THE BEGINNING

It’s so hard to know where to start your own story, isn’t it?

Was it when ran through the grassy fields of my childhood home, feet stained with dandelion juice, and a little garden snake clutched in my fist?

Was it the first time I realized I didn’t fit in? When I retreated deep into mythology as I wandered along the slippery river bank with my dog?

Was it the first time I experienced violence?

Was it the first time I went surfing, and became liberated by the wild Oregon waves?

But, no. My story begins with a piano, a journey into fear, and the reclamation of my singing voice.

THE STORY

I began playing the flute at age 8, and ended my relationship with that instrument around age 17, burned out and disheartened. Within that time range, I briefly took piano lessons along with violin, and would try to play nearly anything I could get my hands on. I participated in many church programs and performed regularly there in a variety of ways.

Upon reaching adulthood, I began searching for my own voice. I was fortunate to perform for about five years with The Willamette Master Chorus, about whom I like to say I “can’t believe they let me in”, considering I had zero singing experience.

With this stellar choir, I was able to travel as far as Carnegie Hall, and on that trip I experienced Marina Abramović’s incredible exhibit “The Artist is Present”. It blew my mind wide open, and I returned with a changed perception which I often think of today as a cornerstone of my artistic journey. My path moved away from music as a regular practice at this point, and I focused on my career for the next ten years.

THE GROWTH CYCLE

2021: Fallout and Revelation My personal and professional life fell apart, and in so doing, vision and calling began to speak again in their secret language. At last I listened, and purchased a piano and taught myself how to play and sing covers of my favorite songs. I’d felt this calling since childhood. I knew I belonged on the stage, and that my gifts were to be shared more broadly. Now, mind you, I had crippling stage fright, and this prospect terrified me!

2023: Growth Begins I began to focus more on music while paying the bills at Broder Söder, a Nordic cafe housed within Nordic Northwest. Through various connections at the restaurant, I found piano, voice, and songwriting mentors and teachers.

October 2024: The Opportunity The curator at Nordic Northwest took notice of my efforts, and invited me to perform a “Nordic Themed” concert in the ballroom. That limitation led to the concept of The Humbling of Thor, which later became a full-length epic Bardic tale.

The Calling I had experienced, for the first time, the divine Bardic connection with the gods: speaking their words, their stories, their culture in conjunction with my own music, poetry, and story. For me as the performer and vessel, the experience was one of divine wonder and ecstasy.

I quickly realized that a grand piano was not the most accessible choice of accompaniment, and I eventually stumbled upon a quality maker named Luthieros out of Greece, from whom I purchased a Classical-period reproduction of an ancient Greek lyre. This has become my primary instrument, supplemented by the recent addition of the ancient Finnish 5-string kantele. I now perform a wide range of shows, ranging from rock venues to bespoke private events.

I hope to not only share the crucial work of mythology with audiences worldwide, but also to give other multidisciplinary performing artists a vision and concept of what the sacred art of mythology can be. I’d love nothing more than to see other artists far surpass my skills in the pursuit of telling the ancient stories of their people!

Thank you to:

Nordic Northwest
Broder Söder Cafe
Finlandia Foundation National
Finlandia of the Columbia Pacific Region
Portland Finnish School
Koti Sauna
Rochelle Kulei Nielsen
Portland Story Theater
Stephanie Schneiderman
Darren Brooks
Blessley Instruments
Luthieros of Greece
Mike Elson
Emilie Faiella

And so many other supporters, connections, and friends. I would not be here without you!