Juilliard-trained singer's passion is Celtic music
Early on, for example, if Hildebrandt thought about appearing at Carnegie Hall, it would have been as a classical pianist. Never would she have thought she'd be there, billed as a Celtic singer, putting together an improv opera with 20 other singers from 20 different genres, under the direction of Bobby McFerrin.
But that's exactly what happened.
Hildebrandt came to music at a young age — starting piano lessons at age 3. She had every intention of being a classical pianist, until about halfway through her studies at Juilliard when she discovered that her true passion was traditional Irish music.
And that's when her musical journey changed directions.
She studied ear training and taught it at Juilliard for five years, but she also began playing on the New York folk music circuit as well. She began doing choral arrangements for her Manhattan LDS ward choir. She taught herself to play the Celtic harp and the Irish fiddle. She got into jazz.
Now living in Sandy and a single mother of two sons, she has continued to teach, to produce inspirational music and to explore new directions.
It was a five-day workshop for singers of varying vocal styles — including everything from Brazilian jazz, French pop, South American folk, Sufi, Beatbox, Afro-Latin blues, Jewish/Middle Eastern, Western opera and Irish — that culminated in an opera based on the story of the Tower of Babel.
"It was a lot of fun," Hildebrandt says. "Bobby is an amazingly talented person. And it was fun to see how he evolved as he worked with us. At first he just told us what to do, but in the end he got to know each of our strengths and used them."
The strengths she brought to the project, she says, were harmony, the ability to sustain the long tones. "They said my voice was like the dawn."
But what was exciting, she says, is that "the music was totally different every time. I never had an 'Irish part.' I just had to fit myself into what was going on, weave the melody around the other sounds. It was challenging at first, but it was a satisfying and growing experience."
Hildebrandt will be going back to the Carnegie to participate in a different institute in the fall. "This will be a teaching program, developing teaching concerts in three different musical styles — Indian, Irish and classical music — for first- and second-graders."
It will involve a lot of sing-alongs, dances, hand motions. "One of the most important connections you can have with music," she says, "is to have fun." That's important for kids to learn. Music is also an exciting way to "give them a greater view of the world, an appreciation of different cultures."
Recent comments
It's on the corner of State and North Temple in SLC.
Anonymous | July 7, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
And where is Brigham Young Historic Park? The article should certainly...
Interested in attending but | July 6, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.
