Susan Bibby:    Suzzi was the other half of the group I started out with, the Tweedford Minstrels (named after a fictitious town on a fictitious ford on the actual River Tweed, which forms most of the traditional border between England and Scotland).  We made our baby steps together, and I can never repay her enough for her assistance, or beg enough for her forgiveness.

Mary and Harry Conaway:    I agree with the experts that reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do for them.  I would argue, however, that singing to your child is a close second.  I grew up not only with the sounds of eighties pop rock, but also hippie folk bands like Peter Paul and Mary and Simon and Garfunkel.  This lay the acoustic groundwork that I would later work in.  My father's collection of Irish Rover and Kingston Trio albums were also a guiding influence on my musical development.  Besides this, they forced onto me the piano lessons that laid the framework for my later choral training, and even later dulcimer experiments which first introduced me to frets and strings.

Mac and Cherie Corbeil:    They gave me my initial solo performance opportunity (which was also a great party), and encouraged me to progress in music before I thought myself ready.

Merlin Curtis:    I met Merlin by taking an introductory Gaelic course at his Institute of Celtic Studies.  He introduced me to the beauty of my Irish heritage, as well as the Irish Community of Columbus.

Sarah Kale:    A friend and former fiancé, she gave me the support I needed as I gradually got on my musical feet. She held my hand through the frightening parts, held my chin up through the painful parts, and held me close through the tender parts.

Kenny Klein:    Kenny was one of those who really brought the music to me.  Beyond that, he was the one who showed me that one voice/one instrument could be a successful combination, and that I didn't need the security of a band to perform.  A great man, and a good friend.

David Lengyel:    An inspirational high school teacher whose midlife studio recording showed me that music was not incompatable with a "normal" career.

Alan Petersen, Jr:    My high school choral director, he gave me a lot of the skills and confidence I needed to be able to sing in public.  I think he wanted me to go further in music, but I doubt he would have envisioned such a progression quite this way.

Ian Ross:    A former roommate of mine, he is the owner and studio enginner of the recording equipment that I recorded Going Back on, as well as my first audition demo.  We've put in some long hours together, for which I am eternally grateful.  I hope his musical dreams come true.

Bully Ruse: A Celtic trio once known as ClanDestine whose melodies fully brought me to the music. Their final concert on 10 October, 1997, is a memory I will never lose.

The Musicians of the 1998 Ohio Renaissance Festival: You took me under your collective wing and really made me feel at home and at ease. Your support was incredible.

and especially my family of friends:    You know who you are.  You have kept me from being too crazy (or sane...), and have always been there for me.  It really means a lot to me, and I love you all.