Photos Joanna McClure
Lauren Worsham, Soprano
The Brooklyn-based singer was our favorite part of the Brooklyn Philharmonic’s “Brooklyn Village” concert in March, as the soloist in Matthew Mehlan’s “Canvas.” She has also sung with New York City Opera and New York City Center Encores! This fall she sings new opera, Gershwin, and a little rock n’ roll.
What neighborhood do you live in?
I live in North Park Slope with my husband, writer-composer Kyle Jarrow. I love my ‘hood! There is little I enjoy more than a good meal, and we’re lucky to have some killer restaurants nearby: Franny’s, Miriam, Blue Sky Bakery, etc. However, we are three blocks away from the new Brooklyn Nets stadium and that makes us a little nervous. We’ll see how the neighborhood changes when it opens.
How long have you been in NY?
I moved to New York immediately after college, roughly six years ago. I came to the city because that’s where you go when you have big dreams of becoming a working actress/singer/performer. It’s only taken me six years to learn how not to starve.
What’s the best venue you’ve performed at in NY?
I have three favorites that also really encompass who I am as a performer. Carnegie Hall for classical music grandeur; Henry’s uptown for intimate cabaret performances; and The Rock Shop in Brooklyn for when I perform with my rock band Sky-Pony.
Where would you love to perform that you haven’t yet?
I’ve always really wanted to perform at BAM, as I can walk there from my house.
If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be? Dead?
I’ve had the great fortune to be able to work with so many amazingly talented and kind people. If I could collaborate with anyone in the city right this second, it’d have to be Steve Blier of the New York Festival of Song. Working with him is always a sheer joy, filled with love and wicked wisdom. The man is brilliant. If I could travel back in time, I would love to collaborate with Leonard Bernstein. His music is so achingly real and present. He clearly really understood writing for singers.
What’s next for you?
My rock band Sky-Pony will be performing at Joe’s Pub on August 19. You should come! We’ll also be premiering a concert-theater hybrid piece as part of the Play Company’s 2012/2013 season. In the fall, I’ll debut the new opera Dog Days by David Little and Royce Vavrek at Montclair Peak Performances. Then a lovely concert in October, Mr. Gershwin Goes to Washington, with NYFOS. Following that, I will be singing the role of Flora in New York City Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw at BAM in February 2013.
Very cool article, but maybe changing the title to 8 young “musicians” you should know, + one theater troupe and one playwright.
Using the term “artist” as a blanket term for anyone who makes anything more complex than a monkey wrench is both misleading and alienating to painters, typographers, sculptors, draftsmen etc. Yes, art is everywhere, and anyone can create art… but not everyone is an artist. As an illustrator and animator myself, I was expecting to see artists. Bit of a let down.
Cool none the less though
Nice piece! Though many of these artists are not “young.” It’s great to feature all of them but it drives me a bit batty the way that youth obsession works in arts media. I write this as a 44 year old who is often described as a “young artist.” I’m not. 44 is really not young. I feel the media wants to make its readership excited about something interesting and fresh, so we must then be perpetually young? It’s also a disservice to artists who are actually young – the 25 and unders who don’t get enough of the spotlight because those of us who’ve been working for 25 years keep getting ink as “the new young things.” It’s bonkers.
The near-absence of artists of color on this list is disturbing.
In response to the above comments, you should check out my artist interview series — A Random Moment With — they’re all not young but I do include a diverse group. It’s an ongoing series so check back weekly! http://abigailekuewrites.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Random%20Moment%20with