Lucian Balmer

Lucien Kano Balmer has studied the violin for 20 years under Benjamin Spilman and Calvin Murasaki. Most notably, he has performed with award winning guitarist Shambhu Vineberg, trombonist/electric violinist Lewis Kahn of the Fania All Stars, and sarod player Vijay Shankar Mishra. He currently performs as a duo with sarod player Lisa Sangita Moskow, playing her own compositions, as well as his own compositions with tabla player Josh Mellinger. When time allows, he also plays with the MillValley Philharmonic.… Show more

His own music is directly related to his spiritual practice, which has been an active pursuit of his since he was 14 years old. While his influences are many, his most profound musical influences have been the devotional songs of Rabindranath Tagore, Sri Chinmoy, Parvathy Das Baul, and the musics of Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Shubhendra Rao, beethoven, Bach and Schubert. Having spent countless hours singing and performing devotional songs in a spiritual community, he feels equally at home singing as he does playing the violin. In his spiritual practice, he's had many teachers, mentors, and influences, such as: Swami Vivekanada, Sri Chinmoy, Sri Ramakrishna, Charlie Rebich, Anjali Sawhey, and various Buddhist teachers.

He approaches life with great Love, expressing his deepest feelings and experiences in meditation as well as the joys and turbulences found in everyday life.

Lucien also enjoys dance, mediation, and community. He is currently studying nursing at Holy Names University.

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