The Smiles of the Symphony | Postcard #5 from Abbey Road


Dear Reader

If you're anything like me, lately it's been difficult to think about anything other than the heat. We've been in the middle of a tremendous heat wave here in Pennsylvania, with temperatures over 100 degrees for several days. It seems to seep into every aspect of life, doesn't it? It affects the way we live on multiple levels, that's for sure. In fact, here is evidence of me at an outdoor concert this past weekend:

All kidding aside, in a way, that's rather analogous to what this project has been like over the past three years. Ever since Frances invited me along on this crazy and amazing journey, it has affected multiple aspects of my life (and hers too, I'm sure) - sometimes in ways I never expected.

We didn't know what to expect when we walked into Abbey Road on the day of the recording sessions. What would the musicians be like? Would they be nice? Would they give us the side-eye while we observed the session? Would they ignore us? All sorts of scenarios crossed our minds.

But what we found? Maybe a little surprising... unexpected... and perhaps most of all... joyful.

That brings us to Postcard #5 from Abbey Road. After a slow burn over the past three years, things are finally beginning to heat up. As we close in on our Nashville recording sessions - and, soon after, the release of our newest album - we're excited to share another glimpse behind the scenes of this unforgettable journey with you. 🔥


The Faces and Stories Behind the Music
The London Symphony Musicians

📸 Ben Ealovega


On the Blog
The Smiles of the Symphony

"
I think there's an assumption that orchestral musicians - especially those of this caliber - are, for lack of a better word, "stuffy." And, certainly, during a time of global unrest, we were a bit nervous about the reception we would receive. However..."



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Fundraising Progress
91.8%!

We now have 258 donors! Our goal is to get to 300 - and that's with a donation in any amount.

With less than $13,000 to raise, we are on our way to an amazing album release later this year! We are SO close. Help us complete this journey which also helps our charitable partner
MSFitEffect!

Click on the graph if you would like to join us or would like to contribute again:


Upcoming Performances
🎵🎵

  • July 26 - Nashville First Baptist Church - prelude to 8:30 AM service
  • July 27-29 - The Nashville Sessions (private)
  • August 16 - Masonic Village Brunch (private)
  • August 23 - Grace Lutheran Church, 517 N. Queen St., Lancaster PA - special music throughout 10:30 AM service

For the full listing of our future events, click here.


Did You Know?

Anyone can explore our Newsletter Hub to read previous editions of our e-newsletter and get caught up on all the adventures, insights, and milestones along the way:


The Gift of a Review is Priceless!


Thank you for your support!
Please take care Reader and have a wonderful week ~

Until next time,

Kirstin & Frances

Our Corporate Sponsors

An abundance of gratitude for these wonderful businesses who share our vision and are supporting our album.

611 Greenspring Rd., Newville, PA 17241
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Double Keyed, LLC

On the heels of their 2022 Billboard-charting and award winning album, Midwinter’s Gift, Kirstin Myers and Frances Drost as the duo Double Keyed continue to delight audiences with their heartfelt interpretations of both classical and contemporary music. Their unique and contemplative sound takes the listener on a journey that resonates long after their performances. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ Their first album, Midwinter’s Gift, was recorded in 2022 in Nashville, TN and in November of that same year it was nationally recognized by reaching #13 on Billboard’s “Classical-Crossover” chart. A few months later, it was nominated by the Central Pennsylvania Hall of Fame for “Best Instrumental Album of the Year” and was also awarded “Best Classical-Crossover Album” of 2022. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ Fast forward to 2026 - now you can join an exciting new adventure that provides sanctuary to souls and spreads the joy of music worldwide. Frances and Kirstin, along with Nashville’s Phillip Keveren, are collaborating to create a remarkable follow-up to Midwinter’s Gift. With Keveren’s renowned arranging and production skills, and the London Symphony Orchestra’s recording prowess, Double Keyed is already in the process of crafting a second captivating instrumental Christmas album. In April 2026 they met with the London Symphony at Abbey Road Studios as they recorded they recorded the orchestral parts to this cinematic masterpiece. The album is on track for a November 2026 release. Subscribe to the newsletter for updates on this epic adventure!

Read more from Double Keyed, LLC

The Double Keyed Nashville TeamSpeakeasy Recording Studio, TNJuly 30, 2026L-R: Phillip Keveren, Frances Drost, Kirstin Myers, Kent Hooper Dear ReaderIt's been a few weeks since we've returned from our Nashville recording sessions, and in some ways, I think we're both still recovering! After three intense eight-hour days in the studio, it's looking like we'll have an album ready for our holiday release. We're now in the thick of listening to mixes and creating the final album art - which means...

Frances and Kirstin of Double Keyed show the London Symphony Orchestra a list of their 258 supporters for their album project at Abbey Road.

Dear ReaderWelcome to Postcard #8 from Abbey Road! This is the final installment in our London postcard series. This postcard belongs to you. As we've been thinking about how to bring these postcards to a close, we kept coming back to one moment inside Studio One at Abbey Road that meant more than either of us can adequately put into words.(Although, to be fair, when I introduced us to the orchestra, I literally couldn't find the words as I was on the brink of hyperventilating! 😵💫 But I...

Frances Drost and Kirstin Myers sitting at Kensington Gardens, London UK the day after their Abbey Road an London Symphony recording sessions April 2026.

One week from today...we record. Dear ReaderWelcome to Postcard #7 from Abbey Road! One week from today, Frances and I will begin recording our own parts in Nashville for our upcoming Christmas album with the London Symphony Orchestra. As that milestone approaches, I've been reflecting on our week in London while the orchestra recorded at Abbey Road - and on the unexpected little gifts we discovered along the way. Swans.A ladybug.A feather.A rainbow. Looking back, I don't think they were...