Today we’d like to introduce you to Marleena Barber.
Hi Marleena, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born with a genetic condition called albinism which affects the pigmentation of the eyes, hair and skin, causes sensitivity to sunlight and also affects visual acuity. Because of this, I am legally blind and my appearance is very pale. (I have to wear a lot of sunscreen!) I grew up in a small town in the state of Maine, and though it was a beautiful place to grow up, there was not too much diversity so I definitely stood out, which at times was hard for me. As I grew older and more comfortable in my skin, I learned to embrace having albinism. The performing arts had always been an important part of my life and I was very lucky to have grown up in a community where the arts were an integral part of my education and to have family that nurtured my talents and interests. Discovering my ability to sing at the age of ten changed how I viewed myself and gave me the confidence to feel more comfortable with having a disability and advocating for myself.
I participated in all of the school vocal ensembles and musicals, sang the National Anthem for sporting events, and even had a unique opportunity to do some recording at a young age for a children’s album of songs tied to a local television station’s environmental campaign. This later led to additional opportunities to record jingles for the television station that aired throughout New England. Shortly after my high school graduation, my parents moved from Maine to California in pursuit of a business and I followed in pursuit of my dreams to be a performer. I attended Whittier College and earned a B.A. in Music- Vocal Performance. Following college, I spent a few years teaching elementary music at a private school, gigging with a cover band, recording demos for song-writers, exploring the art of cabaret and performing in musical theater productions on the side. I then spent 11 years working for Braille Institute directing an all blind and visually impaired children’s choir, growing the program to incorporate a young men’s choir and summer musical theater program. This was a special time for me working with youth who, like myself, were visually impaired. I continued to gig on the side and develop some of my own personal music projects, like my one woman cabaret show.
About three years ago, I returned to school to earn a M.A. in Arts and Culture Management from the University of Denver, and today am the director of a small nonprofit arts organization in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education. VSA Orange County provides arts, education and cultural opportunities by, with and for people with disabilities, making the arts accessible to people of all abilities. This position is truly a marriage of my love for arts, education and disability awareness. I also serve on the board of directors for Arts Orange County which is the independent nonprofit arts council for Orange County. In addition, my volunteer work with the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) has presented some amazing opportunities for me to bring together people with albinism from all over the country to sing together in some special performances and virtual choir projects.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I struggled for a long time (and sometimes still do) with feeling accepted and understood by people because of my albinism. Looking physically different from my peers was a challenge for me in my school years. I had frizzy, curly, white hair, thick glasses and used several vision aids, in addition to a white cane, which drew a lot of unwanted attention. I was called horrible names including “albino” in a mocking way. Music was truly my saving grace. As soon as I began to discover my abilities in music, I began to notice a shift in how others’ perceived me. My peers began to focus on my abilities rather than my disability and I began to feel more and more confident about my place in the world. However, even with the confidence I had gained through discovering my talents, I had been told that I would not be a successful as a stage performer due to the way that I looked and the challenges I would face with my vision impairment. This broke my heart, but I was fortunate to connect with some wonderfully supportive, creative, directors and mentors who were willing to think outside of the box, believed in me, and gave me the opportunity to shine on stage.
There are also the daily challenges of being visually impaired. I can’t drive so public transportations and figuring out how to get from point A to point B is a big part of my life. I am married with two young daughters and being a vision impaired mom presents a whole other set of challenges! Just like any parent, though, I take it one day at a time and do the very best I can. One thing I’d like to add is that I am grateful to have been equipped with a “problem-solver” attitude which has helped me through many of life’s challenges. I would always question “why not?” or “how can we make this work?” I am extremely determined and when I set my mind to something—especially if I am passionate about it—I am set on achieving it! I think this outlook has helped me through many challenges in my life. Finding creative ways to adapt to the world around me has proven that there is often more than one way of doing things. I attribute much of this attitude to my parents who taught me to work hard, even if that means you might have to work harder than your peers, and encouraged me to dream big.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a cabaret vocalist, educator and disability advocate living and working in Orange County, California. My work has always been tied to arts and disability—promoting positive disability awareness through my own personal performances and through education. Now, as an arts manager, I feel that I can bring more awareness to the arts and disability community by providing more opportunities for artists with disabilities to be seen and heard. Through VSA Orange County, I coordinate an annual countywide arts and disability festival showcasing visual and performing arts pieces by artists with disabilities. It is also a wonderful vehicle through which to educate the greater community and raise disability awareness.
As a vocalist, I always had a tough time putting myself in a box, stylistically, because I love to sing and express myself through various styles of music. I love the cabaret performance style which incorporates storytelling through a variety of different songs and musical styles. My one woman show includes everything from pop, Jazz, Broadway, Disney and county. Something for everyone! I’d say I’m most proud of my one-woman show, which is titled “Thank You for the Music.” I created it a little over ten years ago. The show is about my life growing up with albinism and some of the challenges I’ve faced along my journey to feeling independent and achieving my dreams. The show was featured at an international arts and disability festival produced by the Kennedy Center in 2010 and in numerous other conferences, festivals and private events throughout the country. It is a motivational piece wrapped up into a show, and it has brought me so much joy to connect with audiences who have shared with me that they have found a bit of their own story in mine.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
A lot of “little” things make me happy: anything purple, punny jokes, watermelon trinkets, being at Disneyland, the sound of my daughters playing and laughing, children’s artwork, and performing of course! …But to answer your question on a deeper level, I am happiest when I am working on a creative project that is showcasing talent and providing opportunities for those who wouldn’t normally have a chance to shine. Whether it’s planning an annual arts and disability festival through my work with VSA Orange County, coordinating and directing a choir or entertainment piece for the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH), or working on my own personal music projects through cabaret and storytelling, it’s a special kind fulfillment I feel watching a project vision come to fruition, and knowing that it is having a positive impact on the people involved.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.marleenabarber.com
- Instagram: @MarleenaBarber
- Facebook: facebook.com/marleenabarber
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX-uB0J00V4&t=3s
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marleena-barber
Image Credits:
Marc Barber Kristine Slipson – https://www.kristinekreations.com/
