The 19 Voices in Solidarity show at The Lost Church Santa Rosa was a great success. We nearly sold out the venue, raised voices, spirits and money for both the ACLU and the Peace & Justice Center - Sonoma. Thank you everyone who showed up for a heart-warming, powerful day of music!
I wrote more about my experience on my Substack:
Good things by Deborah Crooks
19+ Voices in Solidarity
We had a fabulous time performing Flight Lessons at Rhythmix on April 17. Thanks to those who came to the show. Cast member Sean Lightholder (aka 'Hank') wrote up a lovely post about his experience that you can read HERE. Now we can't wait to do it again! Write me if you would like to book a performance! ICYMI it, the title track (as well as some FL merch) is now available on Bandcamp
To commemorate the next performance of Flight Lessons and the incredible voices in this cast, Tania, Liz, Kwame and I headed to Ben Bernstein's studio to record the title song which is now available on for your ears! You'll also find some new Flight Lessons merch (messenger bags, t-shirts, stickers!) in my Bandcamp store and at the show.
It’s been a joy and a privilege to realize my Flight Lessons folk opera project with the assistance of some truly amazing musical artists and singers. This past week several of us had some fun recording the title track at Ben Bernstein's Petting Zoo — Tania, Liz and Kwame’s harmonies are a healing sound bath and Tania’s isolated piano part is so pretty I had to share — and I’m thrilled all seven of us will be returning to the Rhythmix Cultural Works stage on Friday, April 17. Please join us! Based on a true…
Read moreLots going on in the world and on the home front and my next performance of Flight Lessons: a folk opera, April 17 at Rhythmix, is still top of mind! The show entails seven musicians and 20 songs with video projection, bird song and narrative so there’s a lot of ducks to get in a row! That job is easier with the excellent, all-star ensemble who is helping me bring the show to life: Kwame Copeland, Tania Johnson, Matt Langlois, Sean Lightholder, Mick Shaffer and Liz Stuart. Secure tickets to the Alameda…
Read moreCelebrating Alameda Birdlife Alameda is a birder lover’s paradise. Thousands of long-distance migrant shorebirds spend their nonbreeding season at Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary; endangered and threatened species such as Least Tern and Peregrine Falcon breed on opposite ends of the island; while more common birds like California Towhee and Anna’s Hummingbird populate backyards and community gardens year-round. In all, more than 200 species of bird, in an astounding variety of shape, size and color, have been…
Read moreThis weekend, I'll be at the Winged Migration Expo at Mare Island, Vallejo, talking about and presenting songs from Flight Lessons amid a jam-packed schedule of birdy programming. Join the fun! 10am-4pm Jan 31-Feb 1. Join the fun! Free
Excited to announced that Flight Lessons will return to Rhythmix Cultural Works on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 7pm. Mark your calendar and buy tickets in advance — on sale now!
"Flight Lessons is a full, rich story—the heroine’s journey—that takes us into the world of urban birds, with Deborah Crooks essentially holding up her binoculars for us so we can see and learn about those who flap and glide and soar through the air, animals in angelic form, really. Her opera was transformative...." — Gene Kahane for…
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