About the Artists
Mike Ericksen:
Mike Ericksen is a classical guitarist and the great great grandson of Ole and Ane Nielsen Madsen who came to America from Denmark with the Willie Handcart Company in 1856. Upon learning the story of this remarkable journey, Mike gained a desire to share the experience through music. His desire is that through the melodies and lyrics that were given to him, others may be helped to find meaning and faith in the struggles and triumphs of their families and then pass those stories on to their children. Mike and his wife, Cheri, and family live in Centerville, Utah.
Greg Ericksen:
Greg is a guitarist and a talented writer and producer. He had a popular band in the 60's and produced several records. He produced the cd and wrote the title track "Light Up the Land" for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. "Light Up the Land" was originally inspired by the story of Ole Madsen's sacrifice for his family in the Willie Handcart Company migration. Greg and his wife, Denise, and family live in Bountiful, Utah.
Keith Behunin:
Keith is a banjo player, originally performing with the "Fertile Dirt Band", a popular blue grass group in the 70's and 80's. Keith now plays at blue grass events and other venues with his son, Indy, who plays the bass. Keith lives with his family in St. George, Utah.
Kristiana D. Silver
A native of Payson, Utah, Kristiana D. Silver received a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance and Pedagogy from BYU where she was active in the Philharmonic, Chamber, and Opera orchestras. She currently performs with the Salt Lake Symphony and the Tre Voci piano trio and has maintained a private teaching studio for the past 16 years. She and her husband Bill are residents of Salt Lake City where they are raising and homeschooling their three sons.
Diana Glissmeyer, vocalist
Diana Glissmeyer is an accomplished vocalist and has a bachelor's degree from BYU in music with an emphasis in vocal performance. Diana has performed and recorded for the Children's Dance Studio. She has been teaching private lessons for the past six years and resides in Salt Lake City, UT with her husband, Spencer and their two children.
Todd Woodbury, classical guitarist
Todd Woodbury is one of Utah's leading classical guitarists. For over two decades he has performed and toured throughout the Western United States as both a soloist and with ensembles. Woodbury has worked with mandolinist Paul Binkley of the Modern Mandolin Quarter, Jose Duarte Coste at the Lisbon Conservatory in Portugal, Oscar Ghilia at the Aspen Music Festival, George Sakellariou at the San francisco Conservatory of Music and Jose Luis Lopatigui in Cervera, Spain. Currently he performs with violinist John Thompson as part of the Thompson-Woodbury Ensemble.
He has performed with the Utah and Colorado Springs Symphonies, the Utah Chamber Artists and the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company along with many of Salt Lake's chamber groups and series. He has been on the touring arts programs in Utah, Idaho, Washington, South Dakota and Arizona.
He is currently on the faculty of the University of Utah, Westminster College and Weber State University.
Emily Christensen, songwriter, vocalist, guitarist.
In the spring of 1998, Emily Christensen was preparing for her first visit to Martin’s Cove in Wyoming. It was then that she discovered that she was the 3rd great granddaughter of Thomas and Sarah Moulton, members of the Willie Handcart Company. Since that time, as she has continued to learn more of the handcart pioneers, her love for them has grown tremendously.
As a songwriter, Emily has composed a number of songs about the handcart pioneers. She has shared her music and thoughts with people in Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah. Her song "Walk the Path of Faith" can be found on the soundtrack to Lee Groberg’s documentary film "Sweetwater Rescue." Besides writing songs of pioneers, Emily has also written theme songs for Girl’s Camps and Youth Conferences.
Emily graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Music Therapy, and a minor in guitar. She has spent the majority of the last 17 years raising children, but began songwriting in 1994, and tries to fit this into her busy life where she can. Emily and her husband, James, are the parents of 6 children.
Carol S. Beck keyboards
Carol S. Beck is an accomplished pianist, accompanist, composer, arranger and teacher of both piano and organ. Her students have been featured in the National Federation of Music Clubs magazine and three of her own eight children have received the prestigious Grand Cup awarded by the NFMC. Carol completed her BA in 1981 from the University of Utah in Interior Design and a minor in music. She later actively pursued her BA in music in the field of Keyboard Pedagogy from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho and Weber State University in Ogden Utah. She has performed for visiting Brazilian dignities in an attempt to promote intercultural relationships. Carol has recorded numerous synthesized arrangements for children's vocal performance groups. Her love for music and the desire to share this gift has been the catalyst for a successful career as a teacher of thirty years. Carol, her husband Curtis and family live in Centerville, Utah.
