Well, people are going to hear rumors eventually and I might as well break the news here, too.
I have been 'let go' from one of my teaching jobs and I can honestly say I will miss my students like crazy. My termination was given with very little explanation other than having not followed the ways of the higher ups. I was not given a warning or even sat down to have a chat and let me know what was happening - they just canned me. Can't say I agreed with many policies in general, but I would have thought after a year of giving much of myself to this company, they would have at least given me a shred of decency and had been honest with me. I do not believe this was a respectable solution to whatever issue they really had with me.
Because of this, I was not able to prep my students for my abrupt goodbye. I was not able to tell them how much I loved being able to share music with them, or how proud I was of their accomplishments. Some of them had just started and I could feel the bonds being created. Others kept coming back to take more lessons each season because we were making really great things happen with their vocal development.

But, I guess I just wasn't what that company wanted. Aside from teaching voice lessons I also had the pleasure of:
                            * Purchasing music/songbooks with my own money to provide a variety of genres and styles for each student.
                            * Brought in all of my own equipment and recorded students at concerts and in some lessons.
                            * Took time out of my weekends to teach makeup lessons.
                            * Purchased gifts for every recital/concert to give to every one of my students.
                            * Purchased items for the recitals/concerts.
                            * Brought in my own equipment/instrument for lessons.
                            * Recorded songs and updated my website with them for the students to use as a learning reference.
                            * Writing scripts and music for insanely low stipends.
                            * Performing in every show while assisting acting kids with their parts and backstage management for the same pay as everyone else got                                   who did much less.
                            * Took time before and after work to keep lesson journals for every vocal student, every lesson.

The list goes on. I can honestly say that I did EVERYTHING in my power to give my students a wonderful experience and a positive environment to learn in. I will miss them SO much... it is really REALLY painful to think about. They are the #1 thing I will miss.
Thankfully I made some really great friendships with my co-workers, and look forward to moving on to whatever comes next in life! :-)

So, funny story. I was feeling like I needed to get into some kind of theatrical show because I've been away from it for what feels like FOREVER. So, I looked on MNPlaylist and saw that the Woodbury Community Center is doing a production of the Wizard of Oz. I really like this show a lot, so I thought, what the hell, I'll go for it.
The audition was fun and the callbacks were against some really talented ladies. I got a call this morning, though, telling me they were offering me the role of the Wicked Witch of the West! Saaa-weeet!

I'm super excited to be a part of this show!! Here are the performance dates:

It's is through Woodbury Community Theater. Click to visit their website.

• Friday, July 13, 7:00pm
• Saturday, July 14, 7:00pm
• Sunday, July 15, 3:00pm
• Thursday, July 19, 1:00pm (kids matinee) and 7:00pm
• Friday, July 20, 7:00pm
• Saturday, July 21, 7:00pm

My Résumé needed a little cleaning, so I did a little bit of reformatting. Hopefully it's easier to read and SUPER impressive! ;-)

And eventhough I am exhausted today and recovering from getting a rib put back in its place this morning - I went ahead and recorded a few more originals. Hope it's all entertaining!
Songs Added:
     * You Should Have Been There (This is the 3rd song I ever wrote! WOOO!)
     * Today
     * Stop/Off

Today I have added 3 more originals to the pile. Ideally, I'd like to get all 110 up here someday!
Songs Added:
     * Motions
     * Ghetto Guy
     * Groundhog Day (Disclaimer: Due to the subject matter, this song may not be appropriate for children, or those sensitive to criticism.)

I don't know what it is, but I am suddenly SUPER pumped to start adding songs like a mad woman this week! I will try to add as much as possible today through Friday, adding things that have been sitting on my SD card and collecting dust! Keep your eyes peeled! (what does that even mean, really?)
Today's Additions:
     * Sad Irish Man (Originals)
     * In My Life (Voice/Guitar)
     * The Joker (Voice/Guitar)
     * Somday (Originals)

For my voice students: I have uploaded more songs per your requests! Check out the 'Students' tab to listen!

Happy New Year, everyone!
I know it's not much, but I added a couple of songs, and plan to add many more as I am able to- especially for my voice students who will be focusing on Broadway style songs this spring! Hooray! So the two I am adding today so far are:

• You Can't Get a Man with a Gun - Annie Get Your Gun (Students)
• Ave Maria - I played with some harmonies... because I always wondered what it would be like to be able to sing duets/trios with myself. Ahh modern technology, thank you.

Another cool update: I entered Tower: A Rapunzel Musical into the MN Fringe Festival for this year. Fingers crossed I get selected in the drawing!

I made a pact that I would start learning the guitar during my Holiday break, and that I have! I picked up my guitar that has been sitting lonely in the closet of my studio for years and figured out how to play Edelweiss. I hope that by this time next year I will be able to play many songs and have calluses like a champion!

Many happy holiday wishes to you all and see you next year!!

Wow, I hadn't realized how long it's been since I updated with some new stuff! I look forward to having Christmas/New Years break from EVERYTHING and just getting time to sit and my piano and make music!! :-)
Added to the pile tonight:

• Someone Like You - Adele
• Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw
• Edelweiss (Students)
• Ave Maria - Franz Schubert (in the key of D)
  

I was sitting at my piano last night and thought "Why in the heck am I not recording more often? I should get on that! Like... right NOW!"
So I did! Visit my Home Recordings to listen to more songs. I also recorded a couple of originals this morning, as well, at the bottom of the Home Recordings page. Check those out, too!
If you have a request to hear my version of a song, feel free to email me!

Hope everyone had an AWESOME Halloween!
I have spent some time today recording my various voices to create a new page on my website that is dedicated to just that - my voices! Hooray! I posted a bunch under the tab 'Voice Samples". More coming soon!

Also, I am having an absolute blast with my students. I am happy to now be in the double digits of private lessons, and am always looking for more folks who would like to develop their instrument and make some great music together! :-)

Stay tuned! In the meantime, enjoy my ridiculous nerdy schoolgirl costume!

I have been slightly delayed in updating more music due to the need of a better mic setup in my home studio!

I am very pleased with the new layout of this website, as well, and hope that you do, too! It's a bit brighter, easier to read and overall more my style. I have also upgraded so that I can bring you all music RIGHT HERE on this site, instead of having to go to facebook and fish around there for the songs you'd like to hear. I will keep things organized and easy to find for your listening pleasure!

Prima Festa Italiana Minnesota is having a fundraiser in support of this wonderful event! Please consider attending and/or participating in this exciting night of food, music and Italian culture!
For more information, please visit: A Taste of Italy: Fundraiser

When: July 18th, 2011 -  5:30pm-9:00pm
Where: Mancini's Char House
Why: To raise awareness and funds for the first ever Italian Festival in Minnesota!
What to Expect: Italian food, beer/wine tasting, Silent Auction, 2011 Festa Italiana MN art unveiling by Greg Pariana,                               Crooners and Diva's:  Italian Singing Contest, Socializing with great Italians, T-shirt and button sales. Tickets: $25. Participants in the Italian Singing Contest, Crooners & Divas, may pay a discounted price of $10.

For more information and instruction on how to enter the Crooners & Divas: Italian Singing Contest, please visit the link above and scroll to the bottom section. All submissions are to be emailed to: aliciareneesing@gmail.com

We hope to see you there!

Come join us at the 13th Annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival in Lowertown, St. Paul.
More information: http://www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com/

I will be performing TONIGHT, Thursday, June 23rd (fingers crossed we don't get rained out!)
Mears Park, in St. Paul. 6:00pm on the main stage with Jon Weber!

I will also be around and meandering at the festival Friday & Saturday, so come say hello and enjoy the great music and tasty food, beer & wine!

I am now working for a FABULOUS company, Inspiration Performing Arts Center!
I will be offering Vocal Coaching over the summer, and once fall hits, I will be offering a wider variety of both music and theater classes.
Vocal lessons are available for many genres and offered to students aged 10 and up!

                                                                          For more info, please visit the website!
                                                                          Inspiration Performing Arts Center

2011 Twin Cities Jazz Festival - 
I will be performing on the Main Stage with Jon Weber this year!
Place: Mears Park - Lowertown Saint Paul, MN
Time: 6:00pm

For more info, visit the website!
Twin Cities Jazz Festival

Thanks to all who were able to attend this year's Festival of Nations! It was an AWESOME year and we had a lot of fun!
Also, I'd like to give a special thanks to my dear friend, Caitlin Losure, who was an invaluable aide to running this event! You're the best!

I am pleased to announce my home studio is up and running!
Admittedly, I am not incredibly experienced with recording devises, but I am doing my best and they sound WORLDS better than my previous methods (recording with an iPod, or a handheld recording device). My recorder is awesome and I look forward to sharing some jam sessions with friends, as well as some originals that have not had much exposure to the public!

I will keep you posted on the details and where I will be hosting them. Facebook has some issues with sharing non-original materials, and YouTube is making my life more difficult than it really needs to be!

At any rate - I have blankets on the walls, two microphones and headphones and I'm ready to play!

Well, sorry to report, I did very little this month as far as music is concerned! It can be noted, however, that I did get married in late March (2011) so that took up some of my time! :-)

I am still going full speed ahead on Festa Italiana Minnesota - which is going awesome. I love my committee as well as the whole gang involved in making this a truly special event.
The MN ESL, Bilingual & Education Conference 2011 went very well! Special thanks to Joan Wink who asked me to come sing during her lecture. It was an honor to be a part of her demonstrations! <3

More updates coming soon!

Hi All!
Just a quick update to let you all know that a home studio set up is in the works. I am planning and saving up so that I have all of the necessary equipment to record in the comforts of my home. This way I will be able to upload high quality recordings of my music to share with you on a regular basis!

CLICK HERE (or on the picture to the left) FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Working hard on many personal projects that I will update with in due time (if they actually work! :-)

Other updates - I am currently involved/affiliated with the following events:
* MN ESL Bilingual and Migrant Education Conference - Runs April 14th & 15th, 2011 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. More Info
          This event is for teachers of ESL, EL, Bilingual individuals, and Migrants who wish to learn new methods of teaching in this
          amazing two-day long conference at Saint Paul's RiverCentre.
* Festival of Nations - Runs May 5th - 8th, 2011 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. More Info
          The Festival of Nations is a staple in many Minnesotan's youth. Experience cultures from around the world with live
          performers, an extensive bazaar, demonstrations, language lessons and fine cuisines!
* Twin Cities Jazz Festival - Runs June 23rd - 25th, 2011 at Mears Park in Saint Paul, MN. More Info
          Join us in Mears Park for the 12th year of the Twin Cities Jazz Fest this year as we hear top quality performers from
          all over the nation in this intimate and beautiful urban setting.
* Festa Italiana Minnesota - Runs September 23rd & 24th, 2011 at Harriet Island in Saint Paul, MN. More Info
          The wait is over, Minnesota! Join us for the very first Italian Festival in Minnesota at the beautiful Harriet Island in St. Paul!

Current Projects:
    Festa Italiana Minnesota 2011 (Due to debut in September 2011)
    MN ESL, Bilingual & Migrant Education Conference 2011 (April 14-15, 2011 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre)
 

Check out the new performance pics in the photo tab!
These pictures come from theatrical and choir experiences during Alicia's college years, as well as some new head shots (taken 1/11/11)

I've added some more music to the fan page on facebook!
Music now covers:
Mississippi Sirens (3 selections)
Wait For Me (4 selections)
Demo recordings (voice/piano)
Instrumental music using computer softwares