Mamma Cantor and illuminates the world with his music

Mamma Cantor and illuminates the world with his music Mamma Cantor and illuminates the world with his music Music Spotlight Interview with Catherine Benskin By Lisa M. Hendey The first time I listened to you and Saturdays and children by Catherine Benskin Alan Marcinek, I found myself wishing I was a parishioner at his church. This talented woman and mother of two, who recently obtained certification as a singer, is the kind of voice that fills the room with light and spirit. What a joy to sit and listen to Mass on Sunday Catherine lead a congregation in song! You're baby is a collection of fourteen standards, said in a new and elegant. The combination of these two items seem to heaven and made many original arrangements of old favorites give them new life. This is the debut CD Benskin, but given his talent and enthusiasm I am waiting to hear from you again in the future. In fact, when asked about the future, Catherine shared with me, "I was hosting a collection of original songs that yeas to see transcribed and organized file. These are the songs that have to do with my path of spiritual growth, to overcome our past and our future state. Many of them may not be Catholic or Christian mold per se, but are, however, my spiritual jouey. Like the artists that I admire, I want people to hear my story and know there is more to me. "If you have the opportunity to hear the children know that you agree with me that you want to hear the story of Catherine Benskin too. I am pleased to share the following interview with Catherine Benskin as part of his family, his faith and his music. Q: Please tell us a little 'about you and your family. A: I am more at home mother. At least that is my main mission today. Chant and sing for church weddings and funerals I may be available for my children, volunteers in their classes and programs of the church. Over the past two years have been filled with various jobs to help finance my project. I thought it was so important for my children to see me working hard to encourage my dreams. Both my children Madeline, 10 and Keoki (George in Hawaiian), 6 are musically inclined and I can not wait to see that God chooses to use as grow. The three of us have the energy, extroverted personality. We are blessed to have my husband, his father George to tu our home and bring peace. Introverted and always constant, which keeps us balanced. George was wonderful in helping me realize my dreams. Always patient and supportive, which made the image of my CD when my "professional" photographer, I am conceed on a day 75 degrees at the peak of fall foliage. George is a way of smoothing the rough patches. Q: How was your jouey of faith in the Catholic Church, that his ministry of music? How have won their faith impact your music? A: I was raised Catholic, but like a lot of kids and something for 20 years, is largely on the sidelines due to a lack of stimulating programs in churches around me. I was very lucky as an adult to find Santa Rosa de Lima in Gaithersburg, MD, as the church home in which to raise my family. Having been interested in music for most of my life, I joined the choir as a creative outlet. Member of the choir led the singing and I have acquired the skills needed to sing for weddings and funerals. Tuing to music, especially in the church really helped me to find myself and grow in a way besides being a wife and mother. Leaing to feed their interests is an extremely important part of filling the roles of mother and wife. As a partner, my music, Alan, came into my life, I was challenged with an agent who is leading me and started to expand my ministry to grow. This project was the next step of a jouey for me. People have begun to ask our community for the recorded music in us. In addition to a different base of all ages in my community, I had a great response from people who are at home with aging and mental disabilities. He helped to comfort and encourage. It 'nice to know what kind of information when you take a leap of faith. I think to myself, "for the love of God, I'm doing something right! "Both my faith and music became very important for me as I went with a diagnosis of bipolar. Subsequently, through therapy and withdrawals as Jeannie Cotter arrived at home and NPM conventions, I saw my invitation to use my music as a gift of healing and life affirming as a gift for me and for others. I am very open to discuss the diagnosis and care of my way to my church, bars and concerts. I was able to help others who struggle with themselves or family members in the midst of a mental illness. I tell them and show them that bipolar can be a wonderful blessing of creativity and focus properly treated, there is a strong possibility of "normal" and successful life after diagnosis. Q: I read that has received certification as a singer this year. What is gained in this certificate? Why do you feel obligated to obtain certification? A: The National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Cantor certification process is quite new. The only level of certification currently available is the basic certificate. Since our convention in July of 2005, only 13 were granted licenses. The Standing Committee of NPM hopes and singers deployment plans 2 more to complete the certification process. Like most singers seeking certification, with a greater focus and sense of craft and credibility of our ministry. As this process is entirely optional, you might ask: "Why do you want to do this? "There are several reasons that led me to pursue the basis of the certificate of Cantor. N. Formal education or higher grade to a high school diploma, I realized that he had some inner demons to dispel. Since I consider myself a singer, contracts, and often go to other churches to do my job, I wanted to pastors and music directors to know that I was not just some fly-by-night "wedding singer. Eaing my degree show as much respect for the liturgy and my role in it. Although I think a lot of joy in the ministry of music and fun to admit, I know that there is great potential impact on the participation of the assembly. When I see a church full of mouing that can not go to the Catholic Church or any church for all participants, of healing and a sense of welcome in our faith, I became aware of the sacredness of my calling. Q: Can you say a few words about his collaboration with Alan Marcinek? As the two of you together and why their partnership works so well? A: There were a handful of people who came into my life so that I can only attribute to divine intervention. In each of these reports was a moment (even if not fully revealed) sense of connection and purpose of their arrival. Alan came to work in my church, St. Rose of Lima in Gaithersburg, MD, four years ago. Our meeting was for me when a thunder. I knew that God had plans for our partnership to work with us and through us to encourage the growth of each and the other communities we serve. The musical connection between us was as if there had been the practice for years together. God has used our spiritual energy, to facilitate full participation in the liturgy of the main music. To ask why our partnership works so well. Honestly, not always. When you have two types of artists working together, self-awareness on the road. When we are fortunate that fuels our creativity, if truth does not bear on the human condition in our music. I believe that the case, there is a great honesty in our spirituality that makes us a leader in the field of music with success. Q: What are some of his favorite musicians, both Catholic and secular? A: Lately I have not spent much time in the world as I am usually preparing the music for the liturgy, the sacraments, or concerts. However, Sarah McLachlan is a time for the secular artist. My husband and I have listened and appreciated his music almost from the outset. I like his original scheme. Your honest and personal lyrics that will make you feel as if you know your history. In my family we like all types of music. Most of our audience is in the car. We chill out classic when she pointed out, to show to sing songs, and sometimes by the Spanish stations where you can have an incredible pace and power, but none of us spoke enough to worry about whether the lyrics are offensive or not. The treatment of children, where work on weekends, and get to hear some of the most rockin 'music in the car of my husband. As for Catholic artists, my favorite is Danielle Rose. The text is so intimate and reflection. You can almost reach and sustain them. Sarah Hart, because I have managed to weave his musical career and family and work. And Jeanne Cotter is generous, honest, strong woman. Has made a significant impact on which I was able to take my music and follow my heart. The people may be talented musicians, but it must be tangible spirituality them there and I was hooked. Q: How would you describe your music? A: This CD contains and eclectic mix of music is different around hymns like "How do I avoid song", as a spiritual "Wade in the water and old-bys like" I am the bread of life " crank a notch. There are also two ballads seeking comfort or inspire prayer and meditation. Many people think that is ideal for driving the car, because it is comforting and amusing without being too loud or too boring. My brother said that it should be a requirement for the "Road Rage recovery" because it can not stay mad at the same time, listening to it. Q: My favorite is his personal CD "How do I keep singing? "This brings great memories of my childhood with my parents. What is your favorite song on this CD? A: I like that one too. I joke that I made the CD because my son asked for a lullaby every night and I got tired of singing. Many times in church is the fastest time. The first time Alan played in this way, the only word you could think of to describe it is "shameful." Alan loves to play familiar songs in a way that shakes them, surprising people, or breathe new life into them. When people comment on their provision of this or that song, I say, "Alan plays the songs so well that he did not know how it could be ... "He plays a" Love Divine, All Loves excel "singing the roof of the elementary school where we met. I am most proud of is "Wade in the water." Changing the way the agreement was so was the day. Each layer instrumentalist added or modified the concept and the feeling of the song. Shows a part of my voice and personality that rarely get to show in my world every day liturgico. Sometimes, the Easter Vigil to be fitted in preparation of the water to bless every other day of Easter, we sing and I would go un po '... Lyric and meaning what, my favorite is the title track, you're a small child. Alan gave me a recording of himself singing the song of a concert of his past. When I was in the midst of my terrible depressions in my earlier days and earlier diagnosis, I would like to reduce his country to the church of St. Stephen Martyr in Middleburg, VA (which is about an hour from my house) and listen to everything the road. The comfort of God points I make each of us for a special purpose, and that are important and loved in the eyes of God, probably saved me countless times. During the experimental phase of our project, as Alan would go through difficulties in his way, I like to sing and pray for him. Each of the pieces is a child and I was chosen for its purpose or special memory for us. Q: Are there any comments you want to do? A: What I say to my people in bars and concerts is that it is never too early or too late to start working on your God of love and dreams. Some people wait a life of "perfect moment". The truth is that there is no such thing. Unless you are lucky, the weather is not going to find you, you have to find the time. And once you do, all you are worth. For more information on the CD and Catherine Benskin visit Lisa M. Boys Hendey is the webmaster of a woman and mother of two children and a Catholic music fan and supporter. Visit her for more information