ABOUT

Immersive Healing Music Programs,

Chamber Music & Live Film Scoring

Bel Canto Duo is a chamber music ensemble presenting immersive healing music, interdisciplinary live performances, and commissioned works for festivals, museums, conferences and universities.

Bel Canto Duo live healing music performance at TedXOmaha.

Brought together by a shooting star & friends...

Bel Canto Duo is a visionary ensemble at the intersection of music, film, and wellness. Blending the precision of classical chamber artistry with the intuitive science of healing sound, the duo creates immersive experiences that invite reflection, renewal, and connection.

Rooted in the tradition of bel canto—“beautiful singing”—their name reflects a philosophy of intentional artistry: each phrase crafted with clarity, presence, and emotional depth. Their performances transcend conventional boundaries, uniting soulful expression with a reverence for stillness and space.

Bel Canto Duo’s work expands beyond the concert stage into the realm of cinematic storytelling. Through original films, they explore the healing power of music as a transformative medium, combining visual poetry with sonic resonance to engage the senses and calm the spirit. Their film projects often draw on themes of nature, mindfulness, and human connection, offering a contemplative lens through which audiences may experience beauty and insight.

Grounded in both contemporary research and ancient traditions, their sound healing explorations integrate vibrational principles with artistic intention. Each performance or recording is designed not only to move the listener emotionally, but also to restore balance and inner peace.

As collaborators, Bel Canto Duo thrive in dialogue—with each other, with guest artists, and their audience. Their chamber music reflects a deep listening practice, where musical interplay becomes a form of shared presence and collective breath.

At the heart of their work is a belief in music as a catalyst for healing and transformation. Whether through intimate live performances, thoughtfully crafted recordings, or evocative films, Bel Canto Duo invites listeners into a space where artistry meets mindfulness, and sound becomes a path to well-being.

Major Works & Commissions

1. Four Cather Tableaux

(2023)

Commissioned by: National Willa Cather Center
Movements:
- Nebraska: Pre-Settlement
- 1880s Dawn
- 1880s Dusk
- Nebraska: Post-Settlement
Description: An immersive suite inspired by Willa Cather’s writings, combining original music with imagery of the Great Plains.

2. Sacred Waters

(2022)

Commissioned by: Gallery 1516, Omaha, Nebraska
Description: A composition featured in the documentary Nebraska Flatwater, exploring Nebraska’s natural beauty through immersive video and music.

3. Willa Cather: Breaking the Mold

(2024)

Commissioned by: National Willa Cather Center
Description: A film score for the documentary highlighting Willa Cather’s life and work, featuring commentary by Ken Burns.

Additional Compositions by Darci Griffith Gamerl

Pietà Fanfare: A fanfare for orchestra.
The Seven Directions: A musical journey based on Native American prayers and the creation of sacred space.
Cloudwalker: Inspired by a healer’s journey, incorporating improvisation and thematic elements.
At Long Last: A piece dedicated to a couple’s enduring love story.
Glowan: Depicts the journey of terminal illness through music.
Seikilos: Based on one of the oldest known musical compositions, reflecting on life’s brevity.
Prelude - Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod Remix): A contemporary take on the classic piece, blending traditional and modern elements.

Albums

Angel’s Share (2023): Features original works, including Four Cather Tableaux and Sacred Waters, emphasizing healing music modalities.
Willa Cather: Breaking The Mold (2024)

Film & Documentary Contributions

Nebraska Flatwater: Bel Canto Duo’s Sacred Waters serves as the musical backdrop for this immersive documentary.
Willa Cather: Breaking the Mold: The duo composed the score for this documentary, which includes insights from filmmaker Ken Burns.
Four Cather Tableaux: Short documentary with film by BCD's Darci Gamerl. Bel Canto Duo's Darci Gamerl & David Downing tell the story behind the commission by The National Willa Cather Center, followed by the Four Cather Tableaux, the assigned texts by Willa Cather paired with evocative imagery of the Great Plains.

Awards & Recognitions

Outstanding New Artist: Omaha Entertainment Awards (2023)
Best Wedding Music: Nebraska Wedding Day (2023, 2024)
Finalists: The American Prize in Composition and the Ernst Bacon Prize for the performance of American music (2023)

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