Hey there! It’s been a minute….jeez! I hope you’re all doing well in these strange times.

I have some news to share, the Judith Ehrlich film I scored The Boys Who Said No! has it’s US premiere tonight for 6 days at the Mill Valley Film Festival. I’m super proud of this film and ever grateful to William Farley for recommending me. I’m now putting the final touches on the score for Farley’s film I Wanted To Be A Man With A Gun. Thanks to everyone who contributed financially to either of these films. They are gems!

Cathy Lee Crane’s very cool film Crossing Columbus is up for a free screening. Another work I’m very proud of. A beautiful meditation on border life. Don’t miss it!

Trance Mission released it’s CD March 13th…..then all concerts were cancelled due to you-know-what…..check out Le Pendu if you haven’t already, write to me if you’d like to buy a CD, I think it’s possibly my best release ever.

These past few months I scored Lauretta Molitor’s film ‘Impresario’, a sweet doc about force of nature filmmaker/social activist Mark Huestis. I’ll post more info on screenings for that once it’s released.

Be well, be safe, carry on….and VOTE!!!

peace,

Beth

As many of you already know, I’ve got a dream job scoring the wonderful documentary film The Boys Who Said No! about the Viet Nam conflict draft resistor’s movement and how it was instrumental in stopping the war. Here’s the trailer, check it out! I believe it’s the best documentary I’ve ever worked on. Director Judith Ehrlich was nominated for an academy award for her doc film The Most Dangerous Man in America and she’s a delight to work with as is producer Bill Prince.
I’m currently putting the finishing touches on the score that includes strings, percussion, piano, and of course….clarinet. Ms. Ehrlich asked me early on to write a song for the end credits and I dove in with relish and came up with a very upbeat number entitled Say No!

Russian Telegraph is a new band I’m in founded by singer/guitarist David James with Keith MacArthur on bass, Diana Mangano, voice, Chris Grady, trumpet, Jordan Glasgow, keyboard, John Hanes, drums, me on voice/clarinets. This is one funky ensemble that I want to hire to record Say No! And YOU can chip in to make this happen. Your donation will help pay the musicians and recording engineer (Jeff Cressman). Donors of $500 or more will get their name in the credits of the film. No amount is too small…or too large! Please help me make my dream come true! And I thank you in advance.

Here’s the direct link where you can donate, please be sure and make a note that your donation goes towards the song: https://www.boyswhosaidno.com/support  

Any donations will be matched by the producers, thank you so much for your kind support of my latest endeavor.

I’ve been really looking forward to June: Trance Mission has five gigs and a week of mixing. We’re finally finishing a new recording that’s been in the works for about 3 years!

Trance Mission concerts will be with the full band: Stephen Kent, didgeridoos, Peter Valsamis, drums, and me on clarinets We’ve a bevy of new tunes and repertoire favorites, come out and shake it with us!

Lots of cool gigs coming up including my May premiere of Drawdown, a San Francisco Arts Commission supported new chamber work based on Paul Hawken’s seminal book on climate change solutions. I’ve composed for a unique ensemble featuring Cellista and her Juxtapositions ensemble, master drummer Jim Kassis, and me on voice/clarinets. It will be premiered May 15-18 in Berkeley, Palo Alto at the Art Center Auditorium, and San Francisco Center for New Music, come on down!

Club Foot Orchestra will be premiering Richard Marriott’s new score to the silent class Balinese film Goona Goona on May 4th, 2:30. Truly not to be missed!

And big resurgence of one of my very favorite ensembles that I play in, Trance Mission! We’ve almost finished our new recording and in celebration of that we’ve got lots of June gigs lined up in the Bay Area and at the beautiful Mariposa Music on the Green festival.

Hope to see you out there somewhere!