Marlene Moore and Mike McBride CD release celebration

When: 3-4 p.m., Sunday, May 22

Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 Blake Ave.

Cost: Free; CDs available for purchase

More info: Call Marlene Moore at 928-3635. Refreshments served.

In a unique duet of sorts, two local musicians are co-hosting a celebration of their recently completed recordings.

Cellist Marlene Moore and trombonist Mike McBride have each been on their own personal journey to record a solo album, but on Sunday, May 22, they’re coming together for a joint CD release party.

The musicians plan to combine their talents and perform several songs together during the upcoming event at Trinity United Methodist Church, where both Moore’s “At Heaven’s Doorstep” and McBride’s “Be Still My Soul” will be showcased.

When heard together, Moore said, the trombone and cello are a “pure duet sound.”

“They harmonize so well with each other,” she said.

Having known each other for years, Moore and McBride have a shared respect of one another’s musical talents and agree they’re looking forward to celebrating the creation of their own CDs together.

As a longtime friend of Moore’s family, McBride can recall first listening to Moore play the cello when she was about 3 years old and he was about 16.

Although Moore and McBride pursued separate projects, they both worked with Jeremy Cays — a local producer, engineer, arranger and owner of Jeremy Cays Productions — along with producer Michael Rivers.

Neither musician had recorded a solo album before.

“It was a challenging, fun and new experience,” McBride said. “I enjoyed working with Jeremy, who’s a great musician and recording artist.”

McBride started working on “Be Still My Soul,” a contemporary collection of hymns in October 2015.

“It’s an inspirational, reflective and meditative type of CD,” McBride said.

Moore’s recording experience mirrored McBride’s as a positive and challenging venture.

“I had been toying with idea of making a CD and doing all my own layering for a few years,” Moore said.

“For this first CD is I wanted background music,” Moore said. “More times than not, people put in a CD to help ‘defrizzle’ the day and unwind … It’s a mood setter and creates a wonderful ambiance of peace and tranquility that helps you become centered again.”

The layering of cellos range from a duet to 16 cellos, all played by Moore.

Recording a solo CD was a personal challenge, Moore said. As instructor, she said, she can support her students to reach their desired level of perfection … but she wondered if she could do the same for herself.

“I really strive for perfection and I like a job well done,” Moore said. “Can I give myself the grace to be able to achieve that?”

After committing four to six hours every Monday for about a year, Moore was able to record “At Heaven’s Doorstep” to her liking and already has other CD ideas brewing.

Backstory

Surrounded by musical parents, Moore began her music studies as a toddler and trained as a cellist at Walla Walla University and Washington State University.

“I found my voice,” Moore said, reflecting on her ongoing passion for the cello.

She has been the co-principal cellist of the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra for three years and the Port Angeles Symphony Chamber Orchestra for nine years.

An active chamber musician, Moore is a founding member of Deka Piano Trio, among numerous others. She is a recording artist, frequently called on as a back-up cellist for others’ CD projects.

Moore also played solo cello throughout the local theatrical run of “The Elephant Man,” “Man of La Mancha” as well as in a Port Townsend movie soundtrack and teaches cello students in Port Angeles.

McBride discovered his love of music at the young age of 8. To small to play the baritone saxophone, McBride began playing the trombone in third grade.

“I think I’ve enjoyed it because it’s the instrument that most resembles the human voice,” he said.

The challenges tied to playing the trombone also have kept McBride devoted to the instrument and led him to play the trombone and baritone in numerous bands, orchestras and symphonies.

McBride has been a member of the Sequim City Band and performed 12 years with Stardust Big Band. He has also performed as a soloist for community concerts, churches and been a member of several brass ensembles and trombone quintets.

McBride sings and plays trombone in the Peninsula Men’s Gospel Singers.

Aside from his lasting love of the trombone, McBride is a board certified psychologist who has practiced for 31 years on the North Olympic Peninsula. He’s also an ordained minister and has taught as an adjunct professor for Western Washington University and Fuller Theological Seminary.

“At Heaven’s Doorstep” is available online at moorecelloblessings.com, or at Joyful Noise Music Center, Strait Music and the Violin Shop. McBride’s CD is available online at www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikemcbride. Following the release party, “Be Still My Soul” also will be sold locally or contact McBride at 461-0926.