Volunteer Spotlight - Caitlin Strokosch

Name: Caitlin Strokosch
Age:37
Hometown: Chicago

What do you do at Girls Rock! RI?

I help out with fundraising and other administrative stuff, and I volunteered for the first Girls Rock Camp this past summer.

How did you get involved with Girls Rock! RI?

I attended the first Ladies Rock Camp in 2009 and it changed my life! I learned electric guitar at the first camp and then I attended again in 2010 for vocals. After that first camp, I would have given my firstborn child to GRR! and when Hilary asked me if I'd be more involved, I said yes without hesitation. Since I am involved in a lot of nonprofit work and event coordination already, I am really happy to have some skills to lend to GRR!.

How did you get started in music?

I started playing cello when I was 3. My dad was the music director at our church, so there was always music in our lives. I grew up singing and playing classical music, and then in college I played cello in some bands and got away from orchestras. Playing in a band for the first time was a revelation -- it was so satisfying to write songs together, to play by ear instead of having everything written down, and to develop that kind of camaraderie as a group.

What was your first rock show and what do you remember most about it?

We were raised on classical and Christian music, so rock shows were pretty much out of the question for a long time. My parents took us to see the Beach Boys in 1985 and Three Dog Night opened for them. They were past their prime, so I remember it being a little sad, and all these people my parents' age were singing along... Then my high school boyfriend took me to my first concert without my parents, and it was awful -- Damn Yankees, and Bad Company (without Paul Rodgers) opened. What I remembered most was that thousands of people were swaying and waving their arms and singing along to Damn Yankees, and I kept thinking, "I don't get it!" Finally in college I went to shows I was into -- Shudder to Think, Willie Nelson, Diamanda Galas, Billy Bragg, Tom Jones, Red House Painters, Portishead... I was all over the place.

What female musician (dead or alive) would you most like to meet?

Probably Diamanda Galas. She is an incredible musician, songwriter/composer, and performance artist, and I really respect her politics. I'm pretty sure she would terrify me, but it would be worth it to share a cup of coffee with her. Oh, or maybe Bjork. I was in the hospital when I was 14 and one of the other patients gave me a cassette of the Sugarcubes and I was transfixed. She still sounds like a magical creature to me.

What message do you have for all the budding female rockers out there?

Find a way to tap into the courage you need to just go for it! -- put on a costume, take on a stage name, meditate, fake it, whatever it takes! If you work too hard to be perfect the real guts of it will pass you by... That's what Ladies Rock Camp taught me and it's something I carry with me every day. I remind myself when I'm nervous or awkward or spazzing out about something (which is often) that I don't have to be the smartest, most informed, most talented person in the room -- I just have to go for it.

Where can we find you when you are not rocking?

I run a national nonprofit service organization called the Alliance of Artists Communities, which advocates for artists of all kinds. I travel a lot so when I'm not in Providence, you might find me in a board room in Kansas City or a conference in Austin or in an artist's studio in San Francisco. The traveling gets tiring, but it's pretty much the best job in the world, creating opportunities for artists to make new work. And when I'm not working, you can find me hanging out at the Red Fez or Local 121 or AS220, or partying with friends in a secret batcave...

What are you listening to these days?

Nick Cave/Grinderman and Arcade Fire are the most recent shows I saw, so they are in current rotation. PJ Harvey and Tom Waits are pretty constant. Cellar Doves is my current favorite local band. The National, Cloud Cult, and Metric are regulars in my playlists. And I love Charlotte Gainsburg's recent album of Beck's songs.

From everyone at Girls Rock! RI... You Rock Caitlin! Thank you for everything you do.

Volunteer Spotlight - Nicole Lagace

Name: Nicole Lagace
Age: 39
Hometown: Peterborough, NH
Current: Providence, RI

What do you do at Girls Rock! RI?

I’m on the advisory board, communications committee, and a bass instructor

How did you get involved with Girls Rock! RI?

Hilary Jones asked me if I would be interested in joining the planning committee
in the spring of 2009.

How did you get started in music?

I grew up with music. My dad plays guitar and my sisters and I would sing along
to whatever he was playing. He’s a natural at harmonies. My mom’s family would
also have “hootenannies” a few times a year. She comes from a large family and
my aunts and uncles would play guitar, mandolin, violin, washboard…just about
anything that made sound. I was a virtuoso on the spoons. I started playing
piano when I was four and landed on the bass after I graduated from college. I
attended rock camp for drums in October and I love it.

What was your first rock show and what do you remember most about it?

I grew up in rural New Hampshire so access to rock shows was pretty minimal.
Elvis Costello and The Rude Five was my first show in high school. Pump it Up!
is what I remember most.

What female musician (dead or alive) would you most like to meet?

I’m actually wary of meeting musicians whose music I love. Lame? That said, I
did hear an interview with Patti Smith on Fresh Air last month and she said some
pretty interesting things about death and grieving that I would love to discuss
more with her.

What message do you have for all the budding female rockers out there?

Don’t be afraid to hit a wrong note. So often musicians can get caught up in
wanting to be perfect or sounding instantly good. Fear of sounding bad really
limits creativity and learning. It’s hard to know what sounds good if you don’t
hear what sounds bad.

Where can we find you when you are not rocking?

By day, working for another small nonprofit on affordable housing issues. By
night, hanging with my six year old daughter Amelia and husband Ian.

What are you listening to these days?

My iPod on shuffle and Pandora. I never fast forward The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bon
Iver, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, or Blonde Redhead to name a few. I also just heard
Coconut Records, Jason Schwartzman’s solo project, and I’d like to hear more of
that.


From everyone at Girls Rock! RI... You ROCK Nicole! Thank you for all you do!

Volunteer Spotlight - Karen Orsi

Name
Karen (Riendeau) Orsi

Age
44

Hometown
East Providence, RI

What do you do at Girls Rock! RI?

I teach guitar for the Ladies Camp, Girls Camp and Girls Get Loud Afterschool Program.

How did you get involved with Girls Rock! RI?

My friend Patty called and said “Want to teach guitar with me at this weekend camp?” and I was like “Yes!” I can’t say enough about how great the GRRI organization is – there are so many amazing women and girls associated with the organization, both volunteers and campers.

How did you get started in music?

Being the youngest of six kids, I was constantly exposed to all sorts of music and instruments. Guitar always held a particular intrigue for me. My brother’s bands practiced in our basement, which was a great way to pick up guitar parts and watch band interaction. I received my first guitar when I was 13, and never looked back!

What was your first rock show and what do you remember most about it?

The first rock show I remember that really left an impression was the Throwing Muses at the old Living Room. Besides being immediately drawn to the music, seeing these creative and talented women on stage playing in a way that was about the music, as oppose to the girl/video image that was big at the time, was amazing and inspirational.

What female musician (dead or alive) would you most like to meet?

I would love to meet Laurie Anderson. She has such an intelligent wit, a very interesting catalog of music, and seems like someone who would be fun to talk with for hours. Also on the list would be Memphis Minnie, Chrissy Hynde and Gillian Welch.

What message do you have for all the budding female rockers out there?

Be yourself, play in your own way, find your style. Play with other musicians whenever you can, it really is one of the best ways to learn. And attend one of the GRRI camps or volunteer for GRRI – it is a wonderful way to meet others who are passionate about music!

Where can we find you when you are not rocking?

Developing websites at my favorite café, in the recording studio, teaching guitar, running, at the beach, enjoying time with friends and family

What are you listening to these days?

Songs that my friends have been writing – there are a lot of talented musicians associated with GRRI! Also Chris Pureka, Florence and the Machine, Django Reinhart, Throwing Muses, Lisa Hannigan, PJ Harvey, Meshell Ndegeocello, Sufjan Stevens, lots of Pandora radio.

From everyone at Girls Rock! RI... You ROCK Karen! Thank you for all you do!