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Panist, singer and songwriter Anita Kruse is described as “a rare blend of visionary artist and a powerful inspired performer.” A classically trained pianist, Kruse began writing her own music while completing a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance at the University of Michigan with Theodore Lettvin. Inspired by her ancestry and the musical talents of her mother and grandmother, Kruse worked as a soloist and accompanist for several years performing throughout the United States. Kruse also worked as an artist in residence at Houston’s Poe Elementary School where she directed original children’s musical productions. In addition to performing nationwide, Kruse continues her work in Houston as an instructor of piano and songwriting for children and adults.
After arranging and producing her first two CDs, All We Have is Now and Light, Kruse recorded five more CDs with her husband, arranger/producer Robbie Parrish, entitled, Creation Flight, Christmas Light, Lullabies from Home, If We Can Fly to the Moon and Dreaming Out to Sea. Creation Flight is a musical women’s storybook that guides the listener through the unfolding tales of life, love and friendship. Lullabies from Home is a touching compilation of twelve soothing original lullabies. If We Can Fly to the Moon, a song and website dedicated to the victims of the September 11th tragedy, was taken on board the Endeavor’s November 2002 Space Shuttle Mission by astronaut, John Herrington, flying over 5 million miles around the earth.
Since July of 2001, Kruse has been the composer in residence for Worship Weavers, a group of Houston’s women clergy, and in November of 2002, received an invitation to present concerts at Bard College in New York, as the Anna Jones Fellowship visiting artist. In the fall of 2002, Kruse was commissioned to write an original musical by Thomas Jaber, director of choirs at Rice University and Chapelwood Methodist Church. Inspired by the creative spirit of Anna Margaret Jones, Give Me Your Story, I’m Listening to Love was performed by Chapelwood’s 90 voice Wesley Youth choir on August 10, 2003.
After many years of friendship and a deep musical connection, Anita Kruse and flutist Jennifer Keeney, formed the duo, Tall Girls, performing a wide range of musical styles from classical flute and piano repertoire to original songs. In 2005, mezzo soprano, Sonja Bruzauskas joined the duo to form Trio Angelico, performing concerts to enthusiastic acclaim.
In 2006, Anita Kruse founded the Purple Songs Can Fly Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a creative, musical outlet for children at Texas Children’s Cancer Center through use of an in-house recording studio and the talents of local composers and musicians. In recognition of the healing power of creativity, hospitals across the United States have implemented their own art and music programs. However, Purple Songs Can Fly is the only known recording studio in a pediatric cancer center that not only empowers children by giving them a musical outlet, but also provides the means necessary for that music to be heard around the world. To date over 65 songs have been written and recorded through Purple Songs Can Fly. Songs have been flown to Spain, Germany, Mongolia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Ireland, Turkey, Aruba, Kazakhstan, the UK, and more.
Songs are now flying on Continental Airlines In-Flight Playlist on 767 & 777 Domestic & International Flights, Channel 16.
All 55 songs from the first year flew on the Discovery Space Shuttle with Astronaut Scott Parazynski October-November 2007.
It is the vision of Purple Songs Can Fly that soaring, flying and rising above the obstacles of illness can become a reality as each purple song flies and creates a tangible symbol for the hope of healing.
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