Roslyn Catracchia

Roslyn Catracchia was the featured speaker/performer at today’s American Pen Women luncheon.  She is the daughter of well-known pianist and UH music professor, Beebe Freitas.

A composer and lyricist, Roslyn has been an important part of the musical and theatrical world in Hawaii for over 20 years, writing and recording original songs.  She began composing for the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, and soon after that Lisa Matsumoto asked her to write the songs for “Noddah,” her first full-length musical.

Since then she has written the songs and scores for 11 full-length musical productions, including “Noah: Come Hell or High Water” and Lisa Matsumoto’s “On Dragonfly Wings” and “The Princess and the Iso Peanut.”

She was recently music director for “Gridiron” at Diamond Head Theatre and just finished stage directing Ohia Productions’ “Christmas Gift of Aloha” at Ala Moana Center, a show for which she also wrote the songs.

Roslyn has received 5 Po’okela Awards for her theatrical works and 2 Hoku nominations for her CDs.

In May, “On Dragonfly Wings” will be performed at the Lyric Theater in Los Angeles.

Sometimes she dreams songs and wakes up to write them down.  She might start with the lyrics or else with the music.

Roslyn concluded:  “Songs come from God.  Be quiet to find the songs within.”