Clarsa McElhaney's grandmother produced musical theater, gave piano lessons, and played church organ. Her four daughters grew up singing barbershop harmony.
Clarsa's mother, Joy, filled her home with the folk/rock harmonies of Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, and the Beatles. She sang in the car and around the house, and Clarsa and her brother and sisters learned to harmonize early.
Clarsa credits her three years training and performing with Duaine Wolfe and the Colorado Children's Chorale not only for a deeper understanding of harmony and diverse types of music, but for coming to know music as a discipline, and a way to serve her community.
Clarsa performed musical theater in college and community productions. As Lady Coral de Chauncey, she was a popular bard in the SCA Kingdom of Caid, where she met Brad Banyan. He taught her solo vocal and guitar performance, and encouraged her to put both playfulness and honesty into her own music.
By the age of 23, Clarsa had two children. Her son was severely autistic, with painfully hyper-sensitive hearing. Dedicating herself to his needs, Clarsa found tremendous strength and insight, but made their home a nest of silence rather than the joyous, expansive, musical celebration in which she was raised.
As Joy had for Clarsa, Clarsa made it a priority to provide music for her daughter, Tanith. Tanith participated in the Colorado Children's Chorale for seven years, away from the isolation and quiet her brother needed. The fire Tanith had inherited for music kept the spark alive in her mother.
After more than ten years living this way, Clarsa's son was placed in therapeutic foster care. Clarsa began a difficult personal re-birth. The first element to re-emerge was music. "Storyteller" is her re-discovery of her voice, and her offering to you -- an invitation to share the betrayals, the turn-abouts, the unspeakable tenderness, and the sheer bliss that is life.
You can contact Clarsa at: clarsa_mcelhaney@yahoo.com
Clarsa´s site for lyrics and more information www.clarsa.com
Clarsa McElhaney´s music can be heard in "Folk"
Clarsa McElhaney
Bookings
12-12-03 Oh My Godess
1526 E, Colfax 8 -10pm
12-13-03 Spirit Ways
3101 E. Colfax 5 - 7pm
12-21-03 Full Moon Event Center
9108 W. 6th
CD RELEASE PARTY & CONCERT
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