Community & Wellness
I imagine a world in which musical experiences are woven into the fabric of everyday life.
I imagine a world where music in the workplace reduces stress, music in schools creates a sense of belonging, music in hospitals promotes healing, and music in our communities creates a culture of harmony.
This is not a pipe dream, but the mission behind my life in music. Having immersed myself in music education, community engagement, and wellness for over 30 years I have discovered music to be a powerful catalyst for connection, self-awareness, and transformation.
Community
“I've lived in this neighborhood for many years and have never felt a feeling of community. The Porch Concerts changed all that!”
—Marj
Shadyside Porch Concerts
What began as a weekly neighborhood gathering to create community during the pandemic lockdown has since developed into an annual summer concert series that features local musicians and draws listeners from across the city. Learn more.
Beethoven in the Face of Adversity
Having had to learn the Beethoven Violin Concerto during a time of serious adversity in my own life, I discovered it to be my saving grace—providing me with the strength and wisdom of a composer who himself had overcome the greatest adversity to write this piece. It also provided me a with lens of beauty with which to view the world. This resulted in an endeavor to highlight the “indomitable human spirit” of all of us as I performed the concerto 50 times in 250 days for people in facing adversities of all kinds.
Azure Family Concerts
With a mission to foster community for families with autism by providing interactive concerts in a welcoming environment, Azure Family Concerts Pittsburgh was launched in 2021 as a pilot project of the Music Entrepreneurship program at Carnegie Mellon University. As Azure’s Artistic Advisor, I invite you to explore our series or start one in your own community.
Knowing that "all behaviors are welcome" takes the stress out of attending a concert.
— Sherri J.
Rancho la Puerta Music Festival
Rancho La Puerta is my favorite place to enjoy morning hikes, an array of mindfulness and fitness offerings, gourmet organic cuisine, and warm Mexican hospitality that makes me feel at home. Every February, I have the thrill of staging a Music Festival in this beautiful, healing place. In addition to daily concerts by world-class musicians, you can enjoy musical talks, open rehearsals, and perhaps even encounter “random acts of music” in unexpected places throughout the day. All performance dates are listed in events. If you’re a first-time guest, please contact me for a special discount.
Wellness
“I shifted from a place of resistance to a place of possibility.”
—Theresa
Sound Healing
Having discovered the power of sound healing at Rancho La Puerta, I adopted this powerful practice into my mission of promoting healthy communities and helping people live their best lives. Whether offering sessions at the Awareness & Wellness Center or staging large-scale sound events in chapels, caves, and gardens, I enjoy holding space for people to find connection, stillness, and healing. Learn more
This was the first time my mind has ever been free of thought.
— Jamie