Mesa Schubeck
Instrument: Piano
I grew up in the small town of Blue Hill, Maine nestled in the forest on the edge of the ocean. My parents are both self taught folk musicians and from a young age I have heard them play traditional music for contra dances, weddings and other events. Growing up with my sisters we listened to lots of different kinds of music. My mom had Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Carole King records and my dad was into Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis and the artists from the Motown era. These sounds absorbed into my being and began to expose me to the vast, rich world of music. Though I have to credit my dad as my first piano teacher, I began official piano lessons with Win Pusey at age eight. I loved playing the piano and I felt a natural connection to the instrument. Once I advanced to 6th grade I started with teacher and lifelong mentor Ginger Hwalek who helped take my classical playing to the next level. In 7th grade when I formed an a cappella group at the Bay School with some of my friends, I really started to get excited about exploring my voice. I had the opportunity to record my own CD in a professional studio as my 8th grade project and I saw first hand how much work goes into making a recording; but the rush I got from being in the studio was like nothing else.
During my high school years at George Stevens Academy led by the enthusiastic Mr Orlofsky, I ventured into the world of jazz, and fueled by the energy from our award winning Jazzband and combos I learned how to read lead sheets, chord symbols and how to improvise. Since I was a young girl I have always kept a journal and I have so many notebooks full of poems, lyrics, thoughts, dreams and experiences. While I was studying for my Bachelors in Piano Performance at the University of Maine, I completed and performed a couple original songs; a process which opened me up to the world of songwriting. I also started offering piano lessons to some of my college friends and discovered that I loved teaching!
Since my graduation from UMaine, I have worked as a professional musician in Portland, ME, New Haven, CT, Santa Fe, NM and Nashville, TN. It has been an honor to collaborate with so many creative, kind and intelligent people along this path. Now, as I return to my roots and establish myself in Maine, I look forward to continuing the musical journey!