Here we are, on January 9th, looking out the window at snow (finally!). I find myself wondering, what will 2024 have in store? It’s always impossible to know, and looking back I can’t say there has ever been a year that went according to my expectations. Generally that’s been an incredible thing. This past year my professional and musical life saw great change and growth, most notably the formation of my new duo, Shannon and Jakeb. I successfully recovered from a full ACL tear to be back on the ice playing hockey, and my kids became young adults before my eyes. I also had my first choral commission with the Chorale Castenchel Choir and I performed on the mainstage at a major folk festival.
Looking back it’s like, woah. Each day stacks on the next and you don’t notice every accomplishment, every change, every next phase as it is happening. I like taking time for a yearly recap for this reason. We all deserve to take stock of everything we’ve been through and everything we’ve accomplished over time. A year goes by in the blink of an eye but actually a year is filled with thousands of tiny moments that add up to a life. My life was rich and full last year. I am lucky and I am grateful.
So what would I like to see happen in 2024? That’s a fun question to ponder, especially for someone like me who loves to make to-do lists, to chart goals, and to regularly revise and re-sketch my weekly schedule. As a planning nerd, this is my time to shine. I do believe, however, that stating goals helps make them happen, so this is not only my nerdiness coming to the fore, but also some determination mixed in. So, with nerdy determination I present:
My 2024 Wishes
I’d like to record some music as Shannon and Jakeb.
I’d like to perform a lot, and we are planning a tour in June.
I’d like to book two festival performances.
I’d like to have my choral piece performed again.
I am planning to go to Europe with my family.
I’d like to continue writing songs, continue improving at the guitar, and continue my work with SONG and my private voice students.
I’d like to keep my eyes and heart open to other opportunities and people that may come into my life. My life has only been made richer by an openness to community and connection, and I want to continue with that as a central guiding philosophy.
May we all find joy in community this year. May we all have at least one goal to work toward. And may we all find the nerdy determination it takes to achieve those goals.
xo
Shannon
Upcoming Shows (Shannon and Jakeb)
Jan 28 - A reprise of David Newland’s In Search of Lost Trees (Ptbo) -tickets
Feb 10 - Spark Beer with Graven (Ottawa) - more info TBA
Feb 11 - Up Close & Personal with Graven (Camborne) - tickets
Featured Song - All of My Evenings
Written by Jakeb Daniel, performed by Shannon and Jakeb.
Fun fact: Jakeb first played this song for me while sitting in a van driving home from Blue Skies Festival, guitar squished onto his lap in the passenger seat. We kept singing it the whole way home and by the time we arrived in Cobourg we had basically the final version of the song.
Great song Shannon. It's easy to see why you enjoy making music together.