Thank you to everyone who came and supported my local shows this month. It was seriously fun to organize and get back to performing on a regular basis. More to come soon!
Now that the month is nearly over, and the final show was last night, it's time for me to spend a day doing NOTHING. Maybe even the rest of the weekend. The day started out busy: I had several students, went to serve as a judge for the NAACP ACT-SO Competition (at Acts Full Baptist Church), ran several errands, and am about to sit down with my late lunch and do NOTHING. Maybe I'll watch something on TV (90 minutes is about the extent of my TV watching tolerance), read a book, write a poem, write a song, take a nap, or just sit outside in my yard taking in the beautiful sunshine we have today.
Tomorrow, I'm going to a yoga retreat with one of my BFFs, and then...who knows? I'm going to leave the day open and not schedule anything. What a gift to have that kind of freedom.
Back to work on Monday though. I do have a CD to finish.
Love to you all!
xoxo
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
One more April show: Fundraise for OPC
Hello friends,
I have one more performance this month. I'll be performing with my trio (Daniel Parenti - bass, Tommie Bradford - drums), and have a few very special guests (Amy Levine - keys, Kymberly Jackson - flue, Kevin Wong - sax, Nelly Ake - vocals) joining me for this event. There will also be a performance by students who attend OPC - so you'll get to meet the students who will benefit from your generosity.
I'll be performing all of the songs from my Grateful EP (available for purchase at the show!) as well as some new original compositions. If you purchase a copy of my Grateful EP and make a donation to the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, I'll give you a FREE download card of my Grateful EP. Let's raise a large sum for this worthy organization!
Friday, April 26
8pm Music SHE Wrote: Featuring Victoria Theodore
Fundraiser for OPC - proceeds to support OPC's youth programs
1616 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94602
510.836.4649
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
Please check out my web site to see a full, up-to-date listing of when and where I'm performing. I'd love to see you at one of my performances. Please come say hello! Also, if you feel so inspired, please take a moment and leave a *positive* review for me on YELP:
And on Facebook:
Victoria Theodore
And on Reverb Nation:
I hope to see you soon!
Pianist / Vocalist
Music, art, education, prosperity, well-being, compassion, gratitude, peace, joy and love!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
My TEDxBerkeley Experience
I woke up yesterday morning at 5:50am...but didn't get out bed until 6:20am, which meant I had about an hour to shower, get dressed, packed my performance outfit, makeup, shoes, etc., feed the dogs, have breakfast and get in the car to go to the UC Berkeley campus. I drove past Zellerbach Hall, happened to turn left onto the first accessible street so that I could pull over and find the email message with parking instructions. Turns out, I'd pulled up directly across from the designated parking lot - on the opposite side of the street, but in the minutes before making that realization, a long line of cars had queued to the end of the block, trying to get into the same lot. As I maneuvered to get myself into the line, I saw the parking attendant waving people away, saying "this lot is full". Undaunted, I drove up and told him that I was one of the performers for TEDx. He looked back at his fellow parking attendant and she yelled back "there's one more space". How's that for serendipity? And thus began my first TEDx day.
I've been a fan of TED Talks for many years. My first experience was watching the beautiful and highly emotional 2007 talk by Randy Pausch about achieving your childhood dreams (if you haven't seen it, you MUST watch: Randy Pausch). This wasn't technically a TED Talk, but I saw it on TED.com and was hooked from that point forward. I've since watched dozens (if not 100) TED Talks and was absolutely honored when I received an email message inviting me to participate in the TEDxBerkeley 2013 event.
The TEDxBerkeley 2013 topic was Catalyzing Change. I decided to allow the invitation to perform to serve as the catalyst to change my experience from writer's block into inspired composition. I created a new solo piano work as a reaction to being invited to perform! The new piece is entitled "Catalyst" as a result.
I was asked to be at Zellerbach at 8am for sound check, although my performance wasn't until 3:30pm. Knowing this, I'd been going to bed super early (read: 10-11pm) all week, and was not worried about fatigue. Thanks to being there pretty much all day, I was able to meet, listen to and enjoy the camaraderie with most of my fellow speakers. I was utterly impressed by everyone involved, and their topics: the $60 tablet computer (Kim Polese), the sun saluter (Eden Full), the Beyonce tribute (Golden Overtones), Foodiness (Erica Wides), the underground economy (Robert Neuwirth), Flamenco dance (Yaelisa), the brain and gender (Louann Brizendine), dark matter (Alex Filippenko), following one's heart (Cecily Sommers), Drone robotics (Chris Anderson) and glove lightshow dancing (Ambience)! I'm sure I would have enjoyed Curt Tofteland, Mallika Chopra, Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, Dan Millman (the Oberlin connection!) and Ananya Roy, but I wasn't able to see their talks. I even enjoyed my own performance!
At 2:30pm, I left the auditorium to prepare myself for going onstage. Once dressed, I went to the piano room (located in the basement) to warm up. At 3:20, I was told that the schedule was running 10 minutes late. So, I sat and waited. And waited. And waited.
Finally, I was given the cue to walk onstage. I looked at the crowd of 1,500 people, bowed and sat at the piano. It always amazes me how at ease I feel in front of a crowd. As a recovering perfectionist, I always want to perform with perfect accuracy, technical brilliance and flawless memory. But, I also want to create an intimate connection with the listener. In order to do that, I find that I must release any attachment to being perfect. If I play a wrong note, if my voice cracks, so be it, but make sure that I feel every note and mean every word; have eye contact whenever possible; convey the spirit in which I composed the work. Somehow, these intentions obviate any fear or doubt. I felt that my performance was good - not perfect, but good. So be it. I'll only get better... I'll provide a link once I have one.
After the talks, I went to the reception, spoke to dozens of people, including the fellow speakers, met some really interesting people and experienced the kind of euphoria that comes when interacting with exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful people. Definitely my kind of party! The feeling continued at dinner after the reception. The speakers and team all gathered for dinner at the Bancroft Hotel. I sat at a table with several of the TEDxBerkeley organizers, Dan Millman and our personal guests. I left that evening feeling inspired, not only by my fellow speakers, but also by the brilliant young students who curated, organized and successfully pulled off this year's event. The students are all brilliant, thoughtful, aware, kind, etc. I can't praise them all highly enough. I understand why the adult co-curators repeatedly donate their time and energy to work with young adults like these.
Thank you again, to everyone involved with TEDxBerkeley, for an AWESOME day!
@kmgong,@rjenbarr,@magicsaucemedia, @weblogtheworld, @eringroberts33, @GoldenOvertones, @edenfull, @letsgetrealshow, @RobertNeuwirth, @yaelisa1111, @drlouann, @mallikachopra, @pwdan, @AnanyaRoy_Cal, @Alex_Filippenko, @cecilysommer, @chr1sa
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| The piano |
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| My badge |
The TEDxBerkeley 2013 topic was Catalyzing Change. I decided to allow the invitation to perform to serve as the catalyst to change my experience from writer's block into inspired composition. I created a new solo piano work as a reaction to being invited to perform! The new piece is entitled "Catalyst" as a result.
I was asked to be at Zellerbach at 8am for sound check, although my performance wasn't until 3:30pm. Knowing this, I'd been going to bed super early (read: 10-11pm) all week, and was not worried about fatigue. Thanks to being there pretty much all day, I was able to meet, listen to and enjoy the camaraderie with most of my fellow speakers. I was utterly impressed by everyone involved, and their topics: the $60 tablet computer (Kim Polese), the sun saluter (Eden Full), the Beyonce tribute (Golden Overtones), Foodiness (Erica Wides), the underground economy (Robert Neuwirth), Flamenco dance (Yaelisa), the brain and gender (Louann Brizendine), dark matter (Alex Filippenko), following one's heart (Cecily Sommers), Drone robotics (Chris Anderson) and glove lightshow dancing (Ambience)! I'm sure I would have enjoyed Curt Tofteland, Mallika Chopra, Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, Dan Millman (the Oberlin connection!) and Ananya Roy, but I wasn't able to see their talks. I even enjoyed my own performance!
At 2:30pm, I left the auditorium to prepare myself for going onstage. Once dressed, I went to the piano room (located in the basement) to warm up. At 3:20, I was told that the schedule was running 10 minutes late. So, I sat and waited. And waited. And waited.
Finally, I was given the cue to walk onstage. I looked at the crowd of 1,500 people, bowed and sat at the piano. It always amazes me how at ease I feel in front of a crowd. As a recovering perfectionist, I always want to perform with perfect accuracy, technical brilliance and flawless memory. But, I also want to create an intimate connection with the listener. In order to do that, I find that I must release any attachment to being perfect. If I play a wrong note, if my voice cracks, so be it, but make sure that I feel every note and mean every word; have eye contact whenever possible; convey the spirit in which I composed the work. Somehow, these intentions obviate any fear or doubt. I felt that my performance was good - not perfect, but good. So be it. I'll only get better... I'll provide a link once I have one.
After the talks, I went to the reception, spoke to dozens of people, including the fellow speakers, met some really interesting people and experienced the kind of euphoria that comes when interacting with exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful people. Definitely my kind of party! The feeling continued at dinner after the reception. The speakers and team all gathered for dinner at the Bancroft Hotel. I sat at a table with several of the TEDxBerkeley organizers, Dan Millman and our personal guests. I left that evening feeling inspired, not only by my fellow speakers, but also by the brilliant young students who curated, organized and successfully pulled off this year's event. The students are all brilliant, thoughtful, aware, kind, etc. I can't praise them all highly enough. I understand why the adult co-curators repeatedly donate their time and energy to work with young adults like these.
Thank you again, to everyone involved with TEDxBerkeley, for an AWESOME day!
@kmgong,@rjenbarr,@magicsaucemedia, @weblogtheworld, @eringroberts33, @GoldenOvertones, @edenfull, @letsgetrealshow, @RobertNeuwirth, @yaelisa1111, @drlouann, @mallikachopra, @pwdan, @AnanyaRoy_Cal, @Alex_Filippenko, @cecilysommer, @chr1sa
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
TEDxBerkeley this weekend!
I'm performing on Saturday for the TEDx Berkeley event being held April 20, 2013 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley! For those who don't about about TED and TEDx events, check out the websites: TED.com and TEDxBerkeley.com
TED is an organization that works under the concept of "ideas worth spreading". It's a gathering of great minds, tackling the challenges of humanity, searching for answers, solutions, creating a vision for a better planet, advancing human potential, etc. And they invited me to perform!
I've created a new composition for solo piano specifically for this event and will also perform one of the songs from my "Grateful EP". This will be an amazing day and I hope that you will attend!
Saturday, April 20
10am - 5pm
TEDxBerkeley: "Catalyzing Change"
U. C. Berkeley Campus (near the corner of Bancroft & Telegraph)
2200 University Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tickets: $100 General Admission, $30 CAL Student/Faculty/Staff (with ID)
Greg Bridges interviewed me on KPFA, focusing on the Music SHE Wrote concert. Check it out! Transitions On Traditions. My interview starts right at minute 12:00.
Friday, April 26
8pm Music SHE Wrote: Featuring Victoria Theodore Fundraiser for OPC - proceeds to support OPC's youth programs
1616 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94602
510.836.4649
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sistahs in Sound
Tonight, I performed as a duo with my long time friend, flautist, Kymberly Jackson, the Pied Piper of the Bay. We performed a 90+ minute set consisting of jazz standards, R&B cover tunes and original compositions, including a song from my Grateful EP, "All I Need". It was a fun night, and we had a good sized, enthusiastic, fun loving crowd!
It was yet another example of how blessed I am; how one way or another, I end up having all that I need. I usually only teach partial days when I have a gig, but today, I taught my full Saturday schedule. So, by an hour before showtime, my brain running on fumes! Thanks to the kindness of my wonderful friends, the mistakes that I made due to fatigued brain function tonight were overcome!
Thank you to my Mother for being my #1 fan, helper and running buddy!
Thank you Awele for helping in so many ways! You are awesome and saved the day! Thanks to Val too!
Amy & Brad, what would I do without y'all?? Thank you, Amy for saving me from YET another air-head based near disaster, and thanks Brad for helping mom and HANDLING the business.
KJ, thanks for having the vision for tonight's show and making it happen! It's always fun to share the stage with you, and tonight was no exception.
Thank you, Joyce, for hosting the show in your beautiful gallery. Thanks to everyone for your support: James, Krista, Ron E., Ron S. M., Skipper, Marc, Crystal, Ouida, Jeffrey, Val, and everyone else who came to hear us perform. Until next time...xo
It was yet another example of how blessed I am; how one way or another, I end up having all that I need. I usually only teach partial days when I have a gig, but today, I taught my full Saturday schedule. So, by an hour before showtime, my brain running on fumes! Thanks to the kindness of my wonderful friends, the mistakes that I made due to fatigued brain function tonight were overcome!
Thank you to my Mother for being my #1 fan, helper and running buddy!
Thank you Awele for helping in so many ways! You are awesome and saved the day! Thanks to Val too!
Amy & Brad, what would I do without y'all?? Thank you, Amy for saving me from YET another air-head based near disaster, and thanks Brad for helping mom and HANDLING the business.
KJ, thanks for having the vision for tonight's show and making it happen! It's always fun to share the stage with you, and tonight was no exception.
Thank you, Joyce, for hosting the show in your beautiful gallery. Thanks to everyone for your support: James, Krista, Ron E., Ron S. M., Skipper, Marc, Crystal, Ouida, Jeffrey, Val, and everyone else who came to hear us perform. Until next time...xo
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Yoga in the garden!
I try to practice yoga every morning. Doing yoga is a calming way to begin the day, great exercise and a healthy practice, but on the mornings I don't make it to class, I usually do my own routine at home in my office.
I don't get direct sunlight in my office until the late afternoon, so in the mornings, it's a bit chilly in there. This morning, it happened to be especially beautiful and already warm, so I decided to grab my yoga mat and head outdoors into my yard. I laid the mat on the concrete, facing away from the sun and towards my roses, and my apple and cherry trees, all coming into blossom. It was BEAUTIFUL! I do believe that this will be my practice from now, at least on warm, sunny days!
I'm truly grateful to have a beautiful home, with space to offer praise through moving meditation. Namaste...
I don't get direct sunlight in my office until the late afternoon, so in the mornings, it's a bit chilly in there. This morning, it happened to be especially beautiful and already warm, so I decided to grab my yoga mat and head outdoors into my yard. I laid the mat on the concrete, facing away from the sun and towards my roses, and my apple and cherry trees, all coming into blossom. It was BEAUTIFUL! I do believe that this will be my practice from now, at least on warm, sunny days!
I'm truly grateful to have a beautiful home, with space to offer praise through moving meditation. Namaste...
Monday, April 08, 2013
And let the gigs begin!
So....it's been a while since I've done my own shows. I finished my EP, and had my release concert/celebration, and then...um...(head hangs with a sigh)...I just haven't gotten it together to start booking gigs. (commence busy musician whining) It's sooo hard to be an artist, with all the practicing, rehearsing, composing, arranging, second-guessing, rewriting, working on music for other people's gigs, teaching, lesson preparation, blah blah blah, AND I have to do the administrative work, booking, following up, accounting, creating and printing and disseminating fliers, promotions, interviews, etc. etc. etc.
But things are changing! I'm learning to delegate and to let people help me. I've got some real angels in my life, and for that I am truly grateful.
There are several shows coming this month. The first is with my friend Kymberly Jackson, this Saturday night in Oakland!
Saturday, April 13 7:30pm Sistah's in Sound
The Joyce Gordon Gallery
406 – 14th Street Oakland, CA 94612 510-465-8928 $15 advance tickets$20 at the door
Also, check out this new article by Shelley MacKay, all about me!
"Grateful" SF Times
And don't forget about these shows:
Saturday, April 20
10am - 5pm
TEDxBerkeley: "Catalyzing Change"
Zellerbach Hall
U. C. Berkeley Campus (near the corner of Bancroft & Telegraph)
2200 University Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tickets: $100 General Admission, $30 CAL Student/Faculty/Staff (with ID)
Friday, April 26
But things are changing! I'm learning to delegate and to let people help me. I've got some real angels in my life, and for that I am truly grateful.
There are several shows coming this month. The first is with my friend Kymberly Jackson, this Saturday night in Oakland!
Saturday, April 13 7:30pm Sistah's in Sound
The Joyce Gordon Gallery
406 – 14th Street Oakland, CA 94612 510-465-8928 $15 advance tickets$20 at the door
Also, check out this new article by Shelley MacKay, all about me!
"Grateful" SF Times
And don't forget about these shows:
Saturday, April 20
10am - 5pm
TEDxBerkeley: "Catalyzing Change"
Zellerbach Hall
U. C. Berkeley Campus (near the corner of Bancroft & Telegraph)
2200 University Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tickets: $100 General Admission, $30 CAL Student/Faculty/Staff (with ID)
Friday, April 26
8pm
Music SHE Wrote:
Featuring Victoria Theodore
Fundraiser for OPC - proceeds to support OPC's youth programs
Oakland Public Conservatory of Music
1616 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94602
510.836.4649
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
Oakland Public Conservatory of Music
1616 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94602
510.836.4649
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Theodore at TEDx!
"If ever there were a spring day so perfect, so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze, that it made you want to throw, open all the windows in the house..."
– Billy Collins, "Today"
Today was another beautiful day in Northern California. The Billy Collins poem perfectly sums up the kind of day it was. I opened the door to my garden and basked in the gentle breeze...until it was time to get back to work! I've got a couple of shows coming in April that I'm preparing for.
I'm excited to announce that I was invited to perform for the TEDx Berkeley event being held April 20, 2013 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley! For those who don't about about TED and TEDx events, check out the websites: TED.com and TEDxBerkeley.com
TED is an organization that works under the concept of "ideas worth spreading". It's a gathering of great minds, tackling the challenges of humanity, searching for answers, solutions, creating a vision for a better planet, advancing human potential, etc. And they invited me to perform! Yay! (For those who didn't get the pun in the blog title, "Ted" is a nickname for "Theodore", my surname...). Well, this particular "Ted" aims to be Victorious! (Ok...no more puns...lol)
Saturday, April 20
10am - 5pm
TEDxBerkeley: "Catalyzing Change"
Zellerbach Hall
U. C. Berkeley Campus (near the corner of Bancroft & Telegraph)
2200 University Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tickets: $100 General Admission, $30 CAL Student/Faculty/Staff (with ID)
I've created a new composition for solo piano specifically for this event and will also perform one of the songs from my "Grateful EP". This will be an amazing day and I hope that you will attend!
I also have a performance with my Sistah-friend, Kymberly Jackson, AKA the Pied Piper of the East Bay. We've performed together around the Bay Area for years, but this time we'll be a duo! We'll be playing music from both of our catalogs and some special cover tunes. You won't want to miss this show either!
Saturday, April 13
7:30pm
Sistah's in Sound
The Joyce Gordon Gallery
406 – 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
510-465-8928
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
Featuring Victoria Theodore
Fundraiser for OPC - proceeds to support OPC's youth programs
Oakland Public Conservatory of Music
1616 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94602
510.836.4649
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
– Billy Collins, "Today"
Today was another beautiful day in Northern California. The Billy Collins poem perfectly sums up the kind of day it was. I opened the door to my garden and basked in the gentle breeze...until it was time to get back to work! I've got a couple of shows coming in April that I'm preparing for.
I'm excited to announce that I was invited to perform for the TEDx Berkeley event being held April 20, 2013 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley! For those who don't about about TED and TEDx events, check out the websites: TED.com and TEDxBerkeley.com
TED is an organization that works under the concept of "ideas worth spreading". It's a gathering of great minds, tackling the challenges of humanity, searching for answers, solutions, creating a vision for a better planet, advancing human potential, etc. And they invited me to perform! Yay! (For those who didn't get the pun in the blog title, "Ted" is a nickname for "Theodore", my surname...). Well, this particular "Ted" aims to be Victorious! (Ok...no more puns...lol)
Saturday, April 20
10am - 5pm
TEDxBerkeley: "Catalyzing Change"
Zellerbach Hall
U. C. Berkeley Campus (near the corner of Bancroft & Telegraph)
2200 University Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720
Tickets: $100 General Admission, $30 CAL Student/Faculty/Staff (with ID)
I've created a new composition for solo piano specifically for this event and will also perform one of the songs from my "Grateful EP". This will be an amazing day and I hope that you will attend!
I also have a performance with my Sistah-friend, Kymberly Jackson, AKA the Pied Piper of the East Bay. We've performed together around the Bay Area for years, but this time we'll be a duo! We'll be playing music from both of our catalogs and some special cover tunes. You won't want to miss this show either!
Saturday, April 13
7:30pm
Sistah's in Sound
The Joyce Gordon Gallery
406 – 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
510-465-8928
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
Friday, April 26
8pm
Music SHE Wrote:Featuring Victoria Theodore
Oakland Public Conservatory of Music
1616 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94602
510.836.4649
$15 advance tickets, $20 at the door
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