Rapid Fire With Season 22’s TCP Newbies
TCP’s New Singers of Season 22, Nada Marriott (bottom row, second from the left), Dane Bush (back row, third from the left)
Nada Marriott
How did you get started in choral singing?
I started when I was about 4 years old, singing in a church choir, singing solos as a child, and reciting poems. It went on to high school and college.
Were you a music major in college?
Yes. My major was in music education, piano as my major instrument, minor in organ with a concentration in voice and choral conducting. It was a 5-year program.
How did you hear about The Choral Project?
Even before I moved to California from Hawaii, I was looking online for some quality choral groups. I wanted to find a group that would challenge me. The Choral Project kept popping up in my Google searches, so I kept reading about it.
What made you decide to audition for The Choral Project?
I looked through The Choral Project's website, listened to recordings, looked for videos, and read more about it. Every time I went back to learn more, I was impressed over and over again. The quality of the voices and the high-performance levels of what I heard made me realize that I must do what I can to join this great group.
Then I read again about the audition process and seeing that it was a two-step process, and although daunting, I was totally convinced that this was the choir for which I must audition. I practiced every day, refreshing my voice, my sight-reading skills, and hoped for the best.
Were you nervous?
Yes, I was a bit nervous, but then I met Daniel (Hughes, Artistic Director) and he put me right at ease.
Was the audition what you expected?
Yes. I expected it to be at a higher level and a bit tougher than my past auditions. But at the same time, I felt it was a safe place.
What is your favorite thing about singing with TCP?
The quality of the musicianship. And Daniel's leadership and masterful directing style.
Has The Choral Project met your expectations?
Oh yeah!
What has been your most memorable moment thus far with The Choral Project?
The retreat.
What hobbies do you have, or what do you like to do when you're not singing?
A couple of years ago I picked up photography. I absolutely love composing great shots of people and close-up nature shots. And, I've yet again picked up crocheting.
What is a fun or interesting fact that others might not know about you?
I am an artist. I paint and sculpt 3-D flowers using paper. And I create bouquets, wall pieces, and single long stem renditions of real flowers that I find while photographing nature.
Dane Bush
How did you get started in choral singing?
At my high school, you could have one of four different lunch periods—A,B,C, or D—determined by which class you had during that block. Music students received the A lunch period. I had friends in orchestra and choir so I joined choir my senior year to ensure I too was in the A lunch period. So choir quickly became my passion and I joined the Carolers and even had a solo in the spring.
Were you a music major in college?
I studied physics in college but kept singing in the concert choir and chamber choir throughout. I later studied acoustics in graduate school, which incorporates music and sound into physics.
How did you hear about The Choral Project?
I did some online searching when I moved to the South Bay area.
What made you decide to audition for The Choral Project?
I talked to Daniel on the phone and he told me more about the quality and vision of the choir and I felt a connection with him.
Were you nervous? Was the audition what you expected?
The audition was fairly typical. I was somewhat nervous about the sight-reading since I hadn't been in a choir for four years at this point, but it wasn't so bad.
What is your favorite thing about singing with TCP?
My favorite thing about The Choral Project is how much we are able to accomplish in each and every rehearsal because Daniel has such a great ear and work ethic and leadership skills and musical expertise. It always feels like a good use of my and everyone else's time.
Has The Choral Project met your expectations?
I'd say it has exceeded my expectations! I was wary of joining such a large choir, but the singers have been very friendly and welcoming, especially the other tenors, and I feel I have been able to fit in and make a positive impact on our sound.
What has been your most memorable moment thus far with The Choral Project?
For me, singing my first countertenor solo with my mother in the audience at Mission Santa Clara, where I had previously heard Chanticleer perform, is pretty hard to beat.
What hobbies do you have, or what do you like to do when you're not singing?
For the last four years I have been doing graduate work at RPI in Albany, NY, where they don't have a strong music program. So I've dived deep into the world of ultimate frisbee. I still play ultimate frisbee now and I am also an avid home brewer.
What is a fun or interesting fact that others might not know about you?
My family lived in Scotland for three years when I was a wee bairn and I can still bring back the accent I acquired during that time.