Jill Haley is a well-known oboist, English horn player, pianist, educator, and composer, who has written and released nine recordings as an Artist in Residence in our United States national parks along with the beautiful album, “Wrapped in Light,” based on the Psalms found in the Bible. Jill is a multi-talented musician who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary instrumental music.
“Jill has achieved the status of a National Treasure with her ever expanding musical portraits of our seemingly endless natural wonders.” – Bill Binkelman, Wind and Fire
Jill’s newest album release – available as both a physical CD and a digital release, is “Alaskan Soundscapes.” You can read our review of this album here. What’s different about it is that she included 4 tracks with string quartet. Along with guitar and bass by David Cullen, this addition makes the album amazingly beautiful.
Jill creates and performs programs of the national park music with video of the images that inspired the music. These programs have been shared in national parks, music festivals, university concert series and churches. Jill regularly performs on oboe and English horn with orchestras such as York and Reading Symphonies. She is also a soloist with the York Symphony Orchestra (PA) and Berks Sinfonietta Orchestra performing all 3 of the Orchestra Suites she has composed.
Some of Jill’s career highlights include: Zone Music Reporter award for “Best Piano Album with Instrumentation” for Mesa Verde Soundscapes. As well, her Carnegie Hall performance of a set of National Park music was amazing. She also performed an arrangement of 4 national park pieces for solo oboe and orchestra by Berks Sinfonetta. (National Park Suite/s). Jill receives regular airplay on radio stations and music services worldwide, including satellite radio, Sirius/XM.
Jill’s national park series of music includes:
- The Forests and Shores of Acadia
- Alaskan Soundscapes
- Glacier Soundscapes
- Zion and Bryce Canyon Soundscapes
- Mesa Verde Soundscapes
- National Park Soundscapes
- Waters of Glacier
- Winds of Badlands
- Canyons and Mesas of Bandelier
She has been invited to be “Artist in Residence” at 9 national parks, 1 national preserve, and 1 national monument. She spent time in these places writing and performing new music created while she was there:
- Mesa Verde (2013)
- Badlands (2015)
- Glacier (2016)
- Wrangell/St. Elias (2017)
- Bandelier (2019)
- Big Cypress (2020)
- Petrified Forest (2021)
- Acadia (2021)
- Homestead National Historical Park (2023)
- Shenandoah National Park (2023)
Jill has also written three orchestral Suites for Solo oboe/English horn and orchestra that were also performed with video of the images that inspired the music. And she performed in “ The Pandemic Project.” As well, a dance troupe performance entitled “Harvest Moon.” As well, Jill wrote many pieces for ONE ALTERNATIVE, a chamber group comprised of guitar, oboe/English horn, violin, bass, and percussion.
Jill’s music is found on all digital platforms as well as physical CDs. More information at her official artist website: https://jillhaley.com
Maybe sometimes the real and true beauty of something can’t adequately be described in mere words, and one has to experience the “soundscapes” for themselves to appreciate every little nuance. The music found here on “Alaskan Soundscapes,” takes listeners on a journey, inviting them to connect not only with the natural environment but with their own inner thoughts as well. Beautifully done all through, and a great escape in every way.
Get it here: https://www.jillhaley.com or available on all major digital platforms as well as available as a physical CD.
OUR REVIEW OF ALASKAN SOUNDSCAPES HERE.
