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:
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Hell’s Kitchen: NY-Latvia (2018), multi-media piece (original songs, photo collages and documentary video footage), supported by the U.S. Embassy
Self-Portraiture as Medicine (2018), at the MAP Gallery, Easthampton, MA
Songs along the Amber Road (2014), in collaboration with the Talamana Ensemble, supported by the EU’s “Capitals of Culture” program, Riga, Latvia
Tango-Ballads (2010): with the NY Center for Contemporary Opera, created with Eric Salzman, with support from CEC Artslink, at the cell, NYC
Insomnia/InSexton (2006) (based on the letters and poetry of Anne Sexton); video by Benton-C Bainbridge; produced by HERE at 3LD Art & Technology Center (NY), with a grant from the Experimental TV Center
The Incredible Adventures of Champagne Charlie (1996), music-theater project, produced by the O’Neill Music Theater Workshop, developed with a grant from the NEA; text, Mar Shy Sun; lyrics, Laila Salins; music, John Gromada

Recordings of original music:
Elevator to the Sky (poetry of Anne Sexton), original songs with jazz ensemble

Saskandinot (Toasting), Latvian ballads and drinking songs, supported by the American Latvian Cultural Foundation

High We Shine the Sky – original songs created with Jim Matus

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