This episode, we interview powerhouse band director and flutist Cynthia Plank. Her band at Beaumont Middle School recently received the prestigious DownBeat Student Music Award for the best middle school large ensemble in the entire country. She also serves as an Associate Conductor for the Oregon Symphonic Band, which is a professional-level group of adult musicians. Besides flute, she has also performed extensively on bass, percussion, trombone and currently sings in a 20-piece swing band. Hear all about how she is living out a life plan she made at age 18, how she and Leah met in the 80s in Euguene, and her philosophy on how to get young folks (especially young women) excited about playing music, and doing it well. To donate to Beaumont's music program, email [email protected].

• WMP theme song 00:29.63
• Charmaine - Beaumont Ambassadors 02:53 (short clip)
• Para Los Congueros - Beaumont Ambassadors 15:04 (interstitial)
• Para Los Congueros - Beaumont Ambassadors 19:38 (long clip)
• Night and Day - Cynthia Plank 29:40 (long clip)
• Got Blues - Beaumont Ambassadors 38:19 (interstitial)
• Charmaine -Beaumont Ambassadors 42:21 (long clip)
• Bye Bye Blackbird - Cynthia Plank 47:07 (long clip)
• Bye Bye Blackbird 53:06 (piano interstitial)
• Got Blues - Beaumont Ambassadors 56:07 (outro clip)

On December 18th, Women. Music. Power. is presenting our interview with Cynthia Plank. Cynthia is a music teacher in Portland Public Schools and performs locally. She has won numerous awards with her school bands and was a finalist for a grammy in the music teacher catergory. She is smart, funny and entertaining with an intriguing story. Don't miss it. Episode drops on Thursday Dec. 18th.

Episode 3: Rachel Brashear – Be Excellent

We are so excited to welcome Rachel Brashear as our 3rd guest on Women. Music. Power. Rachel is a fearless artist whose honesty, vulnerability and strength have been guiding forces in her creative journey. Her lyrics often tackle themes of identity and empowerment.

In this episode Rachel shares stories of growing up in a very musical family in Branson, Missouri - a small resort city in the Ozark Mountains, often called the "Live Entertainment Capital of the World". She recounts humorous encounters with famous musicians and charming stories of performing with her family at a young age.

We will listen to 3 of her songs and delve into the deep, thought-provoking process that guides her creativity. We talk about breaking free from old norms, finding power in softness and staying authentic as an artist.

Rachel's new album, The Death of the Ingenue is a genre bending collection of compositions highlighting Rachel's excellence as a composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist. It is an intimate peak into her world view and her philosophical determination to understand and explain her journey as a woman and artist.

We discuss her dedication as an educator and she shares wisdom gleaned from a life of musical study and practice. Her stories, fearless attitude, experiences and insights serve to elevate women in music and effect a change in the music industry.

Please listen to our interview and share it!

Rachel's website

Here are links to the music we listened to in our podcast:

Why

The Things You Forgot

Not The Caring Kind

Hello, women music Power listeners. I'm Leah Hinchcliff, and along with my co-host, Marianna Thielen, we are so excited about episode three, which is dropping on Thursday, December 4th. Our guest is Rachel Brashear, a fearless artist, redefining what it means to be authentic in music.

From growing up in a musical family, to releasing her Bold new album, the Death of the Ingenue. Rachel shares her journey of resilience, creativity, and empowerment.

Please join us on Thursday, December 4th, wherever you stream, and check out our website, women music power pod.com for links to music artist bios, and more. Thanks for listening.

Episode 2 of Women. Music. Power. features LaRhonda Steele, Portland's First Lady of the Blues. An artist whose voice has the power to transport, heal and transform.

In this inspirational episode, we sit down with LaRhonda Steele, a compelling, uplifting vocalist whose artistry spans blues, R & B, gospel and jazz with boundless emotional depth and astounding virtuosity. Born in Oklahoma, Larhonda relocated to Portland in the early 90's and became a beloved fixture on the Portland scene. She's now an essential part of the Waterfront Blues Festival, a Cascade Blues Hall of Fame inductee, and a 2020 Oregon Music Hall of Fame honoree. She has also traveled overseas to perform at festivals. Larhonda has recorded several albums with her husband and musical partner, Mark Steele. She also has studio credits that include back up vocals and collaborations with many luminaries including Curtis Salgado, Taj Mahal, and Gino Vanelli, whose albums Wilderness Road and The Life I Got feature LaRhonda's stunning back up vocals.

LaRhonda shares stories with us about her musical journey, her family and her creative voice. Whether fronting the LaRhonda Steele Band, directing the Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir, or performing with the Steele Family Band, her sound is unmistakable: bluesy, gospely, and drenched in soul. As Portland blues legend Norman Sylvester puts it, "She can bounce over chordal progressions like a surfer on a perfect wave".

We talk about music as a career, a way of life and a journey to finding strength in the face of adversity. LaRhonda's voice doesn't just fill a room—it transforms it. Listening to her can heal you, transport you to a place of peace and stir your soul.

Tune in for a conversation that has us laughing, crying and honoring LaRhonda's artistry and musical gifts.

Aside from our podcast theme song, every track in this episode carries LaRhonda's creative touch—whether as writer, co-writer, or collaborator.

Here are links to those songs:

Bootylyte - Ocean 503 In and Out Romance - LaRhonda and Mark Steele Cycles - LaRhonda and Mark Steele In Another Life - Lo Steele and Peter Knudsen

Women. Music. Power. is excited to announce that the 2nd episode of our podcast will be dropping on November 20th! Please join us as we chat with LaRhonda Steele the First Lady of the Blues. Wherever you stream!

Thanks for listening and please share!

Our very first guest, Sonny Hess, is a Portland legend and leader. Please join us as we talk about her early life, her collaborations with another Portland legend, Paulette Davis, and her current projects. Sonny tells us about her passion and her purpose -- she is a pioneer. She is dedicated and driven to share the talented women of the NW with a wide audience in her project the NW Women in Rhythm and Blues. The alum of this project are an astounding group of Portland cognoscenti. We will listen to 3 of her songs and discuss the inspiration for the lyrics.

Each of our guests has had a theme running through their interviews and Sonny's theme is "figure it out." We learn about her dedication and ability to overcome hardship and rise to the top.

Thanks for listening and enjoy!

Announcing the release of our first episode. Our first guest is the incomparable Sonny Hess. The episode drops on Thursday November 6th wherever you stream.

Visit Sonny Hess to find out more about her and where you can hear her live!

Women.Music.Power. Is a podcast celebrating the voices, journeys, and artistry of women in music. Co-hosts, Leah Hinchcliff and Marianna Thielen have candid conversations with women about their creative process and personal journeys. Each guest shares songs or pieces they have written and recorded and talk about the stories behind the music. Stay tuned for our first episode as we interview Sonny Hess! Dropping on Thursday November 6th!