In recent years, as music has grown from a means of meaningful expression to an undeniable necessity in my life, I have marveled at the path carved from past to present by a unique confluence of circumstances, choices, and interactions. As I faced the decisions of adolescence and young adulthood regarding career interests and goals, I remember seeing little beyond a fog of options that generally clustered around intellectual office work of some ambiguous nature. Until my mid-twenties, I did not ever think of music as a viable way of making a living. But in the midst of my belief that we each have special work to do in a lifetime, I find myself drawn to the creation of song with a depth that I can only credit to a force greater than my own individual existence.
The context in which music has flourished in my life seems to center around sacred spaces. From the time I was a child until I graduated from college, my primary exposure to singing took place in church and school choirs, both of which chiefly performed sacred music. In 2002, I traveled to Taizé, a monastic community in France which accommodates young people drawn to contemplative prayer and the values of peace and reconciliation. The style of sung prayer observed in the Taizé community is known throughout the world for its simple, beautiful melodies repeated over and over in chant-like fashion. On vacation from a job and a life in which I mostly felt out of place, I embarked upon that journey with an ardent desire to gain clarity regarding a more meaningful line of work and a general purpose for my life. In the serene setting of Taizé where prayers are sung three times a day, I began to realize that my devotion to music needed to expand from a pastime to the passion at the center of my existence.
The Taizé community’s custom of praying through song reflects my personal experience of music as a live encounter with something stirring, meaningful, and healing. In the years following my time in France, I have continued to seek out sacred settings for musical involvement, including hospice work as a music therapist; recording Taizé-inspired songs for a contemplative prayer audience; choral singing; and contributions to various prayer services through solo and ensemble work. In 2006, through one such service, I met guitarist Steve Pearlman and embarked upon a music partnership with him that has become a focal point for my creativity and greatly expanded my repertoire of secular and sacred works.
My current work includes performances in the Denver area at prayer and healing services, for private house gatherings, and for weddings, funerals, memorial services, and other occasions. My collaboration with Steve for such performances has resulted in a style that blends guitar duets and vocal harmonies in both popular and sacred styles of music. Our work together includes music by Sarah McLachlan, James Taylor, and the late Eva Cassidy as well as more classical compositions and original songs well-suited for both casual and formal occasions. Samples of some of our music are provided in the Listen section of this web site.
After many years of exploring how best to reach people through the music I create, I am deeply grateful for the work that calls to me these days with clarity to simply sing from my heart. It is my greatest joy to continue this musical journey, wherever it may lead.