A.P.E.X. Events: Marisa Michelson, Bringing Naamah's Ark to Life

Published: November 01, 2018 | Read Time: 2 minutes

APEX Event Series Speaker Marisa MichelsonA.P.E.X. Events presents the multi-award winning composer, singer, and arts collaborator, Marisa Michelson. This A.P.E.X. event is an arts discussion about Michelson’s creation of her oratorio, Naamah’s Ark and SUU’s invitation to present this work at the National Opera Association’s conference in Salt Lake City in January of 2019. Naamah’s Ark depicts the story of Noah’s Ark from his wife’s (Naamah) perspective. The collaboration for the January 4, 2019 conference event will include high school and middle school choirs with SUU students for a large ensemble to perform at the prestigious Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salk Lake City. The SUU A.P.E.X. Event will be a interview style discussion with a live musical performance from the work. This A.P.E.X. Event will take place in The Great Hall, on Nov. 8, and will begin at 11:30 AM. This event is free and open to the public.

Marisa Michelson is the founder of Constellation Choir, an immersion in voice, movement and spirit. She is also a sought-after voice teacher who works with singers of all levels and genres from beginners to Broadway stars. The New York Times have called her compositions “exquisite.” Her “sonic expressions, from ethereal sounds to primal screams, animalistic wails and simply breath” have been likened to “vocal innovators like Kate Bush, Bjork, Florence Welch and even Yoko Ono.” (StageBiz).

In 2014, Marisa collaborated with librettist Mark Campbell on The Other Room (Barrow Group Theatre, Inner Voices) which starred Phoebe Strole as Lena, a woman reflecting on her profound love for her friend Steve during the AIDS crisis in NYC in the 1990s. Marisa is currently developing a new musical with director/choreographer Chase Brock, and playwright Jillian Walker.

Naamah’s Ark, her oratorio written for five choirs/150+ singers which tells the story of “Noah’s Ark” from his wife’s point of view, headlined 2018’s River to River Festival and starred Tony Award Winner Victoria Clark in the title role.  Naamah’s Ark (libretto by Royce Vavrek) was originally commissioned by Ted Sperling for MasterVoices as part of their inaugural community outreach initiative providing an opportunity for a community to make music regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. The SUU performance on January 4, 2019 in Salt Lake City, will be the western premiere of Naamah’s Ark.  The performance will be repeated in Cedar City on January 12, 2019 on SUU’s campus.

 “Marisa Michelson’s musicianship, vision, and love of collaboration expresses the values and A.P.E.X. Events and SUU. We are thrilled to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

Tags: APEX

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