September 7, 2019 - Dana Lyn (Violin/Piano/Composer)
I've known Dana since we were both in the Meremblum Youth Orchestra on Saturday mornings when we were teenagers. She played violin. I played percussion/piano. We said hi to each other here and there, and our parents were friendly. Dana and I really didn't connect.
We became actual friends through our mutual friend, Rumi. They had majored in music at Oberlin while I was "making movies".
It has taken me a long time to articulate how I feel about Dana. There are many musicians I have met along the way who stir the pot of creativity. But there is a significant difference when someone does this who is your friend first.
Dana heard me talk about Inception before the initial investor pitch meeting. ("Sounds great. What have you done?")
The thing about holding a day job when you are pursuing your passion is... some would say you're being safe. I say a coward. Or doing a mediocre job at living life.
How do you get upset with other people who don't fully believe in what you are doing, when you yourself are only dipping your toe in?
Dana doesn't do that. She is full bore composer/Irish fiddler. She always chooses "other"... or the more unpredictable path. Two of her big successes include writing the music to Vincent D'Onofrio's spoken word album, "Slim Bone Head Volt", and touring with Taylor Mac's "24 Decades of Popular Music in 24 Hours". Or at least that is what she might tell you despite being the original Broadway violinist in "Hadestown". She also performs these magical duets with Kyle Sanna, and is the composer-in-residence at numerous prestige music organizations.
Every time I catch up with Dana, my head starts swirling. Not with jealousy. Not with imposter syndrome (maybe a little). But with those inner thoughts that you are not doing enough with your music career. And without really telling you to do anything, she forces you to refocus on the important things like orchestrating that motif in your head and getting it on paper.
Dana returns several times in the future cohorts. So I'll have more to say. But in the meantime, take a listen for yourself to part of her journey.
Click on the video below to hear Dana talk about her journey.
My friend Adrian Zaw of Zaw Studios at that point had a mission of helping nonprofits. He came to three different sessions including a mentoring date, a rehearsal, and the concert.
What did he charge us?
Nada.
It was a write-off for him.
To this day, for any videography gigs I can find that are paid, I call him first, and I recommend him first for any job, and not because he did us a solid.
I am adding this video which his team created which happened to be filmed the day Dana was in town. It just provides a sense of what we do beyond still shots.
September 7th was also my birthday, and I really can't stop writing about this day without telling you about young composer Luis.
A few days before, Luis had texted me. He wanted to quit.
He had missed a couple of sessions and was falling way behind on his composition and didn't think he could catch up.
Why was this? It was summer, and he had to help his dad and his grandfather with their construction business six days a week, and he couldn't get to his piece. He was stressed out, and he thought it would be better to quit.
This was the first time I realized my role stretched beyond running programs.
I told Luis that the 7th was my birthday, and for my birthday, I wanted him not to come to class, and to just relax.
He didn't attend. He missed cupcakes that Miyeko brought.
To be continued...
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