Irish Blessing

I met Zeke in my sophomore year at Dartmouth through my friends Alexia Huffman and Peter Verovsek at the Amarna house. I was always in awe of him and the charismatic splendor and gregariousness he brought to every space he inhabited. Whether that be conducting a robust orchestra of young musicians at the lakeside retreat…

Christopher was to have joined us in Norfolk to conduct the Yorke Trust’s summer opera production of Handel’s Jephtha this year after a stunningly successful Come & Sing Mozart’s Requiem day in February, and Jennifer Hamilton’s memorable production of Purcell’s The Tempest last July.  Members of our community chorus, seasoned amateurs and those new to…

I first met Chris at the University of Music “Franz Liszt” in Weimar, Germany where I studied Jazz Vocal Performance and Composition / Arranging. Chris was my lecturer in English diction and speech training. His lessons were hands on and practical, but what´s more he was vivid, lively, friendly and radiating with honesty, authenticity and…

Dear McMullen-Lairds, My mother heart aches for your loss. My music heart aches for the world’s loss. My spirit rejoices in the ongoing light of Christopher’s presence in the world. May you gradually find what you need for mending this huge hole in the fabric of your lives! “May eternal light surround you Everlasting arms…

I’m in total shock after the terrible news that Chris has left us. We’ve worked together at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich. Chris’s smile, positivity, kindness were always so heart warming. We hadn’t been in touch in years, when he randomly wrote me about a month ago to congratulate me on a performance he had…