BEFORE YOU READ THE BELOW: I know, I'm blowing my own trumpet a lot here. I use Myspace for networking rather than friendships, which I use Facebook for instead. So, in this page I'm basically "selling myself" and my skills. I am a nice person really, honest! I guess you can only find that out in person.
I am a musician, singer, composer, music tutor and model. I am from a classical music background but love working with metal, folk and other musicians.
Current Musical projects I'm involved with:
Crimson Eden - my solo project - no.1 in my top friends
Prey for the Fallen - keyboard, soprano vocalist, violin
Gleaning in Judah - violin, soprano vocalist, recorder, piano, percussion
Hekima and the Bongo Flava - backing vocals, keyboard
Morningstar Productions - soprano vocals
I also play violin in my church musicians group once a month .
I have also worked with metal bands Ravenage and Clown Corpse. I am singing backing vocals on Ravenage's Hardrada's Fall EP. I compose classical music and am experimenting with different other genres too- see www.myspace.com/crimsonedenmusic. I am currently learning to use LogicPro and other technical stuff :D
I occasionally sing, add violin/keyboard to and HELP OUT WITH OTHER BANDS. Let me know if you could use me. If it isn't my main interest/style of music though, I may charge as I am very limited on time!!
I love playing and jamming for fun and I occaionally go along to a music group of odd bodds at Ye Olde White Harte, the oldest pub in Hull, to do just this! :-)
Past musical ensembles I have been involved with are:
Clown Corpse - keyboard
Ravenage - violin and soprano vocals
Iona Community Musicians Group - violin, piano, soprano vocals
Hull University Choir - soprano
East Riding County Choir - soprano
Hull Revelation Rock-Gospel Choir - soprano
St. Peter's Church Choir, Caversham - soprano
Berkshire Youth Choir - soprano
St. Joseph's Convent School String Quartet - First Violin
St. Joseph'e Convent School String Group - First Violin
St. Joseph's Convent School Orchestra - Leader (First Violin)
St. Joseph's Convent School Chamber Choir - soprano
St. Joseph's Convent School Senior Choir - soprano
Music Tutoring:
I TEACH violin and piano/keyboard to beginners and music theory up to Grade 5. I know I'm a good teacher and my rates are very reasonable so do get in touch if interested. I am currently studying City & Guilds 7303 Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS)Level 4, so I will be qualified teacher and be able to teach groups (just adults) too. :) I am also interested in COMMUNITY MUSIC and I used to run (as part of a group) the Hull Revelation Rock-Gospel choir!! Full of weirdos like me :)
Playing and Singing:
I also PLAY violin (grade 7 and I can improvise too), piano (grade 7), keyboard/synth and soprano voice (grade 6). Am considering doing my grade 8s in all 3 in the next few years :-). I can also play to a lesser standard: recorders, random world music instruments, guitar, drums and djembe (African drum- got it for my birthday!) which I am currently a beginner at. I would also like to learn church organ (lessons too expensive grrrr) and jazz improvisation on the piano. And, well, every other instrument in existence!
I have an extensive CHORAL SINGING background. I was in a locally-renouned church choir (St. Peter's, Caversham, Berkshire) for 7 years and received my RSCM Senior Bishop's Chorister award in 1999, aged 15, with 131/150. I was a member of the prestigious Berkshire Youth Choir (winner of Sainsbury's Choir of the Year 1996; 2000) for 4 years (1998-2002). Since then I have casually kept up my choral singing by occasionally performing in Hull University Choir and the East Riding County Choir. I have been taking singing lessons for the past year or so to improve my SOLO skills and I have improved so much in the last year that now nothing is going to stop me until I am the most amazing singer in the world! >.< I have just taken my first ever ABRSM graded singing exam, Grade 6, which I passed with Distinction! I am a HIGH SOPRANO.
Composing:
In all things musical, COMPOSITION and teaching (especially the former) are my strong points. All my compositions at school for GCSE and A-level music were graded A* and A. I would like to write soundtracks for films and games, but will turn my hand to almost any form of composition if challenged! My main style is classical music (mostly darkly-inclined) but I am not limited to this, and have recently been exploring various forms of electronic music e.g. Industrial. I am currently writing my first film soundtrack for Candy Jones: Zombie Killer, to be released in February at the Hull Film Festival. I have a separate Myspace Music page for my compositions- www.myspace.com/crimsonedenmusic (no.1 in my top friends)
Modelling:
I am an ALTERNATIVE MODEL(started in March this year) so do let me know if you would like to work with me, including Time For Photos. There are some photos from some of my shoots in my myspace "pics", please do have a look. I also model regularly for Hull Art Circle, who compliment me on my interesting and "challenging" poses, and for sitting very still! I am physically stronger than most women and can balance things on my head very well! I am particularly interested in modelling tightlacing CORSETRY and can currently get my 26" waist down to 23.5" (getting better all the time- my aim is 21"), so do drop me a line if you'd like your corset(s) modelled :). For more information on my modelling interests, please see my Model Mayhem profile at www.modelmayhem.com/RaevenIrata.
If anyone is interested in teaming up with me on anything musical- or modelling-related do let me know.
Other:
Oh yeah and I'm a CHRISTIAN(*shock, horror, run away, rip the piss out etc.*) I co-wrote a Celtic Christian LITURGY for the festival of Samhain (All Hallows Eve), which we used in 2008 on the Isle of Iona. The liturgy is published in "Acorns and Archangels: Resources for Ordinary Time – The Feast of the Transfiguration to All Hallows" edited by Ruth Burgess, available from Wild Goose Publications.
I occasionally enjoy WRITING(although I rarely show anyone, but some is on raevenirata.deviantart.com, including the above-mentioned liturgy), ACTING (although I have limited experience, but I'm a zombie extra in Candy Jones: Zombie Killer, apparently did very well and would like to do more extras work), PHOTOGRAPHY(especially nature), DANCING(many styles), ice skating and MAKING THINGS. I'm currently studying a non-accredited course in fashion design and sewing skills and have looooads of ideas of wacky stuff to make but currently still lack the skills! Grrrr. Still, I'm going to keep going until I can make my ideas reality!
Qualifications:
Currently studying City & Guilds Level 4 Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) - should finish at Christmas
BA (Hons) Sociology and Social Anthropology: First Class (2006)
Grade 6 singing - Distinction (2009)
University Foundation Award in Studio Recording (2008)
Grade 7 violin (2002)
Grade 7 piano - merit (2001)
Royal School of Church Music Senior Bishop's Chorister (1999)
Grade 5 theory of music - distinction (1998)
A-levels (2002): Music (A), Psychology (C), Religious Studies (C)
AS-level (2001): Biology (D)
GCSEs (1999-2000):
Music (A*)
Latin (A)
History (A)
English Literature (A)
English Language (A)
Double Science Award (AA)
Religious Studies (B)
Spanish (B)
Mathematics (B)
Statistics (B)
Other Modern Languages:
Conversational-level Swahili;
Chinese Passport II (eq. to GCSE level)(2007): 68%;
Spanish Passport II (2008): 67%
