Little darling.  It’s been a long cold lonely winter; Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here.  Here comes the sun  doo da doo doo, here comes the sun and I say “it’s alright”.

Nothing like a good old  Beatles tune to sum it up; there have been so many changes this winter.  It’s been a season of growth , opportunity and learning, and I’ve realized that though I’ve been performing more than half of my life…the journey  is really just beginning. 

 It was great to  get together and reminisce   with  my old singing friends Sam, Meg, and Traci. It seems like only yesterday we spent endless rehearsals together, laughing, joking, and doing what we do best..singing.    It felt good to sing one last time before Meg left for Broadway.  May we all find the strength to follow our dreams,  and never forget where they started.

In March, Traci and I played at the Community Ball to benefit the Domestic Violence Task Force in my hometown. It was a good benefit, good food, and  we had a great time providing dinner music,  but I’d like to thank EMOTION  for inviting me up to play pop star for a few minutes.  It was  so good to feel young , and I only broke a small bone in my leg when I jumped off the stage. lol…just kidding.

On a personal note..I’m glad to say my Grandpa finally recovered from his broken leg, and finally decided to get his butt out of bed (3 long months) and do some serious fishing with us.  There’s nothing quite like reeling in a big trout !  I would know that… because , so far this season I’ve only reeled in some bass and perch!

Besides fishing..I’ve been staying fairly busy on the music scene. I was lucky to have a unique opportunity to be a  guest performer on The Joey Reynolds show out in NYC this April,  thanks to my good friends Linc & Janice Griffiths, who continue to provide me with   many  opportunities and connections.  It was a great experience and  it provided me exposure to over 4 million listeners on over 200 radio broadcasts. Also…a special thank you to Joey Reynolds, Myra Chanin, their guests, and the tech crew for making me feel so welcome and plugging my music and website. 

 Speaking of the website…I would  like to say thank you to Brian Zaik .  This website has been instrumental in driving business for me, even though I’m still trying to work out some of the kinks.  I’m happy to announce that I’ll be providing some vocal and piano lessons this summer as requested.

Before this winter, I had only written one  song back in 2007…A Thousand Times A Day.  After I received some negative comments about the song as well as my writing abilities,   I tucked it away, and never wrote again… accepting  that it  probably just wasn’t my thing.  A couple of days before I  was ready to leave  for Debbie Gibsons camp, she sent  an email telling everyone to bring a portfolio of original songs.   I was embarrassed  as I arrived with my one lone song ; all the others vocalists had huge books, and folders.   I reluctantly volunteered my song  so Debbie could help me fix it, and was completely surprised when she told me she loved it just the way it was ..and she wouldn’t touch it.  She worked with me all week, and she helped me realize that  I can write lyrics and music .  It’s amazing how a few words of  encouragement can  carry us into territory we thought we had no business in.  I’ve written several songs this winter, and have a few more almost ready to go… Thanks  to Debbie & Tim at Electric Youth.

I  finally found some time  this winter and built a home studio in a spare room in my house .   I’ve been teaching myself to record using a pro-tools program I bought last summer from a teacher at singing camp.   (thanks Mr.Gomes..I’m enjoying it despite all the  looks I got for buying MORE equipment..lol).   Everyday is a learning experience for me  and I imagine there will never be an end .  I will always strive to be better..perfection .  I’ve recorded all the songs on this website except  for the Christmas tunes.  The music is all me ..overlaying instruments on the keyboard.  The vocals and harmonies are all mine too except on Come Sail Away..I used Traci Mnich for that high harmony   (thanks Mark for sharing some tricks).  I love the freedom  to experiment and try different things with my vocals as well as  with  song choices and genre’s of music.  It is definitely helping me grow as a musician as well as a vocalist.

 I learned not to worry about who thinks I’m musically obsessed; oh that’s right …I never worried about that. Lol.  I am who I am, and I am intensely compulsively musically obsessed (thank you God and thank you Grandpa for blessing me with such gifts). My obsession has led me to a decision  to major in music, and I’ve been accepted into the 3 colleges I applied to, as well as their music programs   (thank you Mrs. H for all your great notes over the years,  and Luke for always encouraging me and believing in me..and thank you Mr. Falcetti for your heartfelt advice.) I realize there is no way, that I can devote myself to another job when this intense  musical passion won’t let go of me.

I discovered I love NYC and all it has to offer.  Each time I go back, I feel it calling me. I learned that stretching my wings and growing up comes with a price, and that new doors are constantly opening even when the old mysteriously lock. I’ve found that  most people are exactly who we think they are, and we just have to accept that.  I’m grateful to have  the stability of a good family who will always be my island and who will always stand behind me and be  supportive in all that  I do.  I’ve learned that success …according to Linc ……will come if you continue to look forward, think positive, have a vision, stop dwelling on things that can’t be changed,  reach out to  every opportunity big or small,  have faith and most of all NEVER give up.  (thank you for your wisdom and your energy Linc. I will never forget you running around the block in NYC at 1am-lol)

I’ve  found tons of angels out there, and I want to thank every single one of them for touching my life in some way.  To all of you who visit my website  and feel compelled  to drop me a line-many thanks.. and keep your emails  coming.  I enjoy hearing your comments. 

Finally… I’ll be turning 18 in a few days, and with graduation around the corner, more changes will be coming.  There’s a big world out there waiting for me. I hope I can do it justice.