Founding Member
Communications Director & House Manager
Reeya has been working in theater and film production for 17 years. She cut her teeth in marketing and communications work during her stint as the Operations Manager for Beacon Music Factory in Beacon NY, where she first met her future SongSmith colleagues. Reeya has been performing as a singer since the age of 7, as a bass player since the age of 31, and she is a regular contributing writer for www.storyscreenbeacon.com a regional arts and media publication. In her other life, she has been a hospitality finance professional for over a decade. SongSmith provides Reeya with an avenue to meld all of her various production, marketing, finance, and music-making experience in service of enriching her community with the connection and inspiration that music can provide.
Creator & Executive Producer
John began his career as a recording engineer after graduating from the Institute of Audio Research. Assisting at Atlantic Recording Studio and A&R Records led him to a house audio job at a premiere concert hall & preeminent cultural institution. There he recorded classical and jazz music for leading music and radio producers, and his technical acumen secured an ongoing and living archive that began in 1945 at 92Y in New York City. John’s knowledge of stagecraft and technology led to a 30-year career as Technical Production Director and Lighting Designer where he directed, designed and crewed 11,000+ 92Y, IATSE, and independent productions. After taking an early retirement John is shifting his knowledge and focus to his own projects. Producing SongSmith allows his love of music to be explored, shared and celebrated. For more information www.beacondigitalcinema.com
Founding Member
Production Photographer
Zoë’s arts, production, and nonprofit management career spans 20 years. She is a writer and photographer with a focus on sociopolitical issues and documenting the arts. SongSmith is a project dear to her heart for many reasons, not least of which is the mutually supportive opportunity it provides: the artist an amplified voice for their process, and the audience an opportunity to hear the human beyond the song. Opportunities are endless when we reach beyond our comfort zones.
Founding Member
Host
Mark Westin is a self-described “word guy” who loves to interview great writers about their craft on SongSmith.
Mark is an Emmy-nominated musician and composer of two film scores, three albums of original songs, and several singles. As a featured artist and sideman, he has performed across the United States, in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Mark honed his interviewing skills while working as a field producer on documentary films, television news and entertainment programs. His credits include Access Hollywood, Animal Planet, Court TV, CBS News, Extra, and MSNBC.
For more about Mark, please visit www.markwest.in