Paul Haas, music director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, uses words like "sultry," "smoky" and "fiery" to describe the performance he expects from "Arkansas modern legend" Genine LaTrice Perez on Saturday.
""This will be an evening of Valentine-inspired love music from the great American Songbook, played by the region's finest musicians," Haas says. "Perez's sultry stylings will complement the emotional romanticism of the orchestra we've all come to know and love."
FAQ
SoNA Valentines Pops
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville
COST — $28-$50
INFO — 443-5600 or sonamusic.org
Perez, who has been singing professionally since 2000 and calls jazz her "musical genre of choice," answered these questions for What's Up!
Q. What inspired you to start singing?
A. I come from a huge family of musicians and singers; we all love music. It didn't matter when or what we were doing, we would just sing! In fact, one evening while washing dishes, I was singing in the kitchen. At the time, I was 12. I didn't really sing solos or anything but had always sung in the church choir. Well, anyway, I was just a singing away. My mother came down stairs and heard me singing "Amazing Grace" and told me that from now on I was going to sing.
Q. Where and what was your first public performance?
A, It just so happened that I was preparing to go to a state pageant in Little Rock. For the local pageant I danced, but after my mother heard me signing, she said, "No, you will not dance; you will sing at the state competition."The Hal Jackson Talented Teen Pageant at the age of 12 was my first official public performance. There were over 30 girls in that pageant. There may have been more. All I knew is that it was the scariest moment ever, but I did it and I was third runner-up. I sang, "If You Believe," the same song that the good witch, Lena Horne, sang in the movie "The Wiz." It was great!
Q. How did you start working with kids?
A. I stopped one day to listen to what they were saying and was like, 'Wait a minute!' There's a whole world out there and you best believe you count! What you say counts! Way back when -- 1997 -- I started a program in Fort Smith with some other folks that gave young girls a different view of their community. After several conversations with younger girls in the neighborhood, I started on a journey to expose girls to four fundamental components: Character, service, education and culture. That program is still moving forward today. Later on I started working in youth-led tobacco prevention/youth leadership programs on a statewide level -- which meant more young people would have the opportunity to have a voice as it relates to their health and well being. Working with youth is my passion and my purpose. I want to make sure that young people have a voice, and the only way that is going to happen is to get in the trenches with them.
Q. What are the rewards and challenges of singing with an orchestra?
A. Let me answer by saying that my dream is to sing at Carnegie Hall to a sold-out show like Ms. Billie Holiday did in 1946. That would be amazing. To me, the reward of singing with an orchestra is that I will get to experience something that I've never done and something I've always dreamed of doing. On Saturday, this will be my Carnegie Hall. Now, the challenge is just like the dream: I am going to have to get up there and do what I need to do because unlike a four- or five-piece, I have a full orchestra, a conductor and an audience full of people depending on me to do the right thing. Wow, that gives me butterflies. I'm super excited and nervous all at the same time. WOW! This is going to be amazing. Rex Bell with Infrared Studios called me and said, "Genine, this is how it will go. You'll see the stage, you'll hear the music, and you'll say, 'Hey, I'm Genine,' and then you will sing." That's right! The reward: my dream. The challenge: making sure my dream goes smoothly and perfect for everyone -- because it is for everyone. I know that sounds mushy, but it's the truth!
Q. What will you be singing with SoNA?
A. Some really amazing songs from the American Songbook! You're just going to have to get there to find out. Ella Fitzgerald will most certainly be there in spirit.
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 02/05/2016