Fanstory Episode 3 - Danielle Rocks Classical Music in the USA
Danielle rocks classical music in the USA
Introduction
How small the world is! Danielle lives in the USA and travels between music genres. From singing to harp, everything is there! Danielle and I met on Instagram and talked a lot about music and the complexity of her experiences. Watch and hear Danielle singing Eleanor a Run below.
The fan story
How did you come up with The Dark Tenor?
I found out about The Dark Tenor in October 2014, around the time of the first album! I've always been interested in classical crossover music and there was a website I used to visit ( classical-crossover.co.uk ) to discover new artists. The Dark Tenor was the featured artist at the time and I admit I was a bit sceptical at first! The presentation was very interesting but also a bit scary - I didn't know what to expect. I gave it a chance though, and when I saw there was a collaboration with Yiruma (I'm a long time fan) I was really interested to find out more about Billy. When I heard the chorus of River Flows on the Edge I was hooked.
I found out about The Dark Tenor in October 2014, around the time of the first album! I've always been interested in classical crossover music and there was a website I used to visit ( classical-crossover.co.uk ) to discover new artists. The Dark Tenor was the featured artist at the time and I admit I was a bit sceptical at first! The presentation was very interesting but also a bit scary - I didn't know what to expect. I gave it a chance though, and when I saw there was a collaboration with Yiruma (I'm a long time fan) I was really interested to find out more about Billy. When I heard the chorus of River Flows on the Edge I was hooked.
How did you come into contact with classical music?
Classical music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. In fact, my mum told me she played Mozart when she was still pregnant with me - with headphones on her stomach! One of my earliest memories was me happily throwing blocks of wood around the living room to his Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in G major KV 525 (I can't guarantee I didn't break anything). Shortly after, I was introduced to Disney's Fantasia ; I remember trying to imitate the conductor! Fantasia was a bit of an eye-opener for me though - one thing I remember is, "it's storytelling with sound".
Classical music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. In fact, my mum told me she played Mozart when she was still pregnant with me - with headphones on her stomach! One of my earliest memories was me happily throwing blocks of wood around the living room to his Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in G major KV 525 (I can't guarantee I didn't break anything). Shortly after, I was introduced to Disney's Fantasia ; I remember trying to imitate the conductor! Fantasia was a bit of an eye-opener for me though - one thing I remember is, "it's storytelling with sound".
What is your favorite classical piece?
That's quite a long list! What immediately springs to mind, however, is Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, including his Firebird Suite. I also like Un Sospiro by Listz, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saëns, and The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Some modern composers I would like to mention are Ólafur Árnalds , Thomas Bergersen , Ludovico Einaudi , Nobuo Uematsu , and Jennifer Thomas.
What is the life of a classical rebel like?
I love it, and I wouldn't have it any other way! My introduction to classical music was instrumental in becoming the person I am today. It's a big reason I chose voice - I've been singing in choir since I was 10 - and I also started learning the harp! But despite my love of classical music, I also found it to be a bit restrictive, and dare I say, a little elitist. This is a little ironic to me, because a lot of what makes composers like Mozart and Beethovan so memorable was their willingness to push the musical boundaries of the time. I started drifting toward genres that allowed for more freedom and contrast while still maintaining the beautiful melodic lines I've come to love. My vocal pursuits took me into musical theater, jazz, contemporary, and even Celtic/folk. It's been a beautiful journey, and I've made many new friends along the way, both here in the U.S. and abroad! A very special shout out to the TDT community - they are by far the nicest and most welcoming fan group I have ever been a part of. I'm not sure what lies ahead for me, but I'm excited to see where the road takes me!
