“Ellen Schmidt is likely the most selfless, generous and encouraging open mike host who has given many of us from the local folk community our “jump-start” performing in one of her welcoming and warm havens of venues… an experience that has undoubtedly, for most of us, left its footprint in sustaining and encouraging us to believe in ourselves, enjoy our performances for the sheer joy of sharing art with others and for nudging us to want to go out… and do it again.”
~Cheryl Perreault, spoken word artist and founder, host, and producer of “Wake Up and Smell the Poetry,” a monthly arts forum at Hopkinton Community Access Television (HCAM) www.hcam.tv
Ruthann Baler, Guest Blogger
In my November 7 blog for this column I wrote The Gift of Community, which discussed my first experiences in venturing out to the local music scene. During those first few months I would hear the name Ellen Schmidt everywhere I went. I was told repeatedly, “You need to meet Ellen Schmidt,” and so when I finally had the opportunity to meet her, I understood why.
Ellen exudes a warm embrace of acceptance, gives you an important sense of belonging, and mentors in a way that celebrates who you are as an artist while understanding the struggles you may be facing as someone new to the community.
A longtime member of the Boston folk scene, a singer-songwriter with six CDs (two of which were with her musical partner Jake Kensinger), a host of open mikes for more than 20 years, and a musical organizer for such benefits as the Walk for Hunger and the Jimmy Fund walk, Ellen is known as much for her compassion and nurturing of others as she is for her own beautiful songs of hope, peace, love, family, and friendship.
A math and computer science teacher for 30 years and currently a math tutor, Ellen’s greatest joy, she said, has been raising a blended family of seven with her husband Allan and spending time with her children and grandchildren, extended family, and friends.
For more than two decades she has provided countless opportunities for both new and experienced performers through her open mikes, features, workshops, and community benefits. She has been a driving force to raise the visibility of the arts community and, in fact, has helped make the local music scene what it is today.
“Ellen Schmidt is Earth Mother to all of us singer-songwriters in Eastern Massachusetts as well as visiting artists from around the country,” said singer-songwriter, author, producer, and performance coach Steve Rapson (www.sologuitar.com). “A fine songwriter in her own right, she has selflessly promoted others at venues and open mikes. Ellen provides opportunities for budding beginners and seasoned pros to play their art to supportive audiences. In fact, Ellen gave me my first open mike feature when I left corporate America and took up music full time. Without Ellen Schmidt the Greater Boston music scene would be a much poorer musical place.”
Music was always a big part of Ellen’s life. She recalled first picking up a guitar at age 8 and playing at 12. A vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and piano player, she said she was “taken with folk music at an early age.”
Involved with the Folk Society of Greater Boston since the 1970s, she has played venues throughout Greater Boston over the years with many musicians throughout the area. Her songs have won awards from the legendary Kerrville Folk Festival and the mid-Atlantic Song Contest, and she has received praise by critics throughout the region. For 35 years she directed and performed in the society’s Bound for Glory productions – a musical tribute to Woody Guthrie, which benefited the Huntington Disease Society.
Ellen’s directing experience was a natural next step for her to begin hosting open mikes and community benefits.
“A lot of the ways in which I wanted to develop as an artist I wanted to offer in the open mikes,” she said. “For me, these are all teaching and learning opportunities. It’s all about the community…. I love working with people of all ages.”
In Ellen’s October 10 blog, Why I Love Hosting Open Mikes, she listed the main reasons for her enjoyment in producing and attending the weekly events. She now runs two regular open mikes, hosting and co-hosting at the Emerson Umbrella in Concord and at Savoury Lane in West Acton.
Among her top reasons, she said, was “giving musicians the opportunity to develop their craft and watching them progress over time. It is important to me to provide a safe, supportive environment in which both performers and listeners are honored.”
“All of us,” she said, “are works in progress.”
“Ellen Schmidt,” says musician Mike Santoro, “shows a compassion and respect for all forms of performance art and musicians/performers. She has consistently provided a source of support for performers at all levels at her open mikes and other musical events, and has contributed to the growth of many performers.
“Additionally, she is an inspiring example for performers in terms of her own performance skills,” he said. “She continues to grow as a musician/performer and writer, and regularly composes beautiful melodies and lyrics straight from her heart.”
“Ellen Schmidt and all of the talented musicians and poets I have met through her are my inspiration, muse and second family,” said Suzanne Owens, author and spoken word artist. “If the leaders on our planet were more like Ellen, we’d have peace all over the world.”
Musician Howard Rashba recalled the first time he went to one of Ellen’s open mikes. “Ellen encouraged me,” he said. “She helps musicians by giving us the opportunity and helping us find our way. She’s so positive and her songs are full of hope. I have no idea how she does it all because she gives so much.”
Seth Connelly, owner of Humming Lake Studio in Brookline, NH, produced four of Ellen’s albums, playing a broad range of instruments on each. “Ellen is one of the best community builders I know,” he said. “I can’t even begin to count the number of people who’ve said to me in a conversation, ‘It was Ellen who gave me my first opportunity to play my songs, sing, come to a songwriting group, or just convinced me I could do it.’ She is a role model for me in so many ways.”
These days, in addition to hosting at Emerson Umbrella and Savoury Lane, Ellen performs at nursing homes, regular gigs, benefits, and at the Dana-Farber Institute for Cancer Research, which was founded by her late father Sidney Farber. “His example,” Ellen said, “has inspired me to devote a lifetime of combining music with community service.”
While the legacy of her father has served as a source of inspiration over the years, so has the influence of her late mother, Norma Farber, who was a classical singer, poet, and author of more than 20 children’s books, with Ellen’s favorite being How Does It Feel to Be Old?
Ellen’s next feature is Thursday, December 9 at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham, where she will share the bill with her daughter Wendy Santis, a songwriter and accomplished vocalist, who plays the quena, an Andean flute, and also performs Latin American jazz standards in both Spanish and Portuguese. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador who works in public health, Wendy released her first CD, Besos Nocturnos, several years ago.
Joining Ellen and Wendy on stage will be Seth Connelly on guitar, Jackie Damsky on fiddle, and Peter Tillotson on upright bass.
Over the years Ellen has become increasingly introspective in her songwriting. “I look closely at people and write about things that may be reflective of where I was at a particular time in my life. Mostly I’ve felt something consciously and wanted to write about a particular topic or issue. A lot of songs have dealt with relationships or family or personal growth, or about someone whom I really admire. There’s a lot of heart in what I write.”
“There’s a lot to be learned in songwriting and in meeting new musicians through the community,” she said. “I have a lot of desire to grow and I think it’s exciting.”
Visit www.amazingthings.org for more information about Ellen’s December 9 feature. Visit www.ellenschmidt.com to learn more about Ellen’s open mikes and upcoming shows.
