LAILA SALINS
singer, actress, composer
contact: lailasalins@gmail.com; 646-591-6520
PERFORMING EXPERIENCE:
Leading roles with: Music Theater Group (NYC); Opera Factory Zurich (Switzerland); The New Riga Theater (Latvia); Zurich Opera; the Latvian National Opera; Connecticut Grand Opera; and the Gerold Opera House (WI)
Ensembles (founding member and vocal soloist):
Matus Salins Marching Band (MA), duo performing original songs; Ecliptica Ensemble (NY), 20th cent. chamber music; Ballistic Cabaret (NY) and Cat’s Eye (Boston), original songs; Kolibri, Latvian music collaborative (U.S.) Just in Time, jazz vocal trio (MA)
Original music theater and song cycle projects:
Salins Sisters – Sacred Songs (2024) – CD of original and traditional sacred songs – arranged for voice, flute and laoutar (guitar/lute hybrid).
Renovating Paradise – or how I learned to love the apple (2023), one-woman musical theater piece about the defiant Eve of the Garden of Eden and her travails through the centuries; produced at WEGA Arts, WI, with support from CEC Artslink.
Cloud Call (2023) – CD of original songs set to lyrics of visionary poets, with world music ensemble, Talamana: voice, lute, sitar and percussion.
High we shine the sky – (2021) CD of original songs: Laila Salins (voice & guitar), Jim Matus (laoutar and vocals).
Wet Kiss – (2019) fantasy music theater piece about surfers, endangered coral reefs and civic life; co-composers Laila Salins and Stanton West, text: Kathy Fehl; produced at WEGA Arts, WI.
Hell’s Kitchen: NY-Latvia (2018), multi-media piece with original songs and archival video footage, describing the Latvian arts émigré community in NY, post-WWII; supported by the U.S. Embassy, Riga, Latvia.
Self-Portraiture as Medicine (2018), solo show with original music, reflecting on “cracked” images of the self, MAP Gallery, Easthampton, MA.
Songs along the Amber Road (2014), song cycle, myths and storytelling with the Talamana Ensemble, supported by the EU’s “Capitals of Culture” program.
Elevator to the Sky (2012) original songs, with the poetry of Anne Sexton, composed for jazz quartet.
Tango-Ballads (2010): concert program, produced by the Center for Contemporary Opera (NY), together with Eric Salzman, at the cell, NYC; later toured through Latvia with support from CEC Artslink.
Saskandinot (2008), CD of Latvian ballads and drinking songs, including original songs, supported by the American Latvian Cultural Foundation, arranged for folk/jazz ensemble.
Insomnia/InSexton (2006), music theater piece based on the letters and poetry of Anne Sexton; video by Benton-C Bainbridge; produced by HERE at 3LD Art & Technology Center (NY), grant from Experimental TV Center.
The Incredible Adventures of Champagne Charlie (1996), music-theater project, produced by the O’Neill Music Theater Workshop, with a grant from the NEA; co-writer of lyrics and text with Gatis Gudets.
Other: Renovating Paradise (2021–present) – ongoing blog (photos by Gigi Kaeser), documenting unique individuals and organizations in the “Hidden Hills” of Western MA: https://lailasalins.com/renovating-paradise/
Education:
B.A. in music performance, New England Conservatory, Boston;
M.A., SUNY at Stonybrook.; studies at Zurich Opera Studio and Aspen Music Festival
Languages: English, Latvian, German, French
Instruments: piano; guitar; harmonium; shruti; percussion (various); kokle
Teaching Experience: voice lessons and chamber music classes taught at SUNY at Stonybrook, University of Western FL, the Summer Music Institute in Latvia, and Music in Chappaqua (NY)
photo: Marite Melnika