The Deer's Cry

Singer, songwriter, and harpist Karen Ballew founded The Deer’s Cry collective in 2019. 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.” The Deer’s Cry was a finalist in the International Acoustic Music Awards for 2023 and 2024 and an honorable mention winner in the 28th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Karen is grateful to collaborate with Amberly Rosen Hoins, Cherish Hamby, Caleb Yang, and Kyle Jones as they share folk music and original songs from the heart! Amberly is a gifted fiddle player and violinist who enjoys bridging the gaps between classical, free improv, country, folk, and traditional international folk music from around the world. She is also a wonderful folk dancer! Cherish’s voice is stirring, beautiful, and unique. She and her husband Adam are the founding members of Dark Waters Project, and their songs have won multiple awards for songwriting and performance. Caleb is a multi-style cellist who enjoys collaborating with other artists exploring classical, jazz, world traditional, and many other genres of music! Combining the cello with electronics and live looping has garnered him unique solo performances at venues including the Moscone Center in San Francisco and the Arts District Mansion in Dallas. Kyle is a seasoned percussionist, drummer, and Emmy award winner with a diverse musical background. He has taught East Indian Percussion master classes and Ethnomusicology, and his collaborations extend to projects with Phil Keaggy, Ricky Skaggs, and the Fleetwood Mac Blues Band, among others.