[Perform-Talk] Introduction

Tue Jul 21 23:27:01 UTC 2020

Hi, Bridgit and everyone! I'm a brand-new member of this division, and while my busy schedule doesn't allow me to read every single message, I am really enjoying all the great discussion. I wear many hats these days. I am a travel advisor, also known as a travel agent... I am a caregiver for my 87-year-old mom... And I am both a gospel singer and a voice actor. Of course, right now there aren't many opportunities for me to sing, but you can get MP3's or CD's by visiting my website at
https://janajackson.com

Bridgit, I just want to encourage you to keep working to figure out how to reach for your dreams. Blind or sighted, there's no such thing as One size fits all! You will find your lane and race to the finish line! 😊 Don't feel like you have to go it alone. While I've done a good bit of traveling alone to cities across the country, as someone who is now in my fifties, I'm finding that there is less stress when an assistant comes with me sometimes. If that is not possible, I often request an assistant when I get there, someone who is sharp, dependable, and trustworthy. This person assists with my product table and sometimes with transportation between the hotel and the venue. Of course, if someone travels with me as an accompanist, he or she can fill that bill most of the time. Either way, you are not alone. 😊

Well, speaking of a busy schedule, my phone is dinging till it's making me a crazy person! LOL! But it's truly an honr to be part of this incredible division, and I look forward to helping as much as I can. Congratulations, Kaitlyn, love you bunches! 😊

Jana

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-Talk <perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Perform-Talk
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2020 1:28 PM
To: 'Performing Arts Division list' <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Introduction

Hello,

Hope those who attended convention had a good time.

I just want to applaud those of you actively pursuing your performing dreams, not letting blindness be the the barrier the sighted world insists it is.

I have my BFA in vocal performance from Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska. I was accepted into AMDAs musical theatre program, but then became sick, and that's how I became blind. After I recovered and then attended a training center, I did not continue my pursuit of performing or contact AMDA about still attending. It honestly was not about my blindness; there were other reasons, but I spent years, almost 20 now not performing at all. Pre-COVID, I finally decided to get back into it. I went on a couple of auditions last fall, but now, obviously, we are in a holding pattern with live performances.

Because I didn't do this sooner, I'm still figuring out how auditioning and performing works specifically for me in terms of doing it nonvisually. I'm also 20 years older than I was the last time I performed, so, a lot of changes.

Anyway, I'm impressed with those of you actively out there, breaking barriers for disabled performers. You inspire me to continue putting myself out there again.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-Talk <perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of CHELA Robles via Perform-Talk
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2020 11:35 AM
To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: CHELA Robles <cdrobles693 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Introduction

Well my name is Chela Robles and I just joined I already gave an earlier introduction to myself. I am a trumpet player I perform several gigs before the COVID-19 hit locally at different places with different bands and groups and on the radio and different people that I know that have requested me. I’ve even performed at the NFB of California state convention last year in Milpitas California at the Embassy suites Hotel November 8 and ninth of last year. I used to play the valve trombone and the euphonium in college. I’m learning piano for fun and then slowly diving into braille music. I have learned by ear for a very long time. I partook in the virtual choir that you all heard and you might have heard some trumpet in there as well finally but that was me. I have a Christmas album that I did that I can share with you guys off list if any of you are interested in a digital copy of it. Thinking about doing a non-holiday themed album myself. I joined because there are some misconceptions among some of my Cited counterpart musician friends that I constantly have to let them know about how I do things as a blind musician just as well as they do and yet they still revert back to Oh no you need cues but you can’t have cues because you’re blind that’s very absurd in my opinion. A friend of mine was listening to the choir performances and made that rude remark And I got on the defensive when he said since everybody is blind they could not watch the conductor give out any cues when in fact all we did was record the pieces of music in our own time frame on time with music tracks click tracks braille music you name it we did it all very well and I’m very proud of us for doing so but it’s still a misconception myth  The sighted people seem to keep having the visual mindset that they have I don’t really care for it very much. Us's not one size fits all visual mindset has to be broken! So thank you for welcoming me to the group I appreciate it as a professional musician in my own right.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 20, 2020, at 9:12 AM, Leslie Hamric via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Julie and welcome to the list. My name is Leslie and I'm a professional cellist. Like you, I have played in various chamber music groups and I am currently a member of the Elmhurst symphony. I played in my school orchestra from fourth grade through high school. I also teach cello and braille music. I would love to chat with you further so please email me off list if you like. The performing arts division is awesome and I think you'll enjoy being a member.
> Leslie
> 
> Leslie Hamric
> Cello and Braille Music Teacher
> Board member of National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division
> 
>> On Jul 20, 2020, at 7:56 AM, Julia LaGrand via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello all,
>> I joined this listserv a few months ago, but just decided to become a member of the Performing Arts division, so I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Julia LaGrand and I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am 16 years old and a rising junior in high school. I currently study violin with professor Danielle Belen at the University of Michigan and have attended various summer festivals including Credo Music and Center Stage Strings. Pre-Covid, I participated in my school's orchestra, as well as a string quartet through my school and a piano trio through St. Cecilia Music School in downtown Grand Rapids. 
>> I decided to become a member of this division because I have encountered the apparent barriers that have come up, because of  blindness or the perceptions of mine/others about blindness, on my journey thus-far as a student violinist. I want to advocate for the performing arts as a blind performing artist and work to deconstruct these things that get in the way of blind performing artists. I am inspired by the examples of success in the performing arts in this division, and I can't wait to get involved! 
>> I am excited to actively participate in listserves and in a Facebook group, but don't know all that much about the work of the division to talk about other ways in which I'm interested in getting involved. I am very much still a student, but I love sharing my experiences being a blind performer so far, and learning from other blind performing artists. I love to make connections with others, fundraise, and most of all, learn from those "around" me more about the NFB, the Performing Arts division, and how to achieve success for myself and others as blind performers. I look forward to education, advocacy and art!
>> Thank you for taking the time to read that long email!
>> Julia LaGRAND
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