Second City: Norfolk, VA - Chrysler Hall {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

Our next stop was Norfolk VA to sing in the Chrysler Hall. After two days in Chapel Hill, I was almost sad to leave. Then of course I remembered we had so many other cool places to go to.

We got to the hotel pretty early in the afternoon after a bit of a drive and the weather was just incredible. I don't think I ever got used to how deliciously warm the temperatures remained while we were out. We got to our rooms and still had some time to enjoy our surroundings. We were right on the water so a bunch of us went out back and pretended we were on vacation for like 5 minutes before it was time for soundcheck.

This time around when we got to the Chrysler Hall, we couldn't help but take pictures of the house. And some of us (read: me) thought it might be cool to have a photoshoot all the way downstage. So much fun!!

After another delicious dinner, we got ready for show 3. This was a great audience too and we got a great ovation from them. After the show, I was so wired from all the energy. I was starting to hear the piece in a much more different way than I ever had in rehearsal or even in the 2 previous shows.

Additionally, we found out that The Virginia Arts Festival had an after-party and invited us to it. This was the first of a few surprise events that occurred after the concert. I remember thinking to myself  "Wow really La Toya, all of the dresses that you have in your suitcase and you didn't think to bring one with you for after the show?!" But like everything, it was completely fine for us to hang out as we were. We all had on our Chorale Le Chateau hoodies so it was uniformed enough. The food was delicious and the wine was plentiful. We all got back on the tour buses and threw an impromptu dance party...on the bus, because, tour life.

When we got back to the gorgeous hotel, who was sitting on the couches in the lobby but the man himself! I was probably the last to know that Wynton is the coolest most approachable dude ever, so when I saw him there, I immediately thought of the most professional greeting to say so that, you know, I'd look professional when greeting him. I probably said "Good evening Mr. Maestro Marsalis sir" and courtesyed or tipped an invisible hat or something, who knows, seemed appropriate! I was so tired that night and thankful for the experience in Norfolk and was very ready to get to DC the next morning!

Photo credit: Frank Stewart

Here's a clip of us singing the Our Father that evening

Post by Wynton Marsalis.

This is my fav-or-ite show, because it is my show. {How to recital in NYC}

Can't believe my concert is a few days away!! So, this is the first solo recital that I've done in about 6 months and it's also the first time I've done a concert completely by myself. No guest artists, all La Toya, all the time. It's Saturday January 4th at 8pm sharp! Don't be late, I'm literally starting at 8pm and ending with enough time for us to have a reception, yaaaaa!

There's still time to get your tickets: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-toya-in-concert-tickets-9614237443 (unless you're reading this after January 4th 2014, then...OMG it was so awesome, you totally missed it!)

I started putting together concerts after I completely quit working day jobs last Fall. It was one of those, if you build it they will come moments. It was around October and after a well deserved vacation visiting my friend and her family for a week (Hi Angie!!) I realized I had nothing lined up for the Winter. I legitimately had nothing lined up AT ALL for the foreseeable future. While this would normally *freak out* the average opera singer, I'm not your average opera singer. I thought to myself, I know ALL this music...so why not do a recital. We had to do them in Undergrad and Grad and it's almost like second nature to me at this point.

I also had so many friends in town (ya know, since I'm from NYC) who were/are always asking me when they could hear me sing next. So it was almost like "duh La Toya, do shows".

I feel as though each time gets better, whether it's me picking the right space, the right repertoire, or just singing well. It's also giving me the experience all performers need to get up in front of a group of people to perfect their craft. No matter how much practicing you do in the practice room, nothing really compares to singing for an audience.

It's also really fun for me to be completely in charge of every aspect of planning and executing a concert. I'm the event coordinator, the marketing manager, the admin assistant, the social media manager, the media consultant/ad person, oh and I'm THE TALENT. While it can feel a little overwhelming in moments (however brief these moments may be), it's so gratifying to see something you've envisioned take shape and be a success.

Here's a clip from my February concert "Love Songs". After a tumultuous week of my lil bro in and out of the hospital (he's totally fine now), wrapping up at a temp gig, and finding out I was selected to be in the Abyssinian Mass Tour with Wynton Marsalis & having the first rehearsal within 24 hours of finding out (whaaa!?) I performed this entire recital on a FLAMING SORE THROAT. I even made an announcement about it because I was 87% certain my voice was going to fail before it was all over.

Dernier poème by Poulenc (La Toya Lewis) from La Toya Lewis on Vimeo.

To all the naysayers, I say, it IS possible to perform on your own dime in this town, you just have to have the patience and the gall to do things for yourself. And to all the hopefuls thinking about going on out a limb I say, if opportunity isn't knocking, build yourself a door. 

First City: Chapel Hill {Tour Life}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

Originally, when I went on my first tour this year, I wanted to write about each city and show you pictures of my food and all that. While I did eat and take pictures of everything, I didn't lift a finger to write down all my experiences.Well, while it's still fairly fresh in my mind, I'll write about as many cities as I can remember.

Our first stop was Chapel Hill. It was a pretty long bus ride that started out at 3am and we made quite a few stops. One of my most favorite was at Cracker Barrel somewhere in Virginia. Just about everyone who doesn't have a Cracker Barrel within reach of them is OBSESSED with it. I am no exception. Doning our super dope new hoodies with our names emblazoned on the back (thanks Damien ^_^), we descended upon the first of many Cracker Barrel oases.

Photo credit: Jorell Williams

It was all pretty much a blur after that because I recall getting to the hotel, remarking to myself (and everyone) how AMAZING it was that it was still so warm in October down there and then going to sleep.

Also, I didn't get very many pictures because I was so tired! AND I got a little sniffle over night, so for the first concert my voice was so shot! I was super bummed about getting a cold so soon but I also not bummed because, I'm on tour.


 I had never been to UNC Chapel Hill before, nor had I been on a college campus in a long time, so I was oddly (and tourist-ly) excited as we pulled up in our fancy tour bus, looking important. We got to sound check and there was a buzz of excitement. This was our first performance after all the rehearsals! Eventually, when we got to the performance spaces (as you'll see) we all spent an elaborate amount of time taking pictures of the house and of the band. But for now, here's a picture I "snuck" because I didn't want to be *that* person.

After sound check, we went to dinner (I didn't take pictures of the food because I still didn't want to be *that* person), and finally went backstage to get ready for show 1. It was so well received and exciting to finally sing this in front of a bunch of people. Tour was definitely off to a great start.

Here's a shot of us from the photographer Frank Stewart, I'm the fifth dot from the left on the top row. Teehee!

Photo credit: Frank Stewart

First Tour: T minus 3 days to go {a look back}

In October 2013, I went on my first National Tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. I sang the Abyssinian Mass written by Mr. Marsalis with Chorale Le Chateau led by Damien Sneed. 

I found out earlier this year that I was going on tour and didn't really mention it to the masses for months and months because I felt like I was dreaming! Showing up to Jazz at Lincoln Center at the stage door every few weeks and rehearsing a piece that the legend Wynton Marsalis wrote...I mean, how could this be real life? It was a question I'd be asking all year long.

I don't really know what I was expecting but whatever that was, it was BEYOND what I could imagine. Firstly, I was surrounded by greatness. From the conductor Damien Sneed to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and everyone in between, we had some of the best musicians around in that room with us. And every single person in that choir could sing their faces off and it really validated my place in that room. That I was among the best of the best and I was included in that best.

Photo credit: Candice Hoyes

Fast forward to the beginning of October, it was the first of 3 days of rehearsal where we'd be rehearsing the Mass with the band for 6 hours per day. During those 3 days, there were some very interesting guests. On my way to lunch that Monday, I'm the only person in the hallway getting on the elevator and WHO walks out of the Dizzy's Jazz Club with their entourage but Fantasia Barrino. I don't even get star struck by people but for some reason, I was with her. Maybe because we were both at work that day, in the same place, and I was thinking, maybe I shouldn't say anything. But then she said "Hay-llo" to ME in her signature raspy voice. HA! I'm actually a really big fan of her and voted for her every week when she was on Idol.

The 2nd day, Crosby, Stills & Nash randomly showed up to the rehearsal. I don't know why, surely they were performing somewhere themselves and just wanted to check out the production. No big deal I guess. But *I* was freaking out because I spent a year trying to figure out the name of this one classic rock song, but I could only think of this part "Do do do do do DOOT DOOT DO DO". And it was such a long frustrating year because when I typed that into a search bar, don't you know, google COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT I MEANT. Anyway long story short, it was "Judy Blue Eyes" by them and I felt closer to that band after someone finally told me and sent me their CD (Thanks Debi!!). Okay, so that's why it was important to me that they showed up. I wanted to yell to them "Hey!!! Do do do do do DOOT DOOT DO DO. You know what I mean?!?!" What a La Toya-centric coincidence! (I cued up a YouTube Vid of this song HERE just in case you have NO idea what I'm talking about)

Ron Raines!

And on the 3rd day, someone who looked like Ron Raines showed up. Only, it WAS Ron Raines. This sealed the deal for me because after my friend Lawrence Saint-Victor got a role on Guiding Light, I started watching the soap opera to support him. I very quickly became a mega-fan of the character Alan Spalding (played by Raines) and how tremendously exquisite his villainous portrayal was. Just supreme. I loved him. So on that 3rd day when Ron Raines showed up to rehearsal I really had to ask myself if this was real life.



And we hadn't even left for tour yet...!

Here's a clip of us singing from one of our rehearsals that week:

Post by Wynton Marsalis.

Christmas Eve {LIKE A BOSS}

I've had such a good, responsible week. How easy is it to be completely irresponsible when you don't have a 9 to 5 or roommates to hold you accountable for being an adult ammirite?! Is that just me??

I digress...this past Tuesday, I had my only church gig of the season (whaaaa?) and there was a bunch of music to learn for it. So I took Monday to carefully go over all my solos and start the arduous task of cleaning my house. I also intended on doing some last minute shopping but never got around to it. I ended the night with a late night viewing of Anchorman 2, which, for all intents and purposes was a good movie and served its sequel purposes.

On Christmas Eve, I JUMPED outta bed (read: rolled and/or slid outta bed) and made my last minute presents game plan. Go to Union Square and in one fell swoop, obtain all of my Christmas gifts (and some gifts for me too. Because, presents), and make it back home in time for some more practicing. I went to my favorite local hipster coffee joint, Daily Press Bed Stuy, and got a normal drip coffee. I haven't had caffeine in a while so it made me unnecessarily antsy, jittery, and all out impatient on my train ride. Note to self: slowly eliminate caffeine from diet.

I made it to Best Buy to get my little bro some headphones and made the grave mistake of standing in the "Tablet only" check out line. That line moved so slowly I almost set the place on fire with my GAZE. I mean, I wanted to shake the worker who told me it was okay to stand in that line.

Commence freak out!

Then I went to Burlington (nothing of note happened there, beside me wanting to buy myself presents) and finally Barnes and Noble. I called in advance to have the book held for me at the front so I didn't need to search. But, being the girl that I am, I looked around the entire store like I had never seen books before. I happened upon these gorgeously (newly) illustrated Harry Potter book covers and stood there (in the children's section) and took an incredible amount of pictures. I also started talking to myself. "WOW I can't believe that he decided to illustrate THAT PART!" and "Man, I should just read this entire series AGAIN!"


With all my extra time, I started thinking of other presents to buy my family and quickly decided that I should grab some lunch before I pass out. I walked by a juice store and because I do enjoy a juice or two but don't particularly enjoy making it myself, I went in. Apparently everyone knows about Liquiteria but me, so while I'd like to say this is some new find of mine, I'm just late to the party. They DID however give me two juices to try for FREE. Wheeee, I'll be back.

My phone battery died before I could take a picture of my lunch (like I do), but I can tell you that it was nothing to write home about, and I won't be going back to that Thai place. Bleh.

Fast forward to the Mass - I was able to record myself singing a bit and will probably try to throw that vid together some time this week. But here's a little snippet. It's He Shall Feed His Flock from Handel's Messiah. Hope everyone had a great holiday!

Weekend Roundup! {Dec. 20th - Dec. 22nd}

On Friday, I sang in my old high school friend's wedding at Riverside Church, and it was AMAZING. No hyperbole there, I'm serious. If I were thinking, I would've taken a photo from the stage point of view. All I got is this fantastic photo:

The last time I was here, I was probably an undergrad at Purchase College seeing Renee Fleming live for the first time. This was also my first time singing an Ave Maria with organ for a wedding! So unbeknownst to the lovely Athalie, this was a big moment for me! Congrats girl!

Photo credit: Christina Chatman

On Saturday, I caught up with some old friends at a Christmas Party and Sunday morning I had a delicious brunch (featuring Truffle Mac and Cheese for all my foodies in the house).

I finished up the weekend with a much needed Nature Walk in Prospect Park and a rehearsal for an upcoming Midnight Mass performance. Whew, that's a whole lot!! I'm looking forward to the week ahead. How was your weekend??

Blog post, the First {in which I introduce you to the blog}

Well, it's finally here! ::cues celebratory music and canned applause::

I've been thinking about blogging about my life for months now, wondering if people would read it or if they'd care. And I have discovered that I'm kind of interesting and maybe I should write about that?

This is a Lifestyle blog...and yes, I know, there are SO MANY of those out there now. Latest trends, who's dating who, which colors you should wear in December but not in April. I can (almost) promise you that this blog won't be that. That's why the by line is La Toya's Lifestyle Blog.

If you're here, it's because you're my friend or we know each other and haven't been able to keep up with each others' lives.What I can tell you is to expect the unexpected (mainly because I don't really know what this blog will turn into).

I do plan to write about anything and everything pertaining to my life! That includes, but is not limited to: all my thoughts, events, activities, and geeky obsessions (Harry Potter, LOST and why those should still be a thing etc.)

Because, let's be serious, who else is an opera singing, foodie,  Outer Space obsessed grammar enthusiast, musical theater loving, Super Mario playing, bookworm, Brooklyn native?

SO, welcome, and thanks for being my friend. Drop me a comment below to let me know you stopped by!