Laurel Parks
HostLaurel Parks is a violinist, composer and instructor who’s enjoyed an exciting career as a musician. She has performed with artists such as Sarah McLaughlan, Disturbed, Amy Grant, Josh Groban and Evanescence. Her music is signed to Second Nature Recordings (USA) and Arctic Rodeo (Germany). In addition to traveling through Europe with the Americana band “In the Pines,” Parks has toured all over Asia with the Mantovani Pops Orchestra. She has recorded strings for Hulu and Universal Pictures in addition to laying string tracks for countless bands and corporate clients.
Laurel’s heart lies in composing music. She currently writes, records and concertizes with modern string duo The Wires and co-writes music for the alternative Indie-folk band Of Tree. Parks also owns and teaches Drunken Fiddles, a workshop for adult beginners who want to learn to play the fiddle with a twist, and is the founder of the online music school Fiddle Life.
-
From anger and sadness to joy and euphoria, our emotions help carry us and inform our view of the world. On this episode of Sound Currents, explore the connection between music and the emotions they can elicit. -
Artist Virginia Jaramillo will have a retrospective art exhibit at the Kemper Museum of Art all summer long. The Kemper will also have a variety of special events, including two specially curated concerts by newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble on July 15 to accompany her paintings. Explore music inspired by her artwork in the second of two shows exploring her work. -
Composer Paul Berlinsky not only found inspiration in hummingbirds, but also included the sounds of their fluttering wings in his music. This week on Sound Currents, explore music inspired by our avian friends. -
It’s Father’s Day this week, and we're celebrating the fathers and father figures in our lives through music. Hear music by this week's guest, Mike Moreland, alongside works by Judd Greenstein, Gabriel Kahane and more. -
Composer Ingrid Stölzel joins us to share her musical inspirations, the concept of authenticity in art, and the importance of representation in this special all-local Pride episode of Sound Currents. -
Artist Virginia Jaramillo will have a retrospective art exhibit at the Kemper Museum of Art all summer long. The Kemper will also have a variety of special events, including two specially curated concerts by newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble on June 10 and July 15 to accompany her paintings. Explore music inspired by her artwork in the first of two episodes. -
Pianist, radio host/producer and writer Sarah Cahill champions new music in all that she does, and highlights the contributions of female composers to the canon in her new album: 'The Future is Female, Vol. 3, At Play.' Hear our conversation with her and music from that new release on this week's Sound Currents. -
Composer Terry Schlenker's life and career has carried him from the fields of North Dakota to having works performed at national conventions and concert stages. All the while, he concurrently had a career as an embryologist. Learn more and hear his music on this week's Sound Currents. -
Mother's Day means different things to different people. For many, it is a day full of love and celebration, but it can also be hectic or full of melancholy. This week on Sound Currents, we explore a variety of emotions that Mother's Day can bring. -
Honor the majesty and mystery of trees through music with this week's guest: Composer/percussionist John Bacon.
