Geoff Oelsner is a poet, singer/songwriter, and psychotherapist. His musical sensibilities spring from silence, from inwardly-heard words and melodies, and secondarily from influences as diverse as Turlough O'Carolan, Bessie Jones, the incredible Buffy Saint Marie, modern bard Robin Williamson, and Bob Dylan. In recent years, an increasing number of his songs have come to him in dreams.
Geoff's life-partner Leslie Berman Oelsner is founder and director of Harmonia, a 15 woman vocal ensemble who offer songs of celebration and healing. He and Leslie have been living and singing around Fayetteville, Arkansas for 30 years. Both their children are also involved in songwriting and performance, and both make guest appearances on Geoff's recently-released CD, Ordinary Mystery.
Geoff loves to do street singing, benefits, house concerts, and performances at libraries and schools and churches, both solo and with Leslie.
In addition to performing on guitar, sometimes he sings or chants his poetry accompanied by harmonium, psaltry, or an Indian instrument called the shruti box. He says of his music, "I hope to make a joyful noise and offer something real."
The Oelsners have performed locally with the late Nick Masullo (as the trio Naked Brunch) and with Kelly Mulhollan. Songs on Geoff's first CD, Morning Branches (2003) won first prizes for best love song and best spiritual song at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Music Festival.
Go to www.geoffoelsner.com to hear Geoff's songs, read some of his poetry, see Leslie's gallery of eloquent photographs, and to see ordering information for his 2 CD's and a book of his collected poetry, Native Joy: poems songs visions dreams (2004).
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