Sounds of Encouragement

Peter Ciesla is a self-taught textile artist born in Wroclaw, Poland in 1961. Growing up surrounded by theater, visual art and music, he developed a love for textiles and fashion. Peter started experimenting with textiles at age 11 designing and creating street fashion, as well as costume for theatre and dance performances. He emigrated to the United States in 1991 and immediately focused on developing a career as an artist/designer opening “Creative Apparel Design” in Chicago, Illinois. He spent the 1990’s focusing on custom couture work, learning the painstaking attention to detail that this work requires. In addition he developed an art-to-wear clothing and jewelry line during this time, as the Millennium approached. The present incarnation of his business, Bazyli Studio, was launched in 2002. Peter based it in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin together with his life partner and artist, Skye. They combined their talents and efforts to create their unique, one-of-a-kind, sculptural beaded jewelry line. Their work has national recognition and has won numerous awards. Although Peter continued to design art-to-wear in the 2000’s, most of his energy went into hand crafting Bazyli jewelry. In 2012, he went back to his first passion and began designing and creating art clothing on a full time basis. In 2015, Peter and Skye opened Bazyli Studio Wearable Art Gallery in a building adjacent to their home and studios. 

Peter’s work has always been inspired by the natural world. He has most recently developed an art clothing line integrating his own toxin free, one-of-a-kind, plant-dyed organic textiles. He works with the natural fibers of linen, cotton, silk, hemp, wool, organic when possible. He experiments with local Door County plants, nuts, berries and flowers in his natural dyeing processes. He does botanical printing along with Shibori techniques. He uses his masterful skills to manipulate textiles in a variety of ways, including surface design, texturing, application, quilting and felting techniques. He also creates his own patterns for his signature coats, jackets and vests. In developing his own plant-dyed textiles he has realized his long time dream of creating clothing with a softer ecological footprint. His deep love, appreciation and respect for the breathtaking beauty of the Door County Peninsula is reflected in his work. He looks forward to many more years of discovery and experimentation in the field of natural dyeing and in creating objects of beauty.

https://www.bazylistudio.com

Randy Carter is a film and television editor and director.  Born in Flint, Michigan, after 8 years in the US Navy, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Vancouver Film School.  Based in Los Angeles, Randy has been a professional editor for 25 years. 

Randy’s focus as an editor has always been on clarity of storytelling, molding each film until it tells the story in the most interesting way, while never placing style over substance.  His credits include films and TV shows for Netflix, Hallmark, Lifetime Television, Ion, UpTV, SyFy Channel and many others. .  His latest project is the Lifetime Television original film, The Gabby Petito Story, which is based on the harrowing true story that gripped the nation of a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, which ended in her tragic death.

In the past few years, Randy has started directing projects as well, including three films for Lifetime Television.  He still considers himself primarily an editor, however.

Tune in Nov. 20th for "The Case of the Christmas Diamond" on the ion channel.
https://iontelevision.com/holiday-movie/the-case-of-the-christmas-diamond

Randy's Top 5 Inspirational or Encouraging Movies (soundtracks used in the episode). Be sure to go find these movies and watch them in their entirety!

1) Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=460kqdhminI

2) Wait Until Dark
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AOn6hqj9uQ

3) Chicago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVyhM8gHXS8

4) Star Wars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXDnFYu91vY

5) The Three Days of Condor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3uvjBO39WE

Randy's IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003739/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1#editor

Kayla Peeters is an American Recording Artist. She was born in Wisconsin. She is best known for her solo piano recordings and her unique teaching approach. Kayla is a member of the Music Teachers National Association as well as the Wisconsin Teachers music association. She is set to release her latest composition Nocturne in G minor this fall.

Find out more at her website!

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
1) A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
2) Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
3) Moonlight Sonata mvt. 1 by Beethoven
4) The Funeral by Band of Horses
5) The Prayer sung by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion

RAMI BAR-NIV is one of Israel's most acclaimed and sought after pianists. He travels extensively and has become an international citizen, concertizing all over the world. 

Born in Tel-Aviv, he graduated with honors from the Ron Conservatory and the Rubin Academy of Music, and was the recipient of many prizes and scholarships. He won the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Competition and was awarded a scholarship to further his studies in the United States. After graduating from Mannes College of Music in New York, where he studied with the renowned Mme. Nadia Reisenberg, he won numerous competitions and embarked on a highly successful concert career. He performs regularly in North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and of course Israel, where he received the "Best Performer Award" from the Israeli government. 

He appears on TV and radio, in chamber ensembles, solo recitals, and as soloist with orchestras. He is always received with great enthusiasm. 

Often sent abroad by the Foreign Ministry to represent Israel in concerts, he has become an ambassador of goodwill for Israel. 

Rami Bar-Niv made history by being the first, and so far the only, Israeli artist to perform in Egypt following the Begin/Sadat Peace Treaty. 

Rami’s recordings for CBS and other labels in Israel and abroad have met with praise and popularity. 

His recordings and videos have been very successful on the Internet and he has often been at the top of the charts. 

His compositions are published, recorded and performed all over the world. Rami Bar-Niv offers music of great variety and contrast in style, and is an extremely versatile performer. 

Rami's master classes, workshops, and private teaching are loved worldwide and he is constantly invited to teach in five continents while on concert tours. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/barniv http://www.ybarniv.com/rami http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rami_Bar-Niv  

THE NEW YORK TIMES wrote of Rami: "Effective and Flamboyant" THE BOSTON GLOBE wrote of Rami: "An original major talent"

http://www.ybarniv.com/rami

http://www.youtube.com/user/barniv   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rami_Bar-Niv

http://rami.ybarniv.com/?page_id=198  

http://rami.ybarniv.com/?page_id=71  http://rami.ybarniv.com/?page_id=1275

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
1) Dvorak Symphony No. 9  in E minor Op. 95 "New World"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9RT2nHD6CQ&t=2372s
2) Dvorak Concerto in B minor Op. 104
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJSlmoXpzfM&t=1810s
3) Tchaikovsky, Symphony Nos. 4, 5, 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urj66hSbIiA&t=22s
4) Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, Arthur Rubinstein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Yoyz6_Los&t=109s
5) Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64:1, Jascha Heifetz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0tqdhbnpn8

Gerardo Ramos Gonzalez is from Guadalajara, Mexico. 

He is a professor in the Music Department at the University of Guadalajara. His class is called Inglés Aplicado a la Música - IAM -(English Applied to Music) which under the English as a Second Language category is "English for Specific Purpose." All of his students are music majors within specific divisions: Performance majors (all orchestra instruments and voices, Conducting majors, Composition majors, and Music Education majors). Each student has three semesters of IAM. 

He studied flute at the same school where he now teaches with Andrezej Bosek, from Poland. He studied music at the University of Guadalajara, then joined a military band in Guadalajara, for three years. After that, he went to the University of Texas at El Paso. He was a linguistics major and Music minor. He had the opportunity to play in different ensembles and take music theory classes there. He did not graduate from UTEP, but he returned to school in 2002 at Metropolitan State University, in Saint Paul, MN.  

He  has been teaching at the University of Guadalajara for over 12 years. During that time, he also earned a Master´s degree in Linguistics at the University of Guadalajara, with some classes at the University of Bielefeld in Germany. During COVID time, he continued teaching online. 

He has returned to Metropolitan State University and enrolled in the Masters's in Liberal Studies program while teaching long distance with the University of Guadalajara.

For Photos of the University in Guadalajara, click here.

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
1) Sonata in F Major by Telemann with Gerardo Ramos on Flute, Miguel Angel Pulido on Guitar, and Julio Cesar Gonzalez on Cello.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFI2H0lAT7A

2) Concerto for Violin, Oboe and Strings in D minor, BWV 1060 - 2. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEdcD1_qscc

3) Oboe Concerto in D minor - Adagio by Alessandro Marcello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BalQMrVDU

4) Casta Diva from Norma (Act I) by Bellini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDZK33JVxME

5) Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (Solemn Vespers for a Confessor) K.339: Laudate Dominum by Mozart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CveiQojl6Q0

Tony Parlapiano is a piano instructor who specializes in teaching popular styles of music through interest-led learning. He is the creator of popMATICS, a concept-based music curriculum that approaches learning by listening and reading through writing. Tony is the owner of Parlapiano Studio, an online studio that provides private instruction and small group training to students and music studios from Seattle, Washington to Syndey, Australia. Tony resides in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, holds a B.A. in Jazz Studies from Westfield State University.

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement:
1) Music for Airports 1/1 by Brian Eno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKZ3fGR2SDY&t=271s
2) Rollercoaster by M. Ward
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0rNk3-NwOI&t=20s
3) Re: Stacks by Bon Iver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w68krri0bw&t=67s
4) Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU&t=13s
5) Amazing Grace - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (solo by Victor Wooten)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq_cXjnR-tI&t=158s

You can find Tony at:
https://www.parlapianostudio.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/TonyParlapiano

View Victor Wooten's talk at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yRMbH36HRE

White-facing, biracial, multi-passionate soprano Tara Priolo has cultivated a career including performing, teaching, brand coaching, activism, and arts administration. As an educator she shares her propensity for enlivening student’s confidence paired with her strong interest in vocal pedagogy. Frequently requested as a guest soloist by smaller organizations and colleagues, Tara enjoys performing a variety of new compositions as well as the classics. Based in Minneapolis, MN Tara engages audiences, students, and clients with dynamic, thought-provoking, and unique performances, lessons, and coaching sessions.

Tara Priolo (she/her)
Multipassionate biracial musician
Owner/Operator-Tara Priolo Studio
Operations Manager-Thursday Musical
www.tarapriolo.com

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement:
1) Cardinal Singing and Call Sounds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ezarOZGkyA&list=PLEsyD1RdaugD7NsYE2pvDppAlAjLn9awp&index=1&t=162s
2) Lean on Me by Bill Withers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZ-MySzAac&list=PLEsyD1RdaugD7NsYE2pvDppAlAjLn9awp&index=2
3) Joy by Genius Child sung by Harolyn Blackwell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWqVa0Z_2F0&list=PLEsyD1RdaugD7NsYE2pvDppAlAjLn9awp&index=3
4) Without a Net by Mickey Guyton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWqVa0Z_2F0&list=PLEsyD1RdaugD7NsYE2pvDppAlAjLn9awp&index=3
5) Defying Gravity from Wicked by Stephen Schwartz, sung by Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEq3xM-i0Ng&list=PLEsyD1RdaugD7NsYE2pvDppAlAjLn9awp&index=5

Find Door County Amplify at https://www.facebook.com/DoorCountyAmplify

Lachrisa Grandberry is a Milwaukee born native who has made her home in Chicago. She is an actress and singer who has performed on many stages; as well as a writer with a world premiere production coming this fall. She is beyond grateful for her community of family and friends, and Paonessa Talent Agency for their continued love and support. She aims to continue inspiring and transforming the human mind through the power of story-telling. 

 Molly Rhode is Associate Artistic Director of Northern Sky Theater and has helped bring over 20 world premieres to the stage. She also acts, directs and choreographs at theaters across Milwaukee and in Madison. She grew up in Wisconsin where she is proud to make her artistic home. 

Lachrisa's Top 5 Songs of Encouragement:
1) There's Hope by India Arie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bClxgPvGqRg
2) Brown Skin Girl by Beyoncé
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRFS0MYTC1I
3) We Won't Move by Arlissa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Piun5i_E6-U
4) What The World Needs Now, and Stand Up for Something by Andra Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GhY7qXGx-0
bonus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNQ3vgKNO1g
5) Mighty River by Mary J Blige
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd2ht5aF-2E

If you need support now or are struggling, please reach out to one of the following resources: 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:1-800-662-HELP (4357)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Amie Webster is an engaging piano teacher of 25 years, Mom of 3 busy little boys and started Motif Music Studios, alongside her husband, Jeff Webster, in 2010. 

Motif Music Studios is now a collaborative online music school with a team of creative, heart-led teachers who are focused on nurturing students in their musical growth and seeing students thrive as their individual strengths are celebrated! 

Their team is brimming with talent and creativity and truly model a willingness to grow personally and musically alongside each other.  This has created an encouraging musical community that encompasses students, teachers and families sharing music learning in truly inspiring ways. 

Amie is fueled by passion, caffeine and curiosity and is so thankful for the ways music has been woven into her life in so many beautiful ways. 

To learn more, visit motifmusicstudios.com or find their pages on social media.
Motif Music Studios
Web:  www.motifmusicstudios.com
Facebook:  motifmusicstudios
Instagram: @motifmusicstudios
Twitter:  motifmusic

Kindermusik with Motif Music Studios
Web:  motif.kindermusik.com
Facebook:  kindermusikwithmotif

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement:
1) Sunny Side of the Street by Michael Kaeshammer, From the 1998 Album, "Tell You How I Feel" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBxYWhqfd94
2) Beethoven's Tempest Sonata No 17 in D minor, 2nd Movement | Adagio, Played by Wilhelm Kempff  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A_Ru7ogF0g
3) Lympany Plays Poulenc Novelette No. 1, Recorded 1943
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6q8o9OW664
4) Glenn Gould, Brahms Intermezzo No. 2 A Major Op. 118
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JwKDzPlYQs
5) Carrie Underwood, How Great Thou Art Featuring Vince Gill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ12Fd0AlAw

Sam Reti is a guitarist, teacher and the Founder of Muzie.Live. Sam was born in Manchester, England and raised in North Andover, Massachusetts. He picked up the guitar when he was twelve and never set it down again. He definitely inherited his dad’s love of music. Together they had father and son jam sessions every day after school. Sam on guitar and his dad on the drums! 

After accepting admission to Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts, his dreams were coming true following in his father's footsteps. Sam’s father toured through England as a drummer in the 80’s opening for some of the legends such as Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. During his time at Berklee, Sam lived out some of those dreams by playing at Progressive Nation at Sea, Prog Day and the All Stars Tour with his band Zombie Frogs. 

Sam also discovered his passion for Music Education and Technology. It all started from a college project where Sam and his dad began creating their first software together I Want to Practice, essentially a practice app for musicians. Sam was awarded the Achievement Scholarship for his innovation and dedication to the father and son’s duo’s first project together. 

After graduating from Berklee, Sam spent his time teaching guitar and continued building innovative tools in music technology with his father. In 2019, they started working on Muzie.Live, an all in one virtual music studio for online music lessons and hybrid learning. Today, Muzie.Live continuously leads the industry in innovation to improve virtual learning and enhance music education. With just over two years since the official launch, Muzie.Live has grown to over 40 countries globally and hosts thousands of lessons per week.

You can learn more at http://www.muzie.live

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement:
1) Glasgow Kiss by John Petrucci
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aolor5zx3vE&list=OLAK5uy_lMZ5jJcGRDaSM2syapPsKvRL00-8A6Oo0&index=3
2) Wishman by Trevor Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGImbv6I3e8
3) Lone Digger by Caravan Palace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrVOmBXiorE
4) Far Far Away by Slade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ5itYUNu70
5) Kingdom by Devin Townsend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nubJjB95VdY