🌸🌸 Happy Mothering Sunday 🌸🌸
10am Sunday I’m in London with all my family, heading to the AESS English competition final with George Todica 🎹🎶
Songs My Mother Taught Me; a video share for Mothering Sunday.
My program for the competition was an ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ compilation. A ‘Down The Rabbit Hole monologue’ and prose between each of seven English Art songs using quotes and narrative from the book that I so loved from my childhood.
Lewis Carroll published the novel in November 1865, 150 years ago, the novel was illustrated by John Tenniel and is one of the finest examples of the nonsense literature genre. Carroll was the pen name of the Reverend Charles Dodgson, he was born in Daresbury, Cheshire just a few miles from where I grew up.
During my research I read that ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ is the third most quoted book after the Bible and Shakespeare. I’ve read the book, watched movie adaptations, listened to audio-books and watched the wonderful ballet adaptation live from the Royal Opera House a couple of Christmas’ ago.
I had tremendous fun learning the text, and my selected English Art Songs and compiling them all into a 20 minute coherent program.
George Todica accompanied me and I was so happy that he won an accompanist prize. I enjoyed listening to the prize winners, their programs were so well delivered that it must have been difficult to choose a winner.
Tonbridge school was a beautiful location to host the final and a big thank you to the organisers.
I am travelling back up to Scotland this evening on the night bus!
Love the photo, Charlotte, best of luck in the competition.
Thanks Hilary it’s a lovely photo, I enjoyed the competition, it’s nice to do them again.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very nice to see you all – Happy mother Day, fingers cross for AESS English, and the best for all of you !
Merci beaucoup, it’s all part of the journey, we had a lovely weekend. A very tiring journey back but I’m refreshed again now.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great! You look as though you deserve each other; it’s great to see.
Thank you Terry, it is lovely to hear from you. My family are so supportive; they all came and watched the full competition yesterday; it was great performing for them.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy Mother’s Day to all, as we celebrate the second week in May in the USA. May the Lord bless you Charlotte with George as y’all perform to the glory of God.
Thank you Rev Tim, George said it was the best he’d seen me perform my Alice set so that was lovely.
Best wishes
Charlotte
A very happy Mother’s Day to your Mother! Best of Luck to You and George. Enjoy the moment, Charlotte
I updated my post with a photo Darlene; George won an accompanist prize which is brilliant as he’s busy at the moment trying to get the funding together for his second year of his masters.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Such a lovely and happy picture! Happy Mother’s Day!
The photo is on a canvass on my Dad’s office wall he loves it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte, I hope your competition goes well. That’s a great photo.
Is it Mother’s Day in the UK? We have it in May in Canada.
Thank you Carolyn, it went well I’ve updated the post with a photo. Yes we celebrate Mothering Sunday on the 4th Sunday of Lent.
Best wishes
Charlotte
May this be a grand weekend for you and your Mum! You’ll nail the competition and enjoy it all the while. 🙂
We did have a grand get together in London with Matt and the competition was just an hour away from his. I’ve updated the post with a photo and information about our program.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful portrait of your mother and her children. Treasure it! May you always be as happy as you are there!
Thank you Noelle, it’s my Dad’s favourite photograph of us. I hope so too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Joyous picture! Bless you all.
Thank you 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy Mother’s Day to your mum and have fun at the competition.
We did have fun and George won the accompanist prize; I get lots of inspiration from these events.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wonderful photo
Thank you John.
Best wishes
Charlotte
🙂
Lovely photo, Charlotte! Happy Mother’s Day to your mother! Good luck with the competition! Xo
Cheers Janice, I won just getting the opportunity to go to the final and do something different. I created something quite unique to me and I’m proud of it as a piece of work.
Best wishes
Charlotte
How lovely that your family were all together this weekend – your mum must have been so happy! Congratulations to George for his prize. These competitions are fiercely fought aren’t they, and the standards are so high that it must be so difficult to choose. It is often such a tiny detail or mere personal taste that decides where the prizes go.
I get really inspired to work hard to put programs together for these events. I’ve never done a competition like this one before and I learnt a lot from the opportunity to go to the final.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It is similar to my daughter producing an art portfolio to take to an interview – a lot of work is involved! I love the way you are able to make everything you do a learning opportunity – despite a few disappointments and upsets you remain optimistic and ready for the next challenge. You are a wonder, Charlotte and deserve to go far! My prayers and best wishes go with you, Clare
Wonderful photos–and, as always, a delightful post.
You are such a wonderful star!
Thanks Dan, there’s only one response to that: Twinkle twinkle little bat, how I wonder what you’re at? Up above the world you fly, like a tea tray in the sky! 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a beautiful family! 🙂
Thank you Konstadina, it was great to all get together at the weekend to celebrate Mothers day. Have a great week 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Reblogged this on Dorion's Author Blog and commented:
Charlotte Hoather is so beautiful. Her voice – magic! Her presence – true greatness! Another UK phenomenon!
Thank you Gary, I am so lucky to be able to study what I love to do 🙂 I am glad that you enjoyed my performances.
Best Wishes
Charlotte
Well done to you both! Fabulous pictures of you all 😘
Thanks Gill, I was very surprised to get into the final as my program is quite bonkers and loud! You’d love it. Can you remember when I did the monologue for the Search for a Star at school? 🙂 I expanded on it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful photographs of you and the family. My father was a great fan of Paul Robeson and I remember clearly Robeson’s singing of “Songs my Mother taught me” – Dad collected old 78s.
I’ll have to try to listen to his version John; I love this cycle of songs. I had put some work into learning them but had to put them on hold for a short while. Glad to bring back some good memories to you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wonderful photos! And congrats on your performance. Glad to hear you’re doing so well in London and that you’re thoroughly enjoying yourself. 🙂
Thank you Arti, I’m not in London studying until September, we used the night bus, it was a brilliant coincidence that it was Mothering Sunday. I hope that you and your family are well.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You certainly have a wonderful voice, Charlotte. I pray it remains as part of your future. Peace.
Thank you for your prayers I appreciate your kind thoughts.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte
You have such an exciting and happening profession, and interesting blog too. I enjoy reading a blog that is entirely different from mine!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it, thanks for taking a look 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks for the info about Alice in Wonderland. I like the quote about doing impossible things before breakfast, or maybe about not making a note of something awful. That old queen was pretty savvy.
And Happy Mother;s Day to your Mom, if a bit late. there is something of an Alice in Wonderland look about You!
I always wore Alice bands as a child and I imagined I was her, I love the six impossible things before breakfast quote too, it’s a reminder to just be brave and go for it.
My other favourite is “Am I bonkers?”
Her Dad replied “I’m afraid so!”
‘But then all the best people are!”
Best wishes
Charlotte
PS your voice is getting richer and fuller. Soon you will put Rene Fleming out of work.
Thank you Dianne, There’s a long line of singers in front of me 😜 carpe diem my Dad always says, just enjoy each day.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Your Dad is a wise man.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful day with us, Charlotte. Your photos are stunning, and I’m so glad the competition went so well. The information about Alice in Wonderland was interesting, too. I didn’t know it was the third most quoted book. You have a truly amazing voice and I’m sure your family is very proud of you. I wish you every happiness and success in the future.
Thank you very much Millie 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Amazing singing!