Guitar, Vocals
My initial exposure to guitar was during the Beatles’ first Ed Sullivan performance. I cut a roughly shaped guitar out of plywood, strung it with elastic my mom used to make underwear and strummed while I walked around the house yelling “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
My involvement in music soon took a more refined direction: I started music lessons at the age of six and continued them until graduating with a music degree (vocal, clarinet and conducting), followed by degrees in English and Education.
My family placed music high on life’s priority roster: I’ve been immersed in music making and listening all of my life. I’ve taught and conducted high school vocal music, orchestras and bands and sung in and led church choirs most of my life. I’ve learned, practised, performed, led and listened to mostly classical music, but I often cranked (and continue to crank) the volume of the awesome music of my youth (60’s and 70’s rock).
I now have the privilege to play much of the music from those days with a group of exceptional people who also love working on and performing rock, folk, country and gospel music, with the understanding that our friendships come first: a dream come true. I derive great satisfaction from playing for charity events, banquets, weddings, retirement homes and some events we didn’t even know were events (like a barn dedication or a woodworkers’ banquet).
Being part of Menno Valley Sound has also been my gateway to woodworking. My desire to contribute better sounds (a consuming and fun obsession for guitarists) to our group’s sound led me to learn how to make the guitars I play.
Menno Valley Sound, in addition to serving our community, was a healthy diversion while teaching high school and has become a worthwhile focus in my retirement years. I look forward to many more years of Menno Valley music making.
