It’s 2023!

I am not about new year resolutions, or over-promising, or must-do/must-accomplish.

I am more about giving myself permission to “re”: re-focus, re-align, re-…you get the idea.

When I woke up this morning, this is the word and concept that was in my mind: Chiaroscuro.

What is it? How is it? Why?

In art, it is the bold and strong contrast between light and dark. In fact, you create shadow in order to reflect the light. Where these meet creates sharp contours and presence.

It is meant to emphasize and illuminate. To bring something into higher focus. To draw your attention into that contour and presence.

And, without shadow, you cannot have light.

The same with singing. We work to achieve a balance of light and dark; brilliance and depth - in order to access more texture, more color, more nuance.

The same with our artistic lives.

Light and dark. Light and shadow. One simply cannot exist without the other. Finding the balance moment to moment, day to day, and staying in that moment to acknowledge BOTH is crucial.

It is where the light and dark mingle that is that magical place: in art, in technique, in life.

I encourage you to lean in this year and discover your chiaroscuro. Play in the shadows, reveal your light. One is not “bad” or “wrong”; the other is not “right” or “good”. They need each other; they complement each other to create a unique WHOLE.

Your journey is yours - shadows and light. Embrace all of it through this year, moment by moment.

with fondness & fierceness,