Past
Born in Kansas in 1989, Chantelle discovered her love of singing at a young age through a Sandi Patty cassette tape. She began singing with a local children's choir at age ten, and began voice lessons at age twelve. Since then, she has achieved honors in many genres, including being selected as a soprano soloist on five different occasions in the choirs she has been a member of over the years (including the state wide
Golden Belt Vocal Festival and the
Flint Hills Masterworks Chorale, led by Dr. Reg Pittman of
K-State) as well as competing in the final round of "Junction City Idol" in 2007, and singing the National Anthem twice at regional
NATPA events. In December 2006 Chantelle recorded a Christmas album which was met with delight by her family and friends.
Major musical influences in Chantelle's life have been her piano teacher (she took lessons for ten years, beginning at age five) Loretta Petr, former voice teacher Matt Fallesen, current voice teachers Leia Edwards and Anne Walker, and all of the choir directors she has sung under. Chantelle takes her inspiration from artists such as Judy Garland, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Sinatra, Charlotte Church, Shaun Cassidy, Leontyne Price, Douglas Sills, and Barbara Cook.
Present
Chantelle is in the process of recording a demo CD that will include three jazz standards and one classical piece. In the near future, Chantelle hopes to move to Kansas City and pursue both jazz and classical performance opportunities.
Future
Fans can expect the release of Chantelle's first full-length album, "The Summer Night" in time for Christmas '08 (cross your fingers)! It will be comprised of familiar jazz ballads, swinging standards, and showtunes! Although the Great American Songbook is her first love, Chantelle plans to continue performing and recording classical music, and has plans for a "crossover" album in the more distant future.
Otherwise
Hey everyone, Chantelle here, and after all of that prim & proper
Bio stuff up there, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about myself in everyday life.
Most of my spare time (aside from practicing music (or just goofing around!) with the assistance of my trusty piano) is spent either
reading or
writing. I love the classic
mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingam, and Dashiell Hammet-- not to mention the timeless
Hardy Boys, Frank & Joe! I also adore the whimsical tales of
A. A. Milne. In non-fiction, I love studying
20th century music history and criticism, especially books and lectures written by Leonard Bernstein! My writing has two outcomes: either fiction (generally a mystery, of course) or blog entries! I'm a
fanatic blogger! In fact, I even have a
special blog for the stories (or rather, pieces of stories) I write!
In my "down time," I like to watch
classic films. Some of my many favorites are West Side Story, East of Eden, All About Eve, Arsenic and Old Lace, suspense movies like Gaslight and those by Hitchcock, and the slightly more modern Indiana Jones! The music I like to listen to, aside from the influences listed above, include Barbra Streisand, the rest of the
Rat Pack, Leigh Nash, Eisley, TAIT, Nicole Byblow, Gardar Thor Cortes, All Angels, and
many, many more! Of course, listening to "Leonard Bernstein" encompasses not only his compositions, but
anything he conducted! I could have happily-- no,
blissfully-- lived in the
1950s; in fact, I collect old movie memorabilia and
vinyl records, and I
looove retro fashion!
I have a variety of interests that I pursue/read about on the side, including astronomy,
criminal investigation (my dream "alternate career"), conducting (like Lenny!), foreign languages, travel (I love taking
road trips, and hope to travel the world some day!), the
French Revolution, and studying "pop culture" history. When I
really want to kill time, my favorite way to do it is with a cup of
tea on a rainy day (preferably with a book, the older and dustier the better!), or by just malarking about on a hot
July day.
Chantelle Lee Constable
Pronuncation: shăn-tĕl'
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Voice type: soprano ("potential" lyric)
Other instruments: piano, rudimentary guitar
Discography: "Treetops Glisten" 2006
