I’m home after a great month on Monhegan (where this photo was taken a few years ago), and looking forward to plenty more community-oriented music this summer. While also seeking other gigs, I’ve offered my services as a guest musician to United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, and Methodist churches in my area. There’s great demand, and I’m booked solid into November, when my husband David and I head for England. (These engagements are included in Shows.) I love getting to visit and make music with these faith communities who keep the flame of love and connection lit in these difficult times. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” “May I be an instrument of peace!” “Make a joyful noise!”
Now that I’m back home, I’m privileged take part a weekly interfaith chant circle led by David. I’m also enjoying reconnecting with the Denmark Arts Center Songwriters Circle, which meets to share and encourage one another in our work. I continue to do music in nursing homes. All this community music-making gives me hope!
And that’s not all. David and I will be hosting the 3rd season of the Hiram Community Center open mic, 2nd Saturdays July – November, 7 PM. All ages welcome! Come strut your stuff if you’re in our neck of the woods, the Western Maine foothills of the White Mountains.
In other news, this season I plan to learn PowerPoint and develop a fretless zither presentation. I’ve had positive experiences sharing these instruments with historical societies, and I hope to expand on that. I also aim to work on – and with – a few instruments I’ve collected that need strings and attention. Among them are a concert kanklės and an alto concert kanklės:
as well as this Rillonette, a European relative to the Marxophone:
and this enigmatic little beauty:
I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this update. Be well!