The daughter of a professional military musician, Lisa Ostrow (Franklin, MA) was immersed in the guidance, encouragement and emphasis on precision associated with military bands. It was an ideal environment for this gifted vocalist and pianist. But, life has not been easy for Lisa. Born with Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis a rare genetic condition, she has been blind all of her life. In addition, two of her daughters struggle with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
Whether it was hiking the rugged, 60-mile West Coast Trail or going on an African safari, blindness would not hold her back. A Harvard grad and recording artist, Lisa recently accepted a volunteer post as coordinator of the Mary Ann Parks Performing Arts Scholarship fund, a project of the nonprofit Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind (PAD, NFB, www.padnfb.org) which supports blind students majoring in the performing arts.
Ostrow’s association with PAD began in 2007 when she was asked by President Dennis Holston (Manhattan talent recruiter and computer teacher) to contribute a track to the "Sound in Sight" project. The "Sound in Sight" CD is an interracial, multi-genre compilation of original music and covers by the nation’s most promising blind recording artists. Lisa donated her version of "Once Upon a Time" from the musical "Brooklyn." Hear clips at www.cdbaby.com/cd/padotnfotb.
Music was destined to play a significant role in Lisa’s life journey. Her father spent 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces Music Branch, first as a clarinetist and eventually retired as a major at the peak of his musical career. Born in Colorado Springs while her father was stationed with the NORAD band, Lisa holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada. At age ten she began intensive training with the Royal Conservatory of Music, advancing through their rigorous program at an accelerated pace, performing in a wide variety of venues and television broadcasts, and winning awards and recognition throughout the Maritime Provinces and Western Canada.
Lisa and husband Peter have three daughters, Laura, Jennie and Alina. The whole family sings back-up on "Once Upon a Time." Laura & Jennie, the Ostrowe’s fourteen-year-old identical twins, are afflicted with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a life threatening genetic condition affecting 600,000 Americans and 12.5 million children and adults, worldwide -- more people than Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and sickle cell anemia combined). There is no treatment or cure.
Lisa earned a cum laude degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Harvard. Honored for her excellence as a pianist and vocalist in the U.S. and Canada, Lisa is donating the proceeds from her first CD, "Unconditional" to the PKD Foundation. Peter, the twins and Alina participated in the Boston Walk for PKD in September, where Lisa performed live for the cause.
Lisa’s album has appeared on the iTunes Top 100 Downloads chart for Easy Listening. One of the songs, "Maybe I Like It This Way," appeared at #20 on the iTunes Easy Listening chart. The album itself has climbed to #8 on CDBaby's Top-Selling Easy Pop and Vocal Pop charts.
E mail Lisa under Cabinet Posts/Scholarship Coordinator at www.padnfb.org/contact.html.
*About the National Federation of the Blind: With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.
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