Talking Tudors Listener Spotlight

Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background.

Hello from New York City! My name is Jessy Tomsko, and I am a musician and performer, a composer/lyricist, vocal coach and music teacher. I have a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Westminster Choir College (Princeton), I’ve been a songwriter for 15 years, a session musician, and last year I had the very cool opportunity to be a vocal coach on both Sesame Street and Apple TV’s new show Helpsters. I’m originally from Philadelphia, I’ve been living in NYC for 10 years, and in 2017 I married a truly amazing man!

What ignited your passion for Tudor history?

I’ve always been a massive history buff and I have a life-long love of learning. I’ve been particularly interested in Anne Boleyn since I first heard of Henry and his wives when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Four years ago, I was up late playing guitar and writing one night, and I was suddenly struck by a random question: “What if Anne Boleyn sang a contemporary, modern folk song from the Tower of London, whilst awaiting her execution? What might that sound like?” It was so out-of-the-blue, I almost laughed it off. But I decided to use it as a writing exercise, and the song I wrote that night became the inspiration for the project that has since taken over my life and become my obsession – a folk/ rock meets Renaissance musical about Anne Boleyn. Since then, I’ve spent nearly all my free hours researching, writing, and discovering the enigmatic force of nature that was Anne, and I was even able to take a trip to London in 2018 to hit the Tudor Trail myself, which was a complete and utter thrill!

What’s something you love about where you live?

Broadway is a mere 15 minute subway ride from my apartment! Although all the theaters are closed down indefinitely due to Covid-19, I know they’ll come back strong and ready for a new world! I love to see shows in my spare time (both Broadway and off-Broadway), and I have always found theater to be absolutely magical, cathartic, and eye-opening. Between TKTS and various websites and apps that offer discounted tickets, before the shutdown I was regularly seeing 1-2 shows a month. Can’t beat it!

What are your hobbies?

I love playing piano and guitar, yoga, gardening, traveling, adventures with my friends (my dear friend Allison flew over and met me in London on my trip!), and doing just about anything with my wonderful hubby! Whether we are exploring a castle in Ireland or sitting on the couch watching The Office for the 30th time, it’s always the happiest moment.

What’s been one of your favourite episodes of ‘Talking Tudors’, and why?

I’ll admit I only recently discovered Talking Tudors (quite shocking for someone who has been researching all things Boleyn for four years!), but I particularly very much enjoyed the episode with Professor MacCulloch on Thomas Cromwell, and I intend to read his biography! My creative team and I have gone back and forth so many times on how to portray Cromwell’s relationship with Anne in our story, and what kind of a person he was, and this episode shed some new light for me. Also, I loved that MacCulloch’s Boleyn take-away was the “Spem in alium” by Thomas Tallis – I love the music of Tallis, and I actually got to sing that exact piece with a huge choir in college! Breathtaking!

Share a brief story. It can be inspiring, funny, spooky, heartwarming or historical. Anything you like!

One of my favorite things that happened while I was visiting England in 2018… I went to Hever Castle (of course), and while there, I overheard a British girl talking to her friend about the Tudors and the Lancasters, and she was wondering where the names came from. There were no guides present in the room at that moment, and so I politely popped over and said, “I really don’t mean to intrude, but I overheard your conversation, and I think I may be able to answer that…” Before I knew it, a group of 7 or 8 other tourists were gathered around me asking me questions about the Wars of the Roses and then the Tudor dynasty! Which of course led to questions about Anne Boleyn, and let’s just say, I was pretty much in heaven talking about my passion and answering their lovely questions (to the best of my ability)! ’Twas an afternoon I’ll never forget!

When do you listen to Talking Tudors? (For example, while walking, exercising etc.)

I love to go outside on my back patio, get cozy in the hammock with some sort of refreshment, and settle in for an hour or so of Tudor history!

Finish this sentence: I’d like to learn more about…

Elizabeth I. I haven’t had the chance to really dive into her reign just yet. My research has been specifically about Anne – her childhood and teenage years, her relationship with Henry, her politics, her religious beliefs and evangelical zeal, and of course her downfall and execution, and trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together – that I haven’t really gone further into her daughter’s reign in depth (beyond basic surface knowledge). It’s on my to do list!

Tell us about someone you admire.

My husband’s father Pat, who passed away in 2017. He was the kindest, gentlest soul I ever met. Happiest in his garden and workshop, Pat was adored by all. Children and animals loved him, he could tell stories for hours, he took pride in his work and his art, he was a truly amazing husband and father, and he most enjoyed the simple things in life.

What’s something you’re looking forward to in the next twelve months?

Further development of my show! “Boleyn The Musical” is currently in development with an amazing team, and we are excited to be moving forward. Covid has forced us to put some things on pause, but it’s also forcing us to get really creative! And one fun detail: my dad Steve is writing our script! He’s a great writer and fellow history buff, so our teaming up to write this show made total sense!

Feel free to connect with Jessy on Instagram!

@boleynmusical @jessytomsko