I just checked my posts and WOW! I cannot believe it has been since November. These last few months really flew by. Here are some updates with what’s been going on in my life! In December I moved! Now that I’m all settled I’m back to sharing my music on “Music Share Monday”. Follow my facebook page to catch those weekly updates! Some of those videos are also going up on my youtube channel which is only viewable through my media section on this website 🙂 I am still in the midst of collaborating with my colleague Hannah Lambertz to … Continue reading February 2021!

I apologize for taking such a long break from my blog. I certainly intended to post more regularly but things have been very busy. Graduate Lecture Recital – Last post I announced that I would post my performance of “Luonnotar”. Sorry it has been a long wait but it is now available on me “media” page. 2. Music Share Monday – For the last month or two I have been posting on my Facebook page (Laura Libby McCall – Musician) a “Music Share Monday”. This ranges in arias I’ve sung before, new songs, art songs, musical theater, and last week … Continue reading November Update!

Thank you! Continue reading Participate in My First Poll Block

This COVID thing has really put a damper on the performing arts. I had 3 performances cancelled last Spring and it looks like performances I had been looking forward to for the Fall/Winter will also not be happening. It’s so heart breaking. However, I know I’ve always been shy about sharing my music and with everything going on, I’ve decide that I have far too many fun ideas to not share my music with the world (or.. my very small community at the very least). So, I’d like to take this opportunity to share my upcoming projects. I hope you … Continue reading Upcoming projects Fall 2020!

A few months back, my good friend Hannah and I watched the 2001 MTV movie, “Carmen: A Hip Hopera” starring Beyonce. It was such a fascinating train wreck. My favorite moment was when the character Blaze spells out his name in a song while what sounds like Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy is Mine” plays in the back ground. Here, just see for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgjeU6F1WvM The early 2000’s was a weird time of movie musical creations. The list includes, “Repo: A Genetic Opera”, “Phantom of the Opera”, and “Coyote Ugly”. Anyway, I realize I’m beginning to stray from the intent … Continue reading RoboCopera

In 1835, Finnish philologist (the study of language in oral and written historical sources) Elias Lönnrot (1802-1884) published the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala (the Land of Heroes). The first edition was not as well received as the second edition, which was released in 1849. The second edition is also referred to as “The New Kalevala”. The second edition or “New Kalevala” became the most used version and is the version used for study in Finnish schools.[1]  The Kalevala is a collection of stories based on authentic Finnish mythology and folklore texts sung by rune singers.[2] Rune singers did not … Continue reading The Kalevala

                Recognized as Finland’s greatest composer, Jean Sibelius’s compositions vary in symphonic works, concertos, string quartets, and art song. Sibelius composed over 100 art songs including works set to famous Swedish poets like Runeberg, Rydberg, and Fröding. Aside from Swedish repertoire, Sibelius also completed a song cycle in German. In addition to the vast array of his vocal compositions, today’s frequently performed Sibelius works include the Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47; Finlandia, Op. 26; Karelia Suites, Op. 1; and Symphony No. 5, Op. 82. Though he was fascinated with opera, Sibelius only composed one opera. He considered himself … Continue reading Jean Sibelius (1865-1857): Opera and the Kalevala

These past few months have been trying, for everyone. I’m not going to give a recap since we are constantly bombarded 24/7 with the horrors of this world. Still, something has been weighing on my heart and I wanted to share it. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. More importantly, we are called to love our neighbors as we want to be loved. I get it, we are terrible at loving ourselves, so how can we love others as ourselves? We have to love them better. We have to start loving ourselves better. I don’t mean going … Continue reading Pick up the phone

I promised you Wagner and I’m delivering. I did watch the first 2 of 4 operas in the Ring Cycle. I decided that if movie stars were also Wagnerian opera stars, Jason Momoa would have to be Wotan. You can fight me on this, but I will win. Go ahead and push some lushes locks over one of his eyes and you’ll see it too. As for the rest of the characters, I haven’t decided what movie stars would suitably meet Wagner’s dramatic demands. To my surprise, I did really enjoy Das Rheingold and Die Walkure. I’ve already decided I’m … Continue reading Jason Momoa as Wotan

Well, I turned in my last assignment of the semester yesterday. I’m not sure what I was thinking when I decided to take on 12 credits worth of coursework this semester, instruct an HNR 100 class, and be a GA for Opera Workshop, all while working my normal 40 hour a week job. I guess I was thinking, it’s time to be done, and I need the money. Years ago, my brother sat me down and had a conversation with me during a time I was struggling to balance my demanding schedule. I was working multiple part-time jobs and picking … Continue reading Finally, the beginning.