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listen
SUNDOWN
Hills, wrapped in gray, standing along the west;
Clouds, dimly lighted, gathering slowly;
The star of peace at watch above the crest --
Oh, holy, holy, holy!
We know, O Lord, so little what is best;
Wingless, we move so lowly;
But in thy calm all-knowledge let us rest --
Oh, holy, holy, holy!
John Charles McNeill (1894-1969)
a proof of concept recording made with multi tracking by composer Betsy Podsiadlo.
RECONCILIATION
WORD over all, beautiful as the sky!
Beautiful that war, and all its deeds of carnage, must in time be utterly lost;
That the hands of the sisters Death and Night, incessantly softly wash again, and ever again, this soil'd world
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass (1867)
performed by (from left to right) Morgan Mastrangelo, Cara Search, and Betsy Podsiadlo at Christ Church NYC in Spring of 2023
at a glance:
✷ Master of Music in Voice from the Mannes School of Music 2023
✷ Mellon Producing Fellow with Beth Morrison Projects 2023-2024
✷ Bachelor of Music in Voice from Westminster Choir College 2016
✷ Specializing in vocal music and fixed media
✷ Devoted crafter, hiker, and admirer of fiber arts and fashion design
about
Betsy Podsiadlo is a composer, performer, educator and producer living in Richmond, Virginia. Betsy’s work as a composer features the combination of medieval religious tonality, traditional Appalachian style and surprising whimsical electronics. As a composer and performer, Betsy is consistently engaged in the pursuit of creating art that, above all else, tells the truth. In addition to composing, Betsy is an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia and guest lectures on Music Industry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Additionally, Betsy is a founding partner and Creative Director of Art Grove Newsletter with her partner and Managing Editor, Tom Jakob. She is also the Director of Advancement and Administration at City Singers Youth Choir in addition to conducting their Progressing Choir. Betsy was awarded the 2023 Mellon Producing Fellowship with Beth Morrison Projects and was a 2023 Big Ears Festival scholarship winner. Notably, her Lux Aeterna with fixed media, commissioned and performed by inimitable soprano, Ariadne Greif, premiered on New York City's WQXR on February 7th, 2024.
Commissions & Premieres
Lux Aeterna with Fixed Media
for Voice and Electronic Fixed Media
Commissioned by Ariadne Greif, soprano
Premiere: February 7th 2024 on WQXR in New York City
Performed by Ariadne Greif
Sunday at the Manchester Floodwall
for Baritone and Piano
Commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia
Premiered on October 12th at the Richmond Public Library "A Richmond Cabaret"
Performed by Paul Max Tipton
further listening
Lux Aeterna
instrumentation: pipe organ, classical guitar, voice
Premiered: March 10th 2023 at Christ Church NYC
Chant melody accompanied by organ bass and punctuated with minimalist guitar chords.y
Ladies of the Canyon
instrumentation: Handmade Mandolele by Jim Morris,
Layered Voice, Synthesizer, Vocal Looping and digital modulation.
Released July 14th, 2023
Ladies of The Canyon features improvised vocal harmonies hauntingly filtered and modulated digitally
Projects
Ongoing:
Star Rider
A post apocalyptic space themed album exploring themes of anti fascism, the effects of climate change, unions, bodily autonomy, community, and love. In collaboration with local Richmond musicians and friends, produced and written by Betsy Podsiadlo.
Photo courtesy of NASA
James Webb Telescope
Roads String Quartet
Inspired by family heritage in rural West Virginia and the roads traveled to see relatives in the mountains, the Roads String Quartet utilizes traditional Appalachian old time idioms in combination with more modern approaches to atmosphere aiming to celebrate the beauty of the region with dignity.
Photo by Tom Jakob
Art Grove Newsletter
A free online zine interviewing artists across the US about the realities of making art happen in the world. Created with the goal of empowering artists to take their careers into their own hands through a change in perspective and an increase in practical knowledge.
Past:
MidMountain Fest: Femme Fatal Agency
With funding from the Central Appalachian Living Traditions Grant from MidAtlantic Arts, MidMountain Artist Residency hosted and produced an incredible 1-day festival in Natural Bridge Virginia on October 12th, 2024. Organizing acts, recruiting volunteers, and ensuring safety on site created an unforgettable day of community and the reclamation of Appalachian Murder Ballads.
Photo courtesy of MidMountain
and much, much more..