It is wonderful to reflect on the year and to look forward to the new year of 2017
and to thank many people that have made this year so special for me.
I started 2016 by filming the video for my song “Free Will”.
It was directed by Charles H. Joslain and we completed it recently, after an idea by my husband Simon, showing the story of me as a little girl sitting at the piano and demonstrating my own Free Will and growing into the women that I am today.
My husband was inspired by a photo we found of me sitting at a piano as a child
and it’s a nice closure for me.
Press on the photo to watch the video of ‘Free Will’ –
A big thank you to Rupert Truman who filmed the new footages of the piano and as always capturing my journey this year through photographs.
Thanks to Charles Joslain and his team at the Central Film School.
Thanks to Gagik Karagheuzian for editing the video which, coincidentally was completed on the very same day that I composed the song on Christmas Eve all those years ago.
This year, the Jewish Festival Hanukkah also fell on Christmas Eve and is a perfect time to bring the message of celebrating light that the message of the song is all about.
In 2016 I released my single ‘A Love Song For You’ from the album of the same name.
The song was written as a surprise for my husband on our wedding day and I co-wrote it with Barry Upton, who has achieved global success with hits over the last three decades.
The wonderful Regional Radio team of Hart Media were involved in the campagne, spearheaded by the vibrant Jo Hart who introduced me to Cat Hockley from Fifth Element PR – thank you. It was also a real pleasure working with the National Radio promotersLisa Davis and Mike Armstrong.
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For the release of the single I re-edited the video of the song with the help of Boyd Skinner who has been so loyal to me throughout the years – thanks Boyd!
The video premier was featured on the front page of the Female First magazine.
press on the photo to watch the wedding video :
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I was also invited by the TV station London Live for a thirty minute interview
with Vanessa Baffoe.
press on the photo to watch the interview:
Thanks must also go to Robin Marsh and Margaret Ali for inviting me to speak at the House of Lords about Peace and Reconciliation.
This subject is so very important to me, though as a singer, it is easier for me to sing than to talk, so my heart was beating extra beats, especially after hearing the oratory talents
of Lords Eames OM. The biggest surprise for me was when Lord Eames concluded the meeting by saying that he was touched by my speech. So filled with Israeli Chutzpah, I spoke to him at the end and told him about my vision to have an event and to invite influential women from different Nationalities and Professions from around the World to discuss peace and to show the strength of the women through simple communication and to emphasise the
similarities of our cultures.
The event did happen and I would like to thank Lord Eames with all my heart for giving me that opportunity and believing in my vision of putting the emphasis
on building bridges.
I also had a very inspiring event on International Women’s day and would like to thank the main speakers Baroness Blood, the former Mayor of Enfield, Katie Anula the Palestinian Women’s right activist Ahalam Akram. We were entertained by the Bristol TV stars Livvy and Chrissie.
I have edited a special version of my song Free Will , starting with the piano version and ending with the Latin version in the hope that it will make everyone dance.
press on the photo to watch my performance of Free Will at the House of Lords
ords:
The launch of my album ‘A Love Song For You’ was at the heart of Piccadilly with great musicians and great guests, so I’d like to thank everyone who was there and especially Phil Curran who co produced the album with me.
For the first time in history I used the words of Mozart himself from a letter that he wrote to his wife when and made my own adaptation – ‘One Million Kisses’ – to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, K.488
To watch the performance at the Launch Event press on the photo:
I had a lovely birthday gift in May from my Lebanese friend, the journalist and actress Lina Kay and accompanied her to the Queens Palace Garden Party and it was a day to remember.
To read the full blog with special tips of how to get ready for the Queens Palace Garden Party press on the photo:
In July I was invited again to Birmingham to perform in front of the
Muslim Women’s charity BTM.
It was an important event and I recieved such a very warm welcome and I would love to thank Davinder Prasad from BOPA for inviting me to sing not only there but at other events in the Midlands.
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In August I was very privileged to be on the stage at the Shalom festival in Edinburgh and sing Jerusalem of Gold amongst other songs. It was very special for me to be at this Festival as a former fringe award winner but especially for the importance of its statement. Special thanks to Nigel Gooddrich for organising such an event.
To watch the performance of Jerusalem of Gold at the Shalom Festival press on the photo:
Thanks to the Director Arnie Voysey of the video ‘Just Want to be Loved by You’
The video illustrates the life of a women captured in a golden cage and breaking out to became a free women and it was featured in Music Week.
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Patricia Teitelbaum deserves special thanks too for inviting me In October to sing at the Antwerp Peace Festival and to my musicians Dean Ross and Antonio Soto who accompanied me. Standing on the stage in the heart of the City singing Hatikvah was a very emotional moment in my year.
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In November I met with the Archbishop of York at his Palace and what an inspiring man he is. He kindly presented me with a signed copy of his latest book Agape Love Stories which you really should read.
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On the same day I met with Steve Kay, the winner of a competition I was running in September, who is a fan and supports me through social media. We met in York and it was good to hear his feedback about my music .
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It was lovely to be involved in important Charity events throughour the year and singing raises peoples hearts, so I would like to thank Keith Best for taking both myself and Kate Anoula back to Enfield – a town were I lived first when I came to London.
Thanks for my friend Barbara Dingle who introduced me to many people this year and to Bota Hopkins who invited me to sing at the Lansdowne Members club for a Christmas reception with prestigious guests including HRH Princess Katherine Karađorđević and Prince Mohsin Ali Khan of Hayderabad.
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photo above by Oliver Oxygen Visuals
photo by Natalia Kolosova
I thank and I bless every moment of this year and feel very excited about next year.
Happy New Year to all of you and I hope you’ll be inspired by my song ‘Free Will’ to choose moments that are best for you and for the World!
Tallykoren's Blog 