Carol Worthey's Homepage

Composer Carol Worthey on music:

"I believe that music has intense power to heal, that it transcends the burdens and cares of daily life. Music transports us to the true center of ourselves, to the realm of feeling and imagination where each of us becomes a universe entire. Music creates loving bonds between people and evaporates the walls that divide us. It is both an individual experience and the building of community.

"My greatest challenge as a composer is to create music of our time that is timeless, that hasn't tossed beauty out yet sounds fresh, that has emotional immediacy as well as technical craft. I strive to make my works heartfelt, accessible and engaging. Please remember that you the Listener are part of the equation. When my music speaks to you, you speak to me and thus the circle of communication becomes complete."

Commissioning Music

How to Commission Music

The important thing to know about any commissioning project is a clear idea of what one wishes to accomplish. This idea sets the tone, tenor and scope of the entire project. Other considerations such as instrumentation or voicing, length, ability level required to perform the work as well as delivery and performance date naturally follow. More...

Fine Art Commissions

How to Commission Fine Art

The successful commission is collaboration between the Artist and the Collector. Project success hinges on your working relationship with the Artist. Communication is the key. More...

Happy Holidays!

Book Releases

THE MEANING OF BIRDS NEW!

In 2021 renowned composer/painter/writer Carol Worthey gathered together an anthology of her poems celebrating the resilience of the human spirit, More Grand Than Mountains garnering high praise from writers and readers the world over.

In the year 2022 the resilience of the human spirit was tested once again with lock-downs and conflicts. Time and time again Carol has noticed that "a poem comes to you when you need it" — now the need for connection and hope became even more intense.

One fine day, like a feather on her shoulder, a poem landed her way: The Meaning of Birds became a cry in the wilderness, a call for courage and revitalization. It was the spark for Carol's second poetry book you see here, a bird's eye view of the world and a vantage point for hope to thrive once again: The Meaning of Birds.

Inside this cover is a scintillating variety of poems, from whimsical to deeply philosophical, that have fed Carol's lifelong need to sustain her spirit and to reach out to others with passion, purpose... and poetry! May these poems refresh you, give you new perspectives and revitalize your life-energy. May they come to you right "when you need them."
More...

A RAIN OF SUNDRY THOUGHTS

How does one create a life worth living and make living itself a work of art?

Does love vanish into nothing when it seems to go? What to do when you feel low? What makes creating beauty or connecting with nature so revitalizing? How to put forth more generosity of spirit while retaining your own truth?

—— An uplifting resource for eye, mind and heart enriched with color illustrations. More...

MORE GRAND THAN MOUNTAINS

'What GOOD is POETRY?' asks the Poet — then somehow the Poet SHOWS us.

'A poem comes to you when you need it,' she says. (Whether in your own words, or in another's.)

Let these poems take you to a panoramic view of life and love, tears and triumph, moments we've all undergone as we challenge the very resillence of the Human Spirit.

There will be a Poem here (or two) that has your name on it. ...Maybe more.

Come with the Poet to a new vantage point. More...

CRUMB: THE SECRET OF THE RIDDLE

A rollicking good story and an epic allegory about the "little man" caught in the greedy machinery of today's world, hungry to make a difference. This far-flung fantasy adventure tale for the Child Within Us All unites a resourceful eight-year-old girl Zoe with mischievous Crumb (an orphan breadball raised by wise Breadbox and taught to read), Nefertiti the cat, Whisk the Dog Whiskerer, and a brilliant Bee in a quest to solve a Riddle that might help to save our endangered pollinators! Two dysfunctional families bond and a grotesque villain is revealed as the Riddle begins to make sense bit by bit, driven by a purpose greater than any of these characters could guess at the start. Fusing mystery, childhood wonder, passionate concern for our environment and sheer poetry. More...

Articles

The Triangle Article Spring
2022

CRUMB Book Reviews!

You won't be disappointed — I recommend it to the hilt

"CRUMB: The Secret of the Riddle" by Carol Worthey is a deep, caring novel about humanity but it is suspenseful and seems to entertain as much as it edifies. You won't be disappointed — I recommend it to the hilt! Brava to Ms. Worthey.

— Betheena
What an amazingly clever story!

I so much enjoyed reading this book! (Weird for me because this is so unlike my normal reading material.) An odd group of little friends take off on an adventure that’s so unlikely, so jam packed with hazards and brilliant strategies, and so educational that you find out about ancient royalty, nutrition, the renaissance, magic, alien visitors, and what happened to all those socks that went missing out of your dryer.

The plot line is water-tight and the writing and editing are top-notch. (Thank you!) The characters are not only believable, you WANT to believe them. And the author’s inspired cleverness continues all the way through the epilogue.

Last, don’t be surprised if, in the middle of a quiet night, you start hearing tiny voices coming out of your kitchen.

— Dwight Mikkelsen
The story is magic

The story is magic, and the very tiny characters are enormously appealing. My wife and I enjoyed reading it together on long drives. Worthey is a fabulous foodie who does not hesitate to regale the reader with organic culinary delights that leave you hungry for more.

— David Relyea (Amazon Customer)
Couldn't Put It Down

I finished "CRUMB The Secret of The Riddle" last night — I could hardly put it down. I loved it. So many wonderful aspects — It was so witty, funny and wise. The book has the premise that most objects can be imbued with life; that is the child’s viewpoint and Native American viewpoint, as well as that of other cultures. “Crumb” is not just about these utterly original beings and their lives; the book has a mission. Those of us who care about our planet and the ecosystem, all life forms and in particular, bees, will resonate with this book. Worthey has managed to make a book that is utterly entertaining, full of humor and is totally plot-driven which also has an important message. Highly recommended!

— Alicia Aaronowitz
Captivating fantasy with a challenging message

The imaginative artwork on the cover captivated me so I opened the book and could not put it down until I got to the last few chapters and finally learned the secret of the riddle!

— Deon Price
A wonderful return to that childlike imagination and character

This book is a wonderful return to that childlike wonder of imagination and character. I felt gripped by the story, and would heartily recommend it to anyone, especially those in a down-turn in their lives as Crumb serves as a reinvestment in your own mind as much as the main character of this book.

— Richard Wanderman, Jr.
A feast with a message

Worthey has cleverly created a fantastical tale of tiny heroes who rise to defeat many of the perils and challenges we face in contemporary times including cautions such as colony collapse disorder and GMO's. “CRUMB The Secret of the Riddle” weaves through history, art, music, literature, religion and philosophy and returns time and again to exquisitely detailed descriptions of meals prepared by the young heroine, Zoe. We really enjoyed this beautifully written book. The message of “staying the course” carries through to the very last page reminding the reader that where there’s a will there’s a way!

— Mary Anne Lund (Amazon Customer)

News!

-- News! --
CAROL'S MUSIC TOURS CHINA Concert Pianist Helen Lin made an extensive tour throughout China. The tour began in Beijing at the Central Conservatory of Music where Ms. Lin premiered two Carol Worthey solo piano works "Fantasia" and "Pastorale" . Helen played encores of both works in Jinan, TaiAn, Weifang, Chingzhou, ZiBuo, Zhou Village, Shenzhen, and Zhaoching.
On International Woman's Day VALENTINE SAMPLER premiered in Alicante, Spain! The delightful piano duo QuaTTro, Daniel Curichagua and Victoria Marco , featured the World-Premiere of Carol Worthey 's "Valentine Sampler" for Four-Hand Piano
BILLOWING BEAUTY An installation of moving sculptures and music Sculptures by Anne Ferrer Music by Carol Worthey Curated by Ed Rubin The Lab at the Roger Smith Hotel 47th & Lexington, New York City
A MUSICAL BANQUET in Pacific Palisades, concluded with Carol Worthey 's lyrical and lilting "A Simple Ditty" for Flute and Piano performed by Flute virtuoso Aleksandr Haskin and pianist Mary Au .
The FACEBOOK FRIENDS CONCERT in NYC! This was more than a concert and the Violin / Piano premiere of 'Romanza' — this was a music event with its pulse on what's happening in the world of global communications. For more details just click here.
The Weiss Family Woodwinds gave an extraordinarily perfect World Premiere performance of Carol Worthey 's "Sandcastles" for Flute, Oboe and Bassoon at USC. Flutist Dawn Weiss (who commissioned the work), Oboist David Weiss , and Bassoonist Abraham Weiss can be heard in this performance by clicking here.
RUSSIAN SCENES World Premiere Masterful Cellists Ruslan Biryukov and Maksim Velichkin presented an unforgettable world-premiere of Carol Worthey 's eight "Russian Scenes" in a performance capturing the total spirit and nuance of each scene. The two Rostropovich proteges took the audience on this musical trip with their dramatic and comedic flair, sheer virtuosity and beautiful sensitivity.
Violist Karen Elaine and Pianist Nadia Shpachenko premiered Carol Worthey 's work "Lament for Viola & Piano" with two performances on the same day. You may hear the premiere performance by clicking on this item.
Concert pianist Beth Levin world-premiered Carol Worthey 's 'Romanza' at Philadelphia's Settlement Music School "Distinguished Alumni Concert" on November 8th. Not a pin dropped nor a cough echoed in the audience to mar Levin's passionate, delicate and tender portrayal.
Tubist John Van Houten world premiered two solo tuba pieces of Carol Worthey originally written for double bass in two concerts in October 2009. "Grandpa Reminisces" was portrayed with the sensitivity, tone color, phrasing and lyricism she intended. With her final work, "Cool Cat" , John came on stage sporting an Ed Norton-type slouchy hat and sunglasses and played complete with finger snaps, cat's meows, and other hilarious antics.
Carol's tranquility series of paintings are now available to order as fine art quality giclée prints at The Tranquil Moment . These paintings were so popular we have had to create a separate website.
Carol's mermaid series of paintings are now available to order as fine art quality giclée prints at Mermaid Mystique. You can visit this magical world by simply clicking here!