For the season finale of the voice I had the distinct privilege of backing Celine Dion and The Voice finalist Tessanne. Needless to say, it was especially unique and exciting to be singing with a living legend in an intense and energetic performance. Celine instructed us to give it our all and really pushed the choir to give the performance that extra oomph. We had a blast!
Today I joined composers Nick Phoenix and Thomas Bergersen as a part of their choir at Disney Concert Hall for their first live concert. Their music is most recognizable from blockbuster movie trailers and their company “Two Steps From Hell” has such a loyal following that just a few measures into a song and the crowd would go wild. It was great to see the audience really fired up. The music was really intense, I got to belt out the first soprano high notes in my “out door voice”… ha! That gives me a thrill like none other. Since singing the music, I now recognize it in trailers or commercials. What a great gig. Not only do I get paid to do what I love, I get to hang out with 59 of my fellow studio singer friends while I do it.
I recently spoke with a reporter for the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. They put out an article covering the upcoming Christmas concert I’ll be performing in at Real Life Church December 14th and 15th.
“This production is filled with people at the top of their game…All the performers have such serving hearts,” Donnelly said. “They are humble professionals that want to give their best and want to be used to give a gift back to the community.”
Real Life Church’s annual Christmas concert will be held Dec. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. at the church on 23841 Newhall Ranch Road.
I really had no idea I would enjoy doing live concerts as much as I do. It’s kind of a new thing for me to do solo concerts and I’m really liking it. There’s a certain energy like none other. Here’s a clip of “Joy to the World/Go Tell it” from the Christmas concert I put on for South Coast Christian Assembly in San Juan Capistrano. It’s a rough and raw clip, but it’ll give you an idea of how much fun we had.
One of my most cherished memories was being hired to sing in a group to back up Barbara Streisand as part of a fundraiser for President Clinton. Barbara Streisand was very down to earth at the rehearsals and President Clinton was incredibly kind, greeting us with hugs and even a box of chocolates for each of us with a sticker of the presidential seal on it. (Which I’m pretty sure is the only box of chocolates given to me that I haven’t torn into and eaten!) Heading home from the event I received a text from a friend: “Did I just see you hug the president of the United States on the news right now????” So surreal to text back “Yes!”
It’s always a thrill to be able to sing with Pete Jacob and his 16 piece big band ‘Wartime Radio Review’. There’s nothing like singing tight Andrew Sister harmonies to a kickin’ band. Check out one of the numbers we do, “A Tisket a Tasket”.
Check out the Wartime Radio Review site here.
Monique Donnelly 