This article appeared in the Oct. 26 2006 issue of the MIdCIty Advocate published in Oklahoma City.

Lisa Curl, teacher, singer/songwriter

By Craig Gunsauley, Editor

A special education teacher at the Northcare ABS alternative school in northeast Oklahoma City, Lisa Curl has been developing her reputation around the MidCity as a gifted singer, songwriter and performer.

Next week Curl will be performing a set of songs at The Stage in Nashville , where she was invited to perform. She appears two or three times a month at Nonna's in Bricktown and was busy all summer playing gigs, including some with four of her friends who perform as the all-girl string quartet, The Stringents.

"I have an amazing group of friends and we all share gigs together. When I play with the Stringents, it adds so much to my music," said Curl.

Last Sunday, Curl performed for the second time at the annual Woody Gurthrie tribute at the Blue Door, which featured about 20 Oklahoma musicians.

"It's an event for musicians who really embrace the spirit of Woody Guthrie. Being up on stage with musicians like Bob Childers, Terry Buffalo Ware, Carter Sampson, Eric Sarmiento, Susan Herndon, Travis Linville, singing "This land is your land," that's one of those moments when I remember why I love music, this is why we do this," Curl continued.

Curl began her teaching career while living in Los Angeles. When she returned to her hometown a few years later, she realized that she really enjoyed working with children and became an Oklahoma certified schoolteacher to pursue a career in special education. Curl has taught at Northcare for two and a half years. She also gives private lessons and teaches a guitar classes at Oklahoma City Community College.

At the alternative school, Curl said she uses music in her lessons whenever possible because children respond positively to art. "We specialize in kids that are good kids who have made bad choices," she said. "I try to incorporate music into my teaching. A lot of my friends who are musicians are teachers as well. I'll have them come in and perform because these kids aren't exposed to the arts like that."

Curl is currently recording a five-song CD at Linville's recording studio. She recorded a full-length CD, "Wish I were Japanese," at a variety of studios, including Casey Friedman's Inner State Studio in the MidCity.

"I have a passion for a couple of different things, including working with children," said Curl. "I also love music, so I want to spend as much of my time doing those things as I can."

Background: Curl was born and raised in Edmond. She bought her first home in a neighborhood near Crown Heights in the MidCity two years ago.

Education: Curl attended Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond and earned a B.S. in psychology with a minor degree in music.

A recent highlight for Curl was appearing as an alien on the stage of the Flaming Lips concert in Dallas in September. She also got to see the Flaming Lips perform live for the first time at the Red Rock Amphitheatre near Denver.

"The more I'm exposed to their music, the more I love the Flaming Lips. But what makes it more exciting is how local they are and how proud they are to be from Oklahoma City," said Curl.