As the sun rises, on many a morning, I have found such inspiration listening to the Brooklyn Duo and their phenomenal piano and cello music! It is pure melodic bliss and peacefulness with upbeat optimism for the day, as it is a combination of classical and popular music combined. Perhaps, it also takes me back to the fond memories of my beautiful, talented mom playing the piano as I grew up, which were times that I will certainly always treasure. My mom was incredibly talented on the ivory keys. One of her favorites I remember her playing so splendidly was "Sentimental Journey," (which is one of the songs that she also somehow taught me to play... in between my running out to go horseback riding or water skiing!) She did, somehow however, instill in me a true love and appreciation for this really beautiful music that takes one many years of continued hard work to master. As I have grown and matured throughout the years, I realize what a gift that was...knowing the importance of always having beautiful music in my life and seeing that beautiful things can happen through hard work, with continued dedication, and incredible passion...whatever they may be! As I listen to the Brooklyn Duo, it does somewhat take me on a lovely "sentimental journey," and of course, I am also totally in awe of their remarkable talent. What an inspiring musical journey Marnie and Patrick Laird have both been on leading up to and currently as the Brooklyn Duo...past, present, and no doubt incredible things surely await in the future! This dynamic duo creates some of the most lovely music that I have ever heard, with their artful, yet masterful piano and cello covers of well known popular songs. It is absolutely magical, as one hears Marnie and Patrick's exceptional versions, music played so beautifully, with such extraordinary talent, on such fine classical instruments. I have found that this is music that pulls one's best thinking and creativity out, it elevates one's mood, and helps heighten one's focus. It is beautiful music that stops you in your tracks, grasps your attention, and leaves you wanting more,... the way it is played and arranged by the Brooklyn Duo! It is quite spectacular indeed! Marnie and Patrick, the Brooklyn Duo, are on an extraordinary musical journey and they are absolutely amazing...a very special gift to the world indeed!
I always find it to be so extraordinairre when young people are able to find and foresee at such a young age their destined paths in life. Marnie is a true example of that. Her immense love and dedication to achieving the ultimate things with her piano music started very young. By the time she was just 13, she was making her solo orchestral debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She has been the recipient of numerous, very special Canadian awards and has participated in many summer festivals near where she is originally from, which is Vancouver, B.C. Marnie has a Master's degree in solo piano performance from The University of British Columbia. She has also received a Master's degree from such a highly regarded place- The Juilliard School, where she was the recipient of a full scholarship, as well as the Orchestral Piano Fellowship. She was on staff as a collaborative pianist at The Juilliard School after graduating and she has worked with several opera companies in New York, including the Gotham Chamber Opera. Marnie has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as many other well known prestigious places. Before founding the Brooklyn Duo, she also spent three years as principal pianist of the New World Symphony in Miami. These are incredible accomplishments for one human indeed, and we look forward to watching her journey continue, as she is a wonderful example of what can happen when you are passionate about what you do! She is so AMAZING and such an inspiration! What she creates and presents to the world is phenomenal!
Patrick has taken an extraordinary path in life as well, as he also continues to do what he is passionate about, which is playing the cello at the highest level. He is a highly sought-after cellist and composer/arranger that has received his Bachelor's degree, as well as the prestigious Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music in New York. Not only is he the other fabulous half of the Brooklyn Duo, but he is also the cellist of the cello - rock ensemble Break of Reality. Patrick has given concerts in over forty states here in the U.S. and he has also been appointed as a music ambassador by the U.S. State Department as part of the American Music Abroad Program that spends time touring, performing, and working with so many in over ten countries. As an avid composer and arranger, Patrick has written music that has been streamed over 20 million times a year on internet radio and has been featured in national television programs, one which went on to win an Emmy. His Game of Thrones theme song arrangement and performance has over 25 million views on YouTube. Patrick is also a prominent voice in the commercial music world, and has been interviewed by Forbes Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Strings Magazine to name a few. He is INCREDIBLE and what outstanding achievements! The way he plays the cello, and the way he composes and arranges the music have brought a whole new audience to appreciate such a lovely classical instrument.
Wow! What a background Marnie and Patrick both bring to the Brooklyn Duo, each so accomplished, with quite amazing success individually! Merging their talent, they have established themselves as one of today's most successful classical crossover ensembles, garnering a huge following with over one million YouTube subscribers and billions of streams on platforms such as Pandora Radio and Spotify. They have released over 100 videos on their Brooklyn Duo YouTube channel and 10 albums of covers of songs from various well known musical artists. They also now have a Brooklyn Classical YouTube channel. Marnie and Patrick have partnered with Carnegie Hall and Ensemble Connect to produce music and they have come to be known as "the cello and piano power couple." It is such a beautiful thing that those two met at a chamber music festival and six years later were married. As we know, they are still creating amazing music together, that has even been featured on television shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars, and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Their love for each other and for beautiful music shines through in everything that they do. This cello and piano duo is nothing short of spectacular, as their covers for popular music on classical instruments are so FABULOUS!
I would like to extend a very special "Thank You" to Marnie and Patrick for allowing me to write this article and for sending special pics. It has been a true honor to write about your incredible journey, filled with so much greatness, and so many remarkable accomplishments. We, at WILD HORSE BOOTS, love sharing about extraordinary people on extraordinary paths in life, special journeys that not only inspire us, but remind us to be passionate about what we do, to reach for the stars, to be dedicated in your work, and to find the magic and beauty in it all! To the Brooklyn Duo: Marnie and Patrick, thank you for making a difference in our lives with such beautiful music! Wishing you much continued success...(I know who I will be secretly hoping for you to cover a song of next... with your wonderful cello and piano magic!...)
May we all strive to make our journey in life special...just as we see here with the Brooklyn Duo...an extraordinary example of where the path in life may take you when you are so passionate about what you do!
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