Samantha Jade Ash in her dressing room before going onstage.

tonight's performance

Hello all. I thought tonight's performance at the Armed Forces concert went very well. Just to give you a treat.  There was a technical fault with the recording device but it managed to get the end of one song and all the rest.  Enjoy.  http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6434285/performance.mp3

Armed Forces Concert

Hello. On june 26, I will be participating in a huge concert on the Isle of Man. The concert for the Armed Forces on Veterans Day. I am excited about it but also nervous as it will be a professional setting which I have not really been exposed too. I wonder what it will hold? Good news though, I asked permission from the organisers and they said I could video and record the part I am singing in and share it with you all. Hope you enjoy this.
Samantha :)

coping with a slight cold when singing.

Hello. On the saturday before the music festival competition last week, I developped a slight throat problem and cough. I rested my voice, drank a lot of honey and had some olbas oil in my room. I was able, surprisingly to sing on the Sunday, gaining 87 marks, distinction. On the Monday morning, I got 84 marks, commended. However the judge said I had to "Look at the audience"On the monday night I sang Time to say goodbye and gained 83 marks, merit. However the audience expected me to be in the top 3 as they cheered very loudly when I had finished and before I went onstage. Apparently my hair shon in the lights. Now I am singing tomorrow, the last class for me, German Lieder, where I am singing Du bist Die Ruh. It means you are the Peace in English. I will update you on how I do there. I hope you've enjoyed this. Samantha :)

8 days to go.

there are just 8 days to go until the Manx Music Festival. I am starting to feel nervous with excitement as well. I hope that I do well in the competition and, even if I don't win, the experience is what couts. At least I can say I've done a competition :) Talking of feeling nervous, people keep coming up to me and saying they are nervous about something. I always say to them when they go onstage they will be fine, it's just the annoying waiting that makes them nervous. They can be a little nervous in my opinion, but not too much. Let's hope everything goes well for me in 8 days time. :)

the Manx Music Festival is getting closer!

Now there are a few weeks until the Manx Music Festival. I am still practicing. I cannot wait to go on to the stage as I will love the feeling of it. I will be a little nervous but not that much. I will let you all know how I felt after the classes are over.

discovering my voice and its progress.

Hello. Today I was practising and I discovered that my voice sounds a lot fuller than it did last week. There is more vibrato and I now know where my passagio or bridge notes are. they are from f4 to gsharp4. I am very pleased with the way my voice is progressing now. I have been told there is a dramatic tone to it which is rather similar to Maria callas. I am not trying to imitate her though I can assure you. :) Enjoy. Samantha Jade Ash

Preparation for the Manx Music Festival competition in April.

Hello all. I am trying this again for the 3rd time. The other 2 times failed as safari quitted. It is now time for me to learn all my songs for the manx music festival competition in April. I hope I do well there. As I am totally blind, I can learn my songs by two ways, braille music, or by ear. I know how to do both of them. I will be a little nervous however, as it will be my first time on a propper stage. I have done small performances but not any like this one. I am not a professional opera singer yet but would love to be sometime :). Let's hope this works this time, or that the other two haven't been put up there as well. :) Samantha