Kids in the Rotunda
to
Overture Center-Rotunda Stage 201 State St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
media release: Prepare to be delighted as Overture Center’s 2024 Lullaby Project takes center stage with its captivating melodies. The culmination of months of creativity and collaboration is about to unfold in a new album, meticulously crafted over five recording sessions at Audio for the Arts. The album will be unveiled on Saturday, April 27, when Kids in the Rotunda spotlights the Lullaby Project. Join us at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. at the Rotunda Stage to hear many of the songs.
The album will showcase the heartfelt compositions of 10 families, each contributing their unique piece to the musical mosaic. From tender lullabies to soul-stirring ballads, this collection promises to take you on a journey through the boundless realms of imagination and emotion.
One lullaby, "These Are Things I Love About You," was created during the Lullaby Circle in November at Madison’s Pinney Library, where five teaching artists collaborated with multiple families, incorporating guitar, cello, ukulele, trumpet and piano into the song.
“The families had the opportunity to share what they loved about their kiddos with a wider network of peers, in a variety of languages,” said lead teaching artist Rebecca Redmann about the Lullaby Circle experience. “It was a joy to see the young children exploring each other and engaging with the music while their parents had the chance to be creative together.”
The refrain in "These Are Things I Love About You" goes: "These are things I love about you; these are things I want to say. These are things that I love about you, and I want to say them every day."
Other album titles include “Everything is New,” “Love Comes Easy” and “Family Far and Wide” along with “Home is Us” and “Generations of Love.” A few lullabies are named after a specific child: “Aubrey Joan,” “Dear E’Kai,” “Lenny Bear” and “Go Ahead Isaac.”
Having participated for two years and co-writing nearly 20 lullabies, Redmann noted common themes, such as soothing phrases, images of rocking and snuggling, shared hopes, dreams and boundless potential for the babies. Yet each song remains unique, tailored to the family’s story.
Participating parent Katherine Kennedy-Wooke learned about the Lullaby Project through the UnityPoint Health-Meriter Baby Hour.
“While we were singing songs to our baby that we already knew, I thought it would be wonderful to have a song that was created specifically for my son to have as he grows up,” said Kennedy-Wooke.
The creative process begins with conversations about the parents’ experiences, leading to brainstorming sessions for words and phrases. Melodies are then explored, resulting in a personalized lullaby.
When meeting with the teaching artists, Kennedy-Wooke wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted the song to be or sound like. She presented some basic ideas, and the artists ran with them.
“While I did not have any specifics in terms of lyrics or sound, I knew what feeling I wanted the lullaby to evoke and the teaching artists really were able to capture that,” she said.
Participants Cassie Carley and Nate Hoover said the experience was something they’ll never forget.
“We came into our session with some ideas, and our amazingly talented teaching artists collaborated with us to write the most special lullaby dedicated to our boys,” said Carley, whose family’s lullaby is “Love Comes Easy.” “We were so impressed with the musical talent of our team and their ability to turn our vision into a cherished gift for our family that will span across generations.”
A talented lineup of teaching artists was instrumental in nurturing the creative spark for the album: Sarah Burgess, Brighin Kane-Grade, Jess Kent-Johnson, Laura Lang, Autumn Maria Reed, Rin Ribble, Sam Taylor, Laura Vesolovsky, Lawren Brianna Ware, Angela Puerta and Rebecca Redmann. Sam Taylor is the album producer.
“I sing ‘Lenny Bear’ to my son every day,” said Kennedy-Wooke. “When I change him, play with him and swing him around, the song is incorporated into our lives. Hopefully, as he grows, it will stay a reminder of comfort and love.”
Carley and Hoover noted, “The boys often request ‘the song you wrote for us’ at bedtime. The Lullaby Project gave us the chance to express and share some of the thoughts, feelings and emotions we are experiencing as parents of young children. We also hope other families can relate and enjoy. We are beyond thankful to have been involved with the Lullaby Project.”
The 2024 Lullaby Project album will be available on April 27 via most streaming services.
The Lullaby Project is supported by UnityPoint Health-Meriter, Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission with additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation. This project is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Madison Arts Commission.
OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Madison, Wis., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and four galleries where national and international touring artists, nine resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in nearly 700,000 educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture’s mission is to support and elevate our community’s creative culture, economy and quality of life through the arts. overture.or