The Sound Architect | Postcard #4 from Abbey Road


Dear Reader

We hope this letter finds you well and enjoying your summer! It is hard to believe we have already hit the Summer Solstice, but I, for one, am grateful for warmer weather...even if it means I gave in to purchasing a portable fan for myself...

Frances and I are in the midst of gearing up for our Nashville recording sessions in late July and are incredibly excited! Possibly also overwhelmed, but I'm doing my best to ignore that aspect LOL! But truly, this is where preparation is an asset...it helps overtake those nerves because, well...you're prepared. And we are ready.

Last week, we introduced you to Phillip Keveren, the musical mind helping shape our London Symphony Orchestra project through his beautiful arrangements and production.

This week, in our Postcard Series, we're introducing another essential member of the team: Kent Hooper, our sound engineer, orchestra producer, and the person who supports our sound in the best of ways.


The Faces and Stories Behind the Music
Sound Engineer & Producer ~ Kent Hooper

A great recording is about far more than playing the right notes. It's about capturing warmth, nuance, space, and emotion. It's about making listeners feel as though they're sitting in the room with the musicians. That's where Kent's remarkable gift comes in...

Here's an excerpt from our most recent blog:

"Kent has worked with a LOT of artists. Who? Well, to name just a few; Amy Grant, Kristin Chenoweth, Carly Simon, Vince Gill, The Piano Guys, Travis Cottrell, Michael W. Smith…and that’s just to name a few. But what’s (also) amazing to me is when we recorded Midwinter's Gift, Kent immediately understood something, I feel, many engineers often don’t master: how to capture the unique voice of the oboe and English horn."

Read more on the blog:



Fundraising Progress - 91.7%!

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
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...

The percussionists of the London Symphony Orchestra as they record Double Keyed's 2026 Christmas album.

Dear ReaderHaving chosen an instrument that's...well...for lack of a better word at the moment, a bit obscure (no, it's not a clarinet—nor a bassoon!), I'm rather used to interesting reactions when I tell people I play the oboe. Or perhaps, when I simply play it for people, they might tell me how much they liked the flute I just played. I get it! It is beautiful, but it's not a very common instrument. Well, now that I think of it, maybe I really was born with a tad bit of resilience—my name...