Ellen M. Wilson
On her sweeping and magnificent ambient vocal debut Songs of Ascent, El Paso-based singer and performer Ellen M. Wilson draws upon the inspiring words and wisdom of the ancients and the grand spiritual traditions to bring true hope and healing to a world in need.
Collaborating with producer and arranger Scott Leader, one of the country’s most sought after performers of original Jewish rock and folk music, the multi-talented vocalist—whose sound has been praised by many as “angelic” and “ethereal”--transcends all cultural and religious boundaries with rich and colorful interpretations of ten compelling songs whose composers (including Debbie Friedman, Julie Silver and Larry Lesser) set Hebrew phrases to music. While the genesis of Songs of Ascent was Wilson’s meeting Leader when she participated in a recording project he was producing, the message of healing and peace in its songs—which she sings in a mix of English and Hebrew--tap into a universal consciousness that connects with people of all faiths, belief systems and world-views. Because the need for healing and the desire for peace is something everyone on the planet has in common, songs like “Eil Na R’fa Na Lah” (which translates in our vernacular to “Heal Now I Pray!”), “Lo Yisa Goy” (“An End To War”) and Lesser’s uplifting folk tune “Healing Song” are reaching people in exciting ways that stretch beyond their origins. “I want the music to speak to everyone," says Wilson. "I have a lot of friends of different faiths, all of whom had positive reactions to the texts that were on the CD. That really helped me to see the broad appeal of the Psalms and get in touch with my desire to bring this music to a larger audience. I love the idea that these songs could be enjoyed by many people across the denominations. It’s spiritual music at its core. “I love singing spiritual music as well as other kinds of music,” she adds, “bringing that lyrical, classical approach to more accessible, contemporary music, especially in the ambient arena."
A lecturer in voice at the University of Texas, at El Paso, Wilson studied classical music in college, earning a BM in Vocal Performance (University of Illinois) and an MM from Meredith College (Raleigh, North Carolina). Over the years, she’s built a dynamic resume that includes singing both the American and German national anthems at German-American joint ceremonies in Bamberg, Germany; starring in musical theatre productions at Busch Gardens in Virginia; appearing as a guest soloist with the Polymnia Choral Society in Boston; singing the soprano solos in Rutter’s Requiem in Enfield, North Carolina; and singing with guest conductor Benton Hess & The Raleigh Symphony. Wilson has also appeared on several recordings, including a Travesty CD in Germany. She is currently collaborating with classical guitarist Armin Harrison on a project entitled, “Across the Ages”, which features music of the English Baroque and Renaissance. A recording is in the works.
“I’ve been studying music for many years,” she says, “and when I attended a year-long program taught by Bob Proctor, who appears in the film, The Secret, one of our assignments was to make a huge goal for ourselves. I decided mine was to get in touch with what I really wanted to do with my life and then work towards making that happen. It was clear to me that singing and making a recording like Songs of Ascent was exactly what I wanted to do. Once I set my sights on recording, I met Scott and all the pieces fell beautifully into place. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to sing songs that can uplift people, and that’s what this project is all about—touching people.”