Digital Press Kit
Left to Right: Diana Lawrence, Alexandra Olsavsky, Kaitlin Foley
Photo by Joe Mazza
Artemisia Vocal Trio
Female-forward vocal trio Artemisia harnesses the power of the voice tell stories through the vocal traditions of the world.
FEATURING:
Diana Lawrence
Alexandra Olsavsky
Kaitlin Foley
"Recommended for: full-time wanderlusters
with eclectic tastes"
WFMT - 11 New Local Ensembles You Should Know
“sincerity, wit, and mind-blowing technique”
Vocal Arts Chicago
"celebrate the eternal feminine"
Robert McBride, All Classical Public Media
MEDIA
PERFORMANCE VIDEOS
High Resolution Photos(Click to Download)
CURRENT PROGRAM OFFERINGS
"Sounds Like Us" tells a timely story of female strength through the raw power of the female voice. In an engaging new staged performance, vocal trio Artemisia harnesses the color and contrast of the rich vocal traditions of the world to celebrate the strength of women.
Witness women across continents find strength and courage in unexpected ways: On the dusty plains of Kartli, Georgia, after a hard day's work in the sun; Gathered around the dinner table, in preparation for Hanukkah; In the ancient creation song of Cuban goddess of the sea, Yemayá; Through the wooing music of Croatia, newly claimed by female voices; From the Grand Ole Oprey's first female act, in a tongue-in-cheek act on female autonomy; Though defiant young women daring to ask important questions of themselves and of their communities.
Run Time: 65 minutes, no intermission
SOUNDS LIKE US
What happens when a woman finds her voice?
What happens when her strength is cultivated?
What happens when that story is sung?
Program
Mothers of Daughters - Diana Lawrence, Text by Signe Hammer
Tokhnuri - Traditional from Kartli, Georgia
Canto De Pilon - Traditional Venezuelan, Arr. Cristian Grases
Hazeremos Una Merenda/Quita’l Tas - Traditional Sephardic, Arr. Nell Snaidas
Yemayá Assessu - Traditional Yoruban
Queen of the Earth, Child of the Stars - Leela and Ellie Grace
Go to Sleep - Traditional American Folk, Arr. Alexandra Olsavsky
Kiowan Lullabye - Traditional Kiowan, Dorothy White Horse
Yome Yome - Traditional Yiddish, Arr. Viktor Ullmann
Whistle Daughter Whistle - Traditional English, Arr. Moira Smiley & VOCO
Mama Don’t Like My Man - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Arr. Kaitlin Foley
Suit and Tie/Puttin' On the Ritz - Justin Timberlake/Irving Berlin, Arr. Diana Lawrence
Mein Kleine Grüne Kaktus - Comedian Harmonists, Arr. Diana Lawrence
Agnus Dei - Traditional Corsican
Mala Moja - Traditional Croatian "Klapa" from Dalmatia
Bossa Cubana - Los Zafiros, Arr. Kaitlin Foley
Why I'm Grieving - The DeZurik Sisters (The Cackle Sisters), Arr. Kaitlin Foley
What Happens When a Woman? - Alexandra Olsavsky
MOTHERS
Step into the timeless, international and
universal world of motherhood.
Steeped in joy, fear, humor, anger, determination and transcendent love, the stories and voices of mothers too often go unheard. In this fully staged and immersive show, acclaimed vocal trio Artemisia paints a portrait of motherhood through the songs of women from all over the world.
Hear a breathless Appalachian exaltation at the birth of a young daughter, a playful First Nations lullaby about a jumping prairie dog, a mournful Lithuanian graveside song from an orphaned daughter, an admonishing Yiddish dialogue from an exasperated mother to a love-stuck teenage daughter, and a world premiere commission from celebrated Latvian composer, Kate Pukinskis.
Run Time: 65 minutes, no intermission
Program
Laula - Traditional Estonian, Arr. Lovian Liljeberg
Worthily Gabriel has announced to the Virgin - Traditional Georgian
Verbum caro factum est: Y le Virgen le dezia - Anon. from the Spanish/Iberian Peninsula
Queen of the Earth, Child of the Stars - Leela and Ellie Grace
Go to Sleep - Traditional American Folk, Arr. Alexandra Olsavsky
Kiowan Lullabye - Traditional Kiowan, Dorothy White Horse
Hazeremos Una Merenda/Quita’l Tas - Traditional Sephardic, Arr. Nell Snaidas
Mrs. Whitmore's Song - American Shape Note
Yome Yome - Traditional Yiddish, Arr. Viktor Ullmann
Whistle Daughter Whistle - Traditional English, Arr. Moira Smiley & VOCO
Mama Don’t Like My Man - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Arr. Kaitlin Foley
Es savai maminai - Traditional Latvian, Arr. Kate Pukinskis for Artemisia
Auga keime dagilelis - Traditional Curonian
Manhattan Kansas/Little Green - Susan Werner/Joni Mitchell, Arr. Diana Lawrence
Yemayá Assessu - Traditional Yoruban
Mom - Lena Machado, Arr. Diana Lawrence
Mrs. Galo - South African (Xhosa) Folk Song
Mothers of Daughters - Diana Lawrence, Text by Signe Hammer
SUIT AND Tie
Come asking, "Why women?"
Leave asking, "Why not?"
Suit up and join Artemisia on their latest adventure into the world of the masculine. Through passionate romance, heartbreak, hard laborious work, and grand public displays of virtuosity, experience the life and sounds of a traditionally male experience, as it could have existed when sung by female voices.
A physical, visceral, playful show, audiences enjoy a rich palate of often unheard music, including a body percussion tradition from Indonesia, Norwegian war cries, Corsican village chants, vaudeville hall entertainment from the Weimar Republic era, and everything in-between.
Run Time: 65 minutes, no intermission
Program
Let Your Hammer Ring - Ramsey and Retrieve State Farms, Texas, ~1951
Aralo - Traditional Georgian
Rolandskvatet - Traditional Norwegian, Arr. Trio Medieval
Sea Chanty Medley - Traditional, Arr. Alexandra Olsavsky
Moto Wayaka - Traditional Swahili
Tantsulaul (Dancing Song) - Labajalu from Estonia, arr. Vlejo Tormis
Clementine - Traditional American folk, arr. Alexandra Olsavsky
Saman - Traditional Indonesian Dance
Nos Autem - Gregorian Chant
Agnus Dei - Traditional Corsican
Mala Moja - Traditional Croatian "Klapa" from Dalmatia
Surfer Girl - Beach Boys, Arr. Reuben Ayres/Kaitlin Foley
Bossa Cubana - Los Zafiros, Arr. Kaitlin Foley
Sixty Minute Man - Billy Ward and His Dominoes, Arr. Diana Lawrence
Mein Kleine Grüne Kaktus - The Comedian Harmonists, Arr. Diana Lawrence
Stormy Weather - Golden Gate Quartet, Arr. Patty Cuyler
Suit and Tie/Putting on the Ritz - Justin Timberlake/Irving Berlin, Arr. Diana Lawrence
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
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"Artemisia’s workshop shares the significance of culture, history, and advocacy, encouraging students to find a deeper understanding of the power and importance of music. Alexandra, Diana, and Kaitlin each have strong command with middle school students, and were able to connect quickly, empowering a strong sense of self in the students they worked with! Our students are already applying the things they learned to other literature, continuously quote Artemisia, and have become stronger musicians and learners for it. I would highly recommend the workshop to all of my choral colleagues."
- Stephanie Bivins, Music Director at
Aspire Middle School
"I have invited Artemisia to workshop my choirs twice now. Each time has been a socially empowering and musically invigorating experience for all students involved. The women of Artemisia are inspiring role models for all young musicians who want to say something through their music!"
- Kate Lee, Director of Choirs at
Maine East High School
ABOUT
In addition to performing, Artemisia provides educational outreach to community and youth ensembles on subjects such as cultural literacy through singing, improvisational songwriting, and female empowerment.
Through exploration of full-bodied singing techniques, tone painting, active listening, aural teaching, non-Western musical exploration, and active improvisation, Artemisia is able to create curriculum specifically tailored to an ensembles interests. Work with Artemisia to finesse pre-existing repertoire, build songwriting skills and improvisational techniques, expand tonal range through the exploration the musical styles of Corsica and the Republic of Georgia, receive valuable insight into building a musical career post-college, and gain access to confident, embodied singing through empowerment training.
Kaitlin, Alex, and Diana are all experienced music educators with a collectively diverse background of teaching experiences. Kaitlin teaches choir, voice lessons, and music theory at The People’s Music School, directs adult community choir, Women of Note, and is the director and founder of the Rockefeller Children’s Choir. Alex provides after school musical programming and private lessons to elementary school age children through the Musical Chairs Studio. Diana works with incarcerated youth through Storycatchers Theater, where she facilitates songwriting and musical theatre development in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Centers. She is also a seasoned accompanist for the Chicago Children's Choir.
All three come from a background of classical music vocal production, and can provide technical vocal instruction with full authority.
