Ann Sweeten

Ann Sweeten displayed an early interest in the keyboard, and her mother gave her a Hammond organ when she was six. Three years later, she received a Baldwin piano for Christmas. She studied privately with David Sokolof, then attended Smith College, from which she graduated cum laude with a degree in foreign languages. Next, she took vocal lessons and founded a rock band called Fall Out. After two years, she returned to academia, attending the Boston Conservatory where she studied music, acting, singing, dance, and musical theater. She moved to New York, joined the actors union, and began getting parts in stage musicals, while also playing piano...

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Joe Bongiorno

“Glass of wine & candlelight music”… is the best way to describe the gentle, flowing melodies of Seattle based solo pianist/composer Joe Bongiorno. After abandoning his classical training as a child, Joe returned to the piano is his late 20’s and discovered a wonderful channel of peace & emotional release. His 4th CD “Mesmerized” was released in Dec. 2009. Critics say “Its gentle flow casts a magical spell that draws you in and wraps your mind in unspeakable beauty”. Joe’s 2007 CD “Somewhere Within” received immediate acclaim and found its way onto radio playlists all over the world. It was nominated for Best Solo Piano CD of...

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Paul Cardall

The three time Billboard charting recording artist Paul Cardall has inspired people worldwide. Not only as a songwriter, composer, and performer, but he has been successful running his own independent record label Stone Angel Music for more than 10 years.As a teenager, Cardall discovered his gift of music. After a friend’s tragic death, he found solace through the family piano. Over the next several years, Cardall spent hours writing songs, without much formal training. ...

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Jennifer Thomas

Jennifer recently won the Public Award Trophy for her song “You By My Side” in Germany’s 2008 Swan Lake Moving Image and Music Awards.Her song “Fly Away” is currently being featured in the International Free Skiing Festival’s Award Winning film “Reasons” by Poor BoyZ Productions.“Fly Away” has also won two 1st place awards on OurStage.com this fall.Jennifer just released her 2nd album, “The Lullaby Album” July 20, 2009. It is available from her website. ...

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Interview with Laura Sullivan

What kind of music do you like to create the most? I compose mostly for the piano and other acoustic accompanying instruments and lately I have also been including vocals on some selections. I like to play and create music for which I feel some personal connection. My latest album, Feast of Joy and Love, features my vocal debut recording of romantic and emotional music. My forthcoming album, Close to Home, will be released soon. This album will include some of my favorite songs since my childhood, such as The Water is Wide, Si Beag Si Mor, Shenandoah, Simple Gifts, and She Moved through the Fair.What are some of your musical influences?...

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Jon Dahlander

Jon Dahlander can’t walk by a piano. He has to play it. It’s why he’s been kicked out of countless hotel lobbies, bars and restaurants throughout his life.“To me, every piano has a story—where it was made, who made it, the kind of shape it’s in, who played it before and what it sounds like now, particularly with one of my songs,” says Jon. “So, if I see a lonely piano, I have to play it. It’s like finding a new friend with a common interest.”It’s why Jon’s series of piano solos isn’t morose or mundane. These are pieces of music that bask in the joy of being played.In 1995, Jon signed on with Dallas-based Carpe Diem Records and his debut...

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Eleni Karaindrou

Eleni Karaindrou (Greek: Ελένη Καραΐνδρου; French: Eléni Karaïndrou) (b. 25 November 1939) is a composer of film music and classical music, with influences ranging from jazz to folk music from the Balkans and her homeland Greece. She is most famous for her long collaboration with the Greek film maker Theo Angelopoulos (Greek: Θόδωρος Αγγελόπουλος), for whom she composed the soundtracks for films such as “Ulysses’ Gaze” and “Eternity and a Day”.She was born in the mountain village of Teichio in central Greece and grew up in Athens where she studied piano and theory at the Hellenikon Odion. From 1969 to 1974 she studied ethnomusicology...

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Jim Brickman

Jim Brickman Jim Brickman (born November 20, 1961) is an American composer and pianist. Brickman is known for his solo piano compositions, which are classified as new age music.Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brickman enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Music taking courses in composition and performance, while taking business classes at Case Western Reserve University. His music career started when he was nineteen, when Jim Henson hired him to write tunes for Sesame Street. He was also hired to write commercial jingles while in college.Brickman writes a wide variety of music. Besides his piano compositions and love...

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