American Betis Live!
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Radha Singh, Chitra Singh & Bonnie Kirk
American Betis Bios
Radha Singh Singer/Arranger/Composer, was born into the world of theater. She began performing when she was 5 years old. She was a member of the Messenger Group. A music, poetry and drama organization in Guyana, studying diction and performance under her mother and teacher, Rajkumari Singh. She won first place in many national competitions for verse speaking and drama. An accomplished dancer, Radha studied Kathak and Ballet with her brother, Sri Gora Singh.
In New York, she continued dramatic studies at Herbert Berghof Studios, Sullivan Walker and Pace University. Radha went on to specialize in voice at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She studied under renowned vocal teachers, Andrew Frierson and Bonnie Kirk.
Though her musical emphasis has been on rhythm and blues, Radha infuses traditional Indian motifs into her music compositions, utilizing Indian drums and Vedic hymns with riveting Latin percussion and primordial sounds. Her recording, You're The One, was a hit at the Lincoln Center OUT-OF-DOORS Indo-Caribbean Festival of Music Dance in Damrosch Park.
Radha's recorded works were rated and reviewed by the DJ record pools across the U.S. She has performed live in popular New York clubs - CBGB's, China Club, SOB's, The Fez, Mega 95 FM Summer Concerts. As a solo singer and bandleader, she received rave reviews from Village Voice, Daily News, NY Times, Associate Press, and magazines as, India Abroad and mainstream, contemporary journals. Her theatre credits include: The Seagull, A View from the Bridge, Antigone, Karna & Kunti, Sullivan Walker's Caribbean Woman and Godspell. She also wrote original works and performed in Kitchrie 1998 – 2002, Kitchrie 03 drama, "Chaykay" marked her directorial debut. She received a composers' commission from the New York Council on the Arts for a collaborative, original sound score for a new work by Pritha Singh, Women of the Mahabharata and will be directing the upcoming production of Women of the Mahabharata. She served at the Rajkumari Cultural Center as drama coach, choreographer, music director, as we;; as, sound and lighting technician on festival, theater and concert Presentations.
In 2006-09, Radha conceptualized and spearheaded Art Interpreted - a collage of artistic expression! A weekly event showcased in New York forums, providing a space and giving opportunities for diverse, multi-disciplinary of artists to performed their original works. She recently performed in series of concerts with a Jazz and Blues ensemble in New York metro and Tri State, as well as producing and collaborating on a Vedic Chants CD wit Maya Tiwari. Radha is presently involved her studies in musical theater workshops and auditioning for center roles as well as collaborating on a CD of her original works.
In New York, she continued dramatic studies at Herbert Berghof Studios, Sullivan Walker and Pace University. Radha went on to specialize in voice at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She studied under renowned vocal teachers, Andrew Frierson and Bonnie Kirk.
Though her musical emphasis has been on rhythm and blues, Radha infuses traditional Indian motifs into her music compositions, utilizing Indian drums and Vedic hymns with riveting Latin percussion and primordial sounds. Her recording, You're The One, was a hit at the Lincoln Center OUT-OF-DOORS Indo-Caribbean Festival of Music Dance in Damrosch Park.
Radha's recorded works were rated and reviewed by the DJ record pools across the U.S. She has performed live in popular New York clubs - CBGB's, China Club, SOB's, The Fez, Mega 95 FM Summer Concerts. As a solo singer and bandleader, she received rave reviews from Village Voice, Daily News, NY Times, Associate Press, and magazines as, India Abroad and mainstream, contemporary journals. Her theatre credits include: The Seagull, A View from the Bridge, Antigone, Karna & Kunti, Sullivan Walker's Caribbean Woman and Godspell. She also wrote original works and performed in Kitchrie 1998 – 2002, Kitchrie 03 drama, "Chaykay" marked her directorial debut. She received a composers' commission from the New York Council on the Arts for a collaborative, original sound score for a new work by Pritha Singh, Women of the Mahabharata and will be directing the upcoming production of Women of the Mahabharata. She served at the Rajkumari Cultural Center as drama coach, choreographer, music director, as we;; as, sound and lighting technician on festival, theater and concert Presentations.
In 2006-09, Radha conceptualized and spearheaded Art Interpreted - a collage of artistic expression! A weekly event showcased in New York forums, providing a space and giving opportunities for diverse, multi-disciplinary of artists to performed their original works. She recently performed in series of concerts with a Jazz and Blues ensemble in New York metro and Tri State, as well as producing and collaborating on a Vedic Chants CD wit Maya Tiwari. Radha is presently involved her studies in musical theater workshops and auditioning for center roles as well as collaborating on a CD of her original works.
Chitra Singh "I began composing and playing guitar since I was 11 years old. and professionally at age 15 when I served in our National Service I formed and sang with the Military Choir. “Death in the Garden” original score lead vocal and acoustic guitar, with Congas.
I have performed in New City at Pace University in 1977 at the Kimmel Center celebrating the formation of the first Caribbean Students Association.” Queen of Hearts” original score Lead vocals and acoustic guitar. “Younger than You” original score, Lead vocals and acoustic guitar. “Sweet Inspirations” original score and lead vocals with acoustic guitar
I have composed music scores for "Musical, Dance-Drama" at La Mama Theater in 1989 “Death in the Garden” original score, Lead vocals and acoustic guitar. In 2006 have written and recorded a series of songs with Radha Singh “Save Our Planet” , “Run Child’ ,“ Heart’s Desire’ . I studied acting at Herbert Berghof Studios. I attended the Brooklyn Conservative of Music where I was taught by the best vocal maestro and I explored American Folk Music. I also studied dance Kathak. African Folk Dance and Indo-Caribbean Chutney Dance, I recently was a student at the Rajkumari Cultural Center in the Women's Gols (singing circle) where I learned to sing our ancestral life cycle songs of weddings, birth, and matikor these songs were sung in Hindi.
I am presently working with Radha Singh and Bonnie Kirk on American Betis immigrant experience
of the Indo Caribbean woman. We are using our ancestral music fused with our diverse cultural influences
to create the journey of our grandmothers from India to Guyana and my right of passage into womanhood and
my freedom to be in my new homeland to use my music and dance to sing our stories of struggles, and victories".
I have performed in New City at Pace University in 1977 at the Kimmel Center celebrating the formation of the first Caribbean Students Association.” Queen of Hearts” original score Lead vocals and acoustic guitar. “Younger than You” original score, Lead vocals and acoustic guitar. “Sweet Inspirations” original score and lead vocals with acoustic guitar
I have composed music scores for "Musical, Dance-Drama" at La Mama Theater in 1989 “Death in the Garden” original score, Lead vocals and acoustic guitar. In 2006 have written and recorded a series of songs with Radha Singh “Save Our Planet” , “Run Child’ ,“ Heart’s Desire’ . I studied acting at Herbert Berghof Studios. I attended the Brooklyn Conservative of Music where I was taught by the best vocal maestro and I explored American Folk Music. I also studied dance Kathak. African Folk Dance and Indo-Caribbean Chutney Dance, I recently was a student at the Rajkumari Cultural Center in the Women's Gols (singing circle) where I learned to sing our ancestral life cycle songs of weddings, birth, and matikor these songs were sung in Hindi.
I am presently working with Radha Singh and Bonnie Kirk on American Betis immigrant experience
of the Indo Caribbean woman. We are using our ancestral music fused with our diverse cultural influences
to create the journey of our grandmothers from India to Guyana and my right of passage into womanhood and
my freedom to be in my new homeland to use my music and dance to sing our stories of struggles, and victories".
Bonnie Kaye Kirk
“I believe that great singing is achieved by ‘getting out of the way’ both physically and emotionally. I hold that same philosophy to be true as educator and music therapist in all stages of human growth and development. It is my mission as a music therapist to give the tools and sense of joy in acquiring knowledge and skills, emotional and physical support for growth to those with whom I have the opportunity to guide.”
EDUCATION
2009 New York University, Master of Arts, Music Therapy Masters
1990 Arts-in-Education Summer Workshop, Seton Hall, New Jersey
1986 La Scuola per Stranieri, Florence, Italy, Italian Language Studies
1975-1977 University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, two years
studies towards a Master’s Degree Voice and Opera
1974-1975 Post Graduate Work in Languages at Marshall University/Language studies
1974 Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia, Bachelors in Music Education, Magna cum Laude
RESUME ARTS-IN-EDUCATION
2005-Present Music Therapist for HeartShare Pre-Schools
Dolly and Frank Russo, Sr. First Step Early Childhood Center, 118-01 101 Avenue, Richmond Hill,
New York and Matilda Cuomo First Step Early Childhood Center and the Brooklyn pre-school
Offering both classroom and one-on-one music therapy to children with disabilities
1997-Present Intergenerational and Highly Participatory Concert Program “OH, HOW I LOVE TO SING”
in conjunction with the Dorchester Senior Citizen Chorus, Brooklyn, New York
presented throughout the borough of Brooklyn’s Public Schools (P.S. 217, 139, 131, 172)
2001-Present Choral Director House of Jacob Senior Center, Brooklyn, New York
A weekly choral program designed to address the language needs of the new immigrant
Russian population in Brooklyn
2001-2005 Choral Director Sephardic Senior Center, Brooklyn, New York
Performance oriented Choral program designed for the “I always wanted to sing” senior population in Brooklyn. This program promotes wellness, enhancing memory, creativity,
openness to new ideas and raises self esteem for a population who may experience a
“handicap” as a result of the aging process
2002-2004 Developed and taught a 2 year pilot program Sound Creations, an interactive creative
writing program, specifically for visually impaired senior citizens at the Dorchester Senior
Citizen Center in Brooklyn.
1996 – 2001 Weekly 2-Hour Classes and Workshops in Music, Dance and Drama
Venues: Rajkumari Cultural Center (NYC, Kew Gardens), Union Congregational Church
(Richmond Hill), Arya Vedic Mandir, American Sevashram Sangha (Jamaica), Mahatma Gandhi
Satsangh (Hollis)
“I believe that great singing is achieved by ‘getting out of the way’ both physically and emotionally. I hold that same philosophy to be true as educator and music therapist in all stages of human growth and development. It is my mission as a music therapist to give the tools and sense of joy in acquiring knowledge and skills, emotional and physical support for growth to those with whom I have the opportunity to guide.”
EDUCATION
2009 New York University, Master of Arts, Music Therapy Masters
1990 Arts-in-Education Summer Workshop, Seton Hall, New Jersey
1986 La Scuola per Stranieri, Florence, Italy, Italian Language Studies
1975-1977 University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, two years
studies towards a Master’s Degree Voice and Opera
1974-1975 Post Graduate Work in Languages at Marshall University/Language studies
1974 Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia, Bachelors in Music Education, Magna cum Laude
RESUME ARTS-IN-EDUCATION
2005-Present Music Therapist for HeartShare Pre-Schools
Dolly and Frank Russo, Sr. First Step Early Childhood Center, 118-01 101 Avenue, Richmond Hill,
New York and Matilda Cuomo First Step Early Childhood Center and the Brooklyn pre-school
Offering both classroom and one-on-one music therapy to children with disabilities
1997-Present Intergenerational and Highly Participatory Concert Program “OH, HOW I LOVE TO SING”
in conjunction with the Dorchester Senior Citizen Chorus, Brooklyn, New York
presented throughout the borough of Brooklyn’s Public Schools (P.S. 217, 139, 131, 172)
2001-Present Choral Director House of Jacob Senior Center, Brooklyn, New York
A weekly choral program designed to address the language needs of the new immigrant
Russian population in Brooklyn
2001-2005 Choral Director Sephardic Senior Center, Brooklyn, New York
Performance oriented Choral program designed for the “I always wanted to sing” senior population in Brooklyn. This program promotes wellness, enhancing memory, creativity,
openness to new ideas and raises self esteem for a population who may experience a
“handicap” as a result of the aging process
2002-2004 Developed and taught a 2 year pilot program Sound Creations, an interactive creative
writing program, specifically for visually impaired senior citizens at the Dorchester Senior
Citizen Center in Brooklyn.
1996 – 2001 Weekly 2-Hour Classes and Workshops in Music, Dance and Drama
Venues: Rajkumari Cultural Center (NYC, Kew Gardens), Union Congregational Church
(Richmond Hill), Arya Vedic Mandir, American Sevashram Sangha (Jamaica), Mahatma Gandhi
Satsangh (Hollis)
The Rajkumari Cultural Center
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° Phone: 718.846.5431
° Website: http://rajkumari.weebly.com
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° Phone: 718.846.5431
° Website: http://rajkumari.weebly.com
° Join our page on Facebook
° Add us as a friend and follow us on twitter