The Inside Story: Loretta Notareschi and WINDSWEPT VOL. II

Rigorous repertoire is at the ready on WINDSWEPT VOL. II from Navona Records, a sweeping sonic force of contemporary chamber works for woodwind quintet. Performed by the New London Chamber Ensemble, the works of seven composers soar with modern flair including Loretta Notareschi’s Moon Jazz: River on the Moon, a playful post-minimalist romp in which fragments of jazzy materials are juxtaposed, layered, and interposed.

Today, Loretta is our featured artist in “The Inside Story,” a blog series exploring the inner workings and personalities of our composers and performers. Read on to discover more about her guilty pleasures, third grade talent shows, and the impact her family has had on her creative process…

Who was your first favorite artist(s) growing up?

I was a violinist, and Joshua Bell was my favorite violinist. I even named my violin “Bell” after him.

What was your most unusual performance, or the most embarrassing thing that happened to you during a performance?

At a third grade talent show, I sang When You Swing on a Star and forgot the entire “pig” verse. So I just stood there silently while my poor friend stood next to me holding up a sign with a pig on it.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Drinking highly sweetened iced chai tea from any coffee shop.

If you could spend creative time anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

The villa where my Dad was born in Italy, where I would be near my relatives and also get to enjoy local sights and my Zia (auntie’s) great cooking.

If you could instantly have expertise performing one instrument, what instrument would that be?

I do play piano, but I would like to be better at it! I would love to have instant sight-reading ability of all music, no matter how difficult.

Is there a specific feeling that you would like communicated to audiences in this work?

This piece is joyful, and I would like audience members to feel that and hopefully groove along to the rhythm.