“Much
of the music in Cy Coleman’s “City of
Angels” is difficult fast-paced jazz. If singing
can be called precision – this is it.
The complex harmonies were delivered magnificently.
I’ve never seen Ms. Schaffer deliver anything
short of perfection, and she surpassed even herself
here. Following the shows, the large tight orchestra
broke blast into some of the finest jazz I’ve
ever heard.” – TheatreLives.org,
2005
"It has been a delightful experience
to work with and share performances with Donna Schaffer.
She is an amazingly versatile singer who has been
trained in different vocal traditions that span centuries
of musical output and reflect strikingly differentiated
genre and style. Case and point: In October of 2005,
under the sponsoship of Artful Living, a concerts
series in Lyme, CT, Donna offered a compelling one
hour performance, moving without skipping a beat,
albeit heart or rhythm, from highbrow art song and
lieder to early show tunes (Kurt Weill and George
Gershwin) to contemporary classical music, and,finally,
to attractive modern day popular music. with strong
positve audience review. Later in 2006, on very short
notice, I hired Donna to sing two dedicatory concerts
in Ithaca NY and New York CIty. The music was brand
new, complex and serendipitous, composed by members
of New York Women Composers to the poetry of Ann
Silsbee, composer and poet of note. As usual, despite
the short notice, Donna performed with dignity, punch
and elan, once again to a most enthusiatic audience.
"Donna has a commanding stage
presence. She is beautiful to both watch and hear.
Finally, and so very importantly, she is willing
to rehearse as often as is necessary to climb into
the notes in order to bring all performances to the
highest and deepest musical level. We are a most
happy team and I look forward to any future performance
with her with relish!!" – Sarah
Meneely-Kyder, Adjunct
Professor of Piano and Theory, Wesleyan University,
Middletown, CT; The Dictionary is Eighth Edition:
Baker's Biographical Edition of Musicians. Editor
is Nicolas Slonimsky.
"Donna Schaffer walked
into my studio as a person who wanted to sing. Little
did I know that she could sing the phone book (in a
variety of languages!) and give listeners goose bumps.
Donna is an extremely capable and versatile singer
who will be wowing people for a long time to come.
I look forward to working with her. Don't be as surprised
as I was, go hear her!" – Jim
Chapdelaine, 7-time Grammy Award Winner
"Donna Schaffer has a beautiful, clear and bell-like quality to her voice. She is a superb musician who knows when to give dramatically, and when to pull back and let the music speak for itself." – Richard Nechamkin, New York Opera Forum
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