Sunflower Sky by James Burns
Musical Headwaters: Garden
Join us for our fifth year of commissions for Musical Headwaters with Year of the Garden ft. new songs by Owen McIntosh, performed by Nightbirds and Fire & Grace.
Musica Sierra is thrilled to present "Musical Headwaters: Garden," the fifth commission in its innovative series. This year's program bridges nature-based education with the visual and performing arts, featuring newly composed songs by Owen McIntosh inspired by the Sierra Valley. In collaboration with Fire & Grace and Nightbirds, led by Jade Hendrix, these powerful and moving songs are designed for our youngest learners, ages 4-6, yet resonate with audiences of all ages. Join us for a week of educational concerts and two public shows integrating Earth Science, Ecology, Language Arts, and the Arts. This commission, following Rob Wade's Outdoor Core Mountain Kid curriculum, will be recorded for educational use, enriching our next Musical Field Journal. Don't miss this unique opportunity to deepen environmental stewardship through the arts.
Schedule of Educational events:
📅March 26:
1:30 PM: Greenville Elementary School, all school performance.
📅 March 27th:
9-10 am: Loyalton Elementary School performance with the TK & Kinder class
📅 MARCH 28TH:
10:30-11:30 AM: KINGS BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, AT THE FOX CULTRAL HALL.
📅 March 29th: Public performance @ The Nature Center, Beckwourth Ca.
Doors: 6 pm
Show: 6:30 PM
📅 March 30th: Recording the Garden Album at Imariage Studios in Reno!
NIGHTBIRDS
United originally by their California roots and love for folk music, Nightbirds emerged out of the shared experience of newfound motherhood. Each member recognized their precious free moments after the little ones were put to bed when creative musings could finally be explored. The powerful new chapters in their lives called for a deeper well of expression. The band’s collective sound is poignant, yet it evokes a sense of innocence, a quality inspired by the presence of their children.
Jade Hendrix brings her soulful vocals and insightful songwriting to the ensemble. Instrumentalists Sam ‘n Ash (an established folk duo comprising of accordion and mandolin) complement Jade’s crooning with their inventive melodies and effective arrangements. The trio fuses classic folk themes with expressive vocals, resulting in a unique and compelling blend that can only be described as a sound all their own.
FIRE & GRACE
Fire & Grace is an eclectic collaboration between guitarist William Coulter and violinist Edwin Huizinga. This unique duo explores the connective musical elements of classical, folk, and contemporary traditions from around the world. Fire & Grace’s repertoire is vast, ranging from Bach to Vivaldi, tango to Celtic tunes, traditional Bulgarian to American fiddle tunes and waltzes, all played with a sense of discovery and commitment to the elements of passion and virtuosity — fire and grace — found in these diverse traditions. Recent and upcoming performances have included engagements at the Carmel Bach Festival, the Mozaic Festival, the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, the Electric Earth Concerts, the Monterey Museum of Art, and with Tomaseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas. In March and April 2017, Fire & Grace toured to New Zealand with appearances at the UPSURGE Festival, the Festival of Colour, and the New Zealand School of Music. The group’s self-titled debut album combines melodies from Argentina, Bulgaria, and Western Europe with dance elements from baroque and folk musical traditions.
OWEN MCINTOSH, SOngwriter
Described by the New York Times as a "lovely, tender high tenor" in one concert and "appropriately brash" in another, three-time Grammy nominee and Gramophone Award-winning tenor Owen McIntosh is widely known for the color and creativity he brings to the stage as a soloist and chamber musician. Having performed for fifteen years, McIntosh now dedicates his time to his family and inspires the next generation through SEL-focused music education, emphasizing healthy singing, musicianship, and music literacy. As Tk-12th grade music director in Loyalton, California, McIntosh's dream is to one day bring music education back to the level of importance of all the other liberal arts pillars, providing the youth once again with a complete education experience.
JAMES BURNS, VISUALS
James Burns is a 15-year-old aspiring artist from Loyalton, CA. His love for drawing began as soon as he could hold a pencil, and by the age of 11, he discovered a passion for acrylic painting. Beyond art, James enjoys playing soccer and caring for his 4-H steer. With a keen artistic eye and a dedication to his craft, he dreams of a future career where he can bring his creativity to life.
James' breathtaking artwork, created for the fifth installment of the Musical Field Journal Garden, brings the music to life, transforming this multi-disciplinary journey through Earth Science, Ecology, Language Arts, and the Performing Arts.
In a beautiful twist of fate, or as we like to say, kismet, James’ mother, April Burns, is the kindergarten teacher at LES—where Lindsay and Owen’s son is in her class. This connection has made the creation of Kinder Garden: A Musical Field Journal an especially meaningful collaboration.
James’ work enriches the storytelling of Musical Headwaters, deepening our collective connection to environmental stewardship through the arts.
