Yesterday I got to catch up with one of my best friends: Desireé Lulay. We rarely get to see each other; she’s living in New York right now, but she’s spent time in Pennsylvania and Tennessee and Ohio these last few years pursuing amazing musical avenues. The Lord has a special call on her life, and it is so exciting watching her bend to His leading. I was thinking about Kat’s question, and I immediately thought of Des.
Desireé and I have been friends since my sophomore year in college. She is presently performing in The Time of Mendel’s Trouble, a musical, at the Beckett Theater in New York. This musical is one of the presentations of the ministry of The Jeremiah Theatricals and will be showing from July 18th to August 2nd. She has really fun role in this Off-Broadway musical; the cast is in the middle of heavy rehearsals right now. I was happy to get to chat so much with her yesterday and today.
Desireé has had quite a bit of experience in the musical world, but she is also my classical music hero. Her voice has a brilliance and texture that will melt your ears. Her coloratura qualities are breathtaking. Last year, Des spent some time at the University of Tennessee pursuing her Masters degree. She had a fantastic role as Violetta in La Traviata, but some major health complications slowly hindered her schooling and rehearsal energy. Within her spring semester, she was diagnosed with Chiari, a neurological disorder. “Chiari malformations (CMs) are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance.”
As she plays this new role Off-Broadway, God continues to shape Desireé’s voice and heart amidst seemingly impossible obstacles. Even though her body may fail her with this disease, God enables her to use her talent and spirit through open doors “to an otherwise closed-door public.” (DL, myspace bio) Classical music has had a great deal of impact on her present endeavors, and most likely we will see her singing more arias in the future in some exciting opera.
God bless you, my friend. May God steady your balance and support every need as you minister in your new role.
