Contact
Dryad for your
Earth-friendly event:
A
musical conversation with the spirit of a tree!
Under the
arboreal 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 as 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
entertaining and educational dialogue between Jon and a charming dryad that sings and
speaks through Sabine. Dryad's
enchanting show inspires their audience, children and adults
alike, toward a deeper appreciation and respect for their
California ecoregion.
Jon and Sabine can be heard most Sundays playing their Earth-friendly music while hosting the Elfin Forest Interpretive Center. And there, on the first Sunday of each month at 12 noon, they present their free, family-friendly 45 minute show, Dryad, with Sabine appearing in her dryad regalia enchanted by the spirit of a nearby oak. What might an oak tree say to us, if we would listen?
Jon and Sabine are currently working on their album of 15
original Earth songs. To receive email notification when their
album is completed, as well as info about upcoming events that Dryad is
participating in, please subscribe.
Dryad at Elfin Forest performing their song "Amazing Creek":
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). Continuing to write his nature inspired music over the years Jon has become a singer-songwriter for the Earth, 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.
Testimonials
"Jon
and Sabine were truly amazing with their voices,
lyrics and beautiful handmade flutes."
~ Paige DeCino
Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center
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
~ 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!"
~ 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
"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
~ Selene Miles, Biology Professor Grossmont College
In
these ways we are ecomusicians:
Our
lyrics are written from an ecocentric
perspective, in celebration and defense of
our California natural community.
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 feelings that drive our songs arise out of compassion for our threatened and endangered relatives struggling for their very existence within the biodiversity hotspot in which we live.
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.
