Inspiration

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a singer. 

Among my earliest childhood memories are episodes of family singing – holiday carols around the piano, folk songs during long road-trips in the back seat, hymns in Sunday church services. The Smith family singers might have rivaled the Von Trapps – that is, we had our moments! No one could hold a candle to our rousing rendition of “When The Saints Go Marching In” – at least to our own enthusiastic ears.

As the youngest of 3 sisters, I guess I was determined to have my voice heard because as soon as the music started I was searching for and creating my own part – often a harmony that floated above all the others. I loved the challenge and triumph of finding a way to be uniquely myself and yet still be part of the group.

Fast forward through lots of amazing opportunities to sing, to learn about singing and how to do it better, to explore why singing matters and to share all that I’ve learned about singing with anyone who will listen, and then we come to this moment. Where to next?

There is an ongoing global conversation about voice – a crucially important one. Whose voices get to be heard? What are those voices expressing and what kinds of responses do they evoke?  How do we each effectively raise our own voices in support of what matters? These aren’t new questions, but they’re finding some new answers in our time. It’s promising. Also a little scary. Without a doubt, it’s a time to tune in.

What I aim to do in this blog is to contribute my own voice to this conversation. I intend to amplify the good, to bring focus to and to encourage continual resonance with what is beautiful, constructive, empowering, expansive, healing. 

I’ve had the almost indescribable privilege of performing profoundly powerful, stirring pieces of music in collaboration with exquisitely talented and sensitive artists and for engaged, deeply appreciative audiences. There are lots of lessons I’ve learned from these peak experiences, but one take-away stands out to me today. The most transformative performances have happened when every voice was raised in service of a singular goal. Bear in mind, performing artists generally are strong, independent – dare I say, occasionally self-involved – folks. Yet I’ve witnessed harmony among them on the grandest scale – often when it seemed a daunting, even impossible achievement.

Does it sound too ideal? Is it crazy to think we could live in a world where people practice putting harmony ahead of every other concern? Can humanity’s collective voices really harmonize on a global scale? I say it’s not crazy. I’ve lived it many times. It starts with individuals honing their own abilities, overcoming obstacles, striving for excellence. Then there is collaboration. It’s not always easy, in fact often it’s pretty difficult, but undeniably possible. And so important. The stakes have never been higher.

So, let’s get to work…