[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Meet Juliana Sloan, a volunteer at Animal Tracks sanctuary who sings to the animals.
Many visitors to nohoartsdistrict.com may not know about my deep affinity for companion and exotic animals. In addition to publishing nohoartsdistrict.com, I proudly serve as the president of Animal Tracks, an enchanting exotic animal sanctuary nestled in Agua Dulce, CA. One memorable morning, while wandering through our sanctuary, I heard a captivating musical performance echoing from the bird enclosures. To my surprise, it wasn’t a radio but Juliana Sloan, a cherished volunteer, serenading Casper, a white cockatoo, with her angelic voice. This encounter marked the beginning of a beautiful bond, where Juliana’s musical gifts bring comfort and joy to our animal residents.
Now, I’m delighted to introduce Juliana Sloan, a talented singer, actress, and part of the Animal Tracks family.
How long have you been volunteering at Animal Tracks?
This summer will mark my fourth year of volunteering at Animal Tracks. When I first began, I worried I wouldn’t be able to keep the commitment of one day a week, especially if I was cast in a show or taken out of town for my work. However, Animal Tracks has become a second home for me, and it is truly my happy place. Even while I’m in rehearsals and performances, I find a way to maintain my once a week commitment to the animals… for their sake and my own!
What inspired you to sing to the animals?
I can’t actually remember! I am always singing. It just pours out of me. I remember both Alyson, the assistant director, and a long-time volunteer named Michelle, encouraged me to sing to the birds and the fennec foxes, once they heard me singing. I try to give as much love and time to the animals as I possibly can, every time I’m there, and especially the animals who may not get as much attention from some people (the monkeys steal the show). The fennec foxes see me coming now, and they squeak in excitement, then immediately flop down to be serenaded and pet… practically falling asleep! I use my “lullaby voice” since they have such huge ears. With the birds, they like to sing along- squarking in excitement mainly, but sometimes Casper does match pitch and coo along with me. His favorite song is Feed the Birds by The Sherman Brothers (from Mary Poppins) and I swear he even sang the last lyrics with me once. Our equines really love the music too! It brings me so much joy to be providing a unique service for them all.
How do you choose what songs you sing to which animals?
I think I unconsciously chose songs which remind me of the animals – Feed the Birds and Tikki Room for our birds, Brandi Carlile’s Stay Gentle for our little fennec foxes (as well as Over the Rainbow, a very special song for me, having played Dorothy twice), and I’m Beginning to Feel the Years (which has our horse Spirit’s name in it twice… he recognizes his name and stops eating to look at me and give me kisses). When I’m in a musical, I find myself pulling in those songs too, like Edelweiss or Sunday in the Park with George!
How did the recording of this song come about?
Brandi Carlile is my all-time favorite band, and I was incredibly star-dust blessed to have an opportunity to sing with them in 2023 at their music festival in Mexico. Alyson heard me singing The Story to our little fox Dobby, the title song off one of their albums (written by the incomparable Phil Hanseroth), and she said I should record myself singing to the animals. I thought- “I don’t want this to be just about me. I want to highlight the beauty of this sanctuary and the love that 60+ volunteers have for these animals”. We all have our unique relationships with these animals, and I wanted to honor that. It just grew from there. And Phil’s song is a love song, in its purest sense of the word. I couldn’t imagine anything else being so perfect. So I asked my uncle to help me make a cover version.. and called on favors with everyone I know in Los Angeles, basically.
How long have you been singing and where have you performed?
I sang before I could speak. My dad and my uncle had a band when I was a child, so I grew up with wonderful music in the house- The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Shirelles… Mamas and the Papas… as well as all the old movie musicals and Disney classics. At age five, I performed in my first professional musical, Annie (I played Molly) in the SF Bay Area, and two years later we were living in Los Angeles and I had agents… the whole childhood actor thing.
I’ve had a wonderful career in theatre and concert work. I toured with the Broadway tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), originated a role at Playwrights Horizons in Saved, have played so many dream roles in dream shows (Les Mis, Sunday in the Park with George, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Sweeney Todd)… I also had about seven years of touring the world with Disney in Concert, performing with the San Francisco Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, at sold-out stadiums in Taiwan and Korea… to name a few! I performed as Jasmine in Disney’s musical Aladdin- a Musical Spectacular as their full-time Jasmine for three years, and as good friends with Pocahontas in Mickey and the Magical Map, which was a full circle moment since I grew up seeing shows in that very theatre, and Disney so sparked my love for theatre. My two highlights have been my close friendship and collaborations with Disney legend Richard Sherman in the last several years of his life, and voicing Miss Wendy in Pixar’s Toy Story 4. Working with Richard, and working with Jonas Rivera and the Pixar team… it doesn’t get better than that. They are the best of the best of the best and I learned so much and had the most fun. Special doesn’t begin to cover it.
Aren’t you a vocal coach as well?
I am! I teach singing, and I’m also entering my second year of training under voice expert Patsy Rodenburg. After this summer, my training will be complete, and I’ll be a certified Patsy Rodenburg Associate (PRA), which is thrilling. Patsy’s work in voice and presence is transformative, not only for actors, but for anyone who needs to use their authentic voice and full power and presence in their work – CEOs, doctors, politicians. I love helping individuals and groups connect to their true presence and power, and to really use their voices to make a powerful difference in this world, especially as technology (Zoom meetings, texting, for example) is making true connection increasingly more challenging. My work as a voice coach is about helping return us all to our full humanity, and I’m honored to have a small part in that.
Where are you performing next?
I’m in rehearsals right now for A Man of No Importance at A Noise Within, in Pasadena. I’m so excited! This show is rarely performed, although it is universally relatable and timeless, and written by some of the best theatre has seen – Terrence McNally wrote the libretto, and Flaherty and Ahrens (who wrote the Tony-Award winning score to Ragtime) wrote the music. I’ve also been a fan of A Noise Within since I was a child, seeing shows there throughout my life. We just had our first read/sing-through and it was magical. What a cast!!! We run May 10-June1, every Thursday-Sunday. Please come see us!
CONNECT WITH JULIANA SLOAN:
www.JulianaSloan.com | https://www.instagram.com/julianaasloan
SUPPORT ANIMAL TRACKS SANCTUARY:
Visit Animal Tracks to learn more about the sanctuary’s mission and how you can support their work!