The family later moved to Hollowville, Columbia County, New York (known as "Smokey Hollow" by its long-time residents, according to Lorraine). Lorraine tells me that she learned to play the organ in this locale, self-taught, actually at the First Church of Christ Scientist in Hudson, NY (she even tackled the organ pedalboard, which some self-taught "organists" fail to do).
After graduating from high school, having taken some preparatory courses at the Manhattan School of Music, she moved to New York City and entered the four year study at that institution as a scholarship student. She received a Bachelor of music degree here, majoring in classical piano performance.
She lived in New York City full-time from 1980 to 1991, working as a pianist and music director in theater and teaching piano and voice in her own studio. Her Broadway experiences include Grease, Once on This Island, Smile, Sweeney Todd, Senator Joe, Bar Mitzvah Boy, Jekyl and Hyde, Songs of Paradise, Little Shop of Horrors, Vivors, and Cowgirls.
It was in New York in 1985 that Lorraine met her husband-to-be, composer/producer Godfrey Nelson. Lorraine was working on the Off-Broadway show, "One Man Band". The bass player in that show played matchmaker. Lorraine and Godfrey married four years later in 1989. They bought a country house in Copake Falls in 1991 and started splitting their time between there and the city.
Lorraine's record projects include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (of which she is quite proud), Sarah Plain and Tall, Through Granpa's Eyes, The Morris Brothers and Amanda Leigh. She is currently finishing up a recording project called "Silly, Silly Me" with San Francisco performance artist, Philip Howlett. Lorraine co-wrote the music and wrote the arrangements. Performances are scheduled for the fall of 2002 in New York.
Recent appearances include a Carnegie Recital Hall Debut with singer Joel Silberman. She also appeared with the Purchase Symphony Orchestra in two productions: Carnival of the Animals, as a soloist, and in an Alice Tully Hall Debut. She makes an annual concert appearance in New York at the Tenri Cultural Center playing one of her other favorite instruments- the accordion (any other accordion fans out there?). Lorraine's voice can be heard on the current "Grecian 5" jingle (yes, she sings, too) and for you sports fans, she wrote the CBS Sports NASCAR theme.
She gave up her New York City apartment 4 years ago and moved back to Hollowville, the site of her growin' up years. She and her husband are the parents of 3 year old Lauren Nelson. Two cats, a Siamese who came with the house and a reformed feral cat named "Spot", are also part of the family (interestingly enough for cat lovers, the Siamese is the boss!).
Before coming to HRC, Lorraine was the music/choir director concurrently at 3 different churches: two Catholic churches and one Congregational church (where she was the music director for the past ten years). Besides playing the organ and piano, she worked with soloists, choirs, and instrumentalists. She started a recorder choir, teaching sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, and bass recorders to anyone who was interested (one of the 14 member choir's favorite pieces to perform was "Carol of the Bells"). She likes to cover a wide repertoire of music that includes classical (from medieval to contemporary), and popular.
Lorraine has received a Master of Music degree from Purchase Conservatory. In 2001, she received an honorary degree from the Neupauer Conservatory in Philadelphia, PA. The degree is in composition and performance and was tied in directly to her past concert appearances in New York. She has recently composed the music for Four Hands, One Heart a documentary currently on PBS. The film is about Ed and Mary Scheier, who are potters, master craftspeople in their 90's. The film recently won a Telly Award.
Welcome Lorraine! You obviously have much musical talent. We're
happy you are with us!