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Bethany Ekblad is a new recording artist from Minneapolis Minnesota. Music has been her passion for many years. Up until recently that passion was only heard by a relative few. This recording provides a chance to share her deep love of music with a wider audience.

Bethany’s introduction to Neal Topliff and his music happened quite by accident. She was at a shopping mall with her kids on a day when Neal was selling his CDs at an arts fair. She heard Neal’s music playing on the stereo at his booth and just had to stop. Within minutes of talking to Neal she knew she had found someone as passionate about music as she was. They talked for _ hour, much to the dismay of her children, and soon were emailing back and forth getting to know each other better. Out of this friendship grew Neal’s offer to put Bethany’s music on his website. Along with being a truly amazing resource for getting started in this business he has provided encouragement and motivation that can only come from someone as dedicated and caring as Neal.

Bethany’s CD O Holy Night came out of humble beginnings. It was never intended to reach beyond her immediate family and close friends. She made it for her dad the year her family decided to exchange homemade Christmas presents. “I thought I was simply giving a unique gift to a man who has everything. After the response I got from those who heard it, I soon realized that the real gift was being given to me – here was a way to achieve my lifelong dream.”

Mark Laux, a Minnesota composer and good friend, offered to lend her his studio to do the recording. Many enjoyable evenings were spent recording the music for this CD. Mark composed four original arrangements specifically for the CD as well as doing the sound mastering. “Mark is such a talented man. I’m continually amazed with the music he comes up with. I’ve been trying to get him to sell his music for years. Maybe if I survive this whole process I can convince him to follow his dream also. “ Never in this whole process did either of them think that what they were doing would reach the general public. “It’s probably a good thing we didn’t know at the time that it would be sold. It would have made the whole process much more stressful. As it was, we just had fun with it.” When the final product was completed they knew they had created something special.

Bethany’s passion for music began at the age of 7. Her mother was her first piano teacher but it soon became evident that a professional teacher was needed. “Even as a kid I would play for hours at a time. It was never, ever work for me. That doesn’t mean everything came easily, I just never thought of it as practicing. Every hour I played was pure enjoyment. I’d just keep playing until I got it right.” This enjoyment is clearly evident to all who hear the music she provides as church organist/pianist for a church in Minnesota.

After twice winning the Minnesota Music Teachers Association state championship in high school, Bethany received a music scholarship to Concordia University in St. Paul Minnesota. She started out as a music major with the hope of somehow making a living with her music. Somewhere along the way doubt crept in. She changed her major to accounting after realizing how difficult it would be to make a living in music. It took 17 years of accounting before the dream was reborn. “I just had to try. This has always been a dream of mine. I never thought I would see it come true. I am so grateful to Mark and Neal for all they’ve done for me. I truly couldn’t have done this without their help and support.”

Bethany’s next CD project is due out in 2005. It is a collection of hymns and inspirational music for solo piano. Hopefully, (depending on how well she begs) it will include some Neal Topliff arrangements. “I have fallen in love with Neal’s music and would be honored and thrilled to include his arrangements on my next CD.”