Sounds of the theatre
This year, Rachel O’Brien was at the helm of eight shows a week, conducting Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and Jersey Boys at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, PE. Despite her demanding schedule, the music director took time to reflect on her Mount Allison experience and share her journey since graduation.
Why did you choose Mount Allison for your undergraduate education?
I studied piano but playing piano for musical theatre was my main goal and passion. In high school, I reached out to music directors to learn about their career paths and several of them had music degrees. I was performing in the Truro Music Festival when I met Lynn Johnson, a professor at Mount A, and we just really connected. I liked that, as a musician Lynn did so much collaborative work with singers, and I decided to study music at Mount Allison because of its emphasis on collaborative piano.
What does a music director do?
A music director interprets the music for a production, much like how a choreographer interprets the movement and the director interprets the staging and the overall story. I teach the cast the score, rehearse the orchestra or band, and ensure that all the musical elements come together to tell the story clearly and thoughtfully through music.
Can you tell us about your career journey since graduation?
I started working right after graduation, teaching and music directing in the Maritimes, mostly for school productions. I also returned to Mount Allison two years after I graduated to conduct the musicals The Addams Family and Hello, Dolly! For the Garnet and Gold Musical Theatre Society. Then I became the music direction intern at the Shaw Festival and after that moved to Toronto where I have been fortunate to do a few great shows. Two years ago, I got to music direct a great new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland by Bad Hats Theatre, performed at Soulpepper. And this past season I got to be the associate conductor of Crow’s Theatre and The Musical Stage Company’s sold-out production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
Just as I was finishing my time at the Shaw Festival, I got a job at the Charlottetown Festival as the associate music director. Now in my third season at the Festival, I get to music direct Anne. I have really enjoyed growing with the company and collaborating with the same people year after year.
How do you think your Mount Allison degree helped your career?
Mount A provided me with the chance to collaborate with a wide range of artists and I would not be the pianist or musician I am today without that experience. As a music director, much of what I do involves analyzing scores and mining them for both musical and extramusical meaning and I think the strong academic foundation I received at Mount A in my music history and my non-music courses set me up for success.
Favourite musical?
Probably Sweeney Todd. I like the melodrama aspect of it and find the music extremely compelling.
Musical that first influenced you growing up?
Anne of Green Gables — I remember attending a matinee with my mom when I was five and it was my first big influence. That is why I especially never take for granted our matinee performances of Anne. It means a lot to see a huge production like that when you are a kid and you just never know when those formative theatre experiences are happening for an audience member.
Several members of the Mount Allison community were involved in this year’s production of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical. Sarah Bell (’11) performed as Mrs. Barry / Mrs. Blewett and faculty members Karin Aurell and Olivier Blakney were part of the orchestra. The group highlights the enduring strength of the Mount Allison community in the arts.