Angela Senicz
“I love the surprising connections that can form when we make music with others, it is a unique bond to which nothing quite compares.”
Angela’s Bio: I grew up as a nomad, bouncing between Midwestern states like Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin with some intermissions in central Florida. For college, I moved out west to Santa Fe, New Mexico. After brief stints in Texas and Kansas City, I came to Birmingham in the year 2000, bought a house in Avondale with my husband Tim, and have lived here ever since. Our household has slowly expanded and now includes two boys, Nick and Isaac, a Saint Bernard named Bart, and a rescue mutt from Ruffner named Alex.
Angela’s First Music Memory: Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad played every instrument you can imagine, and briefly taught music theory; my mom directed church choirs and singing schoolchildren and had a few gigs as a church organist. Although we grew up close to the poverty line, we never lacked for instruments and music lessons. Our home almost always had a piano or keyboard, and we went through assortments of other instruments such as a cello, a harp, saxophones, an accordion, and a set of giant wooden recorders.
Piano teaching was actually my first job — I was recruited to teach some neighbor kids when I was 12. I’ve taught piano on and off ever since then, most recently to my own two sons. Most of my musical life was devoted to classical piano until I joined my sister’s band as a keyboardist and harmony singer in 2005, and I haven’t looked back!
Angela’s Primary Instrument: The piano is my primary instrument, but I also play a little guitar, and I enjoy singing, songwriting, and home recording. The great thing about playing keyboards is that you can add almost any part you can imagine to a song.
Angela’s Favorite Musicians: Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch, Chopin, and Thelonious Monk are a few that come to mind today.
Check Out Angela’s Music: I have an album of original songs coming out Dec.18, 2020, which you can preview here:
In addition, I currently play keyboards and sing harmonies in the new Birmingham-based band Jenni’s Mixtape. You can learn more about my piano teaching philosophy, along with current music projects, at angelaseniczmusic.com.
Taylor Hollingsworth
“Music has connected me to nearly everyone I have in my life. Before I played music, I felt lost and without identity.”
Taylor’s Bio: I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. I started playing guitar when I was 14 and began playing professionally in my early twenties. I’ve toured all over the world for many years, and now live in Crestwood with my wife and daughter.
Taylor’s First Music Memory: I’ve always loved music. I remember listening to my dad’s records at a very young age and getting in trouble for always scratching them!
Taylor’s Primary Instrument: Guitar!
Taylor’s Favorite Musicians: Victor Uwaifo, Jimmy Reed, Earl Hooker, Booker T and the MG’s, Bob Dylan, The coasters, The Ramones, Paul Westerberg
Check Out Taylor Rocking:
Will Stewart
“To me, music at its best involves collaboration. Even the act of attending a concert/show makes you part of a communal process that can shift the way a musician actually performs. I believe the best way to grow as a musician/writer etc. is to constantly observe and learn from other musicians (from as many genres and styles as possible) – playing solo is certainly rewarding in and of itself, but sharing the music making process with others is a whole other level of fulfillment, in my opinion. Just by playing one single time with a person will create a unique bond that will last many years”
Will’s Bio: I was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. I learned guitar by entering the classical guitar program at Baldwin Magnet Junior High School. After high school, I attended University of Alabama Tuscaloosa and earned a degree in communications. I moved to Birmingham in 2006, then lived in Nashville from 2012- 2016 working as a freelance musician. After living and working in Nashville, I returned to Birmingham. Since my time at Baldwin, music has been a driving force in my life that continues to this day. I currently play in several local bands as well as my own solo project.
Will’s First Music Memory: I started playing my Mom’s guitar at the age of 10. A few years later, I enrolled into a classical guitar program at a magnet school in Montgomery. I quickly realized that I had a deep connection to music, and, more specifically, guitar.
Will’s Primary Instrument: Guitar!
Will’s Favorite Musicians: Neil Young, Bill Frisell, Hank Williams, John Coltrane, Bud Powell, Yo La Tengo, Cass McCombs, Gram Parsons, Lefty Frizell, Billie Holiday, Kitty Wells, Jessica Pratt, Bill Callahan, The Replacements, Big Star, Grateful Dead…I could on, but I’ll stop it there 🙂
Check Out Will’s Music: