Artist Story: Laura Doherty

Laura Doherty, Musician, Teacher, Old Town School of Music

I started to mold my life around music when I discovered the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, which has definitely been useful to my music career. Music was initially a hobby for me, but it's always been a life-long passion. I picked up the guitar at age 16 and never put it down. After college, I moved to Chicago in 1992 and began playing in coffeehouses singing covers and a few original tunes. When I stepped into the Old Town School on Armitage Avenue in 1993, I knew it was a place I could call home. I began taking a quirky vocal class called "Doo Wop" and stayed in it for two years. Later, I moved into piano lessons and guitar specialty classes. I immersed myself in the place. I started volunteering at concerts and the 'First Friday Open Mic' programs and because of that, I got to know a lot of folks on staff. I realized that this was a place I wanted to spend a lot of time. I decided to follow my passion and pursue a job at the school.

I started working part-time at the school at first, teaching early childhood music classes and adult guitar classes. The school was rapidly expanding with the opening of its new building in 1998, and I was “in the right place at the right time” as they say. Along with teaching, I started working as an administrator in the children’s program. I have been managing the children’s music programs for the past 8 years and I love it. I love working with amazing musicians and being a part of a place that brings music and the arts to everyone, young and old. At its core, the Old Town School is all about playing and singing together, and something as simple as that can bring communities of people together.

I remember teaching my Tuesday night guitar class on September 11, 2001. On that tragic day, many students came to their music class. We were a place for people to gather, to share their sorrows, and escape the events that were unfolding before our eyes. With all the horrific things that were going on, it helped to just sing and play with others in the community. We all sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” together at the end of the night. It was one of those moments where I was so proud to be a part of the school.

I’ve always kept my hand in teaching at the school. I love the days when I can be in the classroom, whether it’s seeing a one-year-old take his or her first steps in my Wiggleworms class, or rocking out in the Indigo Girls Ensemble class, teaching the songs that I love. Being a teacher at the school has opened up so many musical opportunities including professionally performing, recording, producing, songwriting, touring, and collaborating with other musicians. I’ve performed on several Old Town School recordings, including co-producing the Parent’s Choice Award winning “Wiggleworms Love You” children’s CD. In 2002, I teamed up with fellow Old Town School colleague Cat Edgerton to form the folk-pop band Sweet Hello. We released our first recording “Well of Wishes” in 2004 and are currently working on a second CD. We write all original music and play around the Chicago area, as well as occasionally touring out-of-state.

“Do I mold my life around music?” Most definitely, and Old Town School has been a huge part this endeavor. “Do I mold my music around life?” Yes. Some of the themes that come from my songwriting with Sweet Hello have to do with the challenges that life brings to all of us, and it’s great to make that connection with people through music. Whether I'm out playing a gig, or jamming in the halls of the Old Town School of Folk Music, I just feel so fortunate to be singing, sharing and teaching the songs that I love.

Laura Doherty has been singing and playing guitar for 21 years. Originally from NY, Laura moved to Chicago in 1992, and began playing solo in clubs and coffeehouses around the city. She has been teaching Wiggleworms and adult group guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music since 1998 and is also the Children’s Music Program Manager. She teaches guitar specialty classes such as Lead Guitar, Women’s Acoustic Ensemble, and the Indigo Girls Ensemble. Laura performs with her colleague Cat Edgerton in their original folk-pop band Sweet Hello. Laura appears on the Old Town School’s award-winning Songs for Wiggleworms CD, released in 1999. In 2005, she co-produced and performed on the program’s follow-up CD, Wiggleworms Love You. And most recently performed on the Old Town School's Songbook recordings, Volume 2, released in 2007.