Blonde in Black
About
American-born cellist in Switzerland – playing Acoustic & Electro/Solo/Ensemble/Film/Recording with a repertoire covering Baroque & Classical to Jazz, Rock, New Age, Big-Band & Crossover.
“A long love affair with music… developing and changing throughout the years…with the cello – the instrument… the soothing sound – closest to the human voice.”
As a small child growing up in Minnesota, I foremost remember music – specifically “nap time” – drifting off to sleep to the comforting music of James Taylor, Elton John, John Denver, ABBA, Neil Diamond and REO Speedwagon. I spent most of my youth with my music-loving, piano-playing grandmother who enjoyed playing Joplin Ragtimes on the piano, listening to 1940’s Big-Band, Andy Williams, Connie Francis, Jim Reeves, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. We used to watch the Lawrence Welk Show together, which is where I heard the cello for the very first time.
My music studies started on the piano at the age of four and then with the cello at eleven. I eventually began playing in youth orchestras before ultimately pursuing a career in classical music. I played in ensembles, bands, recording studios and the Symphony Orchestra in Minnesota before moving to Europe to expand and continue my musical career in solo and ensemble performance, studio recording for radio and film, performing in a Big Band and in the Symphony Orchestra of Zurich.
While being an accomplished and experienced classical cellist, my love for music lies not only with classical music – spanning centuries – but also in decades of popular music of the 20th & 21st centuries; everything from chansons of Edith Piaf, 1940‘s Big-Band classics to the rock & pop from my High-School years.Recently, the global pandemic, Covid-19, has essentially shut-down the classical music world in Europe. It has left in its wake the luxury of time for creativity and thus provided me the opportunity to rediscover the sweet nostalgic music of my past. Although not in the typical repertoire of a classical instrument, this situation allowed me to write all my own arrangements and to develop a very unique repertoire which accentuates the beauty and unique musical qualities of the cello.
Through my love for the cello, the familiar music of my childhood and formative years, my special musical relationship with my beloved grandmother, my classical music experience as well as the unexpected recent Covid-19 events, have all brought together and created a unique musical experience I am certain you will enjoy.