This activity is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

In this two-hour workshop, acclaimed Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter Heather Maloney will share and discuss her writing process and how she uses her music as a medium through which to make a strong social statement. By modeling the various stages of her work, she will provide amateur and aspiring songwriters with a clear understanding of the journey a song may take from raw creation to perfected work of art. After allowing time for questions, Heather will then give workshop participants the opportunity to share an original composition and receive constructive critique from her and the other participants.

Heather Maloney has a voice that is both gorgeously raw and refined, delivering lyrics that present emotional maturity and realism.  Heather Maloney has developed a passionately dedicated following in her years as a working musician, and for good reason – her voice is brilliant and her musicianship exceptional. Heather’s lyricism and poeticism, however, are what truly make her a unique and beloved artist. She discovered her voice as a writer through years of focused meditative practice. This cultivated awareness
has helped shape Heather’s writing, which is equally emotional and intellectual, touching and precise. Taking a stance against such social ills as sexism, gun violence, and animal cruelty, her songs can be everything from heart-breaking to infuriating, but are always convincing.