Catherine McMichael, composer
Catherine McMichael, pianist, is an award-winning composer, arranger, performer, clinician and teacher in Saginaw, Michigan. Her degrees from the University of Michigan are in piano performance and chamber music. She is the pianist for the Saginaw Bay and Flint Symphony Orchestras, Ann Arbor based River Raisin Ragtime Revue, accompanies the Saginaw Choral Society and directs Bells on High at First United Methodist Church of Saginaw. Her compositions are represented by five publishers and are played on six continents by orchestras, bands, vocal and handbell choirs and chamber ensembles of all types; performed by touring artists, university faculty and students, avid amateurs and young musicians. Catherine and her violinist husband Rod Bieber have two children, Meredith, 30, neuroscience graduate and world traveler; and Nathan, 28, M.M. in orchestral conducting and violin performance from U-Michigan, Artist Diploma in film scoring at Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain; 70 old rose bushes, two discriminating cats and an exuberant cava-poo dog. Catherine is available for commissions for any instrument or voice. Contact her via www.catherinemcmichael.com.
Dara Starr Tucker
Referred to as “a fighter for social justice wielding music as a balm,” (Grammy.com) DARA STARR TUCKER melds her presence as a singer-songwriter, social media commentator, and satirist on cultural and racial equity, human rights, music, and film. Over the past three years, Tucker has amassed an astounding audience of one million followers via the TikTok platform. Her video commentary on social justice and her original songs have been featured with HBO, FX, BET, OWN Network, Revolt! TV, Shondaland, and Ebony/Jet.
Tucker’s voice and perspective are tailored to the post-pandemic world with an emphasis on self-reflection, mental wellness and, ultimately, healing. “There is unity between the content I share online, the music I make, and what I say — it all comes from the same place,” Tucker said. “It’s my hope that what I express speaks to others who are experiencing similar things.”
Tucker’s eclecticism is guided by the diversity of her experiences. Tucker’s parents were music ministers who taught their children to sing. The family traveled singing gospel extensively throughout the United States. Tucker studied International Business, German, and Mass Media Communications at the undergraduate and graduate levels. From there, she experienced a diverse array of locales that she has called home including Interlaken, Switzerland; Nashville, Tennessee, New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tucker is a fellow of The Woodshed Network founded by GRAMMY-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Additionally, she has performed as a member of guitarist Charlie Hunter’s trio. Tucker tours with her own bands, and in early 2020, she teamed up with Blues & Americana artist Keb Mo’ to co-write the title track to his GRAMMY-winning Best Americana Album, Oklahoma. Tucker made her PBS television debut on The Tavis Smiley Show, and she has appeared on the NPR shows Jazz Night in America and Jazz Inspired while hosting her own show, “The Breakdown with Dara Starr Tucker,” on KJLH Radio in Los Angeles, CA.
Tucker’s most recent eponymously titled album spent nine weeks on the JazzWeek top 50 albums national radio chart. For SHE Festival, Dara’s band includes longtime collaborators in pianist Matt Endahl, bassist Greg Bryant and drummer Marcus Finnie.
Instagram:@daratuckerb
TikTok:@darastarrtucker
Facebook.com/darastarrtucker
Youtube.com/darastarrtucker
www.darastarrtucker.com