Interview 6/11 (MD)

Reviews:

Another Place and Time (2010) MD

Another Place and Time (2010) KP

Bio:

Heidi Anne Breyer has been submitted (by Corin Nelsen) for six categories in 2011 Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best New Age Album. Corin Nelsen is himself a Grammy Award winning studio engineer and producer.

Her new album, “Another Place and Time”, is a collection of Heidi’s original piano and instrumental compositions with haunting melodies and vocals that reflect upon the most intimate moments of our lives.  It has been released in the US and worldwide.  In addition to Heidi’s piano and vocals, “Another Place and Time” features several of today’s finest musicians including cellist Eugene Friesen, Charlie Bisharat on violin, Jeff Oster on flugelhorn, Jill Haley on English horn and Will Ackerman and David Cullen on guitar.

Heidi’s first brush with music occurred on the stage of a small English nursery school at the tender age of two. There, wearing a paper flower petal skirt she danced beyond the end of the music and for Heidi the rest of world ceased to exist. “As children we perceive music very physically and allow it to carry us away to a different place...” To this day Heidi believes that this is how music can transform. Whether through teaching, learning, composing, performing or listening.

Since that early age Heidi’s life was inextricably linked to music through dance, drama and  music study at the Arts Educational School in Hertfordshire, UK and later at Trinity College of Music in London.  Following a career in the family business, Heidi immersed herself in music once again teaching piano, performing recitals, accompanying chamber and choral groups and playing the church organ.  Most recently Heidi experienced a musical awakening and returned to her deep passion for writing music.

Heidi’s first album, Winter Light, is the result of an explosion of creativity.  Winter Light was released in October 2009 and features original compositions and well-known Christmas carols. This project lead to her current collaboration with legendary guitarist and producer, Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records.

Heidi uses her music to “paint in sound”... whatever form that may come in -- movies, teaching or performing (whether in concert halls or intimate settings such as the homes of those who simply love piano music).  Heidi lives in Hunterdon County, NJ with her two children and partner artist Alexander Volkov.