( ENSPIRE Music ) Thorner Delivered TEDx Talk On The Power Of The Voice
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
International ultra soprano Emily Thorner, known for her extraordinary vocal range and fearless virtuosity, is making waves with her debut single, “Prayer for Peace.” This captivating song, written and performed by Thorner herself, blends rock, pop, classical, and music theatre elements to create a truly unique listening experience. “Prayer for Peace” is more than a song; it’s a journey. “Prayer for Peace invites listeners to explore the concept of global compassion. Thorner’s powerful vocals and lyrics resonate with self-discovery and social change, creating the perfect story for any station seeking to inspire audiences with a message of hope, unity, and love in a world that needs it deeply.
A rising star in the music world, Thorner has already made a name for herself with her captivating performances and inspiring message. She has been invited to sing for the world’s elite, including heads of state and global leaders, on the mission of social impact and sustainability. In October 2024, she delivered a thought-provoking TEDx Talk on The Power of the Voice, further solidifying her position as a leading voice in the arts. Thorner’s voice is always captivating, whether performing a traditional opera or a contemporary piece. She feels at home in various musical settings, from mainstream opera to chamber ensembles. Thorner’s talent is undeniable as one of the highest operatic voices worldwide.
Thorner believes the power of sound can heal and change the world from the environment to better living. The winner of the NYIOPS international anon auditions, Thorner traveled to Amsterdam, Milan, Dubai, and Scotland for performances in 2023. Her opera performances are Leticia in “The Exterminating Angel,” Arial in “The Tempest” (Adès), and Mollie in Animal Farm (Raskatov), Linda in “Linda di Chamounix” (Donizetti), Lakmé in “Lakme,” Clorinda in “La Cenerentola” (Rossini), Ophelia in “Hamlet” (Dean), Olympia in “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” (Offenbach), Zerbinetta in “Ariadne auf Naxos” (Strauss). Part of her music theatre experience was Christine in “Phantom of the Opera.”
She is the inventor and founder of www.moonrising.com, a sound-powered healing platform. Thorner’s discography includes The Miller in “Rumpelstiltskin” with Guerilla Opera on PARMA Records and Off Latch Press with three albums on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Deezer.
Thorner shares her singing career, the evolution of her craft, and how she began writing “Prayer for Peace.” She also discusses the writing process and what listeners should take in with her new single. Thorner tells us how the power of sound and psychology led to the creation of MoonRising, her experience hosting the TEDx Talk on The Power of the Voice, and more.
How did your singing career begin, and how has your craft evolved with your new single “Prayer for Peace.”
After studying music theatre and opera, I specialized in contemporary classical music for most of my career until now and modern opera, which has now evolved into the blend of pop, rock, opera, and music theatre with the intention of how frequency can be consciousness-raising. For the last 5 years, alongside my contemporary classical career, I discovered how impactful the world of energy healing and sound healing was, and more aware than ever of the state of both humanity and the earth asking for our attention. The subjects in Prayer for Peace were much like what you would find me doing in my business, MoonRising, and this is the first time bringing the message (and the vibration) into a space intended for everyone to hear. “Prayer for Peace,” in a lot of ways, is the summary of what I want my music to do and what I want to say in the world.
What was your writing process when creating “Prayer for Peace,” and what do you want listeners to take away from this song?
A piece for global peace and sustainability at the forefront was a huge subject to take on! A year before this, I had sung (opera) at the Climate Change Forum, and more conversations opened about how to bring the sound healing I was doing into a more public space. Some of this piece was written over months, some in a plane flying over Lithuania, feeling my ancestors (where my family first fled for their safety in the 1930s), and the final text and orchestration comes from collaboration with Erin Billings and Michelle Hord. The spoken word was quite a special part, and this came directly from a meditation I spoke out loud and recorded while in Dubai in February 2024 after a very large storm while on the stormy ocean 1 minute before the rain came pouring again…not a moment I will forget! I want people to feel unity from this piece. Every time I sing it, I picture all of us holding hands worldwide. I want people to know their voices are important, and ultimately, what is possible when we all hold the same vision of peace at the same time?
How did you discover the transformative power of sound and psychology in achieving personal and global impact, which led to the creation of MoonRising? Share your experience hosting the TEDx Talk on The Power of the Voice with us. What was the takeaway about using your voice to heal?
I discovered the transformative power of sound and psychology through my own crumbling in my life back in 2017 very much including in my health at that time– which led me on a huge path of inner healing, which I shared with others in my business MoonRising, and to my shock, became quite popular during lockdown in 2020 and it grew from there. It was actually not until 2021-2022 that I discovered how sound could be at the front of that. This discovery came from two main memories: in a program in 2021 when I started singing in my classes by accident, and 60 people on a Zoom link shared this moment of WOW, can we hear more? The second was at a convention in UAE when two friends prompted me to sing my work in public–when I did, people crowded around me, “Me next! Me next!” It was a shock to discover what the voice could really do. This is all that led to the TEDx. The takeaway is: that your voice (yes, you are reading this) can do more than you think, and the historical patterns behind your voice affect how free it is (seen, heard, understood..), but also that your voice is the most important thing there is, it is your purpose in the world.
Your MoonRising 2024 program focuses on this theme. Can you elaborate on how freeing one’s voice goes beyond simply singing and unlocks a path to success in various aspects of life?
It is running live again in 2025 and also a program you can take anytime. I LOVE this program, my heart and soul are in “THE VOICE.” It is centered around: there is only one person with your unique voice. By voice, I mean, what you want to say in this world. Through unlocking the energetic patterns of the voice, you are able to influence others in a greater way, share your truth without fear, completely show up and feel comfortable in the public eye, felt heard and understood in relationships both personally and professionally, to trust your ideas and GO FOR THEM unapologetically. To free your voice means you are the most full you, living in your fullest potential and for many of us, no longer playing small. I’ve seen clients become completely comfortable in public communication from this work, all the way to doing a commercial with nearly 7M views on youtube. It’s a program I hear a lot of “thank you, this has been life changing,” and it’s incredible to be part of that.
How do you adapt your voice-based method to cater to such a wide range of individuals and their specific goals?
Well, it’s not about the method, it is about the individual, however, the method goes to a cellular deep level for all of us because it is about sound (expect to hear speaking and singing while in a meditative state often.) Even in a group program, and yes, even if you experience the program through videos, it still goes to you individually. The reason is there is such variety of patterns we work through, and after running this work for years, programs are quite in depth! It’s the 18th program to be run since 2020, and the third big wave of running “THE VOICE,” and by this point, we’ve really fine-tooth comb figured out all of the possible aspects of your voice that are important to every individual’s specific goals. Most of all, this work adapts to where it’s important for you, and the more you do, the more layers it goes into and the more your voice is free to shine the way it was always meant to. To be the first to know about “Prayer for Peace” and “From the Stars” coming out soon, check out www.emilythorner.com, and for “The Voice,” you can experience this on: www.moon-rising.com/the-voice.
Emily Thorner is a force to be reckoned with. Beyond the captivating sounds of “Believe,” her operatic career is a whirlwind of innovation and daring performances. From the Queen of Cans in “Last Party on Earth,” a film adaptation inspired by her voice, to portraying a whirlwind of diverse characters in a single evening at Tête á Tête, Thorner pushes boundaries and captivates audiences. Her star has shone on international stages, from the Acht Brücken Festival in Cologne to the Aldeburgh Festival in England. Collaborations with renowned ensembles like Chroma Ensemble and Boston Musica Viva solidify her place at the forefront of contemporary music. With a recording like Wolfgang Rihm’s Frage showcasing her unparalleled vocal prowess and distinctions like being chosen for Bang on a Can and the Britten Pears new music section, Emily Thorner is a testament to artistic exploration and boundless talent. We can’t wait to see what she conquers next.
Follow Emily Thorner for more details and updates on her performances by following her on Instagram. To view her TEDx Talk, click here. Visit MoonRising and sign up for her 2024 program by visiting http://www.moonrising.com/ Stream her latest songs on Spotify.
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