Dryad

Contact Dryad for your Earth-friendly event:

A Musical Conversation with the Spirit of a Tree!

Under the numinous name of their two person band Dryad, ecomusicians Jon and Sabine Kurz-Sherman

sing their original Earth songs in celebration and defense of their California natural community. Through an empathic, ecocentric musical styling expressed through gentle vocal harmonies accompanied by classical guitar and flutes they made from tree branches, Dryad weaves into their lyrics the natural wonders and environmental concerns of the biodiversity hotspot in which they live. Introductions to each of their songs are presented as an educational dialogue between Jon and a charming dryad, the spirit of an oak tree, that sings and speaks (with poetic license) through Sabine. Dryad's enchanting musical environmental education show inspires their audience, children and adults alike, toward a deeper connection, appreciation and respect for their California ecoregion.

Dr. Sabine Kurz-Sherman earned her PhD in biology graduating magna cum laude at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, in Germany. As a scientist, Dr. Kurz published 14 peer reviewed articles and presented her research at 22 national and international conferences. When her scientific career brought her to the States, Sabine's heart opened to the natural wonders and environmental concerns of California. Besides expressing her love of nature musically, Professor Kurz-Sherman currently teaches biology and environmental science at the college level, opening the minds and hearts of her students to ecological awareness.

Jon Sherman has been performing his original Earth songs since 1987 when he wrote "Butterfly Blue" (concerning endangered species), "Earthdance" (celebrating the circularity of natural systems), "January's June" (concerning climate change) and "Cougar Run" (concerning Mountain Lion protection). A singer-songwriter for the Earth, Jon is dedicated to being a voice for his California natural community. As an artisan, Jon gives voice to the trees themselves through the branch flutes he's been crafting for over seventeen years.

Dryad can be heard most Sundays playing their Earth-friendly music while hosting the

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Interpretive Center. There, on the first Sunday of each month, free of charge to the public, they present their enchanting 45 minute show, with Sabine appearing in her Dryad regalia to better "channel" the spirit of a nearby oak. On other Sundays, Jon and Sabine share their Earth songs in a more informal way, engaging in conversations with their listeners in between their songs about the ecology of Escondido Creek and Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve and how humans can improve our relationship with the natural world. As Dryad, Jon and Sabine are currently recording their first album together comprised of fifteen original Earth songs, to be titled:
Calling Us Home.

"Jon and Sabine were truly amazing with their voices,
lyrics and beautiful handmade flutes."
~ Paige DeCino
Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center

"Sabine and Jon blew us away with an impactful eco folk performance." ~ The Escondido Creek Conservancy

"Big thanks to Dryad: Jon and Sabine brought us the beautiful soul-touching performance that carries powerful environmental education messages."
~ Jiali Xu, Little Oak Ranch

"Everyone I talked to loved your presentation and a couple of people said it should be an annual event! Thanks again for your terrific performance!"
~ Fred Seeley, Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates

"Jon and Sabine, this afternoon's program was outstanding. Thank you!" ~ Jay Wilson
Executive Director Mission Trails Regional Park

"Their show had something for everyone, with the children captivated by the performance and the adults listening to each nuance of the environmental teaching."
~ Christopher Nyerges, Mountain Views News

"Thank you both for your amazing presence. The event was elevated by your performance. We hope you will join us for future events!"

~ David Solomon, Terra Madre Gardens

"You hit it out of the park. Your new fan base in the desert wants you back!"
~ Leslie Gebhart, UU Church of the Desert

"A beautiful presentation and a great message as well."
~ Jean Vought, Friends of the Vista Library

"What an incredible experience!"
~ Selene Miles, Biology Professor Grossmont College

What makes us "ecomusicians"?

Our lyrics are written from an ecocentric perspective, in celebration and defense of
our California natural community.

Our stylistic aim is to sonically blend with the natural atmospheres of our unique ecoregion and play in a way that, frankly, wont scare the birds. But rather, entice them closer that they might contribute to the song.

The flutes played in our music were crafted by us from tree branches (mostly windfallen) gathered respectfully and sustainably under the ethic of the "Honorable Harvest".

We define success as the butterfly effect of our music helping to turn the linear, unsustainable, industrial growth culture around toward circularity, rootedness, and regeneration.

We participate in local conservation, regenerative, rewilding and educational actions that benefit and build good relations with our local natural community.

We spend quality time discovering, learning about and listening to nature through regular walks on the trails of our ecoregion.

We give attention and effort to simplifying our own lives, lessening our ecological footprint and sinking our roots into the ecoregion where we live, learning to be at home here.

Dr. Sabine Kurz-Sherman Sabine has nurtured a love for music and nature since studying classical piano as a young girl growing up enchanted by the green forests of Germany. Her early work in the sciences included biotope mapping as a field biologist and electron microscopy research. Excelling academically, Sabine earned her PhD in biology at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, graduating magna cum laude. As a scientist, Dr. Kurz published 14 peer reviewed articles and presented her research at 22 national and international conferences. When her scientific career brought her to the United States, Sabine's heart opened to the beautiful yet increasingly endangered ecoregions of California, her home for 24 years now. Professor Kurz is currently teaching biology and environmental science at the college level in the San Diego region, inspiring her students toward ecological awareness. Expressing herself musically, Sabine performed for 11 years with the Latin Jazz band "Cadencia" on keyboards, percussion and lead vocals, recording 3 albums with that group. Inspired by the beauty of an old growth forest, Sabine started playing the Native American flute to express, musically, the deep love and concern she feels for the natural world. Having learned about the flutes made from tree branches that Jon Sherman was making, a musical collaboration grew and blossomed and they have been performing and sharing life together ever since.	Jon Sherman Jon's love for the natural world was awakened at the age of two, when the wild pasture in the back of his Idaho home glowed with its welcoming life force. His dad would later introduce him to the rivers and mountains of that beautiful region, while his mom encouraged his creative and musical side. After moving to California, Jon continued his journey of integrating his talents in the performing arts with his love for nature. In 1987 he designed and built a modular, outdoor performing arts stage under the oaks at Descanso Gardens, a volunteered gift to the spirit of harmony there. What he received in return was inspiration to start writing songs. Earth songs, as he calls them, expressing the wonder, beauty and environmental concerns of his California natural community from an ecocentric perspective. In 1989, as an ecomusician wanting to "walk the talk" of a song he wrote about the greenhouse effect, Jon pioneered the use of a solar powered sound system for his performances. He has participated in hundreds of Earth-friendly events over the years and has produced 6 albums of original music and poetry. In 2006, Jon started hand-crafting his own branch flutes, his Dryad Flutes highly sought after now for their quality of craftsmanship, unique natural beauty and ecological integrity. When Sabine Kurz contacted Jon in 2014 about making a branch flute for her, they recognized in each other a mutual love and concern for nature and have since merged their kindred spirits, talents and lives together through their marriage and musical partnership.
Sabine in her dryad regalia.	Endangered Species Day, 2022, Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center
At Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve.	Earth Day at Mission Trails Regional Park, 2016
At Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve	At San Elijo Lagoon.
At the Banning Ranch Gala, 2019	"On The Porch" at Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Interpretive Center

Jon and Sabine standing with Wi’áaşal, The Great Oak of Pechanga.