Melanie Singh and Kristen Lamb sang “Unpretty” blending their lush voices beautifully.

Then at last I got to let loose!  Since there was little room on the stage since they had moved up a podium for the main speaker- I needed some room. This was my chance to take off into the audience and work the crowd while singing the theme song from “Mirror Mirror”: “I Believe in Love.” That was fun- and left me out of breath and ready to sit down and listen to the speaking.

Much like the fairy- tale- and the recent movie (Which I thoroughly enjoyed!)- we as women often consult our mirrors, hoping to find a fair face looking back at us. We can be so concerned about our looks, beauty, appearanance- and not without good reason. Sure some of us are vain like the evil queen; but most of us realize that how we look will affect how we are treated. This world is very biased toward a pretty face (and body).

At this event speaker Ruby Mitchell shared from the Bible the story of Esther and how her beauty had to come from within- from her faith and how she lived it- how that in the end is the most valuable. And how we are loved so completely- no matter what our mirror says, by our Father in heaven.

There were also several women sharing from their own lives about challenges they had overcome. It was a moving, entertaining and meaning morning!

If you haven’t ever been to this event, you really MUST come!

The BCCC finds and cares for lost and stray cats and finds them good homes. It is a labor of love started and maintained by my good friend Sharon Dubois and her marvelous staff of volunteers!

I have the honor of playing jazz all night as the elegant background for this fantastic event!

Think CHOCOLATE! All kinds and varieties- Godiva, Starbucks… delicious! A couple of years they even had a chocolate waterfall that you could dip fruit into! YUM! And it’s all free once you’re in the door.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door or at the BCCC website.

And if you are a Jazz fan… Ralph and I will be playing our favorite  jazz standards all night plus some of our jazz originals: “Coffee Song”, “He Called”, “Grace”, “Precious” and our new “You Are” from the upcoming CD: Hope Faith Love.

It’s all happening at the INdian Ridge COuntry Club in Andover, MA 7pm Friday May18th!

Hope to see you there!

Both Friday night and Saturday morning he taught us from the Word and his experience how to deepen our personal worship. He gave us permission from the psalms and many new testament scriptures as well to worship freely- to life holy hands in prayer or song. He encouraged us to not tolerate but embrace each  other’s favorite worship music and to give our hearts to it.

Then we rehearsed. Even the rehearsals were fantastic times of worship. By the time we got to the service on Sunday, my heart was primed and soft. The high point for me was as we sang “At the Cross” from Hillsong before communion, as the tears flowed down my cheeks in waves of emotion. There was nothing contrived here- I was weeping in gratefulness to me Father in heaven and my savior. I was in awe of the legions of angels rejoicing with us. Back stage after that set of music it seemed the whole front row of chairs was scrambling for tissues.

This weekend we all got to taste worship of a new depth. Nourishing, satisfying, renewing, powerful. It engulfed my senses and reached into the yearning places within and filled them with sweet warmth.

If you long for that fulfillment, and have not known it- or wish to return there- let’s have a conversation. We can grow together in this quest.

I spent many years as a musician seeking that satisfaction through music ( and the men that I played it with), then I got to know God and sought it in prayer and bible study and found the lonely places closing- but a yearning still there- then, only in recent years, I began to discover the healing power of worship. When the word, prayer, worship and sweet feloowship come together- we are getting mighty close to heaven!

I was asked to organize the music months before the event- a marriage retreat with 300 or so couples on the topic of “Emotional Intimacy in Marriage.”  Wow! I love these things anyway. Everyone married should attend…

Well, I told the director- I’d be happy to do this- but I need to have everything all tied up before my studio session- which just happens to be just a week before the retreat. “No problem” he says to me. “I’ll call you this week.”

Well. we all know how life gets- and without naming names etc- lets just say that most everything didn’t go as planned. Singers dropped out or weren’t available or willing to help out, There was no sound man hired so I didn’t want to try to put together a band (though I already had and had to cancel it), The songs kept changing- then at the last minute I needed to bring my own sound system, too- and the crowning blow was that the guy who brought the main sound system didn’t even know how to run it!

So here we arrive at the actual marriage retreat ready to grow in our marriage and I have to turn to Ralph and ask- “Would you run sound all weekend for every event, class and presentation?”

Ralph, to his credit, stepped up to the plate and served with all his heart. Lugging equipment when needed (tough on his back) and staying up later and getting up earlier than planned.

I was leading music and a cast of singers, many of whom didn’t show up when asked, and then the director even changed a couple songs on my on Sunday morning! (Ok, I was a bit ticked about that.)

But everything actually went really well.

Melanie Singh and I sang two songs: “Because you Love Me” from Celine Dion and “The Rose” from Bette Middler- (Diana Wick joined us on the latter) both came off very well. In fact I forgot how much I enjoyed singing these tunes until we did them- great songs to pour your heart into!

I sang some old and new favorites like “Coffee Song” and “Love Life Like I should” at the coffee house on Saturday night and pre-sold a few of our new CD’s even!!!!

But what was the glue that kept Ralph and I from fighting or at least grumbling at each other through it all?

Julie and Ralph at NECC

God had done so much work on us the week of our studio session we were still riding on the high!

If you read my blog about the recording week- you’ll see the challenges leading up to our recording. Ralph and I weren’t unified at all going into it- and it was causing a great rift in our marriage- music and playing it together has always been a bonding experience for us- in fact, Ralph and I fell in love while playing together in a country band!

But after we both decided to obey 1 Peter 3 (check it out yourself- good marriage advice in the scriptures!) we became unified in a way only God can produce!

Then the high of recording the CD was fresh in our hearts and minds as we went into the marriage retreat, making it an exhausting but still rich and powerful weekend! And despite our service we were able to enjoy and draw from the insightful lessons taught by Jeff and Florence Shachinger.

FYI- if you are interested: their book: Building Emotional Intimacy in Your Marriage can be found at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Building-Emotional-Intimacy-Your-Marriage/dp/157782282X

It all happened at our newly refurbished home studio: KIP Productions, home of Jharck Records in Billerica, MA from March 21-25, 2012.  Present were Ralph Kinscheck on Keys and cheif engineer-producer, Gary Gibbons on drums (in from LA, CA), Chris Gibbons on bass (up from Dryden, NY), Johnny V Vicaire on lead guitar and of course me on lead vocal and acoustic guitar! Also here was my Mom. POlly, feeding us and taking care of our twins0 an essential job indeed!

Polly Joan (Mom) with Caleb and Hannah

Since tomorrow is Easter, and we are playing and have to get up at some crazy early hour to go set up and sound check at church, let me just say that it was exciting!  I surrendered creative control to my husband Ralph and God truly blessed it! We worked together like a charm and all five of us contributed greatly to the outcome!

In the end (after some technical difficulties that nearly stopped our progress!) we gave birth collectively to a SLAMMIN’ CHRISTIAN ROCK CD!  I can’t wait till we have finished all the over dubs and can play some cuts for you!

There are many co-written song on here by both Ralph and I – and even one re-make of a song from the Force CD: “Can You Hear Me Now” – much better than the first version… got to say- my brothers can groove!

We think the new CD will be called: Hope Faith Love, after one of our new songs.

Maybe we’ll even have it out by the Summit in San Antonio! That would be so exciting!

I will keep you posted!

Chris, Gary, Julie, Ralph, Johnny at Hope Faith Love Sessions

We played many songs- among them were “You Are Good” by Isreal Houghton, “Shout to Lord” and “At the Cross” from Hillsong, “Mighty to Save”- the Newsboys version and more! We even got to pull in a wonderful Latin percussionist and a Spanish singer from “open the Eyes of My Heart” in English and Spanish.

I had spent time teaching and directing “You Are Good” with children to sing around Thanksgiving- and I finally got our band leader, Bryan, hooked in to do it with the adult band! It jammed! So joyful!

I also got to do the lead vocal part on “Shout to the Lord”! I love that song! I can really give it my heart!

The service was inspiring, the worship powerful- and there were 2 baptisms to make it a perfect Sunday!

If there was a downside- it is trying to get up at 5:30- something our bodies don’t do easily! But God gave us the strength!

To Him be the glory.

Recording begins at Jharck Records (Our studio!) on March 21st, 2012! (God willing!)

My amazing drummer brother Gary Gibbons

Gary in the studio

will be flying in from LA; my funky bass brother Chris Gibbons

Chris in the studio on Grace With Jazz On Top CD sessions

will be driving up from Ithaca NY (with my Mom to help with the kids!),

John V jammin' on Grace With Jazz On Top CD release concert

our bluesy lead guitarist John (Johnny V) Vicaire will be joining us from beyond Springfield; my handsome and talented hubby Ralph Kinscheck

Ralph, chief engineer for Grace With Jazz On Top

will be playing keyboards and engineering and yours truly will be singing and playing her little heart out!!!

I am SUPER excited! I have LOTS of great new songs I am dying to share with you and Ralph and I are working on some co-writes, too for the CD!

There is much pre-production work to do… picking the songs and writing charts, finishing the studio wiring and testing the drum mics etc! Choosing the photographer, graphics- oh my! And the COST!

The good news is we did sell quite a few of the first CD- though we still have a few left (get them before they’re gone!)Click here to purchase

Grace CD Cover

But we could use all the help we could get to get this next project off the ground- starting with paying for the Drummer’s airfare to Boston!!!! If you are a fan and have the ability to help out- any small bit is appreciated!!!!

And keep us in your prayers to create the most wonderful (and marketable) CD- that will be excellent, heart moving and glorifying to our God!

“Apart from me you can do nothing”- Jesus John 15:5

in Joy!

Julie

Kinscheck Family on top of Mount Monadnock spring 2011

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me…. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14

I have great hopes for 2012!

I pray to record basics for my next CD! I have LOTS of new material and Ralph and I are planning to write some more together!

We hope to travel to San Antonio Texas in July to worship and play music with and for over 15,000 disciples from around the world!

Julie rockin' out!

Our recording studio and rehearsal studio are basically finished; major construction on our home is almost done and my teaching business is booming!

I am starting the pre- production for a Europe tour for summer 2013!

Caleb- The Little Drummer Boy!

My children are healthy and beautiful and loving life- and playing music: Hannah sings and plays some keys and Caleb sings and plays the drums!

Hannah Wins First Prize singing "These Boots are Made For Walking"!

My husband works in music at Berklee college of music, freelances teaching Apple classes (for video editing and recording etc on the Mac) and consulting- and looks forward to recording people in our new studio!

Part of Jharck Records new control room

Ralph with Kurt Beiderwolf presenting an award in the Electronic Music and Design department at Berklee College of Music in Boston

Ralph and I are honored and loving playing with the Church praise band!

Ralph, Julie, Dana, John, Bryan and Josh-playing for worship for 1500 Christians at the lawrence Field House

God Is So Good!

Our theme for our church this new year is : EPIC: Everyday People Imitating Christ!
I’ve just written a song about it that I hope to perform and put up on Youtube soon, too!

And like most of the world- I want to lose some weight!

And through it all- I desire to grow closer to my Lord and be used by him in even greater ways!

I refer to the prayer of Jabez “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!”

Here is a quick recap of 2011:

2011 was a year of Great Worship! Ralph and I played with the local Northern Region Praise band all year at many large and meaningful events and services! Some of those events included: The BCC Olympics, a powerful Easter service and a glorious Christmas presentation for which I also directed and led children singing. Even my little Caleb was the Little Drummer Boy! I was also able to lead women singing several of my newest songs at a marvelous brunch event for 300 women at the Shriner’s auditorium in Wilmington.

Theresa, Jessica, Diana, Julie & Melanie at Womens Day 2011

In addition I felt it was a great time of spiritual growth for me and learning more about parenting keeping God in the center! I have much more to learn for sure- but I am grateful for the journey. I am also thrilled to be actively leading Bible studies again! It strengthens and renews my heart and faith!

Julie Singing praiseds at the NECC 2011

I also was honored to Sing and play for many events at the NewEngland/ World Leadership conference at the Hines convention center in October which brought in disciples form around the world. I wrote a whole blog about how God worked in me that weekend!

Julie, Jerry, and Scott playing "Lamb of God" at NECC 2011 Sunday service

Julie and Ralph at the NECC 2011

2011 was a great year of serving with my gifts! We had our second annual Night of Hope Billerica at the Bennett Library in September and raised funds for Hope Worldwide medical missions to Honduras and Guatemale as well as a needy family in Billerica! The talent- Including RIA, Kasia and others, the food, the MC, Gail Scot Key- everything about the event was top shelf!

Jessica, Melanie, Kenny (bass), Julie (guitar), Diana and Ralph (keys) at Night of HOPE

Gail Scott Key MC with Julie at Night of HOPE Billerica 2011

I was also pleased to be a guest artist at a fundraiser for Liberty Hill Farms in VT- helping to provide food for 1500 dairy cow that had lost their crops during the floods of Katrina.

Lois Lane and Julie at LHF Fund Raiser

Ralph and I also played jazz as Moon Glow

for the annual Cat Care Coalition Fund raiser to help lost kitties!

Peter and Sharon Dubois with Moon Glow Jazz duo (Julie and Ralph) at BCCC Funraiser

Finally, I got to bring music and joy to many first and second graders at the Hajjar elementary school in sing-a-longs three times last year-

Happy Julie sings for Hajjar School second grades for Christmas 2011!

and to the elderly at the Life Care Center in Billerica and more.

Julie takes some students to perform at the Billerica Life Care Center

2011 was Full of Community!

I managed to play the “Coffee Song” and get interviewed on Fox News when they did their Zip Trip to Billerica! That was a gas indeed! I got to play twice for the Billerica Farmer’s Market and also for the Billerica Yankee Doodle celebration! I played for schools and elderly and more!

Julie with Cindy Fitzgibbon of Fox News!

In Addition to being on TV, Songs from Grace With Jazz On Top played on 1000′s of international radio stations through TSproductions promotion!  Me and my original band played at All Asia and various other area venues, too!

Ralph, Julie, Ogechi, Jessica, Johnny (with Kenny and Brian in the back) at All Asia in Cambridge, MA

It was a great year for writing music! Some of my newest songs include: “Waiting on You”, “Fire in my Heart”, I Trust in You”, “Time to Call Mom”, “I’m a Mess”, “Love Life Like I Should”, “I’ve Got it All” , “Galaxy Ride” & “EPIC” to name a few!

It was a year for travel- For gigs and pleasure I went alone or with family to Chicago, IL,  Ithaca, NY, Sweden and Portland, Maine, Bowens Mill, GA, Providence, RI and all over NH.

2011 was a great year with my students! I directed 3 student recitals of my home studio guitar and voice students at the Billerica Bennett Library in spring, summer and at Christmas time. I also led students performing at the Calvary chapel for two BLT Music School recitals this year. Two favorite group songs that I did with several groups of kids this year were “Do Re Mi” from Sound of Music and “The Little Drummer Boy”! What fun! I have the most students I have ever had! Thank you to all of them and their parents!

" Do, Re, Mi" from my home studio Spring recital 2011

I also directed several choirs of children singing for special church events. It is so exciting to see students grow and learn to love music and performing like I do. I am so blessed!

2011 was a year of progress! We built a new recording studio out of what used to be a garage! We fashioned a live rehearsal, recording  and teaching space for me; we rebuilt our shed into an office and two new rooms for our children (after they had to be taken apart after major ice dam leak damage!)- and finally we overhauled the upstairs bathroom! Feels like a new house! (Only it isn’t quite finished- have to do all those finishing touches- like hang the tv’s the towel racks etc and de-clutter!) I will be so excited to get my house in order and have a BIG party!

2011 was an incredible year with friends and our church family! We spent many birthdays including Thanksgiving with our good friends the Wicks, the Proventures, the Cadets and the Roscoes and others! Then we joined a new family group at church and made more best friends with whom we share our hearts and common bond in Christ like the Sogades, the Drakes and the Banks!

Ann Marie, Julie and Diana on my birthday 2011

We had our annual Superbowl party, too- and Ruth and Dick were there as always (with Deviled eggs! And I even got to spend one awesome evening with Oberlin best friend and matron of honor Sharon Dolph when she came to town for a conference!!

Finally, 2011 was a great year for family! My twins turned 7 and entered 2nd grade at the HAjjar elementary school! Hannah won the Billerica Town Talent Show and became a local star with her rendition of “These Boots Are made For Walkin!” Caleb became a drummer and performed the Beatle’s “Drive my Car” on the drum kit and was the little drummer boy on 4 performances at Christmas time! We had fun vacations  at our beloved cabin in Maine, camping and climbing mountains- See the first picture above from the summit of Mount Monadnock! We enjoyed great hikes and hang time with cousins Jenny and Greg and Soleil-

The Haung-dale family on Little and Big Deer Hill 2011

even got lost on Big and Little Deer Hill- that was an adventure!!!

Gisela (Oma) Kinscheck at Calloway Gardens, GA

We enjoyed time with Oma (Ralph’s Mom) in Chicago, Georgia and Billerica; with,Keith & Ingrid and Renata in Georgia (Ralph’s sisters); With Grandma Polly and Grandpa Charlie in Ithaca and with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Diane in New Hampshire and Billerica- and topped it off with seeing both my brothers Chris and Gary (who played bass and drums on the Grace With Jazz on Top CD) with their families at Christmas at Mom’s!

Ralph's sister Renate with her dog

Twins with Grandpa Paul 2011

Ralph's sister Ingrid and husband Keith at the Butterfly Place at Calloway Gardens 2011

My brother Gary, Julie, Polly (Mom) and my brother Chris

And we watched through all the Dr. who episodes form the 1st through the 4th Doctor! We even had a Dr. who birthday party!

Dr. Who and the Battle for all time play!

Caleb, Julie, Hannah, Ralph at the NECC in Boston 2011

Thank you Lord for an amazing 2011- now for the sequel-

Here we come 2012!!!

To God be the glory!

Jesus was a miracle from conception on. He was born in humble circumstances- but was the fulfillment of thousands of prophesies from Isaiah, David and many others in the old testament. He was the chosen Christ- the son of God and man (woman actually!) – destined to free his people- not only the Jews- but all of us who would believe and live his commands. Wow! What a baby!

This Christmas I want to pray that my life can glorify the man this baby grew to be- and that the love, that was central to His message of salvation will be reflected in me, my family and my church. I could pray for peace on Earth- but my faith is weak- there are so many who hate Christ; Lord give me faith.

And as I sing and praise God at church this Sunday at our wonderful Christmas celebration, let our songs resound with the joy of new birth- not only the Christ child- but of new hope in our hearts that only he could bring!

Merry Christmas!

Kylie, Rachel, Lydia, Sarah, Fiona and Julie

With singers of all ages singing in sweet harmonies on “Silent Night”- led by young singer “Fiona” including a feature instrumental section with Jason Daniel and I playing the melody in harmony on guitars.

Jason Daniel on guitar

Lynne Santos Serenaded us with her rich versions of “Mary Did You Know” and Adell’s “Make You Feel My Love.”

Lynne Santos: "Make You Feel My Love"

Sarah Daniel maintained her marvelous reputation singing “Christmas in My Heart” backed up by 5 young singers and by singing and playing guitar on “Never Let Go.”

Sarah Daniel

New Guitarists Cheyenne Banks and Ana Marie Sogade played on Debussy’s “Au Claire De le Luna” and “The Little Drummer Boy”

Speaking of the Little Drummer Boy- It was my 7 year old son, Caleb. What a cutie-pie! But I guess he thought it was too easy- so he acted cool and put the drum sticks in his sleeves for a section!  He has been given the challenge to prove his seriousness on the drums at our upcoming BLT Student recital on December  12th… Before he will be the Little Drummer Boy at the big church Christmas service for 500 people at the Lawrence High School on December 18th! Then he will have 50 kids singing with him instead of the 6 we had last week (who were wonderful BTW!)

Caleb Kinscheck- The Little Drummer Boy!

Continuing  with my children- my sweet Hannah sang “Away in the Manger” – she is so precious- I had to follow her song with my song “Precious” from my Grace With Jazz on Top CD!

Hannah Kinscheck

Other highlights of the performance were Jason playing the “Star Spangled Banner” and a solo on “the Blues” accompanied by Ana Marie Sogade; Rachel Mathew and the Girls on “The First Noel” and “You Are My All In All”; Kylie Cadet leading “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and singing Louis Armstrong’s “Wonderful World”; Jessica Lewis on “O Holy Night”; Lydia Colon on “Last Christmas” and the sweet Emma Miller singing “When Will My Life Begin” from Tangled!

We did have some technical difficulties… My keyboard didn’t want to work when it was time to play Fiona’s “Love the Lord”- and the track was breaking up on “Joy to the World”- so both songs got pushed to the second act. During the intermission (and feast!) we figured out that the polarity had gotten reversed on the power chord to the keyboard (Ralph is a genius!)- so we were able to do Fiona’s song in the second set. I played piano on it (I was nervous- but proud that I figured out this beautiful song- I am not accustomed to performing on piano- I play guitar and sing!)- but I guess it was a bit different than the track and it through Fiona off a bit- but she sounded lovely as always.

Julie Kinscheck Rock's Out!

Lynne, Melanie and Jessica backing me up!

Will Cox- my marvelous sound guy and previous voice student figured out how to get my tracks working again with my iPhone and we were able to rock the house with “Joy to the World” funky Hillsong style and the Go Fish song “Christmas With a Capitol C” also in the second set!  On both songs I had Melanie Singh, Jessica Lewis and Lynne Santos backing me up! They were awesome! The Go Fish song is rather ‘In your face’ about why it is Christmas and not just the Holiday season. I LOVE it!

The night ended with me awarding special honor to the Daniel family for studying with me for 4 years now and referring so many students to me!

Thanks also to Ralph for doing the video- And Nicole Roscoe for the pictures – and for all the folks who stayed to clean up and the Gert and Terry of the Bennett Library Association for providing such a lovely venue for our shows!