Lisa's Story

I am thrilled to be able to document some of my musical experiences throughout my life to be used in my aunt’s new music store blog! When she asked me to submit some of my stories, I didn’t know where to begin. There have been quite a few really miraculous things that have happened to me through music. The first one I want to talk about is when I was not even able to hardly talk, as I was only about 19 or 20 months old my dad came into the living room where I was sobbing next to the old record player we were listening to Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky and he asked me what was the matter. I could barely talk, but I looked up at him and said this is the sad part (referring to the part at the very end where it gets slow and calm). He knew then, and there that I was going to be special with music in my life, and it definitely proved to be true. I sang in choirs and picked out stuff on the piano by ear, just by listening to so much classical music growing up!

I was not fortunate enough to have proper formal music lessons growing up as I am number six out of nine children, and we just simply could not afford it, but I had a musical ear, so much so that when I studied theory at University the music instructor there told me I had one of the best ears she had ever taught. I am so thankful to this day for having this wonderful mentor in my life.

Although singing became my number one focus and I ended up graduating in choral music conducting and education.  I also play guitar on the side and teach lessons to young beginners. That has been a fun and fulfilling thing in my life.

I didn’t just grow up listening to classical. I also have a deep love and appreciation for old rock ‘n’ roll oldies bands, especially the Beatles, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Toto, and many others. More recently I had become burned out with teaching, and sometimes felt that I wasn’t as good as some of the other private teachers in my area, but, my music passion was revived by discovering a Chicago cover band that I got to know personally, and the only female member of the band was an inspiration to me. She has helped me love and want to sing all over again. So many of the people who I know and love in my life are people I met through music. Easily over half of my acquaintances and friends are because of my involvement with music groups. Without it I would be a completely different person, i’m quite sure.

At university, the choir I was in was so intense and high caliber that we won the european Grand Prix for chorale singing in 2006. It’s a moment that I will never ever forget and one of the greatest accomplishments of my musical life.

Right now I am busy learning how to record and set up my own home studio so that I can come up with a few albums of my own. It’s a learning process that I am only beginning at, but nonetheless, I want to learn and become a recording artist at some point if the stars align!