Nay's News February 2025
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Wishing you a February full of warmth, love, and the little joys that make this month special—whether it's cozy moments, sweet treats, or just some good old-fashioned love songs.
There's a lot to share with you this month... new song releases, a live radio show coming up and more... But before I get into all that, I’m thrilled to announce some big news: my composition "Racing the Moon" for SATB/Piano has won two composition contests—one with the Houston Choral Society and another with the Magnolia Chorale!
I’m absolutely over the moon (see what I did there!) about this recognition for "Racing the Moon," and I’m hopeful it’ll help the piece reach more conductors, choirs, and audiences. When I wrote it, I had high-school voices in mind—capturing the voice of a teenager through lyrics inspired by poetry from my own teen daughter. The vocal lines are designed to be both rich and accessible, complemented by a robust piano accompaniment.
And so, it was incredibly exciting to have it included last weekend in the program for the Idaho HIgh School All-State SATB Choir - check out their performance:
We also had a fun composer-clinic session over Zoom at one of their rehearsals. Thank you so much to conductor Dr. Ethan Sperry for including my piece in this program! The kids sounded amazing!
"Racing The Moon" was commissioned in 2024 for the Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choir. The window is starting to close for me taking on any more new commissioned works in 2025, but don’t hesitate to reach out! There’s still a chance I can fit your piece in this year, or we could plan for 2026, and I’d love to collaborate with you!
More big news... Oregon Arts Watch just posted a profile piece on my musical career, written by beautiful story-weaver Daryl Browne called "At the intersection of empathy and creativity: Naomi LaViolette."
She interviewed me and many of the influential musicians and teachers in my life. What a gift this is to me! I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to reflect and share about this journey of a life in music. The highs, the lows, the doors opened or closed, the hustle, the creative spark, and the joy! Speaking of joy, my doodle dog Joy even got a starring role in the piece. Daryl is obviously a dog-lover… and also one of the coolest people to hang out with and chat about everything. If you're reading this Daryl..... THANK YOU. You rock!
Link to Oregon Arts Watch Profile
Some more normal news about February songs releasing into the musical streamiverse (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.):
Out TODAY, my piano-vocal cover of "I Can’t Make You Love Me." This track is part of a full album of covers I recorded during the pandemic, and I've been releasing the songs gradually, with the whole album coming in March. It was such a fun challenge re-imagining these beloved songs with unique accompaniments. And hey, I think February always calls for a good heartbreak love song!
Song artwork featuring photo by Katy Grace
I absolutely love this photo for the song. It was taken by my sister Katy, who lives in central Oregon—it’s a shot of an old lava flow. Something that once burned hot and flowed with energy, now cold and still. Kind of like the love in this song.
This arrangement takes me back to those strange quarantine days... when livestreams replaced in-person concerts for so many musicians. Here’s a video of this song from that time:
"I Can't Make You Love Me" performed by Naomi LaViolette
Dropping next on February 14, the 5th song of the Oregon Landscapes album by Lucente Skye. This one is called "Metolius River," and it once again features gorgeous artwork by Lindsay Gilmore.
I hope you're enjoying these solo piano songs inspired by the beautiful state I’m lucky enough to call home. You can listen to all of them at the Lucente Skye profile on streaming platforms. Are you a piano player, too? Get all the scores HERE!
And then, on February 21, I’ll be dropping another piano-vocal cover: "Landslide." I had a blast re-harmonizing the chords on this one… not sure what that means? Give it a listen, and you’ll find out! For my Spotify folks—make sure to follow my Naomi LaViolette artist profile so all these songs land in your Release Radar. (Plus, it helps me out with the platform algorithms!)
Another great photo for a song... this one was taken by my dear college friend (and patron!) Kate Trujillo. Kate, who lives in Colorado, snapped this while cross-country skiing in Crested Butte. Stevie Nicks composed the song about a difficult relationship while in Colorado, and wrote that she was "looking out at the Rocky Mountains, pondering the avalanche of everything that had come crashing down on us ... at that moment, my life truly felt like a landslide in many ways."
I love involving my Patreon patrons in my creative process, using their photos and ideas in my projects. They get even more behind-the-scenes access and updates than I’m able to share here in Nay’s News. I give them the recordings and scores of all my songs. And remember, everyone’s welcome to join! CHECK IT OUT.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Thursdays @ Three
February 13, 2025 @ 3PM
All Classical Radio's Irving Levin Performance Hall
222 SW Columbia St, 3rd floor, 97201
Come be a part of the studio audience or tune in at All Classical Radio (89.9fm in Portland) for a live broadcast!
In-Person TICKETS
Every Brain Needs (Love) Music
February 14, 2025
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, OR
This multi-media Valentine’s Day event is a collaboration between the Portland Chamber Orchestra and Science on Tap. I'm thrilled to perform again with neuroscientist Dr. Larry Sherman, Native American flutist James Greeley, blues singer Marilyn Keller, and the PCO.
Song Suffragettes PNW
March 8, 2025
McMenamins Kennedy School in Portland, OR
Join us on International Women’s Day, for a celebration of female singer-songwriters! I'm joined in this special showcase by an eclectic lineup of talented solo artists—Yawa, Kathryn Claire, Rosa Linda, Marianna Theilen—plus the Cider Janes Trio. Enjoy an evening filled with diverse musical styles, compelling storytelling, and soulful performances. The event poster showcases the artwork of the incredible Ivy Newport!
Recent Highlights
At the Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA) conference last month, the West Salem HS Choir of the Titans performed my piece "Winter Solstice." A massive thank you to conductor Cole Haole-Valenzuela and his wonderful students for sharing my piece so beautifully with a room full of conductors. Here is a video of that performance... they even included sign language!
Also at the conference, it was a blast accompanying the Oregon All-State Tenor-Bass Honor Choir, directed by Dr. David Morrow. Collaborating for a whole weekend together, making music with 100+ energetic and talented 15-18 year olds...well, Dr. Morrow and I became fast friends!
What a gift to work with such a legendary human. As conductor of the renowned Morehouse College Glee Club, his honors include conducting at the Kennedy Center, the Super Bowl, the Olympic Games, and most recently the funeral service in Atlanta for President Jimmy Carter. Ok.... so maybe I was a little star-struck!
As always, thank you. Whether you've been listening to my music, coming out to a show, or sending me a thoughtful note, I truly appreciate the way you connect with me and my work. As we roll through February, I’m wishing you a month full of joy and all the good vibes.
Warmly,
Naomi (Nay)