Category: Press

Press Posts regarding performances and appearances.

Last Days of Summer and ALL THE UPDATES

I can safely say becoming a bio mom has been the most intense adventure of my life and further helped me discover many things about myself

marybethorrLeave a comment

Greetings Friends! 

I can safely say becoming a bio mom has been the most intense adventure of my life and further helped me discover many things about myself…for instance… what I can accomplish with no sleep, how happy I can be, how far I can push my mental and emotional fortitude, and what I can accomplish with absolutely no time! Among my new discoveries….

The amount of things I can do 1 handed…. you would be surprised. How much I can do in the shortest of time windows, how fast I can eat, how much food I can spill on my child eating with my left hand while breast feeding at the same time…. 

And in some good news, Mr. Kallum has grown 2.5 inches to be 21.5 inches in length and now almost 8lbs. Pediatrician is thrilled! And so are we. 

Some career highlights over this summer! 

I got to be a guest on a dear friends’ podcast SMART WOMEN TALK, with Katana Abbott (one of the most powerful women I know!) 

Our conversation was about finding your voice and we went in depth with some of the challenges I’ve overcome to stay true to mine, and staying focused amidst loss to continue sharing it. Still so honored she thought I was interesting enough to feature!

Next surprise of the summer was a last minute opportunity to be a part of a documentary by Zachary Rumley called A Redux Rennaissance, that focuses on the juxtaposition of dynamic range recording vs. modern industry radio standards. I got to record my original folk song “Good and True” with Greg Scheer on guitar. I still can’t believe I managed to do this barely 6 weeks post partum! I wrote the extra horn parts with baby Kallum strapped to me and in 15 minute intervals because I still had to keep him moving to keep him happy! But we did it and have an incredible recording coming SOON! 

Below is a little pic of me and Kallum (my practice buddy) on a work break!

Next up is my first summer on Beaver Island with the Baroque on Beaver Music Festival! To quote a friend that was on the island last week…. “It was hotter than Satan’s Scrotum”. 

It was…. but so was the music! Incredible people, artists, and new relationships. Dave, Ingrid, and Sandy…. you were an extra unexpected delight and so happy to know you! (Sometimes an audience member becomes family…..in this case… it’s 3!)

Big shoutout to the musicians on the island. Ya’ll are first class!

Below are some highlight moments. My husband and I snagged a much needed date with our little man at the Beaver Island Lodge… so beautiful.

As we approach the end of a far too short summer, and make plans for the GRSymphony season in September, I am happy to share Hope College has invited me to be their adjunct horn instructor. I am excited to flex my teaching muscles at the college level again and definitely looking forward to some artistic collaborative projects with the talented Hope faculty! 

Big thank you to my dad for coming with me to help with Kallum as I did the audition and interview so I could keep him on his feeding schedule!

Last but not least…. THE ALBUM! 

I am ecstatic to be including a photo of my inital donation to IJM from the amazing support you gave during the crowdfund in Arpil. I am still in talks with their NYC office on a future creative project which I will absolutely share when it’s time! I can’t wait to use more of my art to make a difference that unites and liberates. 

But first things first….I have to get “The Singing Horn” finished, edited, and submitted to PARMA by mid September for release IN MARCH! AAAAAHHHHH! 

It’s crunch time and still short $1000 to make it happen but I am in my powerful warrior mom mode and hustling for corporate sponsorship to get to the finish line. Please share to any businesses or individuals that may want to join the team! I am planning a killer album release party and all supporters get to be there! 

Click To Donate

Thank YOU for all of your support and encouragement during this insane process, and even more so now that Kallum is born and thriving. Should I have done everything I’ve done this summer… and during the pregnancy? PROBABLY NOT. But my next year around the sun… maybe I will get better at not saying yes to absolutely everything! Until September……

Be Well Dear Friends! 

Thank you!

THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
With your help… We raised a total of $6,715.79! Once fees have been processed I will be able to utilize $6,245.60 towards the donation and album expenses. I will be so excited to write that $624.56 check to IJM!

marybethorrLeave a comment

THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
With your help… We raised a total of $6,715.79! Once fees have been processed I will be able to utilize $6,245.60 towards the donation and album expenses. I will be so excited to write that $624.56 check to IJM!

While I didn’t completely reach my goal, I am not disappointed by any means! This is my first time doing anything like this and was stumbling around in the dark trying to follow the books I read, the advice I received, and work through my own fear and discomfort. What I got in return was so much love and support!
The good news is, because of you I am much closer to my goal! I have made deeper relationships to philanthropy through IJM and am so motivated to keep going.

Also… because of THEFIELD.ORG, I will be able to still take donations on a rolling basis. They are my fiscal sponsor and can allow tax deductible donations towards my project at any time.

So if you missed your window or this wasn’t an accessible time, if that changes, you can still become a part of this project when it is right for you!

Updated Donation LINK

I am committed to IJM’s mission and my relationship with them. Regardless of the campaign closing, I will still be maintaining a 10% donation of all funds raised gifted to their organization. Thank you amazing donors!
Christopher Houlihan
Brian Buerkle
Khoa Nguyen
Lee Stohr
Lydia Lowery Busler
Sarah and Erich Peterson
Debra Miesel
Rita Alley
Joe & Jen Radtke
mark and katana abbott
Jason/Suzy Bratton
Jason Pintar
David Stevens
Anthony Bryant
Heather Thomson
Thomas Paterniti
Garland Daniel
Garland Daniel
Melissa Danas
lisa Honeycutt
Emily Ruiz
Beth Gazella
Ellen Sherman
Judith Kemph
Michael Morrow
Annette Thornton
Steven Cohen
Kimberly Jeffers
Kris Saad
Alexandra Mascolo-David
Christina West
Michael Saunders

Karl Pituch
JEAN-PIERRE VIAL
Mitch Boucher
Laura Krech
Kristi Crago
Corinne Judd
Julia MacDonell
Jim Kleinheksel
Victoria Krick
Maria Rohr
Elizabeth Derbin
Megan Crawford
Neil Mueller
Brian Carter
Bob and Nora Bernhardt
Lee Etner
Danielle Sullivan
Robert Voisey
Bob Lindahl
Heather Perkins LeBlanc
Meghan Althouse
Cheryl Wojcik
Frank Berno Timm
SUSAN MUTTER
Jan Malmo
John Varineau
Beth Colpean
Patrick and Mary Kuras
Martha Bowman
Billy Orr
Andrew Dodson
Rick & Chandy Britsch
Nathan & Tricia Ruffer

Now on to BABY MODE! Finish the season, get the nursery finished, push out a baby boy… I may have a snack and and a nap first!

The next time you hear from me will be the best news… Baby pics!
Until then I leave you with a spotify link to someone that I adore. She makes me feel like I’m back with my granny listening to her stories. If you want a taste of what that was like… take a listen to her mountain music album, and album of amazing family stories “Come Go With Me”. It is part of my inspiration for this album.

Sheila kay adams

All My love and Gratitude,
Mary Beth

French Horn Folk Tales ~ Thank You!!!!!

marybethorrLeave a comment
A  HUGE Thank You to all the promotional partners spreading the word!!!!!!!!
Recent Press/ Promotion for “French Horn Folk Tales” Thank you City Pulse, Lansing State Journal, Fox 47 !!!!!!
Link to city pulse : http://lansingcitypulse.com/article-15581-An-unusual-blend.html
Link to Lansing State Journal: (link expired)
ARTS AND CULTURE
Nov. 16 2017 11:26 AM

An unusual blend

French Horn Folk Tales blends a variety of genres

BY SHRUTI SARIPALLI


Grand Rapids Symphony veteran Mary Beth Orr will be performing a fusion project along with three other distinguished artists on Nov. 21 at the Cook Recital Hall. The program fuses two unlikely genres of Appalachian folk and classical music, with Orr singing and also performing solo French horn.“Often times, folk music is considered porch music and colloquial, but classical has this elitist stereotype of being formal and stiff,” said Orr. “Despite the differences, people will see that both these genres complement each other”.Orr grew up in Charleston, North Carolina, with a strong folk music background and has also been playing classical piano since the age of 7. She crafted the program bringing these genres together that incorporate some of the traditional Appalachian melodies of her childhood.“These genres are not as far apart as we thought they are; in fact, they segue into classical works that absolutely and directly complement each other, with again, the sole purpose of disproving this perceived notion they are unrelated,” said Orr.This feat of innovation was made possible by the Chris Clark Fellowship Grant she just received from the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. This grant also allows her to shoot her recital.“I can use the high-quality footage from this program for opportunities in the future which was made possible through this grant,” she said.

Another feature of the show are the lighting effects, which will be used to move the story along. “I am utilizing a commercial element by performing this show in a continuous staged format with story-boarded lighting,” said Orr.

The story of the show will be portrayed through individual songs which Orr said she was compelled to share. Each of the tunes come from a deep place.

“I hope the songs will tell the story, and I want the audience to feel like they are a part of the journey,” said Orr.

The songs are mostly about lost love, death and new life, but Orr said that she wants to set the mood and get the audience to visualize the Appalachian Mountains.

“The opening mood is very majestic, and then it goes into comforting, which will hopefully make the audience nostalgic and then it gets adventurous, towards the end.”

The program includes a unique chamber piece talking about past love and an interesting song by artist Storm Large called, “Stand Up for Me” which talks about love from love’s perspective.

“The last song featured in the program is a pop song, which I think are the modern-day folk songs,” said Orr.

Through the variety of melodies she learned on her grandmother’s porch, combined with the classics she trained in, Orr said that she wants to show how connected people can be through art.

“I have spent my entire life being inspired by two completely different worlds. Traditional Appalachian Folk and Classical/ Orchestral. In a world so divided, mostly based on misguided perceptions, I wanted to fuse these two genres to show, through art, how connected we really are.”

Currently, she is third horn for the Grand Rapids Symphony as well as pursuing a master of music in horn performance at Michigan State University as a Distinguished Fellow.

After winning second prize in the professional division at the International Horn Competition of America in 2013, she started exploring artistic opportunities as a soloist. This paid off, when she placed second in the Horn Division of the 2014 International Women’s Brass Conference Solo Competition. She also holds faculty positions with both the Charleston Horn Institute, and the Tucson Summer Brass Workshop as the Hornist for the resident quintet, Variance Brass.

The other artists performing include a freelance violinist, tenor and artist in residence at Central Michigan University, Takeshi Abo. His playing has been praised by critics as “angelic” and “breathtakingly beautiful.” He regularly performs throughout the United States and Japan, with recent appearances as soloist in concertos by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Brahms.

Tenor William Watson will join the artists, too. He has been teaching voice for over 20 years, including 11 years at Northern Illinois University. He created the role of President Van Buren in the world premiere of the opera, “Amistad” at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Mina Son will contribute her talents as well. From Joliet, Illinois, she graduated with her professional studies degree in collaborative piano from the Cleveland Institute of Music, earned her masters of music degree from Central Michigan University and her bachelor of music degree from Illinois State University. She is currently a staff pianist at Central Michigan University, as well as the organist at Sacred Heart Church.

With such distinguished artists on board, Orr hopes that people will appreciate this unique blend of sounds from two distinct genres not usually seen together.

French Horn Folk Tales French Horn Folk Tales Tuesday, Nov. 21 6 p.m. FREE Cook Recital Hall 333 W. Circle Drive East Lansing (517) 290-0877

 

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