Music

Listening, expressing, & connecting.

Audio Recordings

Gloria’s violin improvisations express the myriad movements of the heart like a musical journal. Using a 5-string electric violin and looping pedal allows multiple voices to layer and interplay.

Enjoy listening to some examples.

Videos

Gloria’s video projects integrate multiple components such as music, photography, poetry, and environmental sounds to share a personal or political message.

“Let My People Go”  (George Floyd)

This video is dedicated to hope that through the fires of rage, all voices will emerge on the other side, lifted up, together.

“Elijah’s Lament” 

This is a 5- string violin improvisation to honor the life of Elijah McClain (Feb. 25, 1996- Aug. 30, 2019) and to mourn his death caused by racist, violent, and unjust practices of police and paramedics in Aurora, CO. Elijah devoted his work to healing and helping. Let us carry that forward in all the ways we can.

  • “The reaction from my Black brothers is like you are doing music therapy at a public level. I had only thought of therapy as an individual activity until seeing how our joint venture and the way your violin affects souls is healing some wounded spirits, including my own.

    Namaste.”

    — Donald H. Matthews, PhD

  • “Haunting and eloquent, Gloria, thank you!”

    — Carolyn Cooke

  • "Elijah's Lament was beautiful.”

    — Don

  • “Listening, crying. Beautiful sorrow. Elijah’s Life and Death . Truth!”

    — Dr. Don Matthews

  • “Gloria, this is just transcendent. thanks so much for sharing.”

    — Erik Ehn, Playwright

“Still Connected”

Violin meditation with ocean waves. "When I got still I felt the most connected." (From March 2020 beginning of pandemic shut down) 

“Song of the Leaf”

​​This is a music meditation about letting go, inspired by the season of Fall and the painful yet beautiful releasing between mothers and daughters.

“Releasing our Power”

We all have immense Light and Power for good. This music is dedicated to releasing that into the world. Thank you Michelle Bruner for the mountain photos!

“SunLove”

This is a 5- string violin improvisation with added nature videos inspired by a beautiful experience in the sun one morning.

Collaborations

Gloria works with other artists and groups to creatively connect

Live improvisation with Dena El Saffar

Improvised Musical Witness at Bloomington Courthouse Square with Dena El Saffar and Gloria Stearns-Bruner Aug. 12, 2020

"Blues for Elijah McClain"

This song is in protest of the tragic and brutal slaying of Elijah McClain. Elijah was a gentle and talented soul whose life was ended too soon because his black life didn't matter. Our hope is that justice will be done and that this song will help prevent the unjust killings of more black lives by those who have sworn to serve and protect.

Artist, composer and vocalist: Dr. Don H Matthews

Artwork credit: Encaustic wax painting by Dr. Linda Helmick. Photos by Michael Bruner.