Songwriter and Celtic harpist Karen Ballew grew up in Abilene, Texas singing in choirs, church, and musical theatre productions. She traveled to Furman University in South Carolina to study choral, medieval, and Renaissance music, and after returning to Texas, found her home and musical family in the Dallas Irish music scene.

 

While in the Dallas area, Karen founded and directed a youth chorus at the North Texas School of Irish Music (2013 - 2017) and studied harp and singing at the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat. She enjoyed singing with a global Christian worship group and recorded an EP with the Irish vocal ensemble Anúna. Sharing sacred music and singing songs in the Irish language are two of Karen’s greatest passions!

 

After moving to Nashville in 2017, Karen founded The Deer’s Cry collective. The ensemble’s name, The Deer’s Cry, comes from a translation of the Old Irish prayer, St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Together, the ensemble explores the beauty and symbolism of the spiritual, consistently reminding listeners of both the vastness of our universe and the importance of their role in it. Karen explains, “Music itself cannot cure all the wrongs in the world, but there is much we can do through art to remind one another of the beauty in our universe, the intrinsic worth of every living creature, the interconnected nature of all things, and the invitation to be a part of a story bigger than ourselves.” 

 

In response to Heal the Heart by The Deer’s Cry, Amplify Music Magazine wrote:

"Sometimes music hits you in a place that is so perfect and sublime — you can feel it and appreciate it in the deepest places in your heart, mind, and, yes, soul. The Deer’s Cry... makes music of this sort — a stunning amalgam of Americana/folk, Celtic, world, bluegrass, and jazz (and more!) that hits all of those soul-deep places within us. The band’s brand new album, 'Heal The Heart,' is glorious and gorgeous, with a sense of comfort, wonder, love, and healing woven throughout every carefully crafted track."  

 

Karen is grateful to work with collaborators Nick Bullock, Kyle Jones, Amberly Rosen Hoins, Caleb Yang, Cherish Hamby, Joseph Carmichael, Bryan Brock, Will MacLean, Patrick Atwater, Bára Grímsdóttir, Chris Foster and many others who shape and bring this music to life with their wonderful artistry and musicianship!