Lorna Bracewell: The Pride of the Bay Area

Jun 4th, 2009 | By Thomas Garcia | Category: Artist Profiles, Featured Story, Other Info

: Lorna Bracewell

Lorna Bracewell

The Pride of Tampa Bay

Embarks On Her Next Chapter and Journey…

by Jeannette Goldman

How is it humanly possible to write about Lorna Bracewell. How could I in any way come close to maneuvering the English language with such eloquent finesse as she can? That eloquent finesse and determination has extended into her songwriting, her stage performances, educational workshops, and benefits that have helped support local and national organizations.

Lorna is not your typical 25 year old. And this not a typical article. Not only am I a business associate, friend and fan, she has designated me as her JM (to clarify the acronym, “Jewish Mother” ) which, according to Lorna, I’m an “a nagging, overprotective, , controlling, smothering, and overbearing mother who persists in interfering in her children’s lives long after they have become adults.” I know I’m not that bad! I would like the Bay Area Community to take extreme pride in recognizing that Lorna was born and raised in Indian Rocks Beach. This article is far from the mechanical rantings of surrogate Jewish Mother surreptitiously reveling in her adopted progeny’s talent. It’s really for those in the Bay Area to acknowledge this young lady’s plethora of personal and professional accomplishments prior to her leaving the area and pursuing a career in academics. Hence our June Issue and subsequent showcase is dedicated to Lorna Bracewell and her Farewell Concert at ProStar Soundstage June 26.

Rather than listing her oodles of accolades, I’ve chosen relevant quotes and ancillary information pertaining to her wondrous musical journey over 12 years ago. Her discography – released through her independent label Braced Well Records, includes Don’t Stop Now (2001), Little Miss Oblivious (2003), God Forbid (2005), Live for CASA (2005 DVD), Flowers on the Chains (2007), and Released (2009). She’s performed over 100 concerts, benefits, engagements, including two European tours. She’s worked as a school instructor, including workshops exploring the relationship of music, history and culture. She’s a member of the Florida State Touring Program, as well as headlining concerts for local charity organizations On This Earth, YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, and local domestic violence shelters The Spring and Casa.

To adequately document her musical accomplishments will require another issue; as she dares to tread the hostile waters of academics it’s no secret Lorna will craftily navigate with little or no ebb tide. Be it told that Ms. Bracewell was our inspiration for creating Bay Area Beat.

Recently her close circle of family members, mentors and friends received the following e-mail from her:

LORNA- -“I’ll be studying political theory at the University of Florida’s department of political science in the fall. They’ve offered me an appointment as a Graduate School Fellow and I am enthusiastically accepting this offer! I also was accepted at the University of Virginia and the University of Colorado at Boulder, but, after much deliberation, the pull of the Sunshine State has proven the strongest”.

Here’s some quotes from individuals touched by Ms. Bracewell
During her long career as a artist and humanitarian.
Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)	“a beautiful person and a spirited player.”
Amy Grant	“Lorna Bracewell is a spirited young artist with a lot to say.”
Barbara Cloyd, Host, open mic, Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, Tennessee Bobby Rossi, Entertainment Director, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida	“She blew me away with how good she was.” “Amy Grant’s management had asked us to find a fresh, energetic singer-songwriter to open her January 2005 show here in Clearwater. Without hesitation, we thought of asking Lorna Bracewell to perform with Amy. Minutes after visiting Lorna’s website and hearing her music Amy’s people said, ‘Perfect.’ “
Colin Bissett, Manager, Largo Cultural Center, Largo, Florida	“Lorna Bracewell was an exceptional opener for Little River Band; she really fit the bill. We were thrilled to have her, and she was a joy to work with.”
Joy Katzen-Guthrie, Music Director, Unity Center for Today, North Tampa, Florida	“At last night’s Unity Center for Today Third Thursday Cafe program in Tampa, this amazing performer stepped onto the stage and held everyone in rapt attention. With the power, poignancy, and professionalism of a young Bruce Springsteen, Lorna simply blew everyone away. And to top it off, she is completely genuine, an artist with a great personality and talent to match. It is our privilege to have experienced her music up close; we know it is only a short matter of time before she is playing to audiences of enormous scope.”
Bob D. Marsden, Mayor, Jacksonville Beach, Florida	“On behalf of the city of Jacksonville Beach, I wish to express our thanks for your wonderful performance at the Pops at the Beach concert featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra on May 11, 2003. I understand you were not feeling your best and therefore, commend your professionalism. We sincerely wish you the best and hope your career continues its success. Thank you again for the wonderful performance and your support.”


Lori Collins, Event Coordinator, Board of Directors, Paint Your Heart Out Clearwater, Clearwater, Florida	“Exciting! Talented! Brilliant! Dazzling! These are just a few of the expressions I heard the Paint Your Heart Out volunteers use to describe Lorna’s performance at the Volunteer Appreciation Party on Saturday, March 10th. Please express to Lorna the Board’s sincere appreciation for the spark she provided to this program the past two years. She is not only incredibly talented but also an absolute delight. It’s easy to know why the crowd warms to her.”
Amy Harcar, Volunteer Coordinator, CASA, St. Petersburg, Florida	“Thanks for an awesome performance last night. You know how to capture an audience and you treat your audience to laughter, thoughts, and reflection…and well, just a great time. I’ve already (and it’s been less than 24 hours) received rave reviews about you and your music. Your partnership with CASA has really helped me to internalize, actualize, realize CASA’s tagline, ‘It takes a whole community to end domestic violence.’ You do your part beautifully, with your heart, with your mind and with a great passion. This is a wonderful time in the life of CASA and I’m so glad that you are a committed partner in our work.”

Del Suggs, college performing artist and educator	“Lorna was terrific. She totally connected with the audience. We were hanging on every note! She’s an amazing performer, with a powerful stage presence. I’m not sure when I’ve seen an artist combine original songs with the classic rock songs that she covered in her totally unique way. Lorna is original, yet she seems familiar. What a gift!”

Weston Babelay, Campus Activities Assistant, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida	“Lorna has tapped into the Living Heartbeat of Life and thankfully she is willing to share it with the rest of us. Lorna’s music connects with a broad range of people in a way that touches the soul to its deepest depth.”
Jenny Sutorius, Director of Concerts, Palmetto Productions, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida	“Lorna has this certain aura. Aside from her voice which, in itself, carries a beautiful story, her personality and spirit shine brighter than any person I have ever met. She has the power to captivate an audience, to raise spirits with her witty comments and stories, or challenge people to think with her emotion-driven lyrics. Lorna truly has the power to enthrall an entire room of people.

Michelle White, Service Director, and Brian Collier, Artistic Director, Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, Ft Lauderdale, Florida	“On behalf of the youth, staff, and board members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, we would like to extend a heart-felt thank you for the wonderful music workshop you presented to our youth on May 19, 2005. Your gift of music is something that will reside within their hearts and their spirits throughout their lives.
Dr. Art Vanden Houten, Associate Professor, Flagler College, St Augustine, Florida	I have taught over 2000 students at Flagler College and at the University of South Carolina, and Lorna Bracewell is simply the finest student that I have had in my years of teaching. She has become an intellectual colleague in the truest sense of the word. Lorna possesses the love of learning and passion for the world that are critical ingredients for being a gifted teacher and living a life of the mind.”