From the Desk to Broadway

Checking in with 2016 Contest winner Gaelynn Lea, plus join us in Atlanta tonight [View this email online]( [NPR Tiny Desk Contest]( Past winners of the Tiny Desk Contest – eight of them now! – have all gone on to great things, from world tours to Grammy awards. Today, we’re taking a moment to highlight one – the beloved [Gaelynn Lea]( winner of our 2016 Contest. In case you’re new here: The Duluth, Minn., native won with a video of her song “[Someday We’ll Linger In The Sun]( which she recorded on her phone in the space where she taught fiddle lessons. Gaelynn makes music unlike anyone else. Her beautiful folk melodies are often rooted in the sounds of Irish fiddle tunes. She also has brittle bone disease, which makes it necessary for her to play her instrument in an inventive and unique style. “The Contest definitely changed my life,” Gaelynn [told us]( last year. Since winning, she’s toured the world and [co-founded a coalition]( that amplifies disability culture in the music industry. She’s also writing a book. Most recently, she wrote music for the broadway adaptation of Macbeth – the director of the play first discovered her music by watching her Tiny Desk concert – which Gaelynn hopes will help bring disability culture into the mainstream. “Celebrating disability, rather than just accommodating it, is the next step in the journey to really valuing diversity,” [Gaelynn says](. NPR’s Tiny Desk video team recently met with Gaelynn during production on Macbeth to hear about her journey from the Tiny Desk to Broadway. We’re proud to share that video with you today: --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- And don’t forget: The Tiny Desk Contest team is in [Atlanta]( today for the second stop of our Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour! In addition to Alisa, tonight’s lineup includes Georgia bands [Yah Yah]( [O’She Tyght]( and [Alto Moon](. There are still a few tickets available, so if you’re in Atlanta (or know someone who is) you can [get tickets here](. We hope to see you there! From the Desk, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest team P.S. Check out recent episodes of All Songs Considered featuring new albums from 2015 Contest winner [Fantastic Negrito]( and 2017 Contest winner [Tank and the Bangas.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [tinydeskcontest@npr.org](mailto:tinydeskcontest@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Interested in connecting with music-lovers and music-makers across the Contest community? Join our Tiny Desk Contest Community [Facebook Group]( Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on [Spotify]( and [Apple Music]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Books, Pop Culture and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Tiny Desk Contest emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]