Marisa Rawlins-Bradfield, Visual & Performing Arts Chair

faculty profile:

mArisA rAwlins-BrAdfield

Marisa Rawlins-Bradfield is a Los Angeles native who has been teaching voice and choral directing for over fourteen years. From an early age, Marisa has had the opportunity to sing for radio, television, and feature films, along with performing with some of the most prestigious choral ensembles in the United States. Ms. Rawlins-Bradfield is currently the Department Chair of the Performing Arts Dept. and Choral Music Director at Providence High School (Providence High Arts), where she has worked for eight years. Along with her teaching, Marisa is the Artistic Director of the Los Angeles All-Diocese Queen of Angels Honor Choir and serves as the Vice President of the Southern California Vocal Association Vocal Solo Competition. Ms. Rawlins-Bradfield is the Music Director at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Granada Hills where she conducts the adult and children’s choir.

As a vocal coach, Marisa has had the pleasure of working with professional recording artists, conservatory music program students, and individuals who love to sing as a hobby. Marisa’s students have appeared on the Disney Channel, ABC, FOX, Lifetime, along with notable performances at the Hollywood Bowl, the Luckman Performing Arts Center, The Broad Stage, the Aratani Japan American Theater, the Ford Amphitheater, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and the House of Blues. Marisa enjoys coaching students on audition preparation, and they have had successful acceptances to the University of Southern California, Berklee College of Music, University of California, Santa Barbara, Chapman University, Renaissance Arts Academy, Providence High School, the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, & Colburn School of Music. Marisa has toured internationally and has sung in concert halls in the United States, Canada, Wales, England, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. Marisa received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis from California State University, Northridge where she studied with Paul Smith and received her Master of Arts degree in Music Education and Teaching Credential from the University of Southern California, where she was the recipient of the USC Flora L. Thornton School of Music 2009 Honors Convocation, D ’Addario Foundation Achievement Award.

As A young child, were you musicAlly inclined? did you PArticiPAte in your high school’s choir or theAtre Arts ProgrAm?

I’ve had the privilege of growing up in a musical family. My mother is a union session singer and my father is a pianist, arranger, and music director. I was never forced into music. I was naturally drawn to it and I knew from a young age that it was going to be a big part of my life. I began attending the Los Angeles Music and Art School when I was four years old. Both of my parents taught there and I would spend the majority of my Saturdays going to a combination of piano, voice, bass, saxophone, dance, or visual art classes until I was fifteen. Once my mother saw that I was a performer and could take direction, she would contract me to sing on national commercials and movie soundtracks. When it was time to go to high school, I auditioned for the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) and was accepted into the Vocal Music Department. The PHS choirs attend multiple festivals and competitions throughout the school year. Most of them are held in the spring semester. There are unique requirements for each competition. Many of them ask to hear at least one song in a foreign language, and one be sung a cappella. There are now new festivals that incorporate sight-reading and ear training tests as a part of the overall scoring.

The annual large trip for Providence Singers takes about a year to organize. As you could imagine, there are so many fine details to organizing an itinerary for 50+ people. The initial details begin with the approvals from administration a year before the travel dates, auditions and callbacks will take place the year prior, I have to identify my ensemble members’ proficiencies before we have our initial rehearsal at the beginning of the year, and I like to choose interesting, educational, and/or historical destinations that will influence and inspire the chosen repertoire for the year.

you hAVe quite An imPressiVe resume As A ProfessionAl singer And VocAl coAch. is there A PArticulAr musicAl genre thAt you Are drAwn to?

I love so many different genres of music. I grew up in a home that had an eclectic soundtrack. You could hear samba, mariachi, jazz, classical, contemporary “80’s” pop, etc. But if I were to choose, I would say, jazz. While attending LACHSA, I became infatuated with everything jazz. I would memorize Ella Fitzgerald scats and horn lines of Ornette Coleman and Sonny Rollins. I was a member of LACHSA’s prestigious vocal jazz ensemble and it was there when I got to meet my first music educator mentor, Pat Bass. With her guidance, our groups performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Reno Jazz Festival, Fullerton Jazz Festival, International Association of Jazz Educators Convention, and the Playboy Jazz Festival. When I graduated high school, I went to Amherst University to study with the great jazz vocalist, Sheila Jordan and the late Dr. Billy Taylor. I knew that I wanted to be a music educator when I was in high school, but I didn’t know in what capacity. Once I knew that I was going to be a choral director, I immersed myself into everything choral literature and went on to attend California State University, Northridge and the University of Southern California. I’d love to have a vocal jazz group at PHS someday!

how do you APProAch eAch school yeAr in terms of PrePAring for chorAl comPetitions? is there An oVerAll theme thAt you decide on which sets the tone for whAt songs will Be Performed?

The Performing Arts Department meets at the end of each school year to establish the theme for the upcoming season. We combine our wish lists of material and create our storyline from there. I usually start thinking about repertoire six months before the performance date. My lesson plans are based around the chosen music throughout the year. I don’t repeat tunes from a previous season, so my lesson plans are never the same. I like it that way. I teach the principle concepts and techniques through different content, which makes it fresh for my returning students and myself! I’m always keeping my ear open for something that could work for one of my choirs. I enjoy having conversations with students about what they’re currently listening to and I try to have their tastes in mind when picking music. It’s always a collaboration between students, accompanists, and other directors.

wAlk us through the Process of PrePPing for comPetitions. how fAr in AdVAnce do you Begin PlAnning? does eAch comPetition require unique set lists? with the rise in PoPulArity of show choirs, ArguABly due to the

success of the tV show, Glee, And films such As Pitch Perfect, hAVe

you seen An increAse in student interest in the Performing Arts? hAs this chAnged your APProAch to teAching And PlAnning for choir comPetitions?

Coincidentally, my first year at PHS was the premiere season of Glee. I think that Glee definitely helped in recharging the interest for choirs everywhere. More than anything, the kids that were already invested in choir became even more enthusiastic and prideful in their passion. At this time, PHS does not compete as a show choir program. The choral choreography is an addition to the choral literature we compete with. I work very closely with our choreographers. We produce the annual Broadway Revue performance and the spring High Arts Finale.

of All the comPetitions you PrePAre for, is there one thAt is A fAVorite for you eAch yeAr?

If I had to choose one, I would say that I look forward to the Glendale A Cappella Festival with Providence Singers. This is a competition that has become a tradition for PHS. It’s an event that is hosted by the Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus. They have established a relationship with the John C. Hench Foundation and award grants to the invited choirs. This year, PHS was the only private Catholic high school represented at the event. Out of nine public high schools with well-established choral programs, PHS came in third place next to Burroughs High School and Valencia High School. PHS Choral Music received a grant in the amount of $3,500!

you collABorAte with dominic cAtrAmBone And jeremy jAckson, the co-directors of the theAtre Arts dePArtment At Phs quite A Bit. how hAs this PArtnershiP eVolVed oVer the yeArs?

The three of us were hired in 2009. Our relationship has grown every year. However, the past two years have been extremely collaborative and we truly have a fantastic partnership. We have our designated tasks, but we are equally involved in the process of creating our season and producing our shows. I love those guys.

whAt cAn we exPect for the 2016-2017 school yeAr?

Be ready for the upcoming season of “ Out of the Darkness, and Into the Light.” Visit www.providencehigharts.org for more 2016-2017 info!