March 10, 2020
Inspired by Sojourner Truth
Performed by Chelsea Symphony Orchestra with vocalists Bonita Oliver and Onome
Conductor: Matt Aubin
1. THANK YOU! Truth Unto the People
THANK YOU for celebrating and commemorating International Women’s Day with us this weekend at Rise Up: Songs of Hope! It was an honor to be involved in bring Sojourner Truth to the forefront as a pioneer of women’s rights, and bring the composition Truth Unto the People to life.
2. THANK YOU! Open Sing (Spring Forward Edition)
To think, we were this close to cancelling this event due to the viral outbreak and state of emergency response that was set in motion in New York on Sunday morning. The good news is, despite the media fear-mongering, a dozen enthusiastic participants gathered to connect and create and raise the collective vibration of the planet, one note at a time. And the energy was THROUGH the ROOF! THANK YOU ALL for bringing your excitement and courage and risk-taking to the Open Sing!
3. POSTPONED: In.Verse
Unfortunately, this has been turning into a week in which “cancel culture” is taking on a whole new meaning. I know many people who are working from home this week, events being cancelled, schools being closed, in-person events turning into online events, and so on. As such, many of us in the arts events world are monitoring the situation closely to ensure that we share these temporarily suspended / postponed experiences with you in perfect divine timing.
That said, the Moving Star concert In.Verse that was scheduled for this weekend will be postponed until a later date in April, May, and / or June. I will keep you posted about new dates.
4. MODIFIED – Ecstatic Voyage: a Vocal Intensive
So rather than cancel this event, I’ve decided to modify it into an even more in-depth, intimately focused experience.
Sunday, April 5
Noon – 6pm
Location: the Powerhouse
Limited to 7 participants.
$75 for Lush Tongue clients who have worked with me one-on-one
$90 Early Bird Special for the Lush Tongue community – Register by March 21
$125 for the Lush Tongue community, starting on March 22
Register Here – Ecstatic Voyage: a Vocal Intensive
Advance registration required. Specific location details will be given to you upon registration. This event will be held in my home, the Powerhouse, in a beautiful and conveniently located tree-lined area of Brooklyn, right near the 4 train Crown Heights-Utica stop. There will be water, tea and individually wrapped snacks, and I recommend that you bring your own lunch.
This experiential workshop is based on vocal improvisation with breath, touch, movement and relational exercises to explore and deepen the inner and inter-personal capacities of your voice in mind, body, soul. Perfect for vocalists seeking creative inspiration, performers, sound healers, music therapists, and vocal improv enthusiasts.
5. Booking Inquiries
Some of you have been inquiring about booking me for your events. Thank you! You can always inquire at lushtongue@gmail.com.
6. Vocal Coaching
Your literal voice serves as a powerful portal for your symbolic voice in the world. Would you like to feel more grounded and confident in the dynamic capacities of your voice? Invest in a session with me. Clients leave my sessions feeling revitalized, inspired, more in touch with themselves, and a deeper understanding of what their voices can do. Here is more of what you all have to say about my courses and coaching. Thanks for your feedback! Email me at lushtongue@gmail.com to book a coaching session, or for a free 15 minute exploratory phone consultation.
7. Lush Tongue Merch
Thanks to those who have purchased an item! You can support my platform by purchasing t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, tote bags, and more. Click the link below to get your Lush Tongue merch.
Who is Onome? Onome is a vocalist and interdisciplinary sound artist of Urhobo heritage in the Niger Delta. She incorporates improvisation into her practice as a tool to expand consciousness, creativity, and personal development. Through her audience-interactive performances, workshops and sound installations, Onome embodies joy, enchantment, and infinite possibility. She is an artist-in-residence at Carnegie Hall as a core member of the vocal improvisation lab and ensemble, Moving Star.
She has performed sound poetry at hundreds of venues nationally, recorded soundscapes for podcasts, and created vocal film scores. She received her MFA in Performance Studies at Pratt Institute. She is the artistic director for Lush Tongue, a project that encompasses improvisation based on a repertoire of songs by women composers, sound healing, singing immersions, workshops, vocal coaching, retreats, and concerts. She facilitates community vocal immersions at concert halls, conferences, galleries, museums, schools, cultural centers, shelters, prisons, parks, churches, wherever voices gather.
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Love and gratitude,
Onome