“I believe that the rhythm, the cadence of stories activates a part of the brain that goes back to being read to as a child. There’s a calming effect. And when people are calm, they are able to listen and understand.”

Some messages are a melody. Some pictures are a song.

Nancy Hayashibara is a multimedia artist specializing in collaborative works with music ensembles. Her work ranges from video projections, to original compositions, to animations. A lot of research happens before the work is even started. What sets her apart from other artists is that the work is about the collaboration with the artists involved. The output of work continues the conversation with the audience members.

Nancy Hayashibara graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in both Music and Fine Art. While at SSU Nancy began working as an accompanist and studied piano with Marilyn Thompson. For over thirty years Nancy has played for various private studios, theater companies, choirs, and church organizations. Since 2013 Nancy has been the staff accompanist and vocal coach at Santa Rosa Junior College. She has given masterclasses in vocal breathing exercises in the United States and Maastricht University, Netherlands. She has also been a music director for Summer Repertory Theater and Spreckels Theater Company. Ms. Hayashibara also composed the soundscape for Spreckels Theater Company’s 2019 production of Hamlet. She received a grant from the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts to compose and perform “Call to an Open Sky” for the SRJC choirs.

Her first video for SRJC Choirs, Sing To Me, was awarded First Prize in the International Youth Music Competitions Large Group Choir category, February 2021. In 2024 she received a grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation to produce multimedia choral works for the SRJC choirs centered around ideas of inclusivity and accessibility in music. She is currently working on a series of video projections for the SRJC Symphonic Band’s concert in May.