CURRENT MISSION

ABOUT ME

Well traveled, lover of Renaissance music. I just returned from 51 days in northern Germany and The Netherlands - August+September 2024, singing in Bremen, Hameln & Hannover in Germany and Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Alkmaar, Tilburg, Delft & Eindhoven in The Netherlands. I was finally able to create another solo tour in May 2024 to Michigan. The pandemic put a hold on touring, my last solo tour was in early March 2020 just before lock down. I am now singing with Anna Willson, a mezzo soprano from the state of Washington. We have given two duo concerts Tudor Tales on November 11, 2023 and Cornucopia: A Wealth of Songs for Voice and Lute , on October 23, 2021. Last year in 2023, as well as 2022 and 2021, and despite the pandemic, I performed 150 times in Central Park each year. In 2019 I created a concert of lute songs, The Sweets of Love, for two voices. My music partner then, Olivia Betzen, is a soprano from Kansas. We took a 6 concert tour in New England (4 concerts arranged through couch surfing); including a performance at the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe on June 10th, 2019. She has now moved on. I have created a solo concert, Passing By: My Life as a Minstrel. Took a 13 day tour to Ohio and Michigan (9 concerts arranged through couch surfing) in April/May 2024. Took an 11 day tour to Florida (10 concerts arranged through couch surfing in private homes and one pub) in March 2020. Took a 26 day tour to Texas (21 concerts arranged through couch surfing in private homes) in April 2018. Took a 21 day tour to Iowa and Wisconsin (19 concerts arranged through couch surfing) in October 2017. Took a 24 day tour in England (15 concerts arranged through couch surfing in private homes) in July 2016. Took an 8 concert tour in New York State (all concerts arranged through couch surfing in private homes) in March 2016. Took a 15 concert tour in New England and Quebec, Canada (all concerts arranged through couch surfing), including 11 concerts in private homes, a library, a high school, a converted church and a small concert venue in September/October 2015. Took a 15 concert tour in California, Nevada and Arizona including 9 concerts in private homes in April 2015. Took a 12 concert tour from NYC to Florida and back including 7 concerts in private homes in October 2014. I travel with two lutes and always perform in Renaissance costume.

PHILOSOPHY

Come what come. Music is a way of expressing my feelings as I walk through life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have surfed in Florida. Virginia, California, New Mexico and Las Vegas, New York State, New England, and 14 Midwestern and Southern States, Quebec and England . My family has hosted men from Poland, England and Switzerland; women from Czech Republic, England, Sweden, Myanmar and China; and couples from Australia, Italy and The Netherlands and gave a walking tour of NYC to a woman from Quebec City. I do my best to spend time with all who stay with me and walk them through neighborhoods that the tourists bypass.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I was new to couchsurfing in October 2014 and discovered it as a way to meet people while on tour and to keep the financial needs of performing to a minimum. In April 2015 I filled my open dates with concerts in homes of couch surfers and that experience convinced me that this is how I wish to travel and share my entertainment with others. September/October 2015 was approaching so this time I created my travels completely on the couch surfing website. Despite sending around 300 requests to land 15 homes, I was patience and understanding knowing that not everyone would be interested in my musical offering or that they might be traveling themselves. As I packed the car and set off on my journey, my expectations were warmly received by every home that offered me a bed or a couch. Truly a remarkable way to see this vast world and share life's experiences. I have now repeated the experience in March 2016 in 8 homes in New York State; July 2016 in 15 homes in England, October 2017 in 19 homes between NYC and Iowa/Wisconsin; in April 2018 in 21 homes between NYC and Texas; and in March 2020 in 11 homes between NYC and Florida. In May 2024 9 homes between NYC and Michigan. August-September 2024 in five homes: 3 in Germany and 2 in The Netherlands.

Interests

Music and poetry, gardening, reading, traveling

• poetry
• performing arts
• beauty
• concerts
• walking
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• nature
• central park

Music, Movies, and Books

Movie: A River Runs Through It - 1992
Renaissance lute songs, folk songs and ballads
The plays of Shakespeare, especially Twelfth Night, The Tempest, and The Winter's Tale
Biographies of people from around the world

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In the summer of 1979 a traveled through the streets of Europe for three months in Renaissance garb - the memories are endless.

Teach, Learn, Share

I like teaching one on one - I have had several lute students. My mind is always ready for new challenges and discoveries. I want to share the beauty of the lute song repertoire with everyone who passes by.

What I Can Share with Hosts

directions to NYC spots that most tourists never see

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States