

Today, a warm content smile rests on my lips, lifting my cheeks. I'm doing what I love: traveling, singing, creating.  Marvelous friends known to me as well as yet to be discovered, await me there. 

 

Something is hunkered just over the bend... come out, come out wherever you are... !

Paris bound

It's nearing the end of 2010 and I am just NOW joining the ranks of "Blogging"... the idea has crossed my mind often as I really appreciate how the world is communicating compared to 10 years ago.  I have a lot to say about a lot of things...ask anyone who knows me! HA!  Of the many topics I'm interested in covering, I have been encouraged to begin with my current paths (les chemins) leading me to perform, Plaisir d'amour as known here in San Diego, Les Chemins de l'Amour in Paris, France this coming Spring - March 6, 2011 to be exact.  The experience itself is special and amazing; the date makes it even more so, as it is my birthday!  What a way to spend a special time!

One of my current ways of fund raising is selling my CD, Les Chemins de l'Amour.  By purchasing a CD, everyone becomes a producer of this project.  It is my hope to share this amazing experience with as many people as possible, as I have had wonderful friends and mentors involved in this project which has been at least a year in the making. 

It all started when...