SYDNEY STEVENS
wtrmsic@aol.com
BIOGRAPHY:
Sydney Stevens began writing melodies on the piano before she could reach the pedals. Her earliest memory was watching her mother play classical piano. She began piano lessons at the age of 8, and started composing shortly thereafter. The early years of composing took Sydney through a folk music phase, where her rhythmic poetry easily lent itself to song. Following this phase, a period of composing lyrical New Age piano music emerged in Juneau, Alaska. It was here, away from commercial influences, that she developed a sound uniquely her own. In the late 1980's, Sydney relocated to Southern California where she finished her formal training in music composition at the University of Redlands. During this time, she also studied classical composition in York, England and with Bill Douglas in Boulder, Colorado.
In 1995, Sydney returned to the Pacific Northwest and recorded her debut CD "Dancers in the Rain." This album was recorded at White Horse Studios in Portland, Oregon. Primarily piano-based, it also features Jeff Leonard on bass guitar, Phil Baldino on flute, Tim Ellis on guitar and Brian Davis on percussion. “Dancers in the Rain” was co-produced by Bob Stark.
In 1998, while living in a remote part of Eastern Oregon, Sydney composed music for her second CD entitled "Seasons" --taking the listener on a musical journey through the cycle of seasons. Her “Seasons Suite" features Mitch Iimori on English horn, oboe and guitar. The album also features Phil Baker on bass guitar and Valerie Day on percussion. For a review of this CD go to: http://www.solopianopublications.com/reviews/stevens.htm
In 2003, Sydney produced her most recent CD, "Portraits." Her most complex work to date, this CD maintains her strong melodic lines, with more developed orchestrations around the piano-based songs. It is a compilation of original songs inspired by people. She is currently networking with the film and video soundtrack market. Sydney’s music naturally lends itself to this genre -- evoking strong and varied emotions.
All three of Sydney’s CD’s are available for sale through Portland Music Millennium. In addition, her three CD’s are available for retail stores through New Leaf Distributing Company (www.newleaf-dist.com).
Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Seattle, Washington, Sydney currently resides on the Oregon side of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.
Additional links:
ttp://www.solopianopublications.com
http://www.newleaf-dist.com
http://www.KindWeb.com
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