Damaris has 20 years of professional stage and studio experience: Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus 2009,
  • Arizona Theatre Company 1984,
  • Gaslight Theatre 1979,
  • La Paloma, Ventana Canyon and other resorts
  • weddings, concerts, solo coffeehouses and many churches 

Says the Tucson Weekly:

"Damaris has amazing vocal clarity and her lyrics will touch your heart...."
MY MUSICAL LIFE STORY:

"My life's work is an ever-changing discovery of THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN VOICE!  From age 8 I played violin (later on - fiddle), guitar, piano, ethnic flutes and all kinds of percussion including timpani.  So why did I NOT make a lifetime career out of music performance and teaching?  Good question!  As strong as my love for music performance was, I also had a deep calling to be a "catalyst for change", helping people take "quantum leaps" in growth - one person at a time, so I've been counseling steadily since 1985.  I began my counseling work doing private sessions using a combination of vocal coaching and energy healing from a shamanic perspective.  Now my work is in four main areas: sound healing, vibrational medicine, the incredible human voice, and "quantum leaps in personal growth" using my credentials (Ph.D. Psychology) in a VERY non-traditional way.

The Beatles, Joan Baez , Kate Wolf, Linda Ronstadt, and Judy Collins had a profound influence on me! I formed my first band in the 8th grade and played at school dances...taught myself to play guitar when I was 12 - and, secrets be told - I am a "Folkie" at heart!  Until 2006, backing myself up on guitar, I sang for many churches (Unity, Unitarian & other New Thought churches).  Then I started singing jazz to round out my vocal skills in new genres of music, and in 2007 I re-discovered classical music!

Even though I've always been a singer, I've lost my voice twice in my life - for years at a time!  Meaning... I lost my desire to sing and my "stage presence" after experiencing huge emotional shock and trauma. The first time I lost it was from age 18 to 25 . How many of you share this horror: my first year at ASU my voice teacher playing the introduction to the song in my recital and I opened my mouth to sing....and NOTHING CAME OUT!  I used to go to see Joni Mitchell and Phoebe Snow and cry all through their performances because I wanted so badly to be doing what they were doing. Bit by bit I did small gigs until I got my voice and confidence back by forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone.  I regained it with great success until after my husband, Carl, died in 1995 and I lost all ability to be on-stage..... until April, 2007 when I did my first showcase concert in 17 years! I followed that up with a solo concert in July, 2007. Now, in November 2009 I am singing with Lisa Otey in her concert series at Z Mansion, singing with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Alex Shawn and I have formed at duo and are having fun with that at Borders Music Night and will feature a CHRISTMAS CONCERT on DECEMBER 20, 2009.  (See CONCERT webpage here for details).

When I moved to Tucson in 1979, Arizona the BLUEGRASS BUG bit me! I started teaching bluegrass, country, celtic and cajun fiddling and played and sang with bluegrass/country bands.  In 1984 I was the Music Director in an Arizona Theatre Company production of "Quilters". By 1985 I couldn't sing anymore lyrics bemoaning the negative side of life, and started writing my own music and lyrics!  "SING ME HOME" was the first song I wrote, and has become a favorite at hospices around the country.

In my thirties learned how the speaking voice IS personal power, and reveals everything about us. I learned our bodies believe every word we say! I learned to overcome childhood trauma by speaking the truth when it's time to rather than stuffing it....and began teaching others to do the same instead of becoming addicted to different forms of "crutches".  I learned the power of the spoken word.  I learned about the power of the voice without words,  and I discovered I had shamanic healing abilities. I understood that shamans, Einstein, witches and dolphins all knew what quantum physics has proven: that we create reality with our thoughts!  Then I blended everything I've learned and taught for the last 20 years into sound healing and vibrational medicine workshops, and a unique merging of 20 years of work into "The Human Voice in Energetic Healing".  (click here to go to that website)


"And now I've come full circle to sing again -

- as always -
"FOR THE JOY OF IT!"