Red Sky Prairie is the debut album of Sharon Fendrich. It is a mixture of gorgeous new-age inspired neo-classical instrumentals and influences of the opera that the artist witnessed growing up at live presentations. She has been a student of music since the age of 3. There are not too many people in this world that can say that. The strong influence of family brought Sharon to this point in life to bring listeners her first recording. Red Sky Prairie carries with it a message of the calm after the storm. The picture you see on the cover is an example of the beauty of transformation and strength of mother nature. And how the nature of our human spirit grows, learns, and rises above the storms of life and comes out the other side stronger and ready to face whatever comes our way. Hopefully, this process is a learning experience for every listener.  READ THE FULL New Age Music Review 

Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, pianist-composer and vocalist Sharon Fendrich began her music studies at age three. Eventually releasing her debut album, Red Sky Prairie, Fendrich travelled to the small town of Stein in the Netherlands to record the project at Kerani Music Studio with engineer Arno Op de Camp. Comprised of eleven compositions spanning an hour, Red Sky Prairie beautifully epitomizes neoclassical new age exquisiteness with its striking combination of gentle piano and voice set to mellifluous orchestral ensembles. Showcasing the contributing impeccable talents of Russian vocalist Anna Emelyanova, cellist Joep Willems, violinist Wilfred Sassen, and flautists Helen Hendriks and les Muller, Red Sky Prairie brilliantly boasts emotionally therapeutic and mellifluous arrangements of utmost pristine elegance. READ THE FULL Aural Awakenings REVIEW

"The love and care that was put into "Red Sky Prairie" is evident in EVERY note. It literally pours out of this album and seeps deeply into our hearts like silken salve for the spirit. And there it remains." – Dyan Garris "Red Sky Prairie" is the extraordinarily beautiful debut album by the extraordinarily talented Sharon Fendrich. Remember that name, because I'm sure you'll be hearing it a lot now and in the future.  Passionate and emotive, I hope I am able to find the right words to effectively describe this work of musical magnificence. It's THE best album I've heard this year, and I have heard a lot of extremely, outrageously beautiful music this year.  "Red Sky Prairie" was recorded in Stein, Netherlands by Arno Op den Camp at Kerani Music Studio. Joining Sharon's sensitively played piano performances on "Red Sky Prairie" is a roster of also amazingly talented and quite prominent guest artists.   Anna Emelyanova's voice is incredible. Wilfred Sassen on violin adds heartfelt, vibrant depth as does Joep Willems' cello performance.  Helen Hendriks on flute and Ies Muller on Irish flute bring even more sweetness into the mix by Arno Op den Camp with Sharon Fendrich.  Sharon composed all the pieces and self-produced this album, which was mastered by the renowned Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering in Los Angeles. The album includes a stunningly beautiful booklet. The artwork and design is by award-winning graphic designer, Sam Hayles.  The love and care that was put into "Red Sky Prairie" is evident in EVERY note. It literally pours out of this album like silken salve for the aching spirit. It's hard to believe this is a debut album because it is flawless. Effortless. Impressive. Remarkable.  This may be her first album, however, composer and pianist, Fendrich, is not new to music. She was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, and began her music studies at age three.  Later, at Tufts University, she completed advanced studies in piano, choral music, conducting, orchestration and composition. After college, she continued to explore composition while working in marketing, development and production roles for the La Jolla Music Society and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, in California. In her compositional process, Sharon relies on her fingers and ears to guide her into crafting a complete solo piano work. Then, she begins to add layers of sound through improvisation. Countermelodies emerge and contribute to a full harmonic palette and tempos full of breathing room. The result is a sonically magical world in which the listener is comfortably immersed in tranquility.  Grounded in the Classical genre and inspired by ambient New Age, the 11 tracks, and almost 1 hour of listening enjoyment are full of lush, passionate melodies that immediately captivate the listener's heart.  Within the music one can hear the influences of Enya, Secret Garden, Ludovico Einaudi, Chopin and Debussy.  Sharon says, "The inspiration for the album came from a daydream I had about a tranquil place filled with red-orange skies after the passing of a storm. A hushed early evening breeze had fallen upon a prairie-scape. I saw myself at various ages residing in a weather-worn white farmhouse, able to feel the emotions of the phases of life. A profound sensation of safety and peace permeated the air in this scene and the feeling has stayed with me ever since." "Red Sky Prairie" was born.  If I understand correctly, it is her hope that listeners of this album will be able to embrace all the events and emotions that they've experienced, and will experience, on their life's journey, and their soul's journey – the good and the "bad" – and come to a place of acceptance and deep, heartfelt peace with all. No matter what, keep an open heart, because out of the shadow side of life emerges the light. In my opinion, she succeeds tremendously.  The album opens with the gorgeous, "L'dor Vador" (Generation to Generation). I've never heard this more beautifully done. Here Anna Emelyanova's heavenly vocal washes over you along with Sharon's outstandingly beautiful piano, like a dual wave of soft, angelic light and you know you're in for something truly exceptional here.  ". . . round and round, on and on, I see my life in yours, hopes and memories wrap me with love." The mellow strings enter in, adding even more depth, and the magnificence continues throughout the entire album. It's astounding.  The lyrics, on the five vocal songs on "Red Sky Prairie," are in different languages, including Esperanto, which is an international language created by Dr. L. L. Zamenhof in the 1800s. The purpose of Esperanto was/is to facilitate easy communication among people from different cultures; a language that would allow people who speak different native languages to effectively communicate. The other languages included for the vocal pieces on "Red Sky Prairie" are: English, Spanish, Yiddish, and Latin. "A Secret's Song" is a passionate tribute to "Somewhere Out There" by Jame's Horner, from the animated feature film, "An American Tail." Stunningly beautiful piano here, reminiscent of the work of Italian composer, Ludovico Einaudi.  "Within Whispers" is intimate and delicate. We are reminded of how important it is to try to maintain intimacy, even in the face of obstacles.  The title track, "Red Sky Prairie," is an outstanding soundscape, painting a perfect picture of "Americana." Violin and cello are perfect here along with the piano.  "Song of the Dove" ( Kanto de la Kolombo) is sung entirely in Esperanto. Again, the vocal by Anna Emelyanova is amazing. Very calming with exquisite harmonies. Violin, piano, and cello all blend together in something beyond perfection.  Here we can see and feel the "dove of peace" soaring high, entrusted with its important mission.  The hauntingly beautiful "Never Alone" is sung by Anna in Spanish, English and Yiddish. Sharon wrote this piece in the summer of 2018, at the height of media attention in the United States regarding Latin American refugees entering the country. The lyrics link the story with that of Jewish refugees in World War II. Perhaps we have all been refugees of some sort at some time in our lives. This song reminds us that while we may feel "shut out" at times, we are truly never alone.  A delicate, magical sounding song, "Moonswept" is sweeping, flowing piano, flute, violin and harp. Together these create a romantic soundscape where we feel like we are basking in a peaceful moonlit glow.  Calling up remembrances of long-lost love, the nostalgic, "Bittersweet Memory," is a sweet flute and piano duet.  Sparkling, so lovely, and emotionally stirring.  Grief and sorrow are brought up for closure in, "Last Tears." This is wistful yet uplifting at the same time. Piano, cello, and violin in perfect harmony jostle our heartstrings and bring peace and balance. Dedicated to the 88 souls who perished on Alaska Airlines flight 261, "In Memoriam" is sung in Latin and will give you chills. So very angelic.  "Dona eis pacem. Volant cum angelis. Amen." This translates into, "Grant them peace. They fly with the angels."  As well, do you remember that September 11, 2001, morning? You might recall that it was such a beautiful day all over the United states that day. Picture perfect. Then everything changes and became something else. Life as we knew it completely morphed into completely uncharted territory. Out of that stunned, stupefying darkness, however, we came together, united as humanity in light, hope, and strength.  "That September Day" is sung by Anna Emelyanova so perfectly. Flute, strings, piano, and an astoundingly magnificent vocal, all do the very same on this last track, "That September Day;" a day that is indelibly etched onto our souls forever. This song will remain with you as well, long, long after it is over:    "Hearts broken, tears fall.  In darkness we can't find hope. Out of grief, hope and strength are forged. Through shadow shines a light so bright. Voices cry out you must go on.  Hope will hold our hearts. Together we found a way that September day."   I think that says it all.  A MUST have, give yourself or someone else a great gift of peace, hope, tranquility. This album is completely extraordinary in every single way. Every. Get "Red Sky Prairie" here: https://sharonfendrich.com/store/ or wherever music is sold/streamed. Sharon Fendrich, piano Wilfred Sassen, violin Anna Emelyanova, voice Joep Willems, cello Helen Hendriks, flute Ies Muller, Irish flute

American neo-classical composer Sharon Fendrich presents her self-produced first album, Red Sky Prairie with 11 tracks full of emotive melodies that captivate the heart. The disc offers the listener a soundtrack to their own dreams and memories, featuring Fendrich on piano, along with four Dutch soloists: violinist Wilfred Sassen, cellist Joep Willems, flautists Helen Hendriks and Ies Muller, and Russian vocalist Anna Emelyanova. Mixing both instrumentals and lyrical pieces, Fendrich writes her songs in five languages including Esperanto, and together with a captivating orchestral sound design, the 59-minute album creates an inviting and magical sonic world.  For the September 2019 New Age Music Chart (NAMC), a perfect mix of veteran and up-and-coming artists – from Enya and Steve Roach, to Grayhawk, Juan Sánchez and Karen Biehl, along with debut artist Sharon Fendrich and her album "Red Sky Prairie" – which we scored a near-perfect 98/100 – the highest score for a debut album since Nitish Kulkarni's "Synesthetic" in 2014.  SEE New Age Music Chart (NAMC) CHART     September 2019 p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px}

Calling Fendrich a "pianist/composer" only scratches the surface as she also produced the album, wrote lyrics for the five pieces that have lyrics (in five different languages, no less!), orchestrated the music and traveled to The Netherlands to record and mix the album at Kerani Music Studio with Arno Op den Camp, the engineer behind award-winning neoclassical artist, Kerani. Born and raised in Eugene, OR, Fendrich started her music studies at the age of three. Exposed to symphony orchestras, opera, ballet and other stage performances as a child, she continued piano and choral studies through college at Tufts University. After college, she continued to explore music composition while working in marketing, development and production roles for the La Jolla Music Society and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra in California. With a background in classical and ambient music, Fendrich brings a wealth of experience to her original music and makes it sound effortless. Red Sky Prairie offers eleven tracks that can provide a soundtrack to listeners' dreams and memories. In addition to Fendrich on piano, there are four Dutch soloists: violinist Wilfred Sassen, cellist Joep Willems, flutists Helen Hendriks and Ies Muller, plus Russian vocalist Anna Emelyanova. Red Sky Prairie is the beyond impressive debut album from Sharon Fendrich.  READ THE FULL Mainly Piano REVIEW

American neo-classical composer Sharon Fendrich presents her self-produced first album, Red Sky Prairie. With 11 tracks full of emotive melodies that captivate the heart, the disc offers the listener a soundtrack to their own dreams and memories, featuring Fendrich on piano, along with four Dutch soloists: violinist Wilfred Sassen, cellist Joep Willems, flautists Helen Hendriks and Ies Muller, and Russian vocalist Anna Emelyanova. Mixing both instrumentals and lyrical pieces, Fendrich writes her songs in five languages including Esperanto, and together with a captivating orchestral sound design, the 59-minute album creates an inviting and magical sonic world.  READ THE AV Q&A

This is an exceptional musical masterpiece from Sharon Fendrich, particularly when you consider the fact that this is her debut album. The eleven selections on this album are very beautiful, expressive and passionate, and are genuinely memorable musical masterpieces. Sharon Fendrich is an extraordinary composer, with an opus of very well crafted and beautifully arranged musical creations. The performances from pianist Sharon Fendrich, four world-class Dutch musicians, and the stunning Russian soprano Anna Emelyanova are outstanding, heartfelt and nothing short of breathtaking! The well-balanced and varied combinations of piano, cello, violin, flute and voice paint a vivid picture on "Red Sky Prairie". I find it really hard to pick a favourite among the pieces on this album, as every song stands out brilliantly on its own. But as a collective they form a musical treasure trove of sound, colour, character and beauty. Red Sky Prairie is certainly one of the best albums in the new age/neo-classical genre to be released this year. And I would definitely place Sharon Fendrich in the same extraordinary class of musical artists as Secret Garden, David Lanz, and Loreena McKennitt. This album is an absolute must have for all lovers of heartfelt new age or neo-classical music!  SEE 95.9 PAGE

Pianist and composer Sharon Fendrich offers eleven warm, delicate, and delightful pieces on her new album Red Sky Prairie. Her lavish compositions are a mixture of contemporary themes with just a hue of cinematic undertones.  Many of the tracks feature the rich, melodic voice of Anna Emelyanova. She gives the album a touch of the seraphic. In addition, joining Sharon's delightful piano arrangements are Helen Hendriks on flute and Ies Muller on Irish flute. Joep Willems plays cello and Wilfred Sassen plays violin.  Overall, the light ensemble pieces are a testament to the texture and beauty that make up the fabric that is America's heartland. Each of the works are vignettes that were created by memories in Sharon's life. Through her amazing music, we are witness to her deepest thoughts and most vivid impressions. L'Dor Vador is a musical chronology. It is the history passed on from one generation to the next, sometimes in stories, sometimes in song. This time it is song. Sharon not only connects with her past in this soaring ballad, but perhaps, her future as well. A Secret's Song is an inviting piano foray into places unknown. The cello in the background is like the voice of an old friend. The mysteries of the memory, the yearnings of the heart, or the very soul of a lover can be discovered by the connection to the music. Sharon's song is nostalgically warm and sublimely comforting. Within Whispers is a slow, calming piece. Flute and cello balance with the piano in a spiraling number softer than the wind, but stronger than breath. The introspective tune is contemplative in its complexity. The music has movement, like a river of thought running through your mind. Unhindered, clear, ever flowing. A clap of thunder, a storm in the distance and the title tune Red Sky Prairie begins. Through Sharon's magnificent melody, you can imagine endless plains, clouds that take on the vermillion hues of dusk, and if you listen closely, you can hear her joyful tidings on the wind. Fendrich's neo-symphonic tale is bold, breathtaking, and perfect for getting to know the stories of her heartland journey. Never Alone is a prayer. Simple and from the heart, it is sung in Spanish, English, and Yiddish. "Help us and Save us. I Beg You. Guide us to safety." Even the most simple of prayers requires a fervent heart and this prayer has that in every note. Sharon's tune is solemn, making Emelyanova's voice reverent and with tremendous passion. Any reference to September is obvious in our history here in the United States. Sharon's tune, That September Day is sad. Not quite two decades later, tears still fall, hearts remain unmended, and memories are still etched with an acid so much stronger than grief. This heart wrenching song is a lamentation with a modicum of hope, something we need each and every day. I liked all eleven cuts on Red Sky Prairie. There is a gentleness about the album as if every song was touched by a special kind of love. It is something rare these days. The mix of vocals and instrumentals offered enough variety that made you not only listen more, but also listen more closely on the next go around for every nuance that Sharon Fendrich tenderly cached in the notes.
       – R J Lannan, Artisan Music Reviews

Sharon Fendrich's debut new age/neo-classical album Red Sky Prairie has been submitted by a member of the Recording Academy for consideration for the New Age Grammy 2020. With deep roots in Portland's Jewish community, Sharon was profiled in Oregon Jewish Life's January 2016 issue 2016. Her children Talia and Max attend religious school at Neveh Shalom, where the family are members. Sharon serves on the steering committee of Chevra Kavod haMet. Her in-laws, Mimi and Bob Epstein, are long time members of Havurah Shalom. "Since I was a child it has been the music and song in a Jewish service that has given me the strongest sense of connection with my community," says Sharon. "I can always feel the strength, hope and healing that chanting together brings to the sacred space. This power of music is what inspires me to compose and share my music." Sharon released her self-produced debut album, Red Sky Prairie, on Aug. 1, 2019. Grounded in classical and inspired by new age, the 11 tracks are full of lush, passionate melodies. The album features Sharon on piano, along with four Dutch soloists: violinist Wilfred Sassen, cellist Joep Willems, flautists Helen Hendriks and Ies Muller, and Russian vocalist Anna Emelyanova. Within the five tracks containing lyrics, Sharon uses five languages including Esperanto. READ THE FULL OREGON JEWISH LIFE 

It is not often that I get to review the work of a debut artist I know personally, especially one that I remember so well from a meeting with our friend David Lanz, and Sharon Fendrich names Lanz as one of her musical heroes, so here now, with the release of this her debut album Red Sky Prairie, she takes her first steps into the world of becoming an official recording artist, and what stunning first few footfalls they are indeed. Red Sky Prairie is part of the new and growing revolution in music called Neo Classical, and this addition must probably rank as one of the most impressive to be released for many years. The starting point of our voyage of tone is a track called L'Dor Vador. Ok, so I had to look this one up as my Hebrew is one of many languages I have no grasp of at all, it means from generation to generation. The softness of touch on this piece was so noticeable and the added instrumentation and vocals would go onto make this simply the best start to an album I have heard for years. On A Secret's Song we have a film score waiting to happen, a tribute to the work of James Homer (Somewhere Out There) maybe, but a full flowing, emotional and moving opus indeed. Fendrich follows the passionate refrains from an excellently played Violin (Wilfred Sassen) and thus the result is pure genius bathed in the beauty of a truly moving arrangement. Within Whispers has to have one of the most inventive starts I have heard for some time, the wind blows softly across the face of time; do we hear its words of wisdom? The Celtic influence on flute here creates a fresh, but familiar backdrop of sound, and this symbiotic partnership between the piano of Fendrich and her flautists Helen Hendriks and Les Muller are but a beauty to listen to, a wonderfully crafted duo here of instrumentation, this is one song I would advise listening to many times over. I think I may have hinted to Sharon that one thing I love as a music writer and listener is to hear the sounds of a storm in a composition, such a scene setter for me, and it looks like she has taken me up on that suggestion with this next piece, her title track Red Sky Prairie. Storms however are balanced with the natural calm of the nature and here I do believe she has created a classic tune that will be loved by many listeners, who like to cross the borderlands of the new age genre into the neo classical. Perfectly timed crescendos a wonderful passionate fluency, all go to create in my view one of the most complete pieces of music I have heard this year. There is a moment of time when the mood changes and you can feel it deep within your musical soul, that time has now arrived with the offering Song of the Dove. Fendrich has utilised the talents of Russian vocalist Anna Emelyanova on this her first release, and that talent shines so brightly on this quite breath-taking composition. The lyrics are from the little used world language of Esperanto and manifest a true feeling of a desired peace in a track that is one the most empowering perhaps off the album. An amalgamation of languages is within your realm now on the piece called Never Alone. The combination of English, Spanish and Yiddish vocals all go to manifest a real one world, one people ethic. Fendrich on this performance in particular, has that beautiful David Lanz influence flowing through the piece, and that cannot be a bad thing can it? Whilst listening to the track one can really feel a sense of togetherness come from the composition and even the piano is seemingly played with this in mind. Never Alone is a very complex offering, extremely well delivered and very well played. We have now started our journey down from this hillside of musical mastery, and as we do so we come across a charming musical narrative called Moonswept. Here is a track that illustrates just how a multi-instrumental offering should be played, this combination of Flute, Harp, Violin, and of course piano, gifts us a piece that is not only full flowing, but utterly beautiful and quite fun to listen to as well. This next piece is perfectly placed on the album, as we are now swimming in the deeper waters of the release; it is called Bittersweet Memory. I have had many of these in my life, those happy moments that are tinged with a small grey cloud of regret and longing perhaps. This track for me does exactly what I described above, the combination of flute and piano provide us with a moment to open the memory box, and then gently close it again, remembering the lessons we have learned. The performance here is so moving and deeply touching; Fendrich on piano employs a gentle touch of the keys, but adds more weight when needed, the strings just further manifest a deeper moment of emotion for us to all enjoy. Sorrow is a reality we have all felt at one time or another, and the art in making music to heal such wounds is well known, few can do it brilliantly and it is to that list that the artist now must be added. Last Tears is the track we flow with now and combines strings and piano in a way that doesn't just move the heart, it literally tugs at it with such a powerful surge of emotive brilliance. The Cello (Joep Willems) in particular here, adds a whole new dimension to this offering and Fendrich's piano performance is so deeply moving. The back story behind this next piece is a devastating tragedy that occurred to the occupants of the fateful Alaska Airlines flight 261, who all perished after an accident. Fendrich at the time was not sure if one of those lost was someone she knew. The vocals are in Latin and create a truly memorable moment of heartfelt music, the sweeping string sections add to that, and allow this river of sadness to flow to its final destination of peace, thanks to this most emotional narrative we now know as In Memoriam. Our last stop on this simply marvellous debut album by pianist Sharon Fendrich is called That September Day. I guess all of us have our memories of 9/11; I was live on radio at that time and had to hold it all together for hours describing all I saw. This has to one of the hardest tracks to have not only put together but also played, but Fendrich does it so well, and manifests along with the multi-instrumental and vocal nature of the composition, a perfect ending track, one that rounds off one of the best debut albums I think I have ever heard. It seems a life time ago since we met up with the artist, and to now look at this amazing journey she has embarked upon literally brings tears of joy to my eyes, for in my view she has probably produced the perfect debut album, kudos to her team of other artists, all previously mentioned within this review as well. The production quality and art work, each lush performance, yes it is all right here for you and done so brilliantly, that you're going to want to be ready and waiting for the next album to arrive. Fendrich has created the perfect beginning for what we all hope is going to be an extremely long, happy and forth coming career for the artist. Red Sky Prairie is an album I am more than happy to recommend, no I will go further, I literally insist you buy it, truth being, said Neo Classical music simply doesn't come any better than this. SEE THE one world music PAGE

American neo-classical composer Sharon Fendrich captures the essence of emotions in her music written for piano, violin, cello, voice, flute, orchestra, and ambient sounds. Whether grief, sorrow, hope or love, the music is a place of peace and safety where listeners are invited to walk the pathways of their own experiences, dreams and memories. Along the way she welcomes the manifestation of grief processing, self-acceptance, tranquility, resolution and inspiration. Fendrich pulls from poignant, emotional themes in her own life to create her lush, passionate melodies that immediately captivate the heart. Within the music one can hear her influences of Enya, Secret Garden, Ludovico Einaudi, David Lanz, Chopin, and Debussy. Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, USA, Fendrich began music studies at age three. She completed advanced studies in piano, choral music, conducting, orchestration and composition in college at Tufts University. Her current vocal studies include opera and musical theatre. Ms. Fendrich presents her self-produced debut album, Red Sky Prairie. Grounded in Classical and inspired by New Age, the emotive melodies immediately captivate the heart. You will find a safe, comforting space to feel, experience and remember your emotions. READ THE FULL 97.9 Bandon Community Radio-Oregon ARTICLE