deborah levoy artist and music teacher

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About

I’m a singer and songwriter who believes that every song I create has its own independent life. I simply guide it towards its full potential. Just like raising a child. My songs have been described as haunting, delicate, and powerful.

Outdoor house concert in Los Altos

What a fun show! We gathered under a dramatic, early evening sky in “Tami’s Garden” (aka as the backyard of the fabulous Mulcahy family) in Los Altos.  So many old friends and new friends, all of us coming together, sharing laughter, silliness, seriousness, singing together and everything in between. I performed with my wonderful collaborator, bassist Doug Pohorski. Special guest and dear friend Jeff Pollock joined us on piano. Documentary filmmaker Ben Suliteanu created this video of the show – I’m so grateful! All the photos below were taken by the talented Chloe Peterson-Nafziger. She’s got a beautiful portfolio – check it out!

upcoming performances:

No shows at this time – I’m finishing my new album!

past performances:

Private Event, Fallen Leaf Lake, CA, Saturday, 6/5/23

Once again I am honored to be included in a reading for “The Paradise Notebooks; 90 Miles across the Sierra” by Richard J. Nevle & Steven Nightingale.

Private Music Festival near Yosemite National Park, 5/20/23

Camping, music, community, all to the rhythm of the fierce and beautiful Merced River. Total heaven!

Celebrate Migratory Bird Day! An online event, 5/7/23

Poetry, songs from “Dawn Songs: A Birdwatcher’s Field Guide to the Poetics of Migration.” So cool, I sang “Blue Heron,”  which is included in the book.

Earth Sunday at Memorial Church, Stanford, 4.23.23

An ecumenical celebration centered on creation care and environmental justice, included reflections by scientist/author Richard Nevle and ecologist Elliot White.

9.11.22 - The Paradise Notebooks: 90 Miles across the Sierra Nevada

A beautiful evening of poetry, science and song – video coming soon! The Foster, Palo Alto, CA

8.19.22 - Sky Room, Nevada Museum of Art, tickets here

A magical night in a gorgeous space with views of the Sierra, at the top of the Nevada Museum of Art.

7.30.22 -Books On The Garden, San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1pm

Once again joining Richard Nevle and Steven Nightingale’s book reading. In the Fragrance Garden (yes, that’s right, the Fragrance Garden!) Golden Gate Park.

7.23.22 - Gifts of Granite, Wisdom from Rivers: Natural History and Poetry of the Sierra Nevada, Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series

Joining Richard Nevle and Steven Nightingale’s book reading in one of the most sacred places on earth, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park.

5.6.22 - The Paradise Notebooks - Book Launch and Reading, Stanford Educational Farm

Joining Richard Nevle and Steven Nightingale for the launch of the tour for their stunning book, The Paradise Notebooks: 90 Miles Across the Sierra. The book was conceived as our two families backpacked across the Sierra Nevada, from west to east, in 2017.  Science, poetry and song, who could ask for more? 

4.16.22 - We Love Earth Festival

Saturday, 10:30am, Flood Park, 215 Bay Road, Menlo Park, CA. Eventbrite Link

The Sierra Through Sonnets, Science & Song, at the University of Nevada, July 16, 2021

You can now watch the whole show online here: LINK

An evening filled with sonnets, science and song featuring brilliant authors Steven Nightingale, Richard Nevle, Robert Leonard Reid and yours truly.

As we trekked 90 miles across the Sierra with our families, 4 summers ago, Steven and Richard conceived of a book that captured the essence of their Sierra experience through both lyrical and scientific perspectives. Please join us for this multi-media presentation as Steven and Richard share writings, places, and stories from their adventure and their upcoming book, The Paradise Notebooks, and 2018 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame inductee and brilliant author Robert Leonard Reid. I will weave in songs and accompaniment to some stunning haikus.

Recent Songs

Scarborough Fair

Our first collaborative song, Scarborough started out with Doug noodling on the piano in his studio and I said, "Hey, that sounds a little like Scarborough Fair" and I started singing to it. Whipped out the voice memo app and recorded it. From there Doug recorded more piano on his own and sent it to me, with the comment, "I don't think this is Scarborough Fair anymore." ...

Trapeze

Many years ago a fellow songwriter that I knew was suffering from a medical condition. After she passed away, I spent a lot time trying to understand what it might have been like to reach out to the place she felt was on the other side for her. A place of peace and love. The closest I could imagine was the feeling of reaching out to someone you love in a time of need ...

The Time Has Come

I was inspired to write the song “The Time Has Come” after participating in my first climate rally in San Francisco. Before the rally I was afraid that I might be one of only a dozen people attending, which would confirm my fear that hardly anyone was willing to put themselves out there on this issue. However, when I emerged from the Bart station into the San Francisco sunlight, I saw thousands of people with banners and signs, and I felt my hope rise up ...

Because some of you asked: Here is a TIP JAR. Maybe you’re someone who only streams music these days, doesn’t buy records, but still wants to contribute to the material survival of artists whose work you enjoy. You can make a tip of any amount here. Thank you!

"She has a beautiful voice that can soar and scat, get folky and funky, and enchant crowds" 

– Daily Hampshire Gazette

New on my Blog

snail mail air mail on table
About my songs

Ode to Snail Mail: How’s the Weather

When I first moved to the Mission in San Francisco, I lived in a teeny room in a flat with with several roommates, one of ...
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Anthem, by Leonard Cohen, performed by Deborah Levoy and Doug Pohorski.
Creating music

How The Light Gets In

Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack, a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in ...
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Renew at Mono Lake
Musings

Renew

We turn not older with years but newer every day ― Emily Dickinson These past years I’ve been doing brand new things. I’ve become a ...
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Gallery

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