Freya Ridings Quotes

Music and opera are a big part of my life.

I am not a composer of music; I sing pieces which have been written for me which gives me bigger freedom to search for pieces I want to record.

Whenever I visit a city, I like to see what classical music concerts are on offer.

I sang in choir as a kid.

Singing and playing have always gone hand-in-hand with me. I love 'em both equally.

When I do concerts and recitals, the two most common requests are spirituals and opera.

You cannot go wrong by learning classical music because it trains the ear.

I have such happy memories of performing in a choir and I don't think I'd have got where I am today without all that experience. So my advice to young singers is to either join your school or church's choir or find one in your local area. Choral music at any level teaches you so much about musicianship and blending your voice.

Actually, I've had very little classical training, although I love listening to classical music very much.

Concert repertoire is some of the most beautiful music ever written, and I frequently seek out opportunities to perform it.

Classical music only really came into my life in 1969. I wish I had heard classical music and church music when I was a teenager or even as a child.

In junior high, I sang in madrigals, men's' and women's' choir. I played piano too, but then I got out of it.

I've been lucky to conduct the very best orchestras in the world: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Berlin, the London Philharmonic.

I love the whole aspect of music, especially the singing; I never get tired of finding new songs to sing and sing them in a way that's interesting for the public.

I've been in the Los Angeles Children's Chorus since I was 8.

Church singing is a great training ground.

I spent quite a bit of time in choirs, growing up, and in the world-touring music group Anuna.

It was what I did after school. I'd learn a song in choir that day and I'd sing it, all the parts.

I was a part of my school choir and used to participate in several singing competitions back then.

I started singing in a choir when I was 4 years old.

I was the front man of the choir and then when I was 12 and I was the leadsinger of my highschool groups.

Instrumental music is increasingly marginalized.

Choirs, auditions, talent shows, I was doing it all.

My teachers said, 'Always keep a Beethoven sonata under your fingers.' I always have. I still play chamber music, and I always play classical.

Personally, my favorite 'meat' song is 'We Got It Right.' As soon as it comes on, it transports me to a different place. And I'm really proud of our performance in the studio on that one.