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> People > Sonora_LeeYou’ll want to spend time with Sonora! Creative, light-hearted, and highly conversant in the world of sound and music, she works side-by-side with a client to artistically direct a production. A licensed music therapist, a performer, and an educator (where do we fit that triple Leo?), Sonora combines education, years of experience, and the most recent digital technology to brighten the waves with color and sound.
Born to a mix of Cherokee and Irish lineage, she remembers those weekly Sunday dinners (midday, mind you) with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents. “We were making music with spoons, harmonicas, guitars, voices, harmonies.” Starting formal lessons at age 5, Sonora lived music in rural Missouri where she followed the natural process via Sunday church, State Fair winnings, and on to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, receiving awards for Most Promising Education Student, Outstanding Vocal Performer and, at her first Conservatory piano jury as a Freshman, was promoted to the Junior year level.
As a student, Sonora arranged and directed professional radio jingles, rehearsed ensembles for Kansas City churches, managed bands (rock ‘n roll and jazz), and coordinated rehearsal space for University students, including an 80-piece Accordion Orchestra. You thought finding a place for that new drum set was hard!
Psychology of Music became another favorite focus and ultimately led Sonora to San Antonio, Texas, where she became the Director of Music Therapy at the San Antonio State School. Working with the residents, designing curriculums, coordinating staff and Music Therapy interns was rewarding work. The years to follow included marriage to an Australian, living and teaching in Australia, having children, and moving to Austin.
In Austin, Sonora presently works at her Blue Frog Studios where she teaches
voice and piano, arranges, and records. Her students have won awards
locally and nationally in piano, voice, and composition. Teaming up with
Tom, “….has been incredibly fun. We work together so well. What
a match! His percussion and digital technology skills paired with my keyboard
and composition skills are knock-out. Then add our combined abilities
to resource creative people for projects and ….well, we have a successful company!”