Music has been a constant in my life. Though I have recently added a visual art component to my livelihood, I continue to study, teach and perform singing. Choral music, classical, opera, folk, world music, musical theater, circle-singing, and jazz have all informed my musical choices. I have performed for audiences of 1800 people at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and 4 or 5 at the Renaissance Faire. Brought up by a musical mother, I began music lessons at age 5 on the piano, as did my brother, Rick. By high school, it was clear that I was going the vocal route, while Rick went for instruments. Chorus and theatrical productions were a major part of my childhood, including dance as well as voice.

When I graduated from high school, I began studies in college as a music major. But, as the saying goes, youth is wasted on the young, and I ran out of money and gumption at the same time, leaving school before I had completed my degree. For many years, my need to perform surfaced in theatrical productions -- both chorus and featured roles-- and eventually landed me at the Renaissance Faire and the Dickens Fair, where I learned a great deal of music from the British Isles and took up the Appalachian dulcimer. There, I met many creative friends who remain part of my life, including my husband, Buffalo. Buffalo and I both sang in a cabaret group called West of Broadway, which performed in and around San Francisco for a couple of years. Along with three other singers and a pianist, we had great fun performing the music of Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, and Leonard Bernstein. Much of that music remains in my heart and I hope to bring it to future solo performances.

At the fairs, I also discovered my roots in earth-centered spirituality, and I began to sing in Pagan and Goddess-centered ceremonies, public and private. This brought about the 1986 recording "Welcome to Annwfn", in which I collaborated with my brother Rick. We are particularly pleased at the wide dissemination of Rick's chant “We Are a Circle” from that album. (I understand it has been translated into languages throughout the world!) Shortly thereafter, my love for choral music inspired me to found Gaia's Voice, a Pagan chorus. Under my direction, Gaia's Voice recorded "The Chorus of Life" which has just been released in CD. In conjunction with my friend and mentor, Anodea Judith, we created the music for her ritual “Crossing the Rainbow Bridge”, a journey through the seven chakras, which was a benchmark for ritual theater in this region. Further expanding religious liturgy as part of my creative life, I was a soloist on the recording, "Let It Begin Now: Music of the Spiral Dance". * These songs are part of Reclaiming's annual Samhain celebration, for which I later became music director.

I began to teach voice as a fifth chakra priestess, since the fifth chakra is concerned with the voice and outward expression. Between directing the chorus and giving vocal instruction, I realized that I needed to continue the education I had cut short in the 1970's. So, at age 40, I went back to college to finish the music degree I had begun at 17. At Cal State Hayward, the music department was a hidden jewel waiting to be discovered. Besides studying voice, vocal pedagogy (how to teach singing!), music theory, choral conducting, and opera, I undertook a Women's Studies minor. This led to the creation of Musica delle Donne, a women's music festival that is still held every year in March. I received my BA in Music in 1998.

During my studies at CSUH, I was introduced to the music of Bobby McFerrin. Moved to tears by his rendition of "The 23rd Psalm", I went to hear him live at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley. It was a pivotal moment in my musical and spiritual life. His "Medicine Music" show included Voicestra, and I was enchanted by the powerful priest of music that he is -- weaving talents into a seamless performance of both rehearsed and improvised song. Since that time, I have followed Voicestra's evolution into SoVoSo and have participated in many workshops with Joey Blake, Rhiannon, and Dave Worm, founding members of both groups. The form is called circle-singing, and is closely allied with both jazz and African village songs. It is also what my spiritual circle and I have been doing for years to call ourselves and other spirits into the circle.

Exploring circle-singing, I was led to the a cappella music scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. While acquainting myself with local groups and events, I became the founding music director for East Bay Harmony, an adult Urban Harmony chorus, in November 1999. Urban Harmony is a program of CASA (The Contemporary A cappella Society of America), and I have become so involved with this movement that I now serve on CASA's board of directors as vice president for Urban Harmony.

All of this has led me to the study of improvisational singing, both individually and in groups -- and, as a matter of course, to jazz. I am currently studying solo jazz singing with local pianist and coach Ellen Hoffman. Twice a month, I meet with fellow aficionados of circle-singing to improvise in a group. I'm having the time of my life!

Continuing with my spiritual life in song, this year I partnered with my long-time friend and colleague, Robin Dolan, and formed Moonrise -- a folk duo that sings songs of love, magic and other mysteries. We are currently building up repertoire and trying it out around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Weeknights, I give both private and class instruction at my home in Oakland, when I'm not rehearsing or going out to hear good music! And I have recently become a member of the private voice faculty of the newly chartered Oakland Arts School. Daytimes find me working on my textile art. In between, I practice, read, commune with my cats, and hang out with family and friends.

I believe it is never too late to learn to express your creativity; my life has proven that to me. And it keeps growing, keeps changing. My students are such a gift to me, teaching me, each day, what is possible and how to stretch for what a soul needs. They are so brave! I am grateful for the life I have crafted and for the people it has brought to me.