This Holiday's Heartfelt Highlights

This is definitely my favorite time of year!  From the music and the gatherings, to the food and the presents, the trees and lights and overall jovial generosity that beams from everyone around me!  2015 was extra special, but maybe I feel that way about every year... They just keep getting better!

Let me give you an illustrated and orchestrated review of the highlights from Thanksgiving thru Christmas!

Thanksgiving was a colorful time with Jackrabbit and the Superstars at school, where I direct and teach of their theater arts program. 

This year's Holiday Extravaganza Concert in Palmyra, WI was something I was really looking forward to.  Maestro Ed Pierce and I selected some of the classical repertoire standards and a couple pop tunes for our concert, which rounded out a brilliantly diverse program - on par with the brilliantly blinding beaded dress I found on ebay for a shocking $14!!!  The band continues to grow in both size and accomplishments and I love how we work together!  Thanks to my brother, Matt Miller and clarinetest/marketing/tech director of PECB Warren Metzger, I am able to share the live videos from the concert with you!
          

 

 

At the same time, I was beaming with pride as Jonathan premiered his new musical "How Love Feels" in NYC on (well... near) Broadway!!!  Jonathan Fadner (composer) and Marella Martin Koch (writer) created an enchanted treasure of a musical - a love triangle between Helen, Stan and the Man in the Moon.  It was picked up by the National Asian Artists Project (NAAP) here in NYC as part of their "Discover: New Musicals" series.  They had a performance at 47th St Theater on Dec 7th, which is so amazing!  Jonathan must be an asian man hiding inside a (handsome) howly body!  His previous premier was this summer at the "Destination: Asia" Festival in Chicago where I performed his song cycle "Legends".  :D

 Two holidays and two outstanding performances past, we are overjoyed with the richness of our experiences, the love and support from our family and friends, and the gift of being able to share these beautiful things with our two little superstars, Jackrabbit and Charliehorse!!!

Wishing you all your hearts' desire in 2016 and The Year of the Monkey!!!

Charlotte and Kimbirdlee: Chicago's One of a Kind - Complimentary tickets!

Hello All!

This coming weekend is the highly anticipated 

One of a Kind - Holiday Show and Sale - 

Chicago  - Dec 3-6 - Merchandise Mart

Please come see us at Booth #4072

Charlotte Fung Miller and Kimbirdlee will be exhibiting their original Chinese Brush Paintings

along with 600+ artists from all over the country in a brilliantly festive environment!

Please follow this link to receive Complimentary Admission Tickets

www.oneofakindshowchicago.com

Click "Tickets" and enter code countmein

For more info, click here: Charlotte Fung Miller and Kimbirdlee

For more info:

http://oneofakindshowchicago.com/showinformation/showoverview/

Holiday Cheers!

See you there - Charlotte and Kimbirdlee

​

Christmas Concert from Pop to Classical ... Holy Holiday Magic!

I'm very pleased to announce my annual Holiday Extravaganza held in the warmth and glow of a Southeastern Wisconsin small-town Church.  Cozy and full of light and love with free unlimited homemade cookies for all!!! 

I'm honored as always to join my favorite band, PECB.  This year we are soaring out of the comforts of usual holiday band tunes and spreading our wings with some beautiful classical, vocally charismatic jewels -  Handel's "Rejoice Greatly" from The Messiah and Mozart's "Alleluia" from Exultate Jubilate!!!  I'm super excited to sing to the heavens with these timeless treasures, as well as uplifting pop tunes "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home" (Mariah Carey and Michael Buble) and "Christmas Island" (Kristin Chenowith and Jimmy Buffet woo hoo!). And to top it off - a medley of carols that my dad and I will sing together!

Palmyra-Eagle Community Band presents their 

2015 Christmas Extravaganza! 

Concert is at the Palmyra United Methodist Church 122 N 5th St, Palmyra, WI

Sunday December 6, 2015 at 7PM!

Concert features the artistry of Kim "Kimbirdlee" Fadner, Dr. Bob Miller, Newell Thomas and the PECB woodwinds. Some familiar Christmas tunes, some oldies freshly dusted off for this occasion and of course a sing-a-long!

Jackrabbit adds the final touches to my concert gown in anticipation of a splendid night of music!

~ In anticipation of "A Sentimental Journey"

 A special V-J Day Band Concert will take place Monday, August 17th at Barrie Park in Fort Atkinson.  "The 40s: A Sentimental Journey" will be presented at 7pm By the Palmyra-Eagle Community Band.  Attendees will be transported back to the magnificent WWII music that led America to victory 70 years ago. It was a time of swing music, sentimental ballads, and big band music that helped unify the nation.

Featured will be the Wisconsin native, NYC talent of Kim "Kimbirdlee" Fadner.
Honored guest Mark Grams, from the Stars and Striped Honor Flight will be on hand for narration.
The sounds of the USO clubs will be recreated by Jim Neist and the Kettle Moraine Blues Band.
Capping off the evening will be a special appearance of PECB Swing Dancers!

This is all on the tail of an exciting summer of concerts also featuring Kimbirdlee!

Here is a view to summer's vocal selections from "Come to the Fair"

Please click here to see live performances!

Ed Pierce once again put together a spectacular concert program complete with grand opera, pop songs from the 20s, Broadway hits and sing-a-longs. I had the priviledge to sing on this program and enjoy the festive atmosphere with hundreds of folks out in the sweet park settings of Wisconsin.  

See you at the fair!

A Musical Merry-Go-Round Summer

As I travel from NYC to Wisconsin to San Diego and back to Wisconsin in the last week, I may dare to call myself and the Fads "jetsetters"!  Life is flying fast!  So, listen up real quick - because I am super super excited to announce my Midwest summer concert series tour!  It kicks off next week with the Palmyra-Eagle Community Band in Hartland, WI.  As the Artist-In-Residence of PECB, I have the ultimate joy of singing great music in a big band setting and reenacting milestones from our musical history!  This series is so incredibly dear to me with my favorite maestro, Ed Pierce and my good ole pops, Dr. Bob. Please come and enjoy music from the Worlds' Fairs, the Broadway Stage, The Grand Opera and the Golden Era!!!

Featured in the Milwaukee Journal - 

Our concert is Thursday, June 18th at 7pm

There is a great line-up of concerts to follow, 

each with something unique to offer! 

Thursday, July 2, 7pm

Red, White and Blue Concert - Tribute!!

Jefferson, WI

Thursday, July 9, 6:30pm

Shorehaven

Shorehaven

Sunday, July 12, 2 pm

Eagle Historical Society Ice Cream Social - A Fair Extravaganza!!!

Eagle Park

Monday, August 17, 7pm

Barrie Band Shell Fort Atkinson - THE BEST SHOW of the Summer!!!

Barrie Band Shell

Check my website calender for dates:

http://kimbirdlee.net/Calendar_of_Events.html

And I'm especially excited to share my 

NEW YORK CITY Cabaret Live Video Footage so... 

stay tuned for my next blog post!  

XOXOXO - kimbirdlee

Life is Worth Singing

Being a singer is...

Something that has brought me joy ever since I can remember.

A lifelong learning experience

A gift to share

A road of disappointment

Being pushed down, let down, pushed out...

Learning to never give up because it's

Larger than me - universal and magical

My life

My early musical memories are at home with my dad.  I had a hand sewn blanket with the lyrics

"Sleep my child and peace attend thee all through the night"

My dad would tuck me in to bed and sing me that song.

Now my son sleeps with that blanket and with that song protecting him through the night.

He sings with the same enthusiasm as his mommy and is a million times more awesome!

My dad bought a video camera when I was 4 yrs old.  He sat in front of it with me and his guitar and we sang John Denver songs together.  Then I would take over with my preschool repertoire.  I'd sing a song then say "again daddy!" Again and again and again!
We always sang in the car on our very frequent road trips.
When my parents got me that Fischer price tape player, I'd stay up all night pressing play, record, rewind ... Over and over and over.
My mom and dad found me community theater productions and talent shows, voice and piano lessons, eventually a college degree in voice... Obsessed and in love.

Tonight dad and I are singing together with people from all over the world at the one place everyone dreams of - Carnagie Hall!  It's his fault I caught the singing bug in the first place, and it's his doing that brings me to Carnagie.  I'm not a soloist but maybe someday I will be.  For now I am basking in the light with everyone else on the stage, offering up this beautiful music.

Dad and I with Rodger Trader (Choir Director and Singer, East Troy, WI) 

My gratitude is huge, as is this fire inside me to sing in the world and for the world more and more, higher and higher, better and better.  I just want to be my best.
It's all because of you (and mom too of course)
I love you guys!
Thank you dad!

And thank you to my family who gives me endless love, support and inspiration