Music for Shifting Times: that is what we decided to all this series when we began it back almost eight years ago at this writing.

It seemed that things were shifting then; little did anyone know how many ways things would shift across the world.

Need for connection and community have remained constant across these years; so has the role of music in making these connections possible.

You may want to reflect on those ideas as you consider the work of these musicians.

“Stay the course. When thwarted try again: harder: smarter. Persevere relentlessly.” - John Wooden

Visits to coffee houses were a frequent indulgence when I live in Vienna in my early twenties – my drink of choice was velvety hot chocolate slathered with just-whipped heavy cream, dusted with cocoa powder.

My other indulgence? Pastries.

Eclairs, steamed cakes, moussed slices, meringues, puff pastries – the coffee house cases always seemed stocked with some new-to-me delicacy just waiting to be sampled.

In the season of spring, nature reminds us of change, of resilience, of hope.

Spring months see at least two other times which include elements of change, resilience, and hope in their stories: international celebrations of women, and celebrations of Ireland connected with the time of Saint Patrick’s day in mid-March.

All of those come in to the creativity of the musicians whose work you will find below.

In whichever season you may be reading this, may the work of these artists be a good companion to you.

If you could only read one book in your lifetime, THIS is the one. After Everything, written by global educator, poet, writer, and coach Monna McDiarmid, is a gift. 

This book is EVERYTHING. 

McDiarmid has given us a novel that is beautiful, important, and life-changing. 

I went to university in Boston. Driving from New York meant going over at least one giant bridge. Each time I hit that bridge, I’d notice something shift. My fingers clenched, my shoulders tightened, I hugged the divider, and focused hard on following those in front of me in order to make it to the other side. A few minutes after crossing, the color returned to my fingers and my whole body exhaled. Regardless of the season, state of the roads, or precipitation from the sky, crossing that bridge was often the most nerve-wracking part of that drive.