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In early 2009, Aperion Audio's newly appointed CEO Jim Hillman began following a young jazz singer in Portland, OR. She wasn't aware that Hillman's company was churning out great speakers only a few miles away, and that several of the company's employees were passionate about her live jazz.

Unlike Kate, I was aware of Aperion due to my long career in the consumer electronics business. By September 2009, when it came time to mix "A Kate Davis Holiday" I contacted them in order to 'test' mix the songs through a variety of speakers in their local demo room. Instead of simply trusting one set of studio monitors and one engineer, I wanted to tighten the mixes through fine speakers of every sort before sending them off to a mastering house. I contacted Aperion and was surprised that there had been a change in management. My previous contacts (the 10 years-on founders) had gone on to other entrepreneurial efforts, leaving the ship to new management. I spoke to Mr. Hillman who gleefully told me that he had seen Kate several times live and that he would be happy to host us to do the final mixes on her second release.

I mixed along with two of their sharpest technical people, and was able to really get a sense for what the holiday CD would sound like when it was played in speakers all over the world.

Fast forward to December of 2010. Kate played 4 shows at Wilf's Restaurant in Portland Oregon, and on night 1, show 1, Jim Hillman and his crew were front and center, ready to find out what musical progress Kate had made since the last time they saw her in the summer. After the show, he asked Kate to stop by the showroom to listen to some speakers. Kate confessed that she really only listened to music through Apple earbud's, Sony MDRV6 headphones and an iHome! In fact, Kate had never heard other people's recordings regularly through high quality speakers. Hillman's eyes lit up and couldn't wait to witness someone "discover" music through his gear.

Just before Christmas of 2010, Kate went to the facility with an armful of CD's hoping to hear what they were supposed to sound like. Hillman and product developer Mike had the room ready and had a few songs up their sleeves too. "Little Drummer Boy" from the Holiday CD seemed an appropriate starting point. That 24" bass drum really sounded huge. Next, the first bits of a Japanese jazz singer's haunting voice poured out of the Verus Grand Tower speakers, Kate's jaw dropped to the floor. "Only two speakers are creating that sound?" She asked, shocked by what she was hearing. The recorded upright bass sounded as if it were just a few feet away and the singer's voice was silky smooth. The guitar came from the right and Kate was transported to a jazz club across the Pacific. It really wasn't fair to start with the very best speakers that weren't even shipping yet, but the impression was made. Kate would never again settle for compressed MP3 through an iHome.

After each new set of speakers was auditioned, it was clear that no matter what style of music, Jazz, Classsical (among others, Telarc 1812 Overture no less!), Pop, Alternative Rock, each set of Aperion speakers was changing her perspective on listening. Wireless, wired, bookshelf, floor standing, with and without subwoofer, there were orchestras, rock bands, emo groups, folk singers and chamber groups seemingly just a few feet in front of her. Sure, she's heard the music at Carnegie Hall, the Schnitzer (Portland) and Lincoln Center, but Kate had no idea she could get that kind of sound in her own ears, in her own room, on her own terms. These speakers are hand designed by gifted engineers, and you don't have to be rich to get great sound.

On December 22, 2010, Kate's ears were born again, and Aperion Audio showed her the way.

A few Tuesday's ago I was thrilled to be a part of an event that Louis Vuitton was putting on at their store on 5th Avenue in New York City. It was a dinner and evening to honor the work and artistry of Mikhail Baryshnikov. I had been invited to the event to play songs with my group after their dinner. In the few minutes before playing, I had to stop and reflect on the situation. How did I end up in a beautiful Louis Vuitton dress and heels? Was I really about to perform jazz music for one of dance's most revolutionary artists? I knew in my mind that I owed that evening to YoungArts.

To better explain I have to take you back to January when I was asked to perform with a handful of YoungArts alumni to create a show for the 2010 Arts Week in Miami. We put together an interdisciplinary show that utilized everyone's diverse artistic ability, along with a willingness to collaborate, creating a fresh and purely artistic show. Because of Mr. Baryshnikov's involvement in the organization, he was present at the show and Gala immediately after. Much to my surprise he sought me out, giving me very flattering and genuine feedback. A short time later he contacted me to arrange a performance this fall at an arts festival in Sarasota. I was blown away to receive so much support from someone with such notoriety. Even my Mom knows who he is! A few weeks ago I was even more surprised to receive a request to perform at the Louis Vuitton event in NYC. Initially I was heartbroken, because I knew that I was being invited primarily because I attend school in Manhattan. Since it is summer, I was at my family’s home in Portland, Oregon. I was sure that my email reply back would get a simple, "Oh, that's too bad you're not in town. Maybe next time!” His team thought we should still try to make it work, so the next day I made the arrangements to get a plane ticket, and prepare a small set list for the party's after dinner entertainment.

My short trip east was nothing but thrilling. The store on 5th Avenue was beautiful and spacious, and we were treated like stars. I was adorned in one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen, I tried a frog leg, and even got to pre-game in a luxurious VIP room on the top floor. Our performance was well received, and Mr. Baryshnikov was fantastically enthusiastic and sweet.

YoungArts has been nothing short of incredible to me. Each opportunity they provide gives me more confidence and drive to do what I do. Then, through them, more opportunities appear. YoungArts is essentially my second family. They look out for me, find new opportunities, and make sure to help me become the best artist that I can be.