Michelle Kesler to Share Her Experience Finding Value in the Creative Journey

In February’s Faith + Works Lecture, BYU School of Music professor Michelle Kesler will share how to find meaning and inspiration in the creative process, independent of the finished product. “As artists, we have to believe that what we do can better our society and that we have an important place in our world,” said Kesler. “When it comes to a performance, this was never a question for me. However, I wanted to feel like the amount of time I spent in the process of perfecting my craft was worth something in and of itself. Learning to rely on the Spirit in my practicing, or in my process, I found something sacred.” Kesler is a distinguished chamber musician and solo cellist. She has performed throughout the world, including in the Beethoven Festival in Park City and with quartets such as the Orion in New Zealand and Takács Quartet in Tokyo. She received her undergraduate at the University of Colorado in Boulder, then went on to a master’s program and, eventually, a doctoral program at Arizona State University. Currently, she is as a member of the Deseret String Quartet and is working on commissioning, performing and premiering new music. Kesler has also presented at the College Music Society conference and been honored as the National Parks Artist-In-Residence at two national historic sites and monuments, Hubbell Trading Post and Canyon de Chelly, during the fall of 2018.