Neara Russell
Boston, Massachusetts, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Wildy Haskell (CD reviewer, Wildy's World blog)
"I will eagerly anticipate future recordings from Ms. Russell, either in the classical or pop/rock genres, because I believe she has a lot to tell us, and a lot of moving music within her to carry her stories aloft." - Wildy Haskell
Koichi Kimura (host, Kamemushi Educational Forum podcast):
What I really dig about her is her honesty as an artist. - Koichi Kimura
Liz Walker (host of WBZ-TV show Sundays with Liz Walker):
Neara Russell is a singer/songwriter and keyboardist destined for stardom. - Liz Walker
Prince Charles Alexander (multi-platinum and Grammy-winning recording engineer):
[Your demo] is an incredible piece of work. You will get fans with this … could be the NEW sound. - Prince Charles Alexander
John Corigliano (Pulitzer Prize- and Academy Award-winning composer):
I think Neara Russell is an extremely gifted young composer and performer. Her art songs are witty and sophisticated and her pop songs are completely delightful. Although I cannot predict where she will go, I know it will be somewhere wonderful. - John Corigliano
Discography
Information Fiction EP (2009)
Original rock songs composed, performed, produced, and recorded by Neara Russell
1. Dynamic Static
2. NeverNeverNeverNever
3. Cardboard Box
4. Bug
5. Mockingbird
Food for the Gods (2006)
Classical art songs composed by Neara Russell
Performed by Wendy Rowe, soprano and Neara Russell, pianist
Photos
Bio
BIOGRAPHY
Composer/performer/producer Neara Russell was homeschooled in rural Wisconsin by artistic parents in a forest of cows, chickens, and music.
During her early career, Russell was featured on the National Public Radio show “From the Top,” released a full-length album of original art songs, and earned numerous state awards while producing her own contemporary music concerts.
At age 17, Russell was awarded a four-year, full-ride Presidential Scholarship from Berklee College of Music in Boston. She graduated with honors from Berklee in August 2010, earning a Bachelor’s of Music with a dual degree in Composition & Piano/Voice Performance.
Her breadth of activities in classical, jazz, and pop/rock music include: performances in the Berklee Performance Center, Institute of Contemporary Art-Boston, “Real Divas” with Bill King, and Caffe Vivaldi in New York City; appearances on WBZ-TV Boston, WVOF Upper Room with Joe Kelley, and National Public Radio; and premieres by Tatuí Conservatory of Brazil, Boston String Quartet, Madison Youth Choirs, and Berklee Contemporary Chamber Music Ensemble (as composer-in-residence).
Russell is a recipient of the 2009 & 2010 ASCAPlus Awards for her extensive concert schedule of original works. She has won the 2008 & 2009 Berklee Composition Achievement Awards, was chosen as top outstanding college senior for the 2010 Richard Levy Composition Award, and performed her original works as part of Tour Valencia 2009, an exclusive concert tour in Valencia, Spain.
Available studio releases include Food for the Gods (2006), a collection of original art songs, and Information Fiction (2009), an original pop/rock EP.
Russell is currently producing her new original pop/rock album Noise+Silence (TBR January 2011).
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