Hawaii-based Art Song Contest Archive

Here’s a video from the September 2000 Art Song Contest Winners Recital held in Honolulu. ASC 2000  The performers include: Malia Ka’ai, soprano with Beebe Freitas or Richard Buddy Nalua’i, piano; Tara Hunt, soprano with Beebe Freitas, piano; Mary Chestnut, soprano with Phil Hidalgo or Beebe Freitas, piano; Jordan Shanahan, baritone with Beebe Freitas, piano; and Julianne Cross, soprano with Gloria Mendoza-Watson, piano.

The next video is from the September 2001 Art Song Contest Winners Recital also held in Honolulu.  ASC 2001 The performers include Heather Roberts, soprano with Eric Schank, piano; Kaweo Kanoho, tenor with Kayleen Yuda, piano; Phyllis Haines, soprano with Beebe Freitas, piano; and Debra Lynn, soprano with Celia Canty piano.

In an effort to advertise and brag about the first 10 years of the art song contest, I produced a recording but sadly have lost the original. Here’s what I’ve been able to locate. There are so many splendid recordings, but here they are in no particular order. Amy Healey, who was for several years my co-host on Great Songs, sings Barber’s “If thou wilt ease thine heart.” Beebe Freitas is the pianist.  Amy H. If thou wilt…

Next you’ll hear the world premier recording of Robert Wehrman’s “Indian Grave” sung by Cheryl Bartlett, with the composer at the piano.  Bartlett Indian Grave

The third recording is Sara Oppenheim-Beggs, who lived/taught on Maui, singing Hoiby’s “Filling Station.” Her pianist is Lotus Dancer. ASC Beggs Filling station

The fourth is Poulenc’s “Bleuet” which Larry Paxton entered in the very first art song contest, after telling me that it was a bad idea to mix professional and amateur singers. His pianist is, really: Dalton Baldwin!  Bleuet Paxton

The fifth singer is Buz Tennant, who performs Ravel’s “Chanson a boire” which he studied with Martial Singher, who sang the world premier of the Don Quijote cycle. His pianist is Eric Schank.  Chanson a boire Tennant

Carol Chin with Beebe Freitas performs Purcell’s “Music for a while.”  Chin Music for a while

After that you can hear the very short song, “Daises” by Barber sung by Lisa Paulson with Ruth Murata-Eisen, piano.  Daisys Paulsen

Then the Lotte Lehmann Foundation’s first commission for CyberSing: “I never knew” which you’ll hear Amber Naramore sing with pianist Lotos Walker.  I never knew Naramore

The local singer who went on to the most world fame is Quinn Kelsey. By a stroke of luck I have the recording that he first sent to enter the Art Song Contest. It was a cassette and you’ll hear moments when the tape has stretched, but it’s a well-sung performance of Schubert’s “Die Taubenpost” with Beebe Freitas playing piano.   Quinn Taubenpost The next recording is from his Art Song Contest Winners Recital: Fauré’s “Lydia.”   Quinn Kelsey Lydia The last Quinn Kelsey song, I believe also from that same recital with Beebe, is Faure’s “Toujours.”  Toujours Q. Kelsey

The other baritone who’s gone on to fame and fortune (at this point, Summer of 2017, singing with the Basl Oper) is Jordan Shanahan. You can hear him sing and act in the video I produced call “Three American Art Songs.” From his Art Song Contest Winners Recital you’ll hear him with Beebe performing “Mistress Mine.”  O mistress mine Shanahan

Leighanna Edwards with pianist Ruth Murata performs Lori Laitman’s “Over the Fence.”  Over the fence Edwards

Finally, a tenor! Kawika McGuire sings Bellini’s “Malinconia.” Beebe is his pianist.  Malinconia Kawika McG

Margaret Simpson, soprano with Beebe, performs Hahn’s “Paysage” with just the right amount of sound is able to capture the essence of this mélodie.  Paysage Simpson

Schubert’s “Nacht und Träume” is a challenge for any singer/pianist but Stephanie Shade and Beebe have a real success here.  Shade Nacht und Träume

One of the tenors who really had a success on his Winners Recital was Jim Price. His hit was “When I think upon the Maidens” by Michael Head. Beebe was his pianist.  When I think… Price

Soprano Phyllis Haines with Beebe performed the very demanding Schubert “Du bist die Ruh.”  Haines Du bist die Ruh