Biography
I received a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University. A longtime Houston resident, I have sung in numerous choirs and ensembles in the area, including Houston Symphony Chorus, Houston Masterworks Chorus, Lager Rhythms, Renegade Consort, Schola Pastoris, Piping Rock Singers and several church choirs. My special interests are early music and Celtic/English folk music.

I am available for weddings and commitment ceremonies, memorial services and funerals in the Houston area. I have a wide range of repertoire, both classical and Celtic. I also perform the music of Hildegard von Bingen, which works wonderfully well at ceremonies. I can perform with an accompanist or a cappella. Please contact me for more information and availability.

MP3 files
Ave Maria
The Lord's Prayer
In the Garden
Amazing Grace

Hildegard von Bingen
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a woman of extraordinary vision and accomplishment. The leader of a community of Benedictine nuns, she began writing at the age of 42 and continued for the rest of her life. She wrote numerous theological works and three large collections of her spiritual visions. She wrote two books on medicine and healing, and she invented a new alphabet and language. She corresponded with bishops, popes and kings.

Hildegard also composed 77 chants and a morality play for her nuns to sing. Her music is quite different from most medieval chant. She favored large, unusual intervals — fourths and fifths — and a wide melodic range. She wrote a number of works that honor women, including the Virgin Mary and other female saints. And while it was common to refer to the Church as female, Hildegard also thought of Divine Love as a feminine force. Because of the inherent beauty of her music and her prolific musical output, Hildegard may be considered the first great composer of Western art music.

I was introduced to Hildegard's music a few years ago by Honey Meconi, formerly the Director of Medieval Studies in the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (Houston, Texas). She is now at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.

I've always had an inclination towards early music. This particular body of music is special to me. I love singing it.

Photos
From Texas Renaissance Festival 2003
From Texas Renaissance Festival 2002
From Scarborough Faire 2002

Recordings

I recorded a CD of some of Hildegard's chants in 2002. For more information, go here.

MP3 files (Hildegard)
Caritas abundat
Nunc gaudeant
Quia felix puericia