Sounding The Soul

Healing Music, Chamber Music & NeuroArts

Bel Canto Duo's live chamber music experiences that blend neuroscience, mindfulness & the healing power of

sound.

Finding Joy: Pausing, Choosing & Rewriting the Score of Your Life

After my last blog post, my inbox filled with messages from friends, colleagues, and fellow musicians who recognized themselves in my words. Some shared that they, too, are at a crossroads—questioning the path forward, reflecting on what matters most. Maybe it’s a midlife thing. Maybe it’s just that life has a way of asking us to listen more closely, to the quiet spaces between the notes.

These conversations have been full of honesty and tenderness. People spoke of careers they once dreamed about but now feel caged inside. Of stepping away from the stage not because the love is gone, but because the lifestyle is unsustainable—emotionally, financially, physically. For some, the choice to “break up” with classical music, at least in the traditional sense, is a matter of survival. How is it okay that something we give our lives to can’t, in return, help us feed ourselves, our families, our children?

And yet—beneath the grief—there is a thread of something else. Something lighter.

Freedom?

Relief?

The possibility of joy....?

I’ve learned that joy is not a byproduct of circumstance. It’s a choice. It’s deciding, daily, to seek what feeds the soul. For me, that often means stepping into nature—hiking a quiet trail, letting the wind carry my thoughts, watching the way light filters through the trees. And when a thought comes (as they always do) - I ask myself: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it loving? Is it kind?

This pause—this tiny act of discernment—can change everything. It can reroute your day, your mood - even your life. I know - because it happened to me.

On a cold night in December 2016, under a Nebraska sky, a shooting star cut across the darkness. It was the same night I met David Downing—Cello Dave. That star, that moment, altered the arc of my life. Not with a bang, but with a quiet certainty: there was another way forward. A way filled with music, yes—but also with space, connection, and wonder.

My father has a saying: “Do now what others won’t do, so tomorrow you can do what others can’t do.” I think about that a lot these days. Joy is not a passive thing. It’s an active choice to show up for yourself, to plant seeds for a life that feels not just impressive on paper, but nourishing in the living.

So maybe this is midlife. Maybe it’s just life. Either way, I’m leaning in—to joy, to curiosity, to the pauses that let me hear my own inner music. And to my friends and colleagues walking this path too: may we all find ways to rewrite our scores so that they sound like the truth of who we are now.

#FindingJoy #SoundingTheSoul #LifeReflections #BelCantoDuo #MusicAndMeaning #MindfulLiving #MidlifeMusings

July at Chesterwood: A Summer of Healing Music, Creativity, and Discovery

This July, Bel Canto Duo is thrilled to embark on a month-long artist residency at Chesterwood — the historic summer home and studio of American sculptor Daniel Chester French, tucked into the rolling hills of the Berkshires. We’ll be staying and working at Meadowlark — a charming little cottage French once used as his second studio. (Just look at this place! It’s like something out of a creative dream!)

For us, this residency is more than just a chance to compose new music. It’s an opportunity to continue our deep dive into healing music science — work that has become central to the mission of Bel Canto Duo.

If there’s one thing the last few years have taught us, it’s that healing takes many forms. During the pandemic, while live concerts paused, I (Darci) took the opportunity to complete a Healing Music Practitioner Certification, exploring the powerful ways music can impact stress, anxiety, pain management, and even neuroplasticity. That work planted a seed that continues to grow.

Fast forward to now — we’re collaborating with neurologists, studying how live music (especially immersive live performance) can promote healing and reduce neurological stress. We’re exploring EEG headsets that can track brainwave activity during live concerts, opening a window into how the brain responds in real time to music’s beauty and resonance. It’s a thrilling blend of art and science — and one we believe holds real promise for addressing challenges like tinnitus, epilepsy, trauma recovery, and general well-being.

At Chesterwood, we’ll be composing new material inspired by nature, history, and the tranquil beauty of the Berkshires. We’ll also continue to develop our Healing Music and Immersive Performance Projects, combining live performance with film, nature sounds, - all ways of creating a uniquely restorative experience for our audiences.

And of course, we’ll make time for plenty of Berkshire exploration — including a little Tanglewood inspiration just down the road. (Full circle moment: years ago, Darci’s mentor John Ferrillo encouraged her to visit Chesterwood while attending Tanglewood. It’s a joy to finally be here creating.)

Stay tuned for updates throughout July — we’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes moments, sneak peeks of new music, and a few unexpected surprises along the way.

Healing, music, art, science, and a little Berkshire magic. What could be better?

#HealingMusic #ChesterwoodResidency #BelCantoDuo #Neuroplasticity #MusicHeals