A Song for Everything

So as is pretty obvious this wonderful time of year can be pretty busy for singers and performers, there's Carols by Candlelights, carols services, Christmas concerts, Carolling, end of year dinners, weddings and the list goes on (many of which being the reason I have not written for a while :p)!! Having started learning or relearning Christmas music back in September the Christmas period for me is quite a long one but luckily I do love to sing the music and about the story.  This year I did a couple of other Christmas events apart from Soul Factor Gospel Choirs annual Christmas concerts but it was fun to play with the group Brass FX on November 18th for their Christmas concert and then to do the carols at Burnside with them also.  Soul Factor's Christmas concert this year was actually two on December 8th.  We set the hall out in a cabaret style with green and red tablecloths, bows and christmas lights and presented the entertainment while our audiences enjoyed nibbles and d

Today I am doing something new. I am teaching a session at the SA Occupational Therapy Combined State & Country Forum on how singing is good for wellbeing. Did you know this? I am sure all those friends out there who are singers and musical theatre performers know it and most people know how music is good for our wellbeing whether we are a musician or not.  What I found interesting is actually looking at it and putting the feelings and benefits into words. For as long as I can remember, I have loved to sing, when feeling down I would put on favourite music and sing along. Or when I felt the situation needed it, sing a soundtrack because just like in the movies, music does enhance a situation, and there is nothing like losing yourself singing at the top of your voice into your hairbrush while dancing like a lunatic......c'mon you can't deny it ;) So I have had to look at songs that make people happy and that are about happiness and wellbeing and how to showcase that to a

I know we try to deny it but Christmas is only 3 months away!! Isn't that crazy? It's always funny to start learning Christmas music in September but as a singer you have to start early :) which to me is fabulous because I love singing Christmas music, listening to Christmas music and shopping to Christmas music.  I know I might be a little Christmas crazy but apart from the amazing story of Christ's birth there is also the magic of that time of year. So some of my favourite Christmas carols/songs are: O Holy Night Angels we Have Heard on High Silent Night Gloria in Excelsius Deo White Christmas Ill be home for Christmas Chestnuts roasting What are yours?? I tend to like the songs that are about white christmas's which I have never experineced but am sure I will some day. Although there is something special about an aussie Christmas, hot weather, carols by candlelight, seafood, cricket..... Well this post is not meant to freak you out if you havent st

What a day was had on Saturday just gone (18th August for those playing at home!)! I had an absolute ball and just love when you are doing something that you love because you don't get tired but fully energised. Soul Factor put on their "Pure Imagination: Disney, Dreams & Destiny" Concerts to almost full houses and can I say how much fun it was to play Disney Princesses and characters all day. The music is such a pleasure and a delight to sing and I know that everyone there adult and child alike were wanting to join in. We sang songs from Aladdin, Willy Wonka, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and other songs from Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Wiz, The Prince of Egypt and I don't think that covers all of them! I personally played a version of Esmarelda (from Hunchback) I was the narrator but looked like Esmarelda, Little Mermaid and also The Lady of the Lake from Spamalot.  It reminded me how much I love singing and performing for

Well its been a little while, I have been singing here, singing there and rehearsing, lots of rehearsing!! I've been contemplating of late how privilidged I feel to be a singer and to share with others through music. The words we sing, the melodies, the way we share the story in our faces is a special way to connect emotionally. I have to say emotion is one of those things I have not been without this year as Im sure you are aware of and even in the last couple of weeks a new wave has been upon me. Not just sadness or pain but joy, happiness and assurance and its interesting how now when I sing certain songs I mean every word or suddenly I realise I have lived through that. It touches me afresh and although it can be painful singing what you know to be true in a way it heals, as talking about problems or issues brings healing.  Music connects with people on a deep level, add to that meaningful words and we as the singer are sharing a story of ours or others lives and thats a resp

My goodness I can not believe that it has been over a month since I posted anything, I do apologise but my life got just a little more crazy there for a while and so I was only doing what I had too! But I have had a fabulous month singing, travelling, meeting new people, making new decisions so it has been great. Highlights: On the 30th June - 1st July I was in Canberra with the staff Band which was great, well it was freezing actually but still the time we had was lovely. We were there to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru. A World War II Japanese ship carrying Australian Prisoners of War that was sunk by the Americans on July 1, 1942. 1000 Australians were killed including many Salvo Bandsmen and Conductor/Composer Arthur Gullidge. We did a concert on the Saturday night which was a great night of music and then on the Sunday was privileged to play at the unveiling of the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Monument at the Australian War Memorial. Over 10

Well we are already in June crazy! And that for me means a lot of travel singing in different places and for different reasons.  The weekend just past saw my sisters and I singing at the Melbourne Bands Together for Africa Concert. After an afternoon of recitals from four Victorian Salvation Army bands there was a finale concert which also included the Melbourne Staff Band and the Raymond Sisters. We were the non brass part of the evening doing two brackets and hopefully entertaining the crowd. The concert was well received as was our input and it was also lovely to catch up with some friends and relatives that evening. I travel to Sydney on Friday to be the Guest artist at the Sydney version of the concert. These concerts are raising money to build a primary school in Sierra Leone. The Sydney concert is just a concert containing a band made up of players from both NSW and QLD. Both the Melbourne and Sydney Concerts have been conducted by Special Guest Conductor Dr. Stephen Cobb from

Wow! What a fantastic night we had at the "You Can't Stop the Beat" Alex Raymond Tribute Concert on Saturday night with nearly 600 people. It was such a joyful concert celebrating Alex and he would have loved it! Soul Factor sang and danced their hearts out, they were fantastic! The school Hot House band both recent and old scholars were fabulous and it was so great to have them a part of the concert. It was also nice to sing with my sisters, a bracket of faves for our brother. But the night was truly his with 5 clips of him performing that were sensational. That is a memory I will have forever, you Al will be cherished forever and even now you are still inspiring and making us smile! Love you x

Well I haven't written for a while, sorry about that! I have been so busy with trying to do assignments, work, rehearse, sing, teach its been crazy!!! anyway so Mother's Day is this weekend. The day when we celebrate the wonderful women in our lives who do so much for us and loves us tremendously. So what are you doing for your Mum this year? Flowers? Chocolates? Promises you don't intend to keep? (line from Beauty & the Beast hehe!!) Spa Treatment? Lunch cooked by you? Movies? I'd love to hear some of your ideas. This year, as it will be a tough one, the first without Alex, we are all flying to Tassie to be with my sister and her husband away from home. It should be a lovely time and the first time Mum & Dad have seen my sisters house. (For Liv and I, its the 3rd time there in less than 6 months!) Of course, as we are there we, The Raymond Sisters, have been booked to sing at the Red Shield Festival Saturday at the Bellerive Boardwalk. We are doing a 30m

So I have been thinking about it and realised that for me this weekend is the final weekend in a non stop being away and singing a lot 7 weeks. I have to admit Im pretty tired and looking forward to next week being off but I do love it, its who I am. So tomorrow my sister Liv & I head off to Tassie (via Sydney, Liv's excited as we get to see the airport haha!) to be reunited with the other Raymond Sister as we are the special guest artists for Easter in Tasmania for the Salvos.  We have to sing at a couple of services and share with people over this most significant of weekends and celebrations.  It will be lovely to be back together and to also enjoy some relaxing time after a big couple of weeks for all of us. I hope that your Easter is a lovely one, full of family, friends, relaxing, chocolate and of course the most important, God's Love.  God sent his own son to die for our sins so that we might be free and live in his love. Do not forget what kind of sacrifice th

Well you may have wondered why I haven't blogged for a while and its because so much has been happening. Last weekend on March 11 2012 my beautiful 18 year old brother Alex passed away. He had been a passenger in a car accident on Friday 9th and due to his injuries passed away two days later.  Alex was a special treasure to me (him being 10 years younger) and we had a great relationship. Alex was funny, talented, outgoing, not afraid of what people thought about him, tender, caring, handsome, talented and loved the Lord. So often in his life I would be amazed at what this kid could do or say to/with people.  He loved his video games, pokemon, the farm he lived on, singing, barbershop quartets, his family, having a good joke, salt & vinegar chips. He was always a friend to those that didn't have one and was very purposeful in his relationships. He was always my encourager, even from an early age he would come out and encourage me to pursue my skills, ask me why I wasn'

Well I am having a very busy few weeks at the moment! What's your week like? Currently i am sitting at rehearsal in Melbourne after spending the weekend in Tassie with my sisters. It was a Holiday to visit my sister Lauren who was married new years eve & then moved to Tassie. It was lovely to see her & my new brother in law & stay in their home. As we were all there we were asked to sing at Clarence City Salvos (Brother in laws church he is pastor of). It was so nice to be back together blending and we look forward to being back there at Easter to sing at all the Easter meetings & we are also doing a cabaret on the Saturday night. So now i find myself back in Melbourne with the band rehearsing for this weekend at Ballarat! This month i am in Melbourne 4 times singing so big month but I am blessed & hope those listening feel that to. Have a great week! Bec x

As you might have gathered from the title of this blog my life is filled with songs, I do sometimes feel my life is a musical! It does make me think how I would like to write songs, I do think i could put the words together but its writing the music down that gets me. I suppose it hasn't stopped people in the past so I think this year I should give it a try. In fact, on Sunday my brother suggested we write a children's musical. Something our Sunday school kids can put on for their year anniversary weekend. So lookout over the coming months you might see some snippets of our work! Don't know what it'll be like but it should be fun haha!! Have a great week! Bec x P.s. I was sad to hear of the passing of Whitney Houston. She was an amazing talent & influence on so many of us performers. I pray comfort for her family at this time.

I don't know about you but there is something about singing a song for the first ever time, I mean a brand new song never heard before or a new arrangement of a song, that gives me a thrill.  This week a young composer from Sydney called me to ask whether I would sing a song he had written for his Grandma and her party this saturday.  I said that I would and reieved it yesterday.  It is a lovely song and I really like his work. It is great to see some new composers around.  Aaron Kenny is his name and he has written for many short films, performances and is starting to do musicals which attracts me also. I encourage you to check out his site: www.aaronkennymusic.com Hopefully I will do his song justice. Happy singing Bec x

Wow I can not believe how fast time is flying already near the end of January in 2012!! Happy New year, I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year's I know that my family and I were super busy but it was all lovely. Including my sister's wedding on New Year's Eve and now she is married and has moved to Tassie, which is great but I miss her already. New year's always make you think of starting afresh, a new start in my sister's case a new life and I am always hoping for something special in the new year to happen.  Have you made any new year's resolutions?? I am not a very good resolutions setter or even goal setter (which is practically what they are right?) but I did write some down so here's to actually doing some of them this year haha! So ok, I'll share a couple with you hmm..... Take dance lessons Make time to develop friendships Build my singing career As a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant build my customer base and move to Directorship Ex