Student Encounter : Devin Farrell

Here Is Devin: 'Body and Soul'

"Here is Devin, the person." Not Devin, the voice; or Devin, a set of musical skills and techniques; or even Devin, the singer. Devin Farrell '17 (Vocal Performance) says when her teachers at UArts connect her to artists and performance managers in Philadelphia, they introduce her as someone they know and care about. And that's because they do. From her experience as a high school student in the University's Pre-College Summer Institute program ("it was awesome!"), to her audition for admission to UArts, to her classes and the many University ensembles in which she performs (Octonics, DoBop, Jazz Singers and the "Z" Big Band – named "top college jazz ensemble in the country" in 2015 and 2016) – to performing alongside UArts faculty in Philadelphia's Voices of the POPS concerts, she has felt supported as a person and promoted as an artist.

Devin, who grew up in Sacramento, Calif., is as enthusiastic about Philadelphia as she is about UArts.  "I fell in love with the city the minute I got here," she says. "I have never felt so connected to anyplace before." It's not unlike what happened to her the first time she listened seriously to jazz. "I just started to cry. I didn't know that could happen to me, and I realized that being a jazz singer was what I wanted to do.

The opportunity to relate to an audience in a personal way is part of what Devin finds compelling about jazz. At Chris' Jazz Café, a premier Philly jazz club, or at the Ritz Carlton, both in Center City, she appreciates the intimacy of the space and the intense interaction with the bands. But she also enjoys "background" work: recording (she's featured on the "Z" Big Band's recent first recording) and large concert venues. Highlights have been singing with the Voices of the POPS at last year's Fourth of July Festival and at the group's Frank Sinatra Tribute. Most recently, Devin sang backup for Lenny Kravitz and Carole King during prime-time performances at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Devin credits her parents with encouraging her to pursue her dream and she is extremely grateful to her professors for helping her land professional gigs in Philadelphia. But she is firm in the belief that "it's a two-way street." Philadelphia has a vibrant arts scene and UArts faculty are deeply engaged in the local community; nonetheless, "it's not handed to you. You have to make the connections, put yourself out there, and follow up on the leads and contacts. Nobody can make that happen for you."

And there's more to life than singing! At UArts, Devin has developed an interest in the fine arts ("I like visiting museums and galleries in Philadelphia and considering the historical context of a work," she says) and in photography. She listens to opera (Mezzo soprano Joyce Didonato is her favorite singer these days). And she enjoys reading. "You have to do the things that make you happy, no matter what other people may think about your choices." The idea, Devin insists, is to "put yourself in the right place to do what you love." For her, that place is UArts.

The next place, after graduating this fall (a semester early): the world. Devin is exploring opportunities to do "background work" with touring musicians or to be involved in more studio work (recording). "I want to travel while doing something I love." Asked to choose one jazz tune she could not live without, she picked "Body and Soul," a theme that clearly embodies her time at UArts, her experience as an emerging artist, and Devin, the person.