Artistic Statement

The following was a requirement in the Dawn U. Carnegie Hall Workshop I'm hoping to land!

The assignment:
Please attach a statement of approximately 1,000 words that answers the following questions:
1. What inspires you as an artist in your professional and personal lives?
2. What do you hope to gain from this experience?

“What can I do to live a better story?” This piercing question serves as the source of my two main inspirations as an artist: story and excellence.

Last summer, a Broadway play (Neil LaBute’s Reasons to Be Pretty) provided the defining balm I needed in a season of much pain. The choice its lead character made in the final scene spoke a healing word into my life that no other amount of counseling or journaling or time could mend. I found, after that play, I was free. Great art, done well, has time and again, brought health and freedom to me. As I grow as an artist and a person that loves art, I am equally inspired by the stories that others tell and compelled to tell a better, more excellent story with my life and gifts.

I started taking voice lessons at the age of 12 so that I could be the best musical theatre performer the San Francisco Bay Area had ever seen. With Les Misérables completely memorized, I was sure I was bound for Broadway. My path was diverted by my first voice teacher who happened to be a tenured chorister with the San Francisco Opera. She cleverly introduced me to opera and claimed me for her genre. I was thrilled by the challenges of singing opera, of learning languages and investigating the history of each composer. Somewhere in my mid-twenties, however, I lost my fuel for pursuing it with the passion I once had. I had concentrated so much on perfect sound projection and “sempre la voce” that I had lost the drama. At this point, my journey twisted back over to my first love, musical theatre, and I proudly called myself a “reformed opera singer!” I dove into acting classes, performing Chekhov scenes and monologues, dusted off my tap and jazz shoes, and built a book of musical theatre songs with which I connected. People often asked me why I left opera for theatre and I would explain that I loved the story-telling that musical theatre demands. In opera I was missing the story. In my time away I learned to love telling stories again, making choices before beautiful sounds and taking risks before rubatos.

Now as I am hitting my stride as a singer, I realize, of course, that stories can be told just as vibrantly in opera or art song as they are in theatre. In the past year I have reclaimed the genres of my original training and have re-ignited my passion for classical singing. Art songs have become the main course for my creative mind’s growing appetite and a favorite vehicle to express myself. I recently prepared and performed my first song recital in four years. I loved working with the masterful material and understanding the original context of the poetry while making the text mine. My own story was heightened because of these texts and songs.

Great story telling draws me to continue to tell stories of my own. I aim to touch others, to inspire them to tell their own stories choosing the risky road of vulnerability and living a life story better than they imagine for themselves. Music has such amazing power to do just that and I love that I can participate in others’ stories!


I never knew how long I would stay in New York when I moved here in 2007. I wasn’t sure if this would be a short-lived experiment, if I would hit the audition scene and rise and fall with its success. Success has come in waves with great opportunities to perform and class but most exciting has been the evolution of a found community of musicians of all shapes and stripes, although quite heavy on the singer-songwriters. Some of my dearest friends create music daily and share it often in the clubs of the Lower East Side. I meet them there to hear how they are working out their often difficult lives through melody and lyrics.

Beyond the Lower East Side, the daily accessibility of truly stunning art in all its forms has fueled my continual growth as a singer. Excellence inspires excellence and has been a great source of motivation to be faithful to the gifts I’ve been given as a singer and an artist. Steeped in artistic excellence immersion for the last three years, I have found my goals have changed. I moved to New York so I would never say “what if” but what I have found is much different than what I expected. I thought I was sending myself on a “make it or break it” adventure but instead I have found a community of friends that inspire me to make music, to take chances, to cultivate my own “voice” as an artist without limits or boundaries on “making it” in one particular field or opera house. Their excellence inspires me to continue to drink deep of the well of music, to create perhaps not my own songs, but my own interpretations in the genres where I am gifted.

Even still, I have often listened to my songwriting friends and been jealous of their vision for writing songs and performing them, of creating new material and finding an audience for it. With this workshop, I would love to experience the thrill of collaborating with composers to create something new. Fascinated by composers and their gifts, I would be delighted to originate a new work and to see the behind the scenes pieces come together.

As a freelance singer, no longer luxuriating in conservatory life, I have missed so much the master class forum where such valuable learning comes from observing other artists as they try on new music and the challenges that come with telling new stories!
I cannot imagine a more fantastic week than a master class with these leaders in our field and among such excellent singers and composers.

Recent opportunities to work with up and coming composers in the fields of musical theatre and opera have whet my appetite for more! I have never taken the time to focus my energy in new music as a soloist. This intense week would stretch me and would be a fantastic opportunity to delve into that realm. I would love to meet and grow with the other selected singers and composers and continue to build community with like-minded artists that are passionate about story and excellence.

Can a Mother Forget?

Tim's sermon this week was on Isaiah 49, specifically verses 14-16. He titled the sermon, "Can a Mother Forget?" based on verse 15, where God says to Zion:

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!

It was a great 1st Tim sermon for my sister to hear. 3 points, of course. Professorial, anecdotal and the third point was all about Jesus. I eagerly listened to every quote and story, each fun fact and explanation through my sister's ears, wanting her approval and shared excitement. To me it was just another explanation of the gospel, of the unconditional love that God shows us though he has no need of us and we offer him NOTHING. It was a sweet reminder to feast on God and that amazing love and not settle for idol snacks. But I find with so many great sermons, I'm spoiled. I take my notes, I expect Jesus to be the last point, I agree that He's the cure, but I often don't digest it fully.

Last night I called to check in on my mom. Lis and I have an AMAZING mom. Always has been, always will be. She has been sick for the past week or so and because of "best.weekend.ever.sharpley.sisters.take.manhattan" colliding with two feverish grandkids, rest and recuperation were traded in for extra babysitting. So while Lisa and I were finding the world's best bargains, eating the country's best pizza, traipsing across the city, enjoying restaurant week with friends, brunching with all the "buddies", tearing up in Broadway shows and bonding and creating memories we'll never forget, our sweet Mom was recycling something she has done so often...bearing the cost of our delight! After I talked to Mom I took the "best.weekend.ever" post off of my facebook, not wanting to rub in what we had enjoyed while she worked on our behalf. And I know she didn't mean to make us feel guilty (Lisa, you are not allowed to feel guilty reading this!), but the fact is someone had to fill in the gap in order for us to have the kind of mad-fun, sister weekend that we had.

And suddenly, I remembered the sermon. Here was Mom, someone who not only never forgot us at her breast(!) but even into our 30s never forgets us but continues to make sacrifices to give us the best life. And what did she get? The joy of knowing her daughters love each other and enjoy each other? Maybe. She shows us unconditional love and thereby shows me God's love.

This past weekend really was the best.ever. And God promises in Isaiah 49 that this best.life.ever-the culmination of all the best weekends and days-are gifts from Him who took all the pain, all the sickness, all the isolation that we might know joy and love and fullness forever.

Happy New Year!

One day while I was at home watching one of those vapid 7:30pm shows as part of my "I work for a church and December wipes me out" recovery program, they ran a story on Oprah and her resolution for 2009: to get her weight in control. They showed her in January 2009 feigning disgust with her then state and promise that "this would be the year." With so much build-up, I was SURE they were going to say that she fulfilled her goal. Instead, they said "Oprah didn't succeed but she's never looked happier."

Well, in hopes to look happier than ever at the end of 2010, I only made one resolution:
Less Blackberry, More Jesus.

The biggest change I've made thus far, is removing the Facebook application from my blackberry. No mindless walking to work and reading near-strangers status updates. How about some prayer instead?

Also, I would like to stop being "that girl" that incessantly checks her Blackberry, including during dinner out with friends, etc. No berries of any kind shall hit the dining table. Unless it's a strawberry that falls off a pillowy cheesecake from Juniors...mmmmm...

I was chatting with a friend at our Redeemer Leaders' Meeting on Monday and she had so much earnest enthusiasm for what the New Year can bring. Much of that was because of the spirit of all of us collectively being willing, being open to change and growth. I like that. I can get behind that!

So, some areas to grow in for 2010!
*Keeping up with my friends far and near
*Blogging, writing, staying creative...maybe even writing a song or two (WHAT?! I hang out with too many songwriters, I guess!)
*Practicing consistently. Developing new repertoire and demos. Singing for important people.
*An opera role or musical theatre role.
*Choosing LIFE in relationships.
*Less Splenda. Ha. Always.
*Consistent time with the Lord. In the mornings.
*Less mindless tv.
*More Bible literacy.
*More reading. Real books. (3 are on order!)
*1/2 marathon.

Uh, oh. I've completely gone all Oprah.
"With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

Recognizing that, I look forward to 2010 with God.