Leryn Turlington, soprano
Celia Villacres, piano
Aaron Davidson, piano
Kelan M. Smith, guitar & banjo
Paul-Jordan Jansen, baritone
Monday, April 17, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. CDT / 9:00 p.m. EDT
Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret
"Will There Really Be a Morning?" from A Horse with Wings
Ricky Ian Gordon (b. 1956)
"Dear Friend" from She Loves Me
Jerry Bock (1928–2010)
"The Miller’s Son" from A Little Night Music
Stephen Sondheim (1930–2021)
Twisted
Wardell Gray (1921–1955)
Teach Me Tonight
Gene de Paul (1919–1988)
Shulie-a-Bop
George Treadwell (1918–1967)
Sarah Vaughan (1924–1990)
I Choose You
Tammy Rogers (b. 1966)
Thomm Jutz (b. 1969)
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
Dolly Parton (b. 1946)
Song for Life
Rodney Crowell (b. 1950)
Best of My Love
Maurice White (1941–2016)
Al McKay (b. 1948)
Distance
Emily King (b. 1985)
"Heart of Stone" from SIX
Toby Marlow (b. 1994)
Lucy Moss (b. 1994)
"Once Second and a Million Miles" from The Bridges of Madison County
Jason Robert Brown (b. 1970)
"Journey to the Past" from Anastasia
Stephen Flaherty (b. 1960)
Ted Lasso is a fictional American football coach transplanted to the United Kingdom to lead a group of players in a sport he knows little to nothing about. What makes his character (and the television show) so enchanting is Ted’s unyielding interest in the well-being of those around him. It also makes for a surprisingly effective leadership style in a sport he, again, knows little to nothing about.
In season 1, episode 8, he challenges an unsuspecting and ego-driven Rupert to a high-stakes game of darts, who feels certain that his skills are unmatched. To his opponent, Ted reflects on the quote “be curious, not judgemental” and suggests those who have previously underestimated him lacked curiosity and were sadly uninterested in learning more about him.
If they were curious, they would’ve asked questions. Questions like, ‘Have you played a lot of darts, Ted? To which I would have answered, ‘Yes sir. Every Sunday afternoon at a sports bar with my father from age ten until I was 16 when he passed away.’
Ted then throws a double bullseye and wins the game.
This episode illuminates what I believe is performance’s profound impact on society. When we step into a story, whether through song, text, or full-length production, we are choosing to be curious about the life and well-being of someone else. We notice things: tempo, rhythm, syntax, phrasing. We notice what a character says (or doesn’t say) and ask ourselves, why? Why do they act this way? Why did the composer build to this suspension and not resolve? We think, what might we have in common with this character, which is the first step to understanding what we don’t. Even if these aren’t explicit thoughts in our mind, melody, harmony, poetry and prosody entice us to notice and search, and reflexively, our artistic instincts answer.
Harvard psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer shares in an episode of The Atlantic’s How to Live a Happy Life podcast that mindfulness involves “actively noticing new things.” You can also call this taking keen interest, or being curious, and she claims it is the foundation, the secret, the key to living a happy life.
Curiosity is in this room at Davenport’s, but it started in rehearsals, classes and voice lessons in Orlando, Chicago, Winchester. It started with mentors and educators who took interest in me, and taught me how to notice and respond. They fostered my curiosity which I am bringing to each of these songs, which I hope to bring to my students, and which I hope you will take with you today.
“You say impossible, but all I hear is 'I'm possible.'” – Ted Lasso
Leryn Turlington is from the studio of Edrie Means Weekly. This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Music in Pedagogy (Contemporary Commercial Music – Voice).
